Barn find 1975 honda tl250 repair and tune

l picked this bike up from craigslist about 2 months ago, it sat for about 20 years and had a seized engine, we got that freed up then started fixing all the broken parts. lets finish it up then take it for a spin around the yard for the 1st time.

[@pinwizz69]

Absolutely awesome that this 4 year old series came up in my feed. I'm pretty sure that I did watch it back then even tho all 3 episodes show the thumbs up as blank but given I'm 68 and watch around 10 other various interests channels I've pretty much no doubt I simply forgot about it and so I get to enjoy a Sunday treat of 3 Mustie1 episodes in one day. A glorious Sunday it has been. If anybody could have resurrected this little bike It's Herr Doktor Professor Mustie1 Darren.

[@gitlittoo2161]

Im 49 about to be 50. From the mini bikes and old 70s bikes and dirt bikes u mess with bring back memories. I grew up in southern California. And road mini bikes and dirt bikes growing up.

[@mcbain3949]

Your heart is in the same place as many of us Mustie , sure its great to work on things like mowers and snow blowers , but to work on a bike from this time period then get on it and ride around on it is something you cant put into words its a feeling . Thanks for the videos .

[@ProjectFarm]

Great job getting that motorcycle running so well! As a teenager, I had a 1975 XL350, and it was a fun bike. Seeing you ride that bike brought back a lot of great memories! Regarding the measuring cup, I'm always getting into trouble for that too. lol. Thanks for the video!

[@ZrubekFamily]

I had a 1975 XL125 then later a 1975 XL250. Lots of fun.

[@aliasfred]

Project Farm I am one of your subscribers. Why don't you buy a bunch of measuring cups for yourself? Happy wife, happy life.

[@muskokamike127]

xl350, that was the other MUST HAVE bike in the 70's.....that thing was a beast. A buddy had one and he could climb almost vertical with the thing. I had an MT125 (gutless) a buddy had the MT250, and another had the XL...he'd blow us all away....if memory serves, black and red right?

[@muskokamike127]

btw, another buddy got the RM125 and blew us ALL away...that thing was a rocket on 2 wheels.....(not top speed but on the trails? none of us could touch him).

[@insomniac2233]

The YZ 490 scared the bejeezus out of me!!! I didn't want anymore of THAT! My friend took it down the road to some trails-came back all bloody and mangled. Kawasaki 70's streeters for me!!!

[@frankeisenhauer1501]

My brother had that exact same bike would never let me ride it said I was too small so I used to chase him through the woods watching him ride it it would go over huge rocks I mean boulders and then come to a tree and bring it straight boy looking at that bike brings back a ton of memories I did ride it once he never found out laugh out loud👍 thanks for the memories.

[@bigmac965]

It's amazing how much I talk back to you when you're asking me questions as you work. I sit here with headphones on, and the wife keeps asking me who I'm talking to. I may have to watch the rest of this one after she goes to work to keep her from thinking I have imaginary friends!

[@chadhelmer3835]

Ditto!

[@redlock4004]

Well, there is them too.

[@cwmaxfield2000]

Mr. Rogers used that theory. It works.

[@Recklesshade]

I would pay so much money to just spend a day with this guy fixing a bike. I feel like I would learn so much from him.

[@johncuzzourt2118]

My first bike as a kid was a 1980 Honda XR80. I learned most of my early mechanic skills maintaining that bike. It was a very, very solid bike with very few problems. I tore up the trails through the woods every spare moment it seemed. This video brought back some fond memories.

[@johnnorman6022]

It's great to see an old bike running again great job fixing it I always learn something on this chanel .

[@katzfam1089]

Thank you for letting us into your garage again.

[@ernboto]

Thanks for bringing us along on another repair adventure in the garage again. I love my shop time but this is the next best thing.

[@thomasbarron2890]

Love the channel, thanx to you and rebuilding so many Carbs and small engines you saved me from having to get a new lawnmower or having someone else repair mine! Thanx again!

[@geoffmorgan6059]

A proper display of patience. That kickstarter lever arm is a real factory rat job. It looked rough as a cob when it was brand new! You can enter the local trials in your own class. Good show!

[@Simon-fr4ts]

Amazing. Brings back memories. You know your stuff for sure.

[@sirlurksalot4454]

I'm 48 and when i was a young teen i had a Honda xr 80 and man i had so much fun on that thing. I road that thing all over the place and up big hills and all through trails in the woods every day. I gave that bike hell but must have been really well made because it took a licking and kept on ticking.

[@extrastype]

Had a TL 125 way back. Had so much fun on that bike. would go anywhere, up steep hills. through rivers. Unbreakable unstoppable. Honda should make it again. Really simple. and sell them dirt cheap. Cheap as the Chinese bikes.

