On the way back, we exchanged motorcycles for short stretches, enough to give us all a taste of the differences and also the similarities.
BHPian shyamg28 recently shared this with other enthusiasts:
Japanese middleweights that punch heavy
@kaushalswarup (V Strom 800 DE), his friend (Transalp XL750) and I (V Strom 650 XT) did a short ride to Horsley hills recently.
On the way back, we exchanged motorcycles for short stretches, enough to give us all a taste of the differences and also the similarities.
I thought I’d share my thoughts/opinions, in fact, exactly what I shared with both of them after riding their motorcycles.
If you decide to read ahead then please take note –
Wee – V Strom 650 XT
De – v Strom 800 de
TA – Transalp XL750
Evidently the TA seemed like the cousin, with the Wee and DE being siblings cut from the same cloth.
Seat cushion – The DE & Wee are alike in this matter, both having relatively soft, almost plush cushioning. Where the DE differs is in the narrowness of the seat as it slopes slightly upwards towards the tank. This is good since the DE is actually taller than the Wee.
The TA has a hard seat, something which should augur well for all day touring I imagine. I also felt that it has the rider sloping forward a bit.
All 3 have plenty of space to move forward and back, in order to find the right position.
Weight management – I’m a 100% convinced that the TA is in reality only 150kgs but Honda have padded the figure for those that attribute stability with heavy motorcycles It’s not only as you get going but even otherwise, I felt that the TA was easy to manage. On paper the DE is the heaviest at 230kgs but it feels as light as the Wee on the move. The seating position and the narrow tapering seat make it seem even more easy to manouvre than the Wee. The Wee’s wide seat is painful at slower speeds to be honest and the weight can become apparent because of it.
Ergos – The TA and the DE are similar in terms of the angle at which the knees bend. The footpegs are a little more forward set. Either that or the seat height reduces the angle. They’re extremely relaxed, almost 90 degrees. The Wee is more aggressive for sure (who’d have thought).
The reach to the handlebars is the most on the Wee, with a rider like me (5″10) having to lean a tad bit forward. The TA and DE are neutral in this regard. The DE has the widest handlebar with boh TA and DE having tapered bars, narrow in the middle and thick at the sides, while the Wee has the narrowest, straight handlebar. In fact after riding both their motorcycles and getting back on mine, I felt I was on a big bike with the Hunter’s handlebar on. Went back home and started researching for wider bars lol.
Suspension – The TA splits the Wee and DE in this regard. The Wee seems the hardest, especially its crude rebound damping, homesick to return to position. The DE is the softest but is the only one with full adjustment at the front and rear. I’d imagine it would still be the softest even at its highest setting, but that should only help make the ride more engaging. I could clearly see Kaushal being thrown off my V Strom on the small humps where he was casually sitting on his own 800 DE. While aboard the DE, I felt like a maharaja to be honest. It takes all the hits for you. I would definitely love to try it at a harder setting in the future. The TA you could say is almost plush. Hits a sweet spot. The rear is probably a bit stiff but with a bit more weight (I’m 88kgs) should hit the nail on its head.
The DE dives like a swimmer when braking (oh and the brakes are relatively sharp for an Adv of that size). This isn’t disconcerting as such.
Throttle response – The DE and Wee are similar with everything available immediately. Low and Mid range for the win! The DE’s ride by wire makes the throttle extremel smooth to play with. The TA meanwhile, is probably the most friendly one might say, for a newbie. The low and mid range never threw me back on the seat. It was all calm and casual. Until you touch say 6k rpm, when it wakes up to give you everything. It was indeed engaging to ride hard.
The DE has 3 ride modes, with C being the most tame. I remarked to the other two that it felt like a “smoother V Strom 650” in ride mode C.
Gear shifts – The DE is magic. That it comes with a Quickshifter is a bonus. Most QS systems will cut throttle as your foot touches the lever (looking at you KTM), but this one only when you’re absolutely deliberate and into the action. It’s seamless. The TA is smooth too with the lightest clutch pull. My V Strom is now 2.5 years old and is certainly the most clunky of the lot, but nothing to complain about.
Refinement – The TA wins this hands down! I could not find any vibration bands. Of course I did not go beyond 8-8.5k rpm but vibrations above that band should be acceptable given one wouldn’t stay in that band when touring.
The DE has a small window between 4.8-5.2k rpm, where it sits at a 105kph or so, where there was noticeable vibrations at the bars and the pegs. Mind you, this is a brand spanking new motorcycle so I imagine this would reduce. Under and over that range, it is as smooth as the TA. On the Wee, I have only felt vibrations at a much higher rpm, say 7k and above, something I don’t usually do.
Exhaust note – TA for the win again! You FEEL the engine coming alive as you open the throttle. It’s evident that it’s working for you, as though both cylinders are fighting to prove who’s doing the heavier lift The DE and the Wee – great for all day touring, you won’t hear a thing when you sit on the motorcycle. A person behind maybe able to discern that it’s a twin cylinder motorcycle, but for the rider, it’s pretty silent.
There’s something to be said of this though – while I love the TA’s exhaust sound, I personally did find it to be loud, despite wearing earplugs. Given how I’m spoilt by the Wee, I would prefer all my motorcycles to be as silient when touring.
Wind buffeting – The TA has what looks like the tallest screen in stock setting. And this one had a Prospec clip-on as well, which meant zero buffeting. For my width, it did not allow the wind to hit me hard on the shoulders as well, so overall seems aces. The Wee, I have it fixed at its lowest setting and this has been working well for me.
The surprise here is what can only be described as a fly-screen on the DE. Let’s good amount of air through but for my height again, zero buffeting. I enjoyed it personally. I almost have this urge to cut my windscreen to a shorter height to be honest.
Among other things, I can’t really comment on the handling just yet. The TA and DE have a 21″ front wheel while the Wee has a 19″. Take that as you will.
The TA’s light clutch will be a boon in traffic.
The screens on both TA and DE seem modern and legible even with the sun above.
Some random pics –
Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.
