Adventure bikes didn’t just get popular. They exploded. Riders wanted comfort, range, and the confidence to handle anything from highway miles to a surprise gravel road. Early on the segment leaned hard on heavyweight bruisers like the first Ducati Multistrada or BMW’s R 1200 GS. Those bikes were incredible but also big, tall, and a little intimidating if you weren’t already deep into the lifestyle.
Over time, however, the market shifted toward middleweights because they’re easier to handle, easier to live with, and still have more than enough performance for most riders. That’s why the mid-cc ADV is now the default choice for so many folks.
Honda sits right at the center of that shift. The brand built its adventure reputation on reliability and usability more than shock value. The Transalp name has always represented the friendlier side of adventure riding. It’s the bike you take everywhere without thinking twice. And in the UK, Honda just dropped a new twist on it with a special edition called the SP.
Error 503 Backend fetch failed
Backend fetch failed
Guru Meditation:
XID: 100880169
Varnish cache server
Unlike the SP variants of the Fireblade and the Hornet, the Transalp doesn't really get any performance upgrades. It's really just an aesthetics package that plays into one of the strongest forces in motorcycling today: the retro tax. Anything that taps into old school rally vibes or '90s graphics instantly becomes more desirable and usually more expensive. People love nostalgia and they love bikes that look like they were ripped straight out of a Paris Dakar VHS tape.
That’s why the SP’s styling is the real show here. You get a white base splashed with red and purple graphics that scream early HRC off-road energy. There’s an SP badge on the side of the tank, gold edges on the spoked rims, and that long front mudguard wearing the same retro theme. It’s loud, playful, and full of character. If you’ve ever loved an old XR or early Transalp, the look hits you right in the feelings.
Underneath the costume though it’s just the regular Transalp. Same 755cc parallel twin with the same horsepower and torque figures. Same chassis. Same electronics. Same everything. Honda did bolt on a few factory accessories to sweeten the deal. You get engine guards, wraparound crash bars, and a bash plate under the motor. It’s practical kit but still very much bolt-on gear rather than mechanical upgrades.
It also sticks with a manual transmission only. There’s no E-Clutch here even though the feature is already rolling out on the platform through the CB750 Hornet and the next generation of the Transalp shown at EICMA. The SP keeps things simple because the whole point is the aesthetic. That’s the hook.
In the end this special edition isn’t pretending to be something it’s not. It’s just a Transalp in a slick retro outfit with a couple of adventure accessories tossed in. But that alone makes it appealing because styling matters. Riders love bikes that look cool in the garage and even better on the trail. And for a lot of folks, this SP package hits that sweet nostalgic spot without changing what already works underneath.
Source: MCN