[@supercrew63]

i have a 1973 honda sl70 that i am bringing back to life last registered in 1991, this channel got me fired up to do it

[@snarrdental]

My friends had this bike when I was a kid we use to ride down in the canals before they put water in them. Everyone was jealous of these bikes and there amazing climbing abilities. We all wanted one!

[@eskieman3948]

Back in '75, I attended a Yamaha-sponsored "training" demonstration for people who were not current bike riders to come out and learn to ride. There were over 200 people - I got my Yamaha 100 (RS?), followed my instructor's instructions, and soon was putting along nicely through one of the test courses in the shopping mall parking lot. They also had most of their '75 product line up for people to examine & ask questions about, and they had some demonstrations. Basically, it was the motorcycle version of a manufacturer at an international car show. One of the cycles they were demonstrating was a bright yellow Yamaha 175 "trials" bike. They had set up a pile of bales of straw (about 4 bales high), and had a Yamaha corporate rider ride up, over, and down the pile, one bale at a time, without stepping off the bike. I'd never heard of a "trials" bike, but I was really impressed as to what this bike with a skilled rider could do!

[@cwmaxfield2000]

I'm way to old for motorcycles. So much of this applies to dirt bikes. Lawn tractors , cars and trucks. The theory, sequence of events remains the same. 👍👍👍

[@rotax636nut5]

I had a 1975 Honda XL250 back in the day, as standard it was very underpowered so I fitted a Yoshimura 305cc forged piston kit and race cam, I changed the carb for a 34mm Amal Concentric Mk2 and fitted a noisy free flowing silencer. The power was amazing, easy starting and smooth idle and a 10k rpm power band available with strong power everywhere, man that was a great fun bike, I used that XL hard and often and had no problems with it in the 2 years I abused it, that little Honda put a grin on my face every time I took it out..happy days

[@thebeardedone1225]

I had one exactly like it in 1978. Just an amazing bike. I think its still probably still in the bottom of lake Whitney. Need to dig my 77 Harley dirt bike out of the barn now.

[@Playboyjoeshmoe]

Mrs. Mustie must be a SAINT!

[@BlakJak]

I remained clenched the entire time you were "power tapping" that tank you absolute madman.

[@alexcurtis1081]

i recently was given a polaris magnum 330 4x4 that has not ran since 2005 after watching some of your videos i felt confident enough to give it a try and was not only able to fix everything on the atv i was told it runs better now then it have ever has in the past

[@sikes185]

I have had a hionda cl100,,cl350,,,and an xl250,,a 76 kaw kz900,,,and I never knew how the reserve worked in the gas tank. this is why I watch your channel. thanks Mississippi

[@FrederickCouch]

I grew up on a TL250....what fun bikes they are! All that low down torque.....great video series.

[@Orbacron]

great work Darren, its nice to see a classic come back to life every once in awhile 👍

[@edwardmckenzie3402]

I have reached the point of addiction to this channel. Nothing better than wrenching. I expect the measuring cup incident provoked some different wrenching as well!

[@deweypug]

Love those old trials bikes!! Great time watching these! Thanks

[@mikeshobbiesandrandomstuff]

Thank you for all the extra hours and hard work you have been putting in for us Mustie1. I love how that thing sounds even with the hole in the exhaust 😁

[@myronmarcotte7072]

In 1973 when i was 16 I paid $600 for a new Honda 125 Elsinore. The little brother to this bike. I really loved the thing.

[@ardvark1835]

Hi from over the pond . Hi i have been out of work for the past 18 years now due to bad health . after watching some of your video's , i have started to work on some projects that have been piling up , like two motor cycles and lawn mowers . Thank you for giving me the boost in doing some thing i love doing . Working on something with an engine . oil is always under my finger nails now again ! . It's nice to watch a video that explains what and why things are done and how ..

[@acerig4675]

I just love the old Japanese hardware. All the old bikes are amazing! Thanks so much Mustie.

[@shawnames2271]

This is the most productive I’ve been all day! Love the play-by-play tinkering and the satisfaction of seeing the end result. Thanks for the great content.

[@Xtroll1738]

Nice bike. Good job getting it fixed back up and running again.

[@geoffreyjones2000]

Glad you brought it back peace

[@don7406]

Awesome save on the petcock. I remember those TL 250's to be pretty serious trials bikes back in the day. Thanks for sharing.

[@nickmajdanski]

Just finished watching the entire trials bike series. I enjoyed the trip around the yard I see you are a Toyota man as well. We have a lot of the same power tools in common. You have inspired me to get my two Honda's out of storage and work on them. Keep up the vids I like to see old stuff resurrected.

[@beneagles007]

Well she certainly seems to have good torque. Cool man. I like the old stuff. We'll be lookin forward to the next one.

