Adventure bikes are all about dreaming big, which is why I love them so much. Most of us buy one with ambitions of crossing deserts and riding over mountain passes, but the reality is often more akin to filtering through traffic on the way to work or heading out with a mate for a bacon roll on a Sunday morning.
And you know what? That’s absolutely fine because the best adventure bikes aren’t necessarily the ones that look the most heroic parked outside a coffee shop. They’re the ones that quietly get on with everything you throw at them, at home or abroad. Which is exactly why the Honda XL750 Transalp is such likeable motorcycle.
I recently rode the new 2026 Transalp E-Clutch in Portugal for the latest issue of Adventure Bike Rider magazine, and after a day spent carving along Algarve mountain roads and bouncing over dusty trails, here are five things that stood out.
1. The E-Clutch is genuinely brilliant
I’ll admit it, I was sceptical before riding it. ‘Electronic clutch’ sounded like one of those features nobody asked for but manufacturers insist we need. It turns out, Honda may be onto something.
The E-Clutch lets you change gear normally using your left foot, but without needing to touch the clutch lever. And believe me when I say, within about half an hour, I was using the system as if I’d ridden with it all my life.
On the road, it feels like having the smoothest quickshifter imaginable, crisply changing in any gear, and at any speed. Off road, it’s even better, allowing me to stand on the pegs while climbing rocky trails without any concerns about stalling the bike? It’s superb, and a godsend for those new to trail riding who may struggle changing gear while stood up.
Mind you, Honda has cleverly left the clutch lever fitted, so if you want to ride traditionally, you still can.
2. The engine remains the star of the show
Honda’s 755cc parallel twin is a cracking motor. Honestly, I think it’s one of the best engines in the middleweight adventure bike class right now.
It’s not outrageously powerful on paper at 90.5bhp, but figures rarely tell the full story. Out on the Portuguese mountain roads, the Transalp came alive. The engine loves being revved, surges hard through the midrange, and somehow manages to feel relaxed and eager all at once.
You can lazily short shift while soaking up scenery or rev the nuts off it chasing corners. It’ll happily do both. It’s that flexibility that helps make the Transalp such a good adventure bike.
3. Honda has quietly fixed one of the old bike’s biggest weaknesses
The original XL750 Transalp was already a good motorcycle, but when started pushing on, the suspension could feel a bit soft and vague, resulting in the bike losing shape and rider needing to back off the throttle.
Not anymore. The updated setup on the 2026 bike feels noticeably firmer and more controlled without ruining comfort. And that balance matters because adventure bikes spend their lives dealing with poor roads, potholes, gravel tracks, speed bumps, and everything in between.
Riding at a brisk pace through the Algarve hills, the bike stayed composed and predictable, even on rough surfaces. Which, frankly, is exactly what you want from a machine designed to take you from commuting to touring to trail riding without drama.
4. It’s more capable off road than most people think
Amid regular trail riders, the Transalp will always live in the shadow of more aggressive adventure bikes like KTM’s 890 Adventure R. But don’t make the mistake of thinking the Honda is built purely for asphalt, because it’s surprisingly capable in the dirt.
The 21” front wheel and 18” rear, manageable weight, natural standing position, and smooth throttle response make trail riding feel unintimidating. And the E-Clutch genuinely helps here too, especially when riding slowly over loose terrain. No, it’s not a rally bike, but most of us don’t actually need one of those.
What the Transalp does brilliantly is tackle the kind of trails you might realistically encounter while travelling. Forest roads, rocky tracks, gravel switchbacks. The sort of riding adventure bikes were invented for in the first place.
5. It still nails the whole adventure bike thing
This is probably the biggest takeaway of all. The Transalp just makes sense. It’s comfortable, unintimidating, economical, capable off road, enjoyable on road, and priced sensibly at £9,999 for the E-Clutch version.
Sure, I’d like to see cruise control and heated grips as standard, especially on a touring-focused bike, but I managed to spend a good portions of my day riding around Portugal thinking about the roads and scenery rather than controlling the motorcycle beneath me. And that’s often the sign of a truly good bike.
The Transalp doesn’t constantly demand your attention. Instead, it quietly encourages you to keep riding further. Which is whole point of an adventure bike.
Read the full review
You can read my full and in-depth review of the 2026 Honda XL750 Transalp E-Clutch inside the May/June 2026 issue of Adventure Bike Rider magazine. Get your copy sent to you today with FREE UK postage HERE.