Hence there was (perhaps still is?) a Transalp 400cc sold in Japan: of course there were loads of grey imports brought to the UK from Japan all those years ago, including that little transalp, but it doesn't seem to be so common nowadays - I could be wrong on that. Maybe that is one reason why there are less travel bkes in use in the UK that were "made in Japan" (if that is indeed the case).

Lions led by donkeys comes to mind.

That must have been quite a few years ago.
The XT600 crossed my mind when I read the OP; it does appear that the XTZ660, in it's variants, is doing OK as a current replacement model, for the UK market anyway (I do realise that it is not sold in every part of the world but that goes for many brands and models of vehicles).

On the other hand, the big four Jap manufacturers have probably conceded the ground as far as "travel bikes" are concerned over recent times: there have been lots of comments about this in the past and the result is that other manufacturers got in there to fill the gap - just look at how people bemoan the lack of an Africa Twin which has not been sold new for the past 12 years - where did Honda think that market was going to go when they stopped production? The Transalp I guess. Or, dare I say it, the Varadero.

In contrast, I well recall the marketing vow of BMW, also about 12 years ago; this was to bring out 3 new bikes each and every year for the "foreseeable" future.
And that is exactly what they have done ever since, via a lot of variations of basic models, manufacturing of scooters etc etc.

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Dave