EICMA 2025

2026 Honda XL750 Transalp

The 2026 Honda XL750 Transalp is unveiled at EICMA equipped exclusively with the innovative E-Clutch electronically controlled clutch. This technology allows the bike to be ridden without using the clutch lever, which remains present. Other new features for the 2026 model year include the sump guard, now standard, and the fully adjustable Showa suspension. The 2026 Honda XL750 Transalp is Euro 5+ compliant. Its parallel-twin engine develops 92 hp and 75 Nm, but a 35 kW version is also available for A2 license holders. The Throttle-by-Wire system offers six riding modes, two of which are fully customizable. 

The rider can choose between five levels of HSTC traction control integrated with wheelie control, three levels of power delivery, and three levels of engine braking. The frame is steel, while the braking system features 310 mm front discs with two-piston calipers. Completing the list of technical highlights are 21-inch spoked wheels at the front and 18-inch spokes at the rear.

Honda XL750 Transalp 2026 now gets the E-Clutch system as standard. You can still see and use the left-hand lever, but the electronics take care of engagement and disengagement on their own. The middleweight adventure bike wants to offer day-to-day ease along with weekend trails. The update keeps the Transalp’s friendly nature intact while adding a layer of calm in traffic and on rough climbs.

Another good point. Thanks to the ergonomic design of the controls, the horn no longer takes up half the available space. Efforts to improve daily life on board are well underway, with a USB socket and luggage rack as standard, smartphone-bike interaction via Bluetooth, automatic turn signals, an upright, natural riding position that also allows you to stand up off-road, and almost 17 liters of fuel on board - enough to ride for a good while without having too much weight in the tank.

Not glop: the seat is a little high, at 850 mm; the bubble is not adjustable; the handguards and engine cover are optional; and the USB is located under the seat; it would have been more practical to fit it in the cockpit. However, the space is available...as an option.

With the E-Clutch you can focus more on throttle, lines and body position, especially when threading through stop-start traffic or tackling a rutted climb. Purists may miss the constant lever work, but the lever is still there for those moments you want manual control, like tight downhill hairpins or slow technical sections.

Under the bodywork sits the same Euro 5+ compliant 755cc parallel twin, producing 91bhp and 75Nm. The throttle-by-wire system brings six riding maps, two of which you may customise. There are five levels of HSTC traction control with built-in wheelie control plus three power and three engine-brake settings.The 755 cm3 produces 91.8 hp at 9500 rpm. The maximum torque value is a little lower, at 7250 rpm, where it reaches 7.7 mkg. Even if the internal ribs are super-square, Honda has worked hard to ensure a responsive response at low and mid-range speeds, i.e. the most demanding ranges for this type of machine.

As on the Hornet, the engine benefits from Unicam technology to achieve a compact cylinder head, optimized "Vortex Flow Ducts" intake feeding 46 mm throttle bodies, liquid cooling, 4 valves per cylinder, a limited-slip clutch and 270° timing to give it character. However, throttle control is less "sporty" on the trail than on the roadster.

Let's put our finger gently where it hurts. A trail bike has to be light. This is a sine qua non if you want to go anywhere. This isn't really the case here, with the bike claiming a full 210 kilos (E5+ put 2 kilos on it). That's a long way from a CRF 300 L...but still 6 units less than the 700 of another era.

Yet this is hardly surprising, given that the Transalp is in the (low) middle of the pack: 204 kilos for the Yam Ténéré or theAprilia 660 Tuareg, then....230 kilos for the 800 V-Strom, 227 for the 750 GS..

Whatever the protagonist, an enduro-style game is out of the question. However, the Honda's part-cycle keeps the exploration theme alive. The front wheel measures 21 inches, the universal size to get you where you want to go. Its 9 cm-wide tire will allow you to carve your furrow and engage as you should. The rear also boasts the right dimensions for a real trail bike, with a 150 over 18 inches. All mounted on spoked rims, of course.

Fully adjustable Showa suspension is now part of the standard kit, helping riders dial in preload, compression and rebound as loads change. The steel frame keeps the sense of durability and the new standard skid plate protects the underbelly from knocks. Braking continues with twin 310mm front discs and dual-piston callipers, while 21-inch front and 18-inch rear spoked wheels are for clearly for mixed-surfaces. The package rolls out with fresh colourways and exclusive graphics for 2026.

by Autonews