ok mates!
i am reading with lot of interest each contribuite of you

today i have tried a ta..a part of the sound of the engine that i found it like crying(that's only because i am used to my dominator , my first and only bike till now)
i have the feeling that it is very very similar to a strom, yes the front wheel is bigger...but how much is the difference to the strom one?
at feeling i rather get strom, no doubt
but still the only and one thinking
i will want try to go to mongolia sooner or later...
for what i understand, the real difference will be with another bike (my old dominator would do that much better for sure..though struggling for 80% of the rest of the trip if compared to strom or ta), but i start to imagine that both ta and strom behave similar in such a "stan" condition
am i wrong?
may be i should start to think that when the day for mongolia come, i could get a bike just for the puropouse...with no much money...
anyway that will not be a cheap trip!

That's exactly where I ended up. If I could, I would keep the strom and get another bike for my trip, but I had to sell the strom.

Good luck!

Hi Stefano:
LAte for work so I haven't read all the responses!

I have a TA600: great bike and my Dad has the TA700: also great bike, but more for road. Can give reeeeallly good fuel economy if ridden reasonably (3.7 litres to the 100km for the 700 is possible, my best is about 4 litres to the 100km on the 600)

If you were choosing a TA600 or 700, it might have been a bit more complicated for me to advise, but here I say go for the Suzuki:
-Lighter (I think),
-better fuel economy,
-better power,
-good headlights
-and good comfort (I think, again!).

The only clear advantage the TA has over the DL is the 21 inch front wheel making the dreaded off-roading a bit easier to manage. But that doesn't mean the DL is bad off-road. Many say it is fine.

Also the TA600 manual says 8000miles (13000km) between oil changes!! Personally I change it every 4000 miles (6000km) but if the 650 is the same, it could give you more plexibility in reaching garages on your trip...

Either way, enjoy your trip!!

__________________
Adventure: it's an experience, not a style!
(so ride what you like, but ride it somewhere new!)

I would not ride 12-13 thousand kms on same engine oils, especially if it is mineral oil. Even with fully synthetic, I think I´d change at 10 thousand (for my own piece of mind, if not for anything else). Cost isn´t really the issue here – but getting proper type of oil may be in some regions of the world. And if using something that´s "close enough", I´d change even more regularly.

BTW, the V-Strom needs to have its valve clearances checked at 24 thousand kms, and the adjustment is with tappet shims (in fact they usually do not need to be adjusted, just checked)...... do I remember correctly, that the Transalp (at least 600&650) had screw-type adjustments, like the Africa twin certainly had, and they´ll be checked every 12 thousand kms?

I can't comment on long-distance reliability etc. - I simply do not have experience some great travelers here have. I never been to Mongolia, but similar places and not on bike.
But I can comment on "working on bikes" (I am "hobby mechanic" and my friends with their bikes abuse that )
I worked on 3 transalps (600, 600, 650) and 1 Vstrom 650 post-2007 model, can't recall exact year. I also did a bit of "bolt on" work on TA700 and test rode it.
I wouldn't say that Transalp is easier to work on than Vstrom. It's quite densely "stuffed" around engine, there is some questionable components locations, it's not light on amount of wiring, it has plenty of plastics (just like Vstrom)...
Vstrom are tad easier, because of fuel injection takes less place and cylinders are 90 degrees and overall it is a bit more...spacious and simpler built than TA.
TA engine thou is silky smooth and reliable, but Vstrom 90 degrees twin definitely packs more punch.
As for TA700 - I know some people will not like me for saying that but I hate it. For me it is symbol of Honda turning into different kind of bike maker. It's INCREDIBLY heavy for what it is, it does all average and it is nightmare to work on. I prefer old 600 for that matter.

However, for dirt run through Mongolia I would never take any of those but rather simple DR650 or Tenere 660 or (in my case) my modified DR800. Then Transalp 600 (because it's cheap) and then Vstrom 650 because it is brilliant all-rounder, thou heavy (partially can be fixed by ditching stock exhaust system).