[@bobcranberries5853]

I like when he asks, what do you think ?and I say; take the fender off so you can tell what’s bent and where. and then he hears me and takes the fender off. Ha. Where would he be without my help?

[@daverayasr.6287]

Bobby Holmes I know what you mean, I did the same thing!

[@trevking3772]

Combimined Telepathy or telekanesis !. Thanks. Trev NZ.

[@HockeyVictory66]

$10 for a set of stainless steel measuring cups and spoons on Amazon. Cheaper than a visit to urgent care for a black eye and a concussion.

[@egoncasteel]

or he could have put water in the measuring cup then pour it into the squeeze bottle, and mark the side of the bottle.

[@edwardmckenzie3402]

Love it!

[@nitemareman1]

It costs nothing to be a man and put your wife in her proper place. If you bought the cup its yours to do with as you see fit.

[@andy1056]

Hi, I just found this series, and really enjoyed your logical, patient approach to the repairs. I used to drive a ‘73 SL125 every day to school and work while in High School (a vey long time ago). Great bike, always started on the first kick, and was easy to work on when I broke it. Hope your neighbors don’t think you’re crazy “he spends all day alone in his garage talking to himself”.

[@DamnYankeeWorkshop]

Amazing work as always. Your videos are always entertaining and educational at the same time but you made me laugh out loud 5 times on this one. I usually get at least a giggle or two. I love your approach of "dig into it first and see what is going on then figure out what to do." Folks that show repairs that go by the manual are fun to watch but your style is more shade tree mechanic friendly. Thank you for taking the time to share your wrenching and experience with us. Plus It is great being asked to help hold things, smell things, or offer opinions as you are working. I did not smell the screen...well...maybe.....

[@mrcutfish]

I about choked laughing when he said Japanese massage! More than just learning here great time!

[@carlthomas3074]

Love the ride around the yard. Takes me back to an around the house circuit in the mid 70's on a rupp mini bike😄 ... thanks!

[@vk2aafhamradio]

Good work, mate. That little Honda XL/SL/TL250cc motor is just loads of fun and stupidly reliable when maintained. Torque Engineering used to make a low swept reverse megaphone pipe that not only sounded fantastic but was great for low end on the 250. Keep at 'er!

[@MrUbiquitousTech]

That was fun, very cool bike. Thanks for taking us along on this great video!

[@heartbreakelliott8830]

Love your videos takes me back to younger days thanks

[@chrispotter3324]

Man, that little bike looks like so much fun to ride. So nimble and torquey. Nice job!

[@davidclapham1066]

Zen and The Art of Motorcycle Maintenance - Another fabulous video from Mustie1. :-)

[@CajunGreenMan]

Oiltini, shaken not stirred, please. Another great bike series. I think your grinder collection would even put AvE's to shame. Everytime you test ride one, I always yell at you to ride under that pergola, but you never listen! And now, you can even wheelie through it!

[@SteveBrecht]

A full hour in the shop to start the day. It's going to be a good day. Edit: Just reached the part of the video about the measuring cup... which means your wife is probably reaching it about now as well. I'm picturing a Benny Hill chase around the shop happening right about.... now.

[@nutterbutter9249]

Yep, government work

[@KanoKapre]

Yeah I always get yelled at concerning the measuring cups.. but damn its quicker to rob the kitchen 😂 🔧

[@MrPotatochips4]

Que "Yackety Sax"!

[@LaBoofadora]

My thing is using the turkey baster.

[@adamburns9228]

You may be a tad too idealistic.

[@arcflashed]

I haven't ridden in years. This sure gave me the itch to start again

[@nedgetchell2004]

Excellent channel! Just discovering... I'm not a "wrencher" but/and I'm learning tons from your work, Mustie. Thanks!

[@JB-ym2yy]

Hello Mustie 1. It has been a hoot to follow along with your adventure. As you struggle with a tight screw, I too tense up and want to grunt in support of your effort. Your videos make me feel as though I'm in the shop working with a friend. Keep up the good work. You are a real character.

[@rickburnout666]

I use 20w in my 87 xt350 used for road only. PS the w is for winter not weight. Great to see the old machines getting reborn keep it up !!

[@rickburnout666]

@canuckguy worried That is something i didnt know. Thanks for letting me know

[@60EFFIE]

Very cool old machine! Seems to be in the right hands may I add! Thanks for sharing.

[@TheVexCortex]

Use the measuring cup with water, then pour the water into the shock oil bottle you used to fill the shocks, then mark where the water is on the shock oil bottle. Remove the water, then fill with oil to where the mark is.

[@Hertog_von_Berkshire]

Where's the fun in that? :-)

[@lantern10]

Way too sensible.

[@irishauto]

Watched this while working on my 75' Suzuki TS185. Probably the perfect setting.

