Experience with 2000+ Transalp

[al_baylis]

G'day Transalpians,

I am preparing for a RTW starting in late March '08. I plan to cover some 70000 ks over 2 years. Ideally I wanted an older BMW 80/100GS, no luck with tracking one down. Now I just want a bike for the trip (not a big fan of singles - route is australia to europe - more tarmac than dirt). I would very happily get on an Africa Twin, but hens teeth in Aussie.

I have been doing some background reading on the NEW transalp 650 (or I guess were new until the 750). There is a huge following for the old TA, but not much hype surrounding the post 2000 TA.

I would be really keen on hearing from anyone doing a RTW trip on the new (post 2000) TA, or anyone with a high mileage 2003?-2006 TA. Any major issues, things you wished you had done, did you ride on the stock shocks, how many ks on the engine? Maintenance woes?

Would be greatly appreciated

Kind regards

[Keith1954]

G'day Al

I've got one, a 2005 (Oct) model, which I keep across the Ditch from you in New Zealand.

I clocked-up around 18,000 ks last summer, from Dec '06 -to- April '07, around NZ.

Stock shocks - in fact, stock everything. I had absolutely no issues whatsoever regarding maintenance thoughout the whole 18K ride. This is a great dual purpose bike - and wholly reliable.



I'll be back down in the southern hemisphere again in February 2009, at which time I then intend kitting-out the Trannie for long-distance stuff after which I'll ship it across the Tasman to Australia, then go around and through Oz and up to Indonesia; across to Malaysia and then through to the Southeast Asian mainland; then up and around Central Asia and the Sub Continent to the Middle East, then across eastern~~>central~~>western Europe to the UK and home. In other words, I'm gonna ride the bike back to England from NZ ... Sould be quite an adventure !!

So I might very well be following in your tyre tracks, albeit a year later. So keep me/us posted about all your prep and your ride in general. I for one would be very interested indeed to learn and hear about your story.

Good luck Al, you a facing a trip of a lifetime, which is now just around the corner.

Regards

KEITH

[Hä®ski]

Hello Al,

I'm too having new 2007 model without anything changed and its working very well. This summer we drove from Finland to Russia and via southern part of Mongolia to Ulan Bataar, then back to russian side, Chita and from there to Vladivostok. Couple days "vacation" there and then back to Finland. Totalling 10 weeks and around 21000km without any problems at all. My buddy had a Varadero and he lost 2 rear shocks during that trip, 2nd one lasting only 3000km!!! So he drove 7000km back from Chita to Moscow having only working spring...
During last 7 month been driving almost 36000km so its really reliable piece of machinery. Even low octane fuel (76oct or so...) in Mongolia worked well.

Regards,
Hä®ski

We run a couple of 650 Transalps a V3 and V4 both have around 20000 miles each, no issues to mention. Spokes can discolour and become loose and I have heard the steering bearings can fail at lowish mileages.
I am getting ours ready for the Americas next year, when i say getting ready it amounts to a service and renewing brake pads and chain and sprockets.

fuel range is not bad, in touring mode we get 200 miles plus to a tank. MPG is around the 50 mark, they don't use oil. I have uprated the forks with some Racetech emulators which have improved the front end greatly.

I took mine to Iceland earlier this year
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...p-2007-a-28855

Very underated bike.

Steve

[al_baylis]

Thanks for sharing your experiences. The trip to mongolia and now having 36K and no major issues is very heartening. Fantastic photos, both of the TA in NZ and iceland......just magic!

I might add there are quite a few companies selling accessories for the transalp, Crash bars panniers & frames etc.
I would reccomend changing the original sumpguard as it's made of plastic and it leaves the water pump and sump exposed.

Steve

[Keith1954]

... I should also add that I replaced the screen, as I found the stocker inefficient and just too darn noisy.

[ta-all-the-way]

I was just wondering what are the make of those side carrying boxes of yours? They fit my desire well. I too have a TA and I'd like boxes like that.

Hey when you head up through Europe, I'd be glad to offer you a relaxing waypoint before hitting your last staight up to Calais. I'm in Nevers, heard of it? Bol d'Or, Magny-Cours, France. Drop me a line and we can plan that for when you pass through. Have a good trip, dude. I'm a fellow southern hemispherian only I'm from South Africa as to OZ, but hey all the same I say.

[klaus]

....has only 400ccm, made for the Japanese market. It's old, a 1995/96 model with more than 40.000km down. Bought it used, and what can I say...no reason at all to complain! Great gas milage, easy maintenance, very good to handle, ok, I have to agree that I did not go on a RTW (so far), but it took me all the way up to Hokkaido and back to Shikoku (something like 4.000 kilometers) and I DID enjoy it! I am using a set of Hepco&Becker paniers, ordered from Germany with the frame (because even with the postage it was cheaper than over here). No other changes, everything original. For pics check out my homepage, just go to the touring pages, there are also pictures of my old KLE.

Safe riding and take care

Klaus

[Keith1954]

Hi Patrick / ta-all-the-way

The side hard luggage is standard Givi stuff - 41L Keyless Monokeys Fitted onto Givi Wingracks.

CAUTION: BUT IMHO these plastic boxes are not the most ideal carriers for a long haul; I found this out when I dropped the Trannie, at speed, on an unpaved gravel track 30km outside Te Anau township, South Island, NZ. They damage easily, of course. See the following pics. I’m currently in the process of having them re-sprayed - and shall completely replace them with something more robust like Metal Mules or maybe something similar (cheaper?!), before leaving New Zealand’s / Australia’s shores.





Thanks for your kind offer of a waypoint when in France. I have travelled through your area several times over the course of the last 15 years or so. As I live in the far southwest of England (county of Cornwall) I normally cross the channel via the ferry ports of Plymouth <~~> Roscoff, Brittany, so Nevers would be directly en route for me from the Alps.

WARNING: Prepared to be invaded sometime in late 2009 ..

Regards

KEITH

[ta-all-the-way]

Ok Keith, I'll keep watching this space for your progression, Happy New Year.
ta-all-the-way

[al_baylis]

As a note, things for me kind of worked out bike wise. After searching for a BMW GSPD for the best part of 8 months, I found a 1988 transalp for $3K. Pretty rare in aussie, and I do like this bike. It has a few ks and needs a little work, but still an easy 3.5K less than R100 BMWs (which also needed work!!) and half the price of new TA..........of course you get what you pay for - but fingers crossed, it (with me on it) will make it to europe and beyond.

I set off from aussie in early April and I simply can't wait .

[stevesawol]

I wish you all the best for the rest of your prep and for your journey ahead!

I'd say "lucky bastard!" but i know better!...... no luck involved.... you've just been working bloody hard to get what you want and now it's about to pay off!! Enjoy!!!

[ta-all-the-way]

Nice to hear you settled for a TA, even being an older model, often goes to show that it's a durable work horse. I have a model from 2004, haven't worked out how to put it up here yet (any ideas).

She's not in need of any work other than a 20k revision. The owners manual is spick and span, the last owner really did it like a pro. 6k, 12k, 18k revision.

There was one little thing he had changed - can't remember what it was, ill have a look and let you know. I'm interested to know what you'll be doing to your bike, workwise. I've almost thought of buying a second TA to work on, but as a friend said, when your own bike's up and running you're not gonna wanna spend your saturday afternoons, in the garage, where you could be out riding. I wish you all the best to get your horse on the road and the necessary work done. You made a good choice. My TA is a worthy investment. Good luck on the maintenance and Good trip.

ta-all-the-way

[ta-all-the-way]

worked out the attachement