Honda XL750 Transalp Or Yamaha Ténéré 700 – Which One Would You Pick?

Let’s take an individual look at the history of both the Honda Transalp and the Yamaha Tenere 700:

The Honda Transalp 750 is among the finest middleweight adventure bikes that Honda recently reintroduced. It is a perfect dual-sport bike for riders looking for superior on-road and off-road performance.

Honda Transalp History
Honda Transalp XL600V	Generation 1 Timeline: 1986 - 1999 Engine: 583 cc V-Twin Engine with Carburettors Torque: 53 Nm / 39 lb-ft at 6,000 rpm Horsepower: 50 hp / 37 kW at 8,000 rpm Wet Weight: 450 lbs / 205 kg No ABS
Honda Transalp 650V	Generation 2 Timeline: 2000 - 2007 Engine: 647 cc V-Twin Engine with Carburettors Torque: 54 Nm / 41 lb-ft at 5,500 rpm Horsepower: 52 hp / 39 kW at 7,500 rpm Wet Weight: 467 lbs / 212 kg No ABS
Honda Transalp XL700V	Generation 3 Timeline: 2008 - 2012 Engine: 680 cc V-Twin Engine with Programmed Fuel Injection (PGM-FI) Torque: 60 Nm / 44 lb-ft at 6,000 rpm Horsepower: 59 hp / 44 kW at 7,750 rpm Wet Weight: 438 lbs / 219 kg ABS
Honda Transalp XL750	Generation 4 Timeline: 2023 Onwards Engine: 755 cc Parallel-Twin Engine with 270° Crank Angle and Programmed Fuel Injection (PGM-FI) Torque: 75 Nm / 55 lb-ft at 7,250 rpm Horsepower: 83 hp / 61 kW at 9,500 rpm Wet Weight: 459 lbs / 208 kg ABS Traction Control Ride Modes

As you can see above, the Honda Transalp has constantly been upgraded. Several improvements were made to ensure the bike gets better with time. This bike is undoubtedly a legend.

Although it may not be the most premium and luxurious adventure bike on the market, it is still among the most capable. Made by one of the most reliable Japanese manufacturers, it is undoubtedly built to last longer.

The Yamaha Tenere is also among the oldest off-road rally bikes. It was first introduced in 1983 as a pure dirt bike. The bike was named after the stage of the Dakar Rally, known as Tenere.

The answer to this question is very complicated. Both the Honda Transalp 750 and the Yamaha Tenere 700 are top-notch adventure bikes in their respective categories. It depends on your preferences and riding style to pick the best bike between these two. Both have a lot of common characteristics.

Most motorcyclists who haven’t tested both these bikes consider them almost the same. However, the Transalp 750 and Tenere 700 are very different from each other in terms of their category, style, performance, and comfort.

To figure out which is better for you and which one to pick, we will need to go into detail about their similarities and major differences. We will explain what makes one bike better than the other to make it easy for you to decide.

Both the Transalp 750 and the Tenere 700 are available at almost a similar price range. Talking about the 2024 models, the 2024 Baby Tenere is $800 more expensive than the 2024 Transalp 750, costing $10,799.

Meanwhile, the 2024 Transalp 750 will cost you $9,999. The price difference may or may not be a bigger issue for most riders, considering you can buy a used 2022 or 2023 model at a lower price.

Considering the price range, both these bikes are exceptional in their respective departments.

Both the 2024 Transalp and Tenere 700 have almost similar wet weights. However, both these bikes have different stature, style, nature, feel, and performance.

Being true dual-sports adventure bikes, both the 2024 Transalp 750 and the Tenere 700 feature 21-inch front and 18-inch rear wheels. This wheel combination ensures an impressive ground clearance and performance capabilities to both bikes.

The best thing about these adventure bikes is that they are both made by Japanese manufacturers. Honda's Transalp 750 and Yamaha's Tenere 700 are highly reliable motorcycles.

Both require low maintenance, and their service intervals are also quite long. Thus, you can use these bikes for as long as you want without worrying about them breaking down early.

• Yamaha Tenere 700: The Tenere 700 is an established brand with one of the most notable engine technology. The engine used to power the Tenere 700 is taken from the Yamaha MT-07, which is among the most popular naked bikes of all time.
• Honda Transalp 750: On the contrary, the Transalp 750 is a comparatively new model with a newly developed engine. However, it is still trusted due to being built by Honda.

Both the Transalp 750 and the Tenere 700 are adventure-style motorcycles with exceptional ground clearance and knobby tires. Both bikes can comfortably take you off-roads due to their taller statures.

Both the Transalp 750 and the Tenere 700 are popular, functional, and durable bikes. This is why the question always comes up: Which is the better bike between the two?

Let’s talk about the key differences which make both these bike unique and special in their respective categories. Analyzing the key differences will help us identify which bike is better than the other and which one to pick.

Though the XL750 Transalp and the Tenere 700 belong to the adventure bike category, they have different souls. Even the slight differences make a significant impact on the type of performance these bikes offer.

