1976 Honda TL250: capable vintage trials bike?

[@bobss3704]

Just finished a total rebuild of my TL250 here in Australia, had one back in the day and just love it! Took a while to find some cycle parts mainly from the U.S. Only around 200 were sold here out of about 5000 worldwide total so I'm told. The XL250 and TL250 engines were similar except low ratio gearbox, softer cam, lighter flywheel and smaller 24mm Kei Hin carbie which makes them super tractable and still a fun trials bike even in 2023, Cheers!

[@Garage2Trail]

That’s awesome, would love to see it! Thank you for sharing that info too.

[@normanchoy4075]

hi, by any chance to know the cycle parts seller in usa or australia for honda trials bikes ? I am looking for some parts for my rtl250s '88 model

[@redtobertshateshandles]

One of the local Thirroul guys had a TL250.

[@toddbachman3912]

THOSE.. OLD 2VALVES.. WERE SOME OF THE BEST BIKES HONDA MADE...

[@Garage2Trail]

I agree. So simple, so reliable and so effective.

[@bobss3704]

Actually they are 4 valve same as XL250

[@normanchoy4075]

good to see this rideable bike, like it so much. I did have xl250 and rl250 back in the '70, those are torque bikes that you can not believe, both were scrapped. currently still own a hrc rtl250s '88 model with both disc brakes, amazing bike but a bit heavy for old guy like me at 73 years of age 😂😂😂

[@Garage2Trail]

That’s awesome, I really like the looks of those rtl250s. Thanks for the input and tuning in!

[@LaVernSkarzenski]

Nice video. Back in 1975, I was 24, and still the short 5'4" I am today. My cousin and I were both short and the trail bikes like the XL250 were getting higher seat heights. So much that we could not ride them comfortably. So we both went to trials bikes. I a Suzuki RL250, and he a Honda TL250. We rode them pretty much stock for a year or so before we fitted them with knobby tires. I still have the RL and he gave me the TL to restore a few years ago. I did a pretty decent restoration except for the tires. I fitted it with knobs. I had 2 years prior to that did a reconditioning of my RL and put IRC trials tires on because that is what came on it new. All the mud around here made for slippery riding for me anyway. So I put knobs on the TL. I admit it looks a lot better with trials tires. I may go back to them. Anyway, thanks a bunch for the videos. LaVern

[@Garage2Trail]

That’s awesome, thanks for sharing LaVern! Pretty cool that trials bikes could be trail bikes pretty easily back then with seats and some having lights. I’d love to get my hands on an RL and TY to have a vintage Japanese trials bike shootout.

[@garythompson5576]

Thanks for the. Video brought back a lot of memories. I competed back in the early 70s. Add a lot of fun. Great times I

[@Garage2Trail]

Thanks for watching Gary!

[@peterdenyer133]

I don't recall seeing any TL250s in the UK like yours Only the 125 which we modified to a 150 (Sammy Miller conversion) or to a 180 which a friend did. The 180 was awesome and competitive.

[@Garage2Trail]

I’ll bet that thing felt like a featherweight with gobs of low end too

[@iwb316]

The TL 250 was developed by the legendary Sammy Miller, they were available in the UK. I used to see Miller competing on his in Southern Center Trials events, the people I knew were riding and competing against Miller on Montesa Cota and Bultaco Sherpa.

[@RayBurnett-r9l]

I own a 75 TL250 and ride trails on it in the UK. I enjoyed your video. Thanks. I may be wrong but it looked to me that you had the rear shocks at the softest setting. You can adjust the pre load which will help you.

[@Garage2Trail]

Thanks for watching Ray! Always glad to hear from fellow TL owners. I think I do have it on the softest settings so maybe I’ll try playing with that a bit. The shocks have no rebound control because they are worn out so I’m afraid it might be a violent spring back with stiffer settings! Worth a try though. 🍻

[@Tr3nt9_]

Sweet! That would be a blast to ride

[@Garage2Trail]

Thanks! Yes it is!!

[@shiskinegreenkeeper2782]

Brilliant.... Got 2 TL 125s...and a TL250........and a Seeley 200.......and 2TLR200s..... Great bikes..............

[@Garage2Trail]

Great lineup you got there!

[@Workerbee-zy5nx]

That Honda 4t sounds great. Japan makes some awesome bikes..Japan needs to bring back the 2 strokes...

