Yahoo....new moto for the old guy....

[bk2valve]

I was able to pickup a friend's 1990 Honda XL600V Transalp! This is a model that I have wanted since this same guy bought his first one in Alaska in 1996...a 1989 model. In the case of him buying his first...I threatened to buy it if he didn't and he was in love with it, so he scraped the bux together to get it...we loaned him the last few bux...<br><br>Now what goes around, comes around and I was offered this one, his third. Something for those who might care...this bike is in the hands of the fourth owner and all were sober AA members...kinda cute.<br><br>This bike was only brought to the US for two years due to Mother Honda's endless wisdom..(<img src="/images/boards/smilies/rolleyes.gif" class="emoticon bbc_img">) <br><br>It has been popular all over the rest of the world through 2007 and starting as a 600cc, a 650cc, and last a 700cc. This along with it's big brother the Africa Twin, a larger 750cc adventure tourer that was never brought here and much coveted by a lot of U.S. riders.<br><br>It is in southern Texas and I won't have it til I go down and trailer it home...plenty happy old man!<br><br>This is not the exact bike but close....same year :<br><br>Edited for spelling, etc.<br><br>

 

[Lostinspace]

Nice looking bike.&nbsp; How much does it weigh?<BR><BR>Congratulations.

 

[bk2valve]

Thanks Wade, <br><br>390#<br>Bri

 

[Bodhi]

VERY SWEET!!!!! <br><br>I am a huge fan of Japanese Bikes of the 80s!&nbsp; I have: 1981 Suzuki GS1000G, (2) 1982 Honda 450T Hawks and a 1985 Kawasaki 1100 LTD b2...&nbsp; all of which I love... but... I fear... they may not be conducive to my nomadic life choices for my future.<br><br>This is a specific model that I didn't even know was out there and that is saying a lot... because I am always looking on eBay and CraigsList and anywhere I can for these kinds of bikes.&nbsp; Originally, I thought I was a cruiser type rider... then I discovered the "not quite crotchety rockety" bikes of the 80s!&nbsp; At that point I sold my 1994 Honda Shadow and haven't looked back since.<br><br>With a little envy,<br>Bodhi

 

[bk2valve]

Thanks Bodhi...I am pretty stoked alright...<br><br>Nice stable of bikes...I hope you are able to store them or at least a couple for a while....it is harder and harder to find these gems as there are buyers who are scooping up cargo containers full of certain models and shipping them either back to Japan or off to Europe, etc. for collectors and restoration.<br><br>My idea is to not be too certain that whatever a person decides to do with their life, they will be doing forever. <br><br>I hear a lot on here about how someone is NEVER going back to stix and brix and I am willing to bet that most of those boasts will be changing in the not too very distant future....We all change and if we don't we just become rigid and stuck by our own rules.....the nature of existence is change...<br><br>It is amazing how quickly anything from love, to age, to health changes a persons needs and desires...<br><br>Luck,<br>Bri&nbsp;

 

[RAILROADGREEN]

hey bri, nice bike!!! you sure have a wide open space's there in new mexico . to ride till you&nbsp;die!! be carefull old guy!! .gary

 

[bk2valve]

Thanks Gary....yeah, I love it out here in NM.&nbsp; If I don't be careful I won't get to be an old-er guy..LOL<br>You too,<br>Bri

 

[Seraphim]

*sigh*. You're making me reminisce about my Honda CBX...

 

[bk2valve]

Wow, a CBX....a serious piece of machinery....too much moto for my abilities and old man reflexes...<br><br>Well bro, maybe time to start looking....they are around....<br>Bri

 

[weestrom05]

<br><br><br>Bri, fantastic bike, you will have may miles of bug eating pleasure from it.<br>It puts you in the same class of bike as Wade and I with the v stroms. Are you going to put the hack on it?<br><br>Curt<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br>br

 

[weestrom05]

Bri, its against the rules to Trailer that bike. have Kit take you down and ride it home. or maybe take the greyhound to Texas and ride it back to New Mexico.<br>Curt

 

[bk2valve]

Hey Curt, Thanks. Yeah I am going to torch some tanks on that lil' bugger. And I know about about the trailer rule...I hope it doesn't get pissed off at me...I need to be careful or folks will think I'm a Hardley Ableson guy....<br>I don't think a bus services Terlingua and I hate to ride a bike until I get it home and go through it...If I can wait until April I can ride down with the PO. Kit is far too busy with work....<br><br>Oh well,<br><br>I think I will leave it solo til I can come up with a good hack for it...I would like to not do any mods on the bike that will prevent me from riding it solo if I take the hack off it....<br>Bri

 

[bk2valve]

Here is something entertaining with Transalps and sidehacks....<br><br><br><br>bri

 

[weestrom05]

what are you waiting for? they are cool. &nbsp;Curt

 

[Les H]

Very cool for you , dood! And the aa history is a nice touch as well. Enjoy it, but be carefull, we still have a f t f to try to work out!

 

[bk2valve]

Curt....I know...it's too long a story for here...but once I get to it, it will be all the sweeter....<br>Bri

 

[bk2valve]

Hey Les...thnx...yeah I thought it was kinda cool too....and I have been careful this long...prolly will from now on...I have actually entertained the thought that Big Bend is on the way to Daytona for Bike Week....that would be a cool first ride on the little heifer...who knows what the Shadow knows...<br>Bri

 

[minimotos95]

Congrats man, i would take one in a heartbeat. If i remember right they were the first "adventure" bikes sold to the public

 

[weestrom05]

Daytona is only a 2 hr drive from me. &nbsp;I usually go to the track &nbsp;on &nbsp;Saturday to check out the new rides. Let me know if you decide to come. Curt

 

[bk2valve]

Minimotos95, I think that the BMW R80 G/S had that distinction in 1980, then the Honda NX650 Dominator came along in 88 just before the Alp came over in 89.<br><br>When my friend that I am buying this bike from bought his first Alp (1996) I had a 1989 BMW R100GS and he found an old bike mag comparo article between the R100GS and the Transalp...the Transalp came out on top in the article and he was never to let me forget it...hahaha.<br><br>Of course I called him a Beemer guy wannabe. He has since owned and ridden a bunch of Beemers and now rides an old K1100LT with 190K+ miles on it and a nice old R80ST. He just bought a K75...hence selling me the Alp...reluctantly. He is also going to put the KLT up for sale pretty soon as well.....he has done a long stint as a BMWMOA Ambassador so he is officially a Beemer guy...A very high miler of one as well. Now he is a rally-rat and goes to BMW rallies all over the country....every summer putting in mega miles. My good riding buddy in Alaska days...we did some pretty good miles together including many with my wife riding her own bikes.<br><br>Curt, I will definitely let you know if I go over that way...in a lifetime of riding I have never attended or wanted to attend any of the bike weeks, north or south but figure that I really should at least once...<br>Thanks,<br>Bri<br> <br><br>