Go Long: Honda XL600V Transalp Restomod

Upfitted Adventure Bike from Bolt Motor Company…  

In 1986, Honda unveiled the XL600V Transalp, mainly at the request of European riders whose desire for adventure bikes and Dakar-styled “trailies” was at an all-time high. The engine was the same 52° liquid-cooled 583cc V-twin that powered the Honda VT500 Ascot and Shadow, and it made 53 horsepower in the big Transalp.

Though the Transalp didn’t sell well in the States and lasted just two years on North American shores, it was a hit in Europe, where it remained in production for more than 20 years.

“Here was a motorcycle that made perfect sense, a multipurpose, go-just-about-anywhere bike that was at home in town, in the country, in the mountains…as a fun and useful piece of transportation it could not be beat.” –Rider

In 2023, the Transalp was reborn as an all-new model, the XL750 Transalp — breathing new life into the Transalp name and lineage — but the vintage versions have a charisma and nostalgic style all their own.

This ’92 Transalp is #61 from our friends at Spain’s Bolt Motor Co., whose 500cc Yamaha RD we recently featured. Many of their builds have more of a road racing style, which should come as no surprise given that their founder is a long-time racer. So this XL600V would be a bit of a departure for them:

“With this Honda Transalp we enter the world of the trails of the 90s; an aesthetic that we are passionate about, but we have never worked with…”

The customer wanted to alter his Transalp quite radically, bringing it into the 21st century with updated suspension, brakes, and electronics…but keep the bike as functional as possible, so that it could be used as a daily rider. So form and function would go hand in hand throughout the build.

In order to bring the braking and suspension up to modern spec, the entire front end from a 2020 Africa Twin was adapted to the 34-year-old adventure bike, featuring floating brake discs and Brembo Gold Series calipers. The Bolt Motor Co. team designed a set of CNC steering yokes and installed enduro-style Renthal handlebars and competition-spec Goodridge lines.

They decided to keep the original clocks but swapped out the OEM headlight for a high-powered LED one, and the bike now features heated grips, handguards, and a modified windscreen to house the rally tower.

The original seat was modified to include a gel supplement so the owner can manage long rides in comfort, and the trimmers at Tapizados Llop upholstered the new padding with heavy-duty waterproof fabric.

The entire engine and electrical system were rebuilt bolt by bolt, and the ignition was tweaked for optimal performance. Some of the work was quite painstaking, for example the exhaust:

“We had to sweat with the exhaust and the collectors. The collectors are completely handmade and we have managed to match them with an Arrow silencer… The sound achieved with this combination is from another world.”

The frame and swingarm were painted gold, and the bike is wearing a Rothmans Honda livery like the Paris-Dakar Africa Twin race bikes of the late 1980s. It’s a scheme that never gets old, always gigging our nostalgia bone.

For anyone who does long trips on varied terrain — which is the supposed raison d’être for adventure bikes like the Transalp — range is always a concern, as filling stations can be few and far between, even in remote areas of Europe. So Bolt Motor Co. fabricated an external aluminum fuel tank that’s mounted at the left rear of the bike and holds an extra 4 liters — about a gallon, which should net the rider an extra 40-50 miles of range.

All in all, this is one of the nicest Transalps we’ve ever seen — a custom restomod that enhances the character, style, silhouette, and performance of the original. Thanks to Bolt’s Mario Rodrigo Martín (@marodmar13) for the gorgeous photographs of the bike. Below you’ll find a full build sheet, and make sure to stay tuned for more builds from Bolt Motor Co.

Build Sheet: #BOLT61

• Motorcycle: Honda Transalp
• Year: 1992
• Engine: Honda powered by Bolt Motor CO.
• Carburetion: Keihin
• Ignition: Honda Electronic
• Clutch: Honda
• Flywheel: Honda
• Front end: Honda Africa Twin 2020 Showa
• Calipers: Brembo Gold
• Discs: Brembo
• Hoses: Goodridge
• Yokes: By Bolt CNC custom
• Tank: Honda
• Headlight support: By Bolt Motor Co.
• Subframe: Honda
• Intake filters: Honda
• Exhaust: By Bolt Motor Co.
• Silent: Arrow
• License plate holder: By Bolt Motor Co.
• Front fender: By Bolt Motor Co.
• Rear suspension: Showa
• Headlight: Latest generation LED
• Taillight: LED light
• Turn signals: Honda
• Tires: Michelin
• Electronics: Honda
• Electricity: Racing wiring
• Seat: Tapizados LLop
• Paint: Airbrush Custom
• Footpegs: Puig
• Footrest: Puig
• Grips: Bitwell
• Mirrors: Highsider

Follow the Builder

• Website:  www.boltracer.com
• Instagram @boltmotorcompany
• Facebook: boltmotorcompany
• Photography: Mario Rodrigo Martín (@marodmar13)

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