[@Garage2Trail]

I agree 100%

[@billybobbillybob7598]

I owned at tl 125 and 250. My friends laughed at how slice it was, but I always said when you fall it doesn’t hurt as bad. It would climb anything that you had the nerve to go up. Excellent bikes wish we had never sold them.

[@Garage2Trail]

I always say this thing could climb a tree if it had the traction!

[@marcustaylor9210]

Loverly bike , I had the TL 125 TY250 and TY175 The Yamaha TY175 was very popular but find one today!

[@Garage2Trail]

Thank you! I’ve seen some TY250s but never the 175! I’ll have to get a TY at some point too.

[@AnthonySmith-dk8ys]

I have two TL250's , one I think has never been started and has lights and is from a collection, it's my dream bike for looks, going to put it on display in my living room but can't at the moment get the patio windows open!!!

[@Garage2Trail]

Wow, to find one with the lights is like finding a unicorn! I’d definitely keep that in my living room too!

[@AnthonySmith-dk8ys]

I canned you some photo's if you want??@@Garage2Trail

[@AnthonySmith-dk8ys]

I can send you some photo's if you want??ignore first spelling message??

[@sideswiped6874]

76 TL 350; had one. bought it used in 77 for $600, looked brand new. sold in in 79 and bought a brand-new Sherpa 350 ($1625) not red. 4 strokes are fun for trials, you can go really slow with them and not stall.

[@Garage2Trail]

Nice! I wish they were all still at those prices lol. How did you like the Sherpa? I don’t see many of those.

[@sideswiped6874]

@@Garage2Trail I loved it, it was very stable. my friend had a 74 Yamaha TY250 so I road that too. the Bull's engine would pull gears so much smoother, never feeling peaky. I was not a great trials rider. but I did spend hours riding tight, twisting turns. the Honda taught me that well. by the time I sold it I could do full-floating turns, but not well enough to do in an event. I had it 8 years. I sold it because all my friends stopped riding.

[@esmeben]

Wicked Vid, I always wanted a TL 250 but were never imported into the UK, looks lots of fun.

[@Garage2Trail]

Thank you! Yeah this bike is a blast for just crawling along. It’s like a ball of inertia…takes a brick wall to stall it.

[@drewsimpson5967]

They were certainly imported into the UK. My uncle bought a 250 and a 125 new here in Scotland in about 79/80.

[@10wanderer]

Never saw these in the UK , would of liked one ! they were all 2 strokes

[@ianelmer6087]

thanks for sharing. Yeah, I have three of these in solid working condition!

[@Garage2Trail]

Thanks for watching and chiming in! They are great bikes with classic lines. Don’t see many of them pop up in good condition!

[@redtobertshateshandles]

I noticed the DT muffler. Looks like one anyway. 😂 Great bike. I'm jealous.

[@Garage2Trail]

Wow, good eye! Yeah someone had modified this before I got it. They did a pretty good job too!

[@redtobertshateshandles]

@@Garage2Trail past DT owner and qualified motorcycle mechanic. I've had to burn the carbon out of a few.

[@rayhartley7290]

Great video. Thanks for the ride along. Always wanted one of these and now I got a chance to see how it goes. Interesting with the first 3 gears being that low. I would find the original seat even though the one you have on there looks quite comfy.

[@Garage2Trail]

Thanks! I do have the original seat but don’t think it would fit with that aftermarket fender on the back. First gear is almost unusable for just normal riding and is meant for crawling ever so slowly. It would probably idle up hills in first gear actually

[@Cobra427Veight]

Hey how's it going , I have got 3 complete tl250s and one in bits , I've had mine for 30+ years , I will add to my channel one day I also bought a brand new tank in the 80s or 90s need to do an unboxing vid , and i found a new old stock crankshaft assembly, I bought new original /style mudguards and some side covers , one of my tls has been modified , like Sammy miller's, and it won 3 years national trials . Cheers

[@Garage2Trail]

Hello! I would love to see those and will have to subscribe. That new tank would be something I’d keep on the shelf lol. Probably looks amazing. 🍻

[@mikelyon5595]

I loved mine!

[@Garage2Trail]

It’s a great classic bike!

[@Cobra427Veight]

With your rear shocks have you looked up the cheaper brands you might be able to at least get some dampening . Keep greasing the clutch pivot the wear at the bottom pivot , never throw away that cover , it can be bushed , also don't forget to clean out the crank filter . Cheers .

