It's been well over 1,000 miles since I had the Honda Transalp suspension rebuilt & modified by K Tech, so I thought it was time for a review. The stock Transalp suspension is OK for steady use, very soft and not terribly well damped. It makes the bike very comfortable when you first jump on for a test ride etc, but when you start to press-on the limitations become apparent. Following a very brisk run out I realised I needed to get the suspension sorted ASAP to get the best out of the tranny. After a LOT of homework I decided to go down the K Tech route, mostly because they are a UK based company, but also because I had used their products before on other bikes. They also have a range of specific Transalp suspension parts that other places don't have. The first job is to get the suspension off the bike, this involves a fair bit of work and some cunning ballancing on the centrestand with the aid of a bike lift. We decided to take the suspension down to K Tech in Derbyshire ouselves as it was an excuse for a night away. I had a very nice chat with Michael Hancock who is the workshop supervisor, we talked about the style of riding, weight, passengers, luggage etc - every variable that would affect the suspension. After we had agreed on what I was after, I left them to it. A week later and the package arrived at home and was installed the same day. As it was stock suspension (Showa) it all re-fitted with ease. The rear shock had been re-sprung to suit my weight and the damping shim stack modified to suit the new spring rate and my riding style. The front forks also got re-sprung to suit my weight & riding style, had their damping modified to suit and had K Tech's own RVS valves fitted, which gives even better damping control.
The difference is night and day! The tranny is now much firmer, but not overly firm, the damping is smooth & progressive in both compression and rebound giving much greater control. The bike now handles superb, steers sharply and holds a line beautifully. Bumpy roads are not an issue due to the increased damping keeping everything in check. Brake dive has massively reduced, allowing you to really pin the tranny's front wheel to the road. It allows you to brake much harder than before without fear of bottoming out, as it had done in the past. General comfort has improved (virtually no wallowing) and the bike is just a pleasure to ride. It was a big investment, but it's been worth absolutely every penny and has completely transformed my Transalp!