[@docholliday6635]

Really liked your tl250 vid. I used to ride competition trials with North Texas trails association. We used to move shifter straight up so rocks and things wouldn't hit shift lever. Really cool vid man. Really liked it. I'm 53 and was riding bikes in that era.

[@jeep970]

lmao love it when you start asking what we think ...funny guy ..but you are the fix it wizard... I enjoy your videos...keep em comming...Gary

[@jockmchaggis6797]

Great to see the progress on the old honda, running great if a little chatter from the timing chain. Can tell that honda rattle a mile away lol. Great video as always Mustie, keep em coming

[@28cruzin]

Comming along nicely. Shifter is fine. It's a trials bike, you ride it standing up. It's running a little fat, too. Idle is set low on a trial's bike of that vintage so you can "plunk it down". Make sure the throttle cable has plenty of play. When you turn the bars stop to stop there should be no rpm change. These bikes always win the slow speed races because they idle so slow and don't stall. When you weld up that muffler it will be able to idle very slow.

[@YouSuckAtTag]

great video! Just wanna say that i am really glad that you take the time to update your playlists! it makes things so much easier to keep track of!

[@jeffferguson899]

a lot of trials guys put their shifter on a 45 degree angle to avoid getting it caught up on branches and debris. They shift with their heel of their boot

[@Deezle_Gaming]

I've had a couple TL125s, still have my dad's original bike he got as a kid in 1975. We've always run the sifter straight up on them, usually cut and extend them at least an inch, too. On our modern Gas Gas trials bikes we leave the shifters in the normal position.

[@pekkasaarinen2902]

Every time you do those 'let's go ride on the backyard' bits, I instinctively try to tilt my head up to see more of where you're going. Starting to hurt my neck. 😁

[@jimc5423]

I was expecting to see his wife standing with her hands on her hips as he came around a corner. "Are you through playing yet?"

[@36handy]

Fun ...working along with you. THank much!

[@nat5720]

Last forks I filled I filled the measuring cup with water, poured it into a cup, marked the cup, cleaned it out then filled cup with oil to the mark so wife wouldn't kill me ;)

[@64faffi]

You do stuff at times that really make me cringe - and next moment there is a good tip to be had. Regardless, I find your motorcycle videos to be great entertainment - thank you for taking the trouble to make them for us! Eirik, Norway.

[@beerspace]

you stand up on a trials bike, the shifter is in the right position. great videos!

[@kimkiriniki9433]

A whole hour of Mustie1 therapy...thanks!

[@TomsTinkeringandAdventures]

A lot of old Honda’s state in the manual to use ATF for the forks. Trials bike, lighter weight fluid is better. Have fun with the project!

[@imsofaman]

I wish I had one of those Trail 250s....nice video with your repairs. You are very talanted!

[@niceguy2171]

Was waiting oh so patiently for you to get back to this one ;) and good save on that petcock issue, as they can be a pain when they sit with ethanol! Surprised you didn't grab a set of measuring cups at a garage sale or store for the garage long ago though..as that happened quickly when she came out to the garage and found me with oil in her measuring cup! That one became 'mine' and she got a new one, but have a set of them from very small(mm's) to I think a 4 cup size, that stay with me out in the shop/garage. Thanks for the extra film of the next morning ride..as you know we wanted to see it!

[@robertcates4066]

Love these videos, always wanted a TL 250, liked watching you riding in the yard also.

[@js8039]

King’s next novel “The Hoard” One mans struggle in the darkness of his own making. Will he succeed in bringing back the golden spark plug? Or will he forever roam the dark?

[@MrRasmusolsen]

Love your videos, keep them coming! Making people happy

[@seasiderjay5240]

Can't wait for the next part hopefully get to see you take it out somewhere, what a excellent bike. Your videos are great I learn something new every time, big fan from across the pond in Dundee Scotland

[@HavocSun]

New subscriber, great videos. Fantastic to see the Honda come back to life. I felt the excitement that you must have as you kept bringing the front end up!

[@jstevens2127]

I love wrenching on old stuff and making it road worthy again. I enjoyed your videos, they keep you engaged and yes I do talk to the screen while you're asking questions. Thanks for posting quality stuff.

[@dockmasterted]

Another YOOPER APPROVED bike fix. ...... I used to ride mine, a BULTACO MATADOR 250cc all year round in Houghton county upper Peninsula of Michigan. With sheet metal screws in the full knob tires.

[@rogerhundley9490]

I have one of those valve stem tools. Had it for years. Always wondered what the prongs were used for. Learned something new today. :)

[@Blazer02LS]

The pointed tip is for damaged valve cores, it acts like an easy out. The straight one is to reform the inner threads the other side is for the outer threads. Then the core remover.