[@Garage2Trail]

Thanks for the pointers, Cobra! 🍻

[@rochellestanley9532]

Nice bike..

[@Garage2Trail]

Thank you!

[@jeffferguson899]

the spanish (Bultaco, Ossa and Montessa )bikes were considered the best in the 70s . the TYs were a great bike but not quite as advanced or powerful as the euro bikes. Tys were great clubman bikes. I have had 3 or 4 ty250s

[@Garage2Trail]

Good info, thank you! I didn’t even think of those bikes!

[@garythompson5576]

The tl250 was a good bike but it was heavier than the European machines which made it harder to handle the European machines were much more competitive

[@rusty2075]

I had a TL 125 ...

[@Garage2Trail]

Did you use it as a trail bike or did you do competitions too?

[@rusty2075]

I was a kid a trail bike .@@Garage2Trail

[@benspeedschannel888]

Lovely old bike, I have a TL 125 here but it is in poor condition, I’m thinking about rebuilding it with a different engine. Is there much of a trials scene where you are?

[@Garage2Trail]

There is a couple places that hold events all within a few hours of my area and that’s about it unfortunately.

[@benspeedschannel888]

@@Garage2Trail I’m really lucky where I live there are usually a couple of events a month within an hour of where I live

[@benspeedschannel888]

If you are going to enter some trials I’d put a pair of proper Michelin, Dunlop, or IRC trials tyres on it, as for shocks have a look at some Rock Shocks or Falcons

[@Garage2Trail]

Thanks for the tips, I’ll def keep that in mind. The shocks def need some help!

[@benspeedschannel888]

@@Garage2Trail the twinshock scene is big here in the uk, if there’s ever any info you want me to chase give me a shout. I have a friend who is very clued up on Shercos too 👍

[@lyricalmadness9026]

Uh oh! He put a foot down. That’s a couple points there

[@Garage2Trail]

lol you got me there!

[@jeffferguson899]

cool. i have a tl125

[@Garage2Trail]

Nice! What year is yours and do you do any trials events with it?

[@Big_Arn44]

Im rebuilding one of these in the UK and I cant find an air filter ? Can anyone reccomend one please ?

[@Garage2Trail]

Do you still have the cage for the filter still? If so, might be easier to just buy the element and cut to fit. UNI sells it in small sheets and I’ve had to make my own a few times for some other bikes.

[@bananabrooks3836]

Thats better: No mirrors, no indicators, no lights, no instruments to get damaged. 👍

[@robcarr-ty7jo]

The old Bultaco Sherpa T is a lighter and much better trials bike than the old TL's

[@Garage2Trail]

I’d like to get my hands on one of those someday. Tough to come by!

[@pm270100]

got the TY250A and honda TL 250 A

[@Garage2Trail]

I’d like to find a TY sometime.

[@gnrkiwiplayz4065]

where do you guys get parts that work with it for cheap, im in new zealand and working on the frame and need parts for it

[@Garage2Trail]

I get most of my stuff off eBay by searching the part number. Sometimes you can find stuff priced fair. Swap meets help too. CMSNL.com is my last resort for hard to find stuff. They are UK based.

[@alandouglas104]

Hey man, did you replace the throttle cable by chance?

[@Garage2Trail]

Nahh sorry, this bike I didn’t have to. Is it an oddball cable or something?

[@alandouglas104]

@@Garage2Trail just starting to make a 76 rideable again. I’m having trouble finding resources to replace it. I was able to easily source the Honda replacement brake and clutch cables. I’ve briefly looked at making a cable. But again, not sure where to start. Thanks for the reply.

[@Garage2Trail]

@@alandouglas104 ahh I gotcha. I would start by checking out CSMNL if you haven’t already. They are based out of the UK but I’ve ordered so many parts from them and gotten them quick. Shipping isn’t bad especially if you bundle a bunch of parts together. They have a ton of NOS parts. When all else fails, I use partzilla or CSMNL for part numbers then plug those into eBay.

[@nigelnewby-house6208]

Thank you for the content. I’ve got a TL125 and TL250 mid rebuild, your video inspired me to move them along!🎉

[@Garage2Trail]

Excellent! Thanks for watching! Glad I could motivate 👍

[@brianyoung9014]

I'd rather have my 72 Montessa 360.

[@normanchoy4075]

sorry, back in 72, is it a montesa 360 enduro bike and not a montesa cota ?