The Honda Transalp is a pure adventure bike focused on superior on-road performance. On the paper, the company markets it as a perfect “ Adventure Touring ” bike.

Most of the time, the bike and performance aren’t precisely what the company claims. However, the Transalp 750 is a perfect adventure bike for touring. You can take this bike long miles without worrying about getting uncomfortable on paved roads.

Considering its off-road features, the Honda Transalp 750 takes on the challenges smoothly. Unlike the Honda NC750X, another adventure bike by Honda that is not suitable for off-roading, the Transalp 750 is an ideal adventure bike. It has everything that makes it a truly fun adventure bike.

When it comes to class and purpose, the Tenere 700 is more focused on better off-road performance. It is inherently a dual sports-style bike with a rally style. Even the look of this bike promotes a true off-roader style.

This bike is taller and has more ground clearance, longer strokes, front suspension, true off-road-style tires, and a bench-style seat. The Tenere 700 can take on extreme off-road challenges. However, it may not be the ideal bike for city traveling.

Capability and versatility are two different things. It would not be fair to say that the Transalp 750 is more capable than the Tenere 700. We established in the previous section that the Transalp is more on-road capable than the Tenere 700, while the Tenere 700 is more off-road capable.

On the other hand, when it comes to versatility, the Transalp 750 is much more capable of multiple riding conditions.

The Honda XL750 Transalp is a perfect motorcycle for multiple riding situations:

• City Traveling : Being a superior on-road bike, the Transalp 750 performs like an ideal daily commuter for traveling within the city.
• Long-Distance Touring : Another perfect feature of the Transalp is its long-distance capability. It can be comfortably used for long miles.
• Highway Cruising : You will not feel any difference as you move from city to highway on this bike. The Transalp ensures superior highway performance.
• Off-Roading : It doesn’t fall short in the off-roading department, either. The Transalp 750 is equally fun and exciting to ride in off-road conditions.
  
  

All these capabilities make the Honda Transalp 750 one of the most versatile motorbikes currently available in the market.

The Yamaha Tenere 700 is not as versatile as the Transalp 750. It is not a better and more comfortable road bike. However, it doesn’t mean you cannot use this bike on the road.

The Tenere 700 may be less versatile and not a true dual-purpose ADV bike; it is designed for pure off-road adventures, and its off-road capability is much more than that of the Transalp 750.

The Tenere 700 is a superior off-road bike. However, it does not mean the Transalp 750 cannot be used for such adventures. You will be astonished to know that it doesn’t lack anything to be a perfect off-road bike.

Considering the Transalp 750 is an adventure bike, it does almost everything off-road as you expect from an ADV motorcycle. The Transalp 750’s seat height and ground clearance are not short; they are only marginally shorter than the Tenrere 700.

You can comfortably take this bike for moto camping and to ride on dirt trails. The Honda Transalp 750 will not disappoint you at all.

This is where the Yamaha Tenere 700 shines. When it comes to pure off-road performance, the Tenere 700 is incomparable to the Transalp 750. It is not only taller and has better ground clearance, but it also provides much more confidence and control in off-road riding.

It is comparatively slimmer and has more off-road-oriented engine performance. The tires installed on the Tenere 700 are also more knobby and chubby, providing better traction in challenging off-road conditions.

The Yamaha Tenere 700 doesn’t shy away from any challenging situation it faces on dirt trails. The bike is designed and geared for better off-road performance.

The Tenere 700 also comes with a standard engine guard for extreme off-road conditions. However, according to most reviewers, the skid plate isn’t good enough to keep up with the difficult off-road conditions.

It depends on your preferences and likings. Considering the overall style, character, and persona, the Yamaha Tenere 700 is more attractive than the Transalp. It has a rugged design, commanding stature, and an iconic style, making it unique.

The Pirelli® Scorpion® Rally STR tires installed on the Tenere 700 make it an eye-catching off-roader. The front-end style of this bike makes it easily identifiable.

The iconic and flashing Yamaha Blue color scheme also makes it a more appealing bike.

On the contrary, the Honda Transalp 750 looks just like another adventure bike. It is not extraordinarily bulky and heavy like high-end ADV motorcycles. Instead, it features a relatively smarter overall look and dimensions.

The Metzler Karoo Street tires installed on the Transalp 750 are adequately knobby to provide a perfect blend of on- and off-road performance. This bike's design is considerably simple, focusing more on performance.

The Honda Transalp 750 has a bigger engine than the Tenere 700. However, both these bikes fall under the middleweight category. The Transalp 750’s engine is newer than the Tenrere 700; however, it is a great milestone for Honda.

The Transalp 750’s 24.5º parallel-twin, liquid-cooled engine produces a horsepower of 83 hp at 9,500 rpm and a torque of 74.97 Nm at 7,250 rpm. It is faster than the Tenere 700, having a top speed of 127 mph.