I don´t hate the 700, in fact I actually do like it.

But it is heavy as you said...... and I must admit, I found it kinda surprising, that when it came out, it was already behind the DL650 in some key areas mentioned before. And nevermind the DL – now the buyers also have BMW 650/800GS and Triumph Tiger to choose from. At least in my country, the XL700V and 650GS (800cc) ABS-versions cost exactly the same.

Still, I´m even more baffled at Honda´s decision to not update the Africa Twin and just plain quit such a great bike!

well... if you ask me great art of monster trailies got lost after "speculate on dakar wave" ended after AT, S10, DR800, Elephant etc. I'd love to see my DR800 contemporary version (alike Tenere 660 2008 model) - with injection, better suspension and brakes etc.
So I build one for myself..except injection. I see no bike on market to change it to...unless Morini Granpasso/Granferro will be revived in big-scale manufacturer with good dealer network etc.

Hi
I would not hesitate to take a Transalp for what you ask of it. It is very capable and would be a very good choice for Adventure travelling. The xtra power of the V- Strom is not needed, Transalps have legenderay reliability and I would start to look at the lower sides of both bikes, ie where the engine protection is.. How about that oil cooler placed right behind the front wheel? Good placement? stones and dirt coming off the front wheel will hit straight on. V-Stroms are road bikes with tyre sizes and wheels meant for paved roads. Transalps are more adapted to light offroad and dirt roads. Ive ridden my 600 all over, race track, motorways, 2 up, Europe, dirt roads, river crossings, sand, cross tracks, jumps... It never missed a beat even though it was punished way beyond what it was meant to cope with. Spoked wheels are better for that, 21" front wheel is superior when the going gets tougher, rolls smoother on bad surfaced roads, Suspension travel is longer... Ive had a 600 TA since 1995 and know these bikes extremely good. I have many friends with Africa Twins, Transalps, KTMs, GS's. And I do own a Transalp 700 too which I am going to ride through Europe and in Morocco in October. Would have preffered the 700 for on road stuff and the 600 on dirt roads and sand in Morocco, the 700 feels heavy compared to the 600, but is fantastic fun on alpine roads and can be ridden all day, great saddle and riding position.

Go and ride them all and pick the one you like best.

Oil cooler can and should be protected, if you plan to leave the the tarmac a lot. 2012 version of DL650 has that different type of cooler that´s at the base of the oil filter.

BTW, the Transalp has a plastic engine "protector" as stock, if I remember correctly (well, at least the 700cc has, and on top of that, there are holes, that leave the exhaust pipes fully exposed). So a proper bashplate will be on your shopping list, no matter which one of these you buy.

I agree you don´t need a lot of power to go RTW... but if comparing the old XL600 to the DL650, then the difference is really quite big, probably closer to 20 HP. Especially if you´ll plan to do the big highways a lot, and have a lot of weight on board, the 600 will feel exhausted a lot sooner. Depends on where and how you plan to travel, of course. The Transalp might be a tiny bit better for off-road, but the difference isn´t huge, and they´re both heavy bikes. Also keep in mind, even though they have a good reputation, the 600-version is gaining age, and newest ones are over 10 years old.

And for me, tubeless is the way to go on a long trip, where you ride mostly on roads. Not sure, if I really miss tightening and replacing the spokes on wheels, either (...though they look way cooler!)

+1 on the tubeless, nothing worse than a blowout with a tubed tyre. I have had a few punctures on the Vstrom front wheel, each time I felt it go soft and had time to pull over and do the repairs at my leisure.

As for the oil filter down low, use a bash plate m8 and a cheap radiator cover, all these things are needed for them off road adventures and are easy addons. Never leave home without them, same with hand guards, good ones protect the levers, it all helps the journey even if it all adds that extra weight to already heavy beasts.

__________________
www.travellingstrom.com