The Transalp came arrived on our shores in the form of a 600cc many, many moons ago. It was then replaced with a 650cc model that was available up until late 2007. The newer model Transalp, with the Deauville based engine, is a real gem. The fuel injected 680cc engine purrs along at freeway speeds and sometimes, should the right hand develop urges of its own, a whole lot faster!

Buying one straight off the showroom floor, there are little ideas flowing through the heads of buyers. To most, it’s merely a road bike or commuter. To some, it’s the samurai sword to their next adventure… just a couple of dreams away!

Farkling (a term used for fitting extras onto your new motorcycle) a Transalp seems pretty straight forward and indeed it is. But choosing the right components for the job at hand is crucial.

The screen is probably one of the most important comfort features - riding with too low a screen creates turbulence around the helmet, having the neck and head weave from side to side. This is annoying and can create rider fatigue really quickly. The solution: an MRA screen with an extender. The extender is adjustable to a point where it should be able to set your custom wind deflection to have you riding at a comfortable speed.

Riding off-road has its dangers to you and you new found motorcycle. There is going to come a time where you are bound to drop it. Maybe not hard and not fast, but as soon and you get those first scratches on you new boney, it’s always a heart sore matter. There are a couple of crash bars available for the Transalp such as the Givi, Kappa and SW-Motec stables. They provide decent crash and engine protection, but let’s face it, they won’t protect the bike fully. Also there is a lack of handlebar and lever protection on new bikes these days. Handguards such as Barkbusters could save your levers in the long run.

Aftermarket pegs are definitely needed. The stock pegs are rubberised and do an appalling job at keeping the rider in the standing position. There are aftermarket pegs available from Hepco & Becker as well as FASTWAY, just to name but a few.

Having your engine breathe and get rid of the restrictive gasses often helps for fuel economy, but then mostly you will have a gain in exhaust noise. Some prefer this, they say loud pipes save lives, but there’s also the issue of noise pollution in some places that you would normally consider riding. Remember this when opting for a loud exhaust system. Most of them have inserts available that lower the decibel readings and make it quite easy to ride in some areas stealthily.

On the pannier side, you need to decide what works best. Some of the Kappa panniers are thinner and longer than the Hepco & Becker ones. But usually the aluminium panniers look the part… I guess its function over form? The aluminium boxes are usually stronger and less prone to breaking… and did you know that they provide some crash resistance?

Whether you decide to farkle or not to farkle, the Transalp will fulfil most of the duty that you want it to and now that you know about the accessories available, it makes sense to give the bike a decent look over when looking to buy your next steed.