HONDA TL 250 Bials 1975 Project

1st Part: Evaluation

 

TL 250

 

  

TL 250 Bials: 1975 / 76

4-stroke
248cc
9,1:1

16 PS at 8000 
5 speed
Keihin 
99 Kg

 

TL 250 Bials

  

RTL 300 Miller

 

   

 

After happily riding 6 years a Montesa Cota 315, (only changed oil and clutch plates), I sold it to Jürg ( a local hobby trials dealer), where I saw a pic of a twinshock Honda TL with a red frame, without saddle, looking like it should go to the wrecker. "It is a rare 250, engine has been rebuilt for 1500 EUR, but the owner has no time and wants to sell it." OK, interesting, but it's June 2004 and I am looking forward to the new 4 strokers coming soon. Furthermore, I had now more space and I was the proud owner of a perfectly rebuilt Bultaco Sherpa T 250 mod 1968, bought first hand by my father Mark at that time.

In November I could have a first ride on a new Honda 4 RT and I was so excited about the 4 stroke, that I ordered it. I became infected from the 4 stroke virus, great sound, super elastic engine, each throttle was fun, especially long hills.

Xmas time was coming and I rememberd the pic from the half rebuilt TL 250. I was curious about it and Jürg gave me the telefon number. Peter, the owner told me, that it was a TL 250, which was imported by Honda fan in 1975 from USA to Switzerland and was even immatriculated for street. He had been using it as a winter commuter (!), therefore some rust from the salt, but the engine had been completely rebuilt in 1989, and bored to 325cc, the frame was powder coated. He had no time to finish the project and for trials it was to heavy. He was now doing motocross with his kids.

OK, why not have a look? Maybe a "trouvaille"? First shock. Spokes, engine covers, etc looked terrible cause of winter salt eatin in the metal, aluminium tank had many small dings. Saddle, side covers, chain tensioner, cables were missing. Muffler was rusted and silencer not original, shocks stiff, no chain. Fork had no oil inside and was stiff, funny feeling. Positive was the nice powder coated frame, some parts chromed. Engine was running and sounded mechanically good. Because of the missing chain and cables, I could not try the beast...

nice frame
silencer rusty
alu tank was ball treated and had many small dings
kicker fom XL250, peg has to be folded for starting
 

nicely chromed brake lever, engine holders, base plate

 

silencer not original, rusty
shocks are hard
saddle missing

 

cable maze
rusty sprocket cover
engine covers eaten from winter salt
(is it holding the oil?)
 

 

 

 

 

Alu mudguards

holder from XL

fork without oil...?

rusty spokes
 

 

  
     

The road licence was no more valid since 1983, bills for engine revision from 1989 of 2000CHF (1500 EUR). I was roughly calculating the material costs, til I could ride twinshock trials: Price asked by the owner x2 =  5000-6000 CHF (4000EUR). Could I get all the parts I needed? I had no clou, how the Honda was like in trials sections. After 20 years, the engine could have some broken seals or the piston was not for trials use, but rather enduro.

I needed time to think about it...

Positive:

4-Stroke legend
In Switzerland and Europe a rare bike, 4000 units sold in USA & Australia
Road licence could be used to immatriculate it agian as an oldtimer
Engine sounded mechanically nicely
Engine bored to "325"cc, was not seen in the rebuilt bills, probably a XL 350 piston, could be 300cc

Power of about 16hp quite strong for a 4 stroker (compared to 8hp for a TL125 or 12hp  for a TLR 200)
Frame powder coated in red (was it rusty underneath?)
Some parts chromed
Was not used off road, base plate was like new

Negative:

Saddle missing
No original muffler, problem for immatriculation
Alu tank with little dings
Weight of at least 99 Kg was ca 5 Kg heavier than competition (Bultaco, Montesa), therefore in orginal trim not very good at trials
No clou about engine characteristics. Was there torque at low revs or rather enduro like at top revs ?
Many parts in shabby condition or missing, where to get them?
Final costs difficult to estimate
No space in garage
My family will think I got crazy to buy such a wreck

 

Conclusion: Forget it !  

 

Rather buy for 4000 EUR a Triumph Tiger Cub (Pre 65, light, alle parts available in England) or a Honda TLR 250.

Then xmas time arrived with browsing in the internet, Ebay, looking at pics  again I shot from the TL 250...

I had never seen yet a Honda TL 250 at an AFATA Twinshock Trial in France. TL 125, bored to 200, TLR 200, 220 und 250 were around. Jean Caillou had a works RTL 305 Marland Whaley and even a Lejeune RTL 360. A TL 250 would be a rare thing...

 

Part 2: Rebuilding