If you want to do a world trip then sure....they are made for it
http://www.tokyotolondon.com/If you are too lazy....
BIKES - The two Honda TransAlps were purchased second-hand in Tokyo.....Both the TransAlps are 400cc models (XL400V), available only in Japan.......The Honda TransAlp has been in production since 1987 and has proved to be a remarkably reliable, but somewhat unfashionable adventure machine. Its not a bike for pure off-roading, but is a classic dual purpose bike built for world travel. When you ride around the world 90% of your miles are on sealed roads, so you need a bike that is comfortable on sealed road, and capable enough to get you across the dirt roads, while sturdy enough to carry sufficient luggage. With the Transalp, the frame is solid and the engine is quite simply beyond peer for reliability. Its not as light (nor as flimsy) as the likes of the Dominator, nor is it as bulky and heavy as the larger adventure bikes, such as the Africa Twin, Super Tenere, Triumph Tiger or the BMW R1100, 1150 bikes. Unfortunately since the death of Mr Honda in 1991, Honda have been less than adventurous in terms of their engineering. In the late 1980s, under his stewardship the TransAlp and its larger brother the Africa Twin were introduced. By 2000, the Africa Twin was on the way out, and Honda changed the styling of the TransAlp to more of a street bike and closed the manufacturing line in Japan. The bike has since been manufactured in Spain, and as you would expect, the quality is not as good. Despite rumours, there seems to be no genuine replacement for the Transalp and Africa Twin of the early 1990s in sight. Its ironic that the popularity of dual purpose motorcycles has taken off just as all four large Japanese motorcycle manufacturers have pulled out. In the early 1990s, quality equipment was available from Suzuki, Kawasaki, Honda, Yamaha, Cagiva and of course BMW. Now, with the Africa Twin out of production, the current TransAlp more of a street bike, Yamaha's Tenere and Super Tenere out of production, the Kawasaki Tengai out of production, and Suzuki's current bike, the V-Strom, not even offering spoked wheels, BMW quite literally own the market, as the only major adventure touring bike manufacturer.
The bikes we took were really fantastic. Only complaints we have for Honda is about the weak fairing mounts and the back brake pads needed to be larger. The engines were outstanding: 10 out of 10. They started straight away every time, even in -10 degrees, even after 3 weeks locked in a Siberian Policeman's shed in sub-zero temperatures. Didn't use a drop of oil for the entire journey in either bike! Nor did we have to change any chains or sprockets until we got to Helsinki, 75% of the way through the trip. If low maintenance is your priority, a pre 2000 TransAlp is impossible to beat. "
cheers
Andy
