Digital designer Oberdan Bezzi isn’t just a prolific artist, he also touts encyclopedic knowledge of motorcycling history. Case in point: Bezzi’s latest Honda XL750 Transalp-based concept. Inspired by Big Red’s short-lived XLV750R dual sport, the digital rending fuses Honda’s quirky ‘80s designs with the brand’s prosaic approach as of late.
Only offered between 1983 and 1986, the XLV chose the trail less traveled by dual sports. That included an air-/oil-cooled, 749cc V-twin engine, shaft final drive, and hydraulic tappets. Unfortunately, the model’s 484-pound curb weight and 61 horsepower (at 7000 rpm) undermined its off-road aspirations. Despite those drawbacks, the XLV750R sported a striking Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) livery that remains a stunner.