The Transalp 750 also ensures a fuel mileage of 55 mpg, thanks to the programmed fuel injection.

On the contrary, the Tenere 700 is also equipped with a parallel-twin, liquid-cooled engine, having a displacement size of 689 cc. The engine delivers a horsepower of 72.1 hp at 9,000 rpm and a torque of 68 Nm at 5,500 rpm.

The Yamaha Tenere 700 is capable of reaching a top speed of 115 mph. It is also quite an economical bike, ensuring a fuel mileage of 53.3 mpg. This bike also features fuel injection technology.

The Honda Transalp 750 is a much more comfortable bike than the Yamaha Tenere 700.

The stock seat on the Transalp is a hundred times more comfortable. By looking at both these bikes, you can see that the Transalp has a much wider step-up seat with more padding than the Tenere 700.

The riding position is ideal for comfortable rides. You can easily sit in an upright riding position, and the handlebars are within comfortable reach. The foot controls are also in a perfect spot for switching to the stand-up riding mode during off-roading.

The wind protection is also better on the Transalp 750. The superior comfort is what makes the Transalp 750 ideal for long-distance touring.

The Tenere 700 is not ideally designed for comfort. The stock seat on this bike is a rally-style seat. It is a single-piece bench-style narrow saddle that allows you to switch your position easily while off-roading.

Riding the Tenere 700 becomes uncomfortable after 20 minutes. However, it is built this way to ensure better off-road performance.

Being one of the tallest adventure motorcycles also makes it unsuitable for shorter riders. With a taller seat height of 34.4 inches, it is quite difficult to maneuver this bike within the city, particularly in stop-and-go traffic.

The Yamaha Ténéré 700 has a clear edge over the Honda Transalp 750 in the suspension department. It features a fully adjustable 43 mm upside-down front fork, offering an 8.3 inches front wheel travel.

The rear mono-shock is also preload adjustable with rebound damping and a remote adjuster, providing wheel travel of 7.9 inches. The adjustability and wheel travel figures are considerably better than the Transalp for a better off-road experience.

Conversely, the Honda Transalp 750 comes with a 43 mm Shows SFF-CA upside-down telescopic front fork. The front fork offers no damping adjustability and a wheel travel of 7.9 inches. The rear Pro-Link® Showa mono-shock has a spring preload adjustability option and a wheel travel of 7.5 inches.

The differences between the wheel travel figures may seem insignificant on paper. However, the difference is quite evident as you ride both these bikes, particularly while off-roading. The Tenere 700 effectively deals with bumps and other obstacles whether you are traveling on paved or unpaved terrains.

The Transalp 750 has a better weight distribution and center of gravity, making it easy to handle and maneuver. You can easily move this bike in the parking lot.

You can do much more with the Honda Transalp 750. This bike feels quite smoother on the road. It performs like a perfect street motorcycle on the road. You can comfortably lean on this bike without compromising the stability.

The Tenere 700 is not as good as the Transalp when it comes to handling and maneuverability on paved roads. It is much taller, and the center of gravity isn’t centered low, making it difficult to ride on twisty roads.

However, the Tenere 700 offers more flexibility and control regarding maneuverability in off-road terrains.

The Transalp 750 is the better bike regarding tech package and electronics. If you prefer ride customizability options and modern tech features, the Transalp is a modern bike in an affordable package.

The Honda Transalp 750 features the following tech package:

• Throttle-by-Wire
• Five Selectable Ride Modes (Rain, Gravel, Standard, Sport, and Rider Customizable)
• ABS
• Rear-Wheel ABS Deactivation Option
• Honda Selectable Torque Control (HSTC)
• Slipper & Assist Clutch
• Quick Shifter
• Under the Seat USB-C Port
• 5-inch Horizontal TFT Screen Display
• Self-Cancelling Turn Signals

Despite costing $800 more than the Transalp 750, the Yamaha Tenrere 700 is a simple motorbike with no such features. This bike only features:

• Switchable ABS

• The ABS can be turned off for both wheels

• The ABS can be turned off for the rear wheel

• 5-inch Vertical TFT Screen Display

Overall, the Honda Transalp 750 is a much better bike, capable of doing so many things. It is more comfortable, produces more power output, has a better seat, and is a superior on-road bike. It is a highly versatile ADV motorcycle that can be used as a tourer, highway cruiser, daily commuter, and city traveler.

On the other hand, we have the Tenere 700, which is definitely a better bike for off-roading. It offers great control and maneuverability while overcoming challenging terrain.

If you want a motorbike capable of everything, the Transalp 750 is a clear winner. It is not like you can’t do superior off-roading with the Transalp 750. You will be amazed to see how well it performs even while off-roading.

Although the Tenere 700's off-road performance may not be as superior, it can do everything that almost 90 percent of adventure riders want from their adventure bikes.

On the contrary, if you crave exceptional off-road performance like a dirt bike, you should pick the Tenrere 700. This bike is quite popular for its off-road capability and can also perform decently on paved roads.