Show us your TransAlp modifications!

[Boon Booni]

Originally Posted by mas335

"b" is out becasue you bought a OEM Honda filter ( right?)

Yep, genuine Honda.

My though is perhaps one of the previous owners had the wrong filter in there and distorted the airbox.

[mas335]

That was another thought that I had but that would take some doing. I'm gonna blame the K&N filter length for "deforming" the air box. You never think about a stucture, in this case the air box, as being a critical component for a filter to fit right but if the air box width expands or too much seal material is added around that lid then that filter won't contact that inner intake seal.

Kind of like that valve cover screw I mentioned earlier, the length of the machined shoulder on the screw body determines just the right amount of valve cover gasket seal compression. It limits you from over tightening the seal and possibly cutting it while at the same time putting the right amount of compression on the seal to keep it from leaking, that is as long as the seal is new.

[GSPD750]

I can now officially join in on this thread with the aquisition of a 1996 XL600v-T that I brought over from Germany last week. Yes, working for a major airline here in Canada has it's privlages. My Africa Twin now has a little sister.
A colleague in Frankfurt who works air cargo was also very instrumental in making this happen with transport of the bike in his van to pick it up from the seller 135 kms south of Frankfurt. This coworker also owns an Africa Twin.

After a whirlwind visit with 2 nights stay at a hotel near FRA I was on my way back to Calgary with the TA on the same Airbus A330 as me....and some German Xmas cakes and chocolates. I didn't forget the 1 liter bottle of Crown Royal either.
The bike I came home with was my first choice with 19,500 kms and in the end the seller held it for me which simplified things further with no need to look at a backup '95 TA 30 kms down the road. Another buying feature was that it was already lowered with a kit and custom dished out seat. Forks also lowered in the triple clamps. This will make it easy for my family members to ride once they've had a motorcycle course.

So...needless to say I'm stoked and I'm going to have fun with this bike. Did I mention it was clean? I don't think it's ever been through a mud puddle.

Ok...pics.

Dangerous goods have to be x-rayed.








I did it! It's in my garage. Of course after I paid taxes and a brokerage fee.




And clean it is...













I had to bring it to my buddys m'cycle shop for a required government inspection in order to get it registered....another fee.









Anyone care to comment on this suspension link. It was said by the previous owner that it lowered the bike 22 mm.
Also seen in the pic is the custom shorted sidestand which was fabricated with threaded ready rod and a jam nut. It was actually not a bad weld but the rod did not hold up for the flight over and was bent. Rod is removed in the pic. First repair/mod to do.







Soooo....I've got plenty of time this winter to dress the girl up. Probably start with tires as they are old and hard. I need some ideas for a luggage system. Not sure what yet. Centerstand would be nice...but damn she's pretty low already. I might be plowing the fields with it. Some heated grips and a tankbag might be on order too.

Any ideas...chime in please.

[Jim Rowley]

Originally Posted by GSPD750

Wayne, your battery fluid is low.

[GSPD750]

Originally Posted by Jim Rowley

Wayne, your battery fluid is low.

Damn...those forks look bent too.

Funny you mentioned that because my buddy had to boost it in the shop...what's another 100 bucks.

[Ladder106]

Wayne, I gotta say, that is the very first motorcycle MRI that I've ever seen. Now every good shop will want one and the price of motorcycle diagnostics will sky-rocket.

The machine is a beauty. Best model TA, I think. Good choice..

I think you should start an import business

[klausdorth]

Yeah, good idea!!

Anyone out there who wants my TA???

It's negotiable, within limits of course.
But then again, maybe I don't want to sell it - who really knows.
Guess it is all a question of $$$$$ !!
Anyways, very good-looking bike you got there.
"Those Germans" know how to take care of valuable things!!

[Ruan]

Congratulations for bike. Looks awsome.

[GSPD750]

Originally Posted by klausdorth

Yeah, good idea!!

Anyone out there who wants my TA???

It's negotiable, within limits of course.
But then again, maybe I don't want to sell it - who really knows.
Guess it is all a question of $$$$$ !!
Anyways, very good-looking bike you got there.
"Those Germans" know how to take care of valuable things!!

I was actually looking at Transalps in Japan and it seemed they didn't come cheap with the yen. Also, I could not find an XL600v...only XL400v.
Lot's of 700's but I can only bring in a bike that is over 15 years old.

They certainly have some nice specimens over there including Africa Twins and like the Germans they seem to take care of their stuff well.

TA's
http://www.goobike.com/cgi-bin/fsearch/search.cgi?query=transalp&whence=0&max=50&idxname=gb_bike&sort=price_takai_sort%3ANUMD&q=&phrase=transalp&x=37&y=20


AT's

http://www.goobike.com/cgi-bin/fsear...twin&x=29&y=14

[Schelbi]

Originally Posted by klausdorth

Yeah, good idea!!

Anyone out there who wants my TA???

It's negotiable, within limits of course.
But then again, maybe I don't want to sell it - who really knows.
Guess it is all a question of $$$$$ !!
Anyways, very good-looking bike you got there.
"Those Germans" know how to take care of valuable things!!

This TA is looking really good!!!

"Those Germans"????? Please don't take a look into my garage

[mas335]

Great looking bike, that is one of the best looking color combinations.

I had a 1991 TA with the factory centerstand, if you plan on riding off road it will probably be in the way, it set pretty low with the standard rear suspension height.

Also, since the bike now sits lower getting the bike back on the centerstand will definately be more difficult, you will have to lift the rear end more, with my weight I did not come close to getting the bike on the centerstand by just using the stand pedal.

I have a weekness for the post 1990 silver TA engines.

[Freakdaddy]

Our 23 yr old machines are starting to show their age and the stock DID rims are prone to corrosion which usually starts on the inside. The paranoid person that I am caused me to replace both by Woodies Wheel Worx. They replaced rims with Black Excels,super laced rims to my hubs with extra HD SS spokes, and replaced bearing for @ $900. Costly but beaitiful. Only costs a little more to go 1st class.Don't ask for pics.

[Crash48]

Originally Posted by mas335

Sounds right to me. Did you disconnect and remove the side stand indicator light switch, I don't see it.

I have the 1987 Canadian model... which doesn't appear to have the side stand indicator light switch - it has a rubber foot on the kickstand which is suppose to catch first and pop the stand back into place thus avoiding catastrophy.

[Crash48]

Originally Posted by GSPD750

I can now officially join in on this thread with the aquisition of a 1996 XL600v-T that I brought over from Germany last week. Yes, working for a major airline here in Canada has it's privlages. My Africa Twin now has a little sister.

Welcome... congrats - and wow.
I think I will go fetch a ''99 anniversary model in 2014... but first I am applying for a job at Air Canada Cargo here in Halifax.

[ravelv]

Congratulations! If you have this 15 year registration rule, that's means now US TA fans can start enjoy these newer TA's..
Bike looks exactly like I got mine XL600V-R from Germany- also like new condition with similar mileage, just it was 9 years back.

Suspension link is made by some German company (I cannot recall name now), these show up time by time in ebay.de together with side stand, which, I think, is also made by this company and not user's custom made.

Originally Posted by GSPD750

....

Anyone care to comment on this suspension link. It was said by the previous owner that it lowered the bike 22 mm.
Also seen in the pic is the custom shorted sidestand which was fabricated with threaded ready rod and a jam nut. It was actually not a bad weld but the rod did not hold up for the flight over and was bent. Rod is removed in the pic. First repair/mod to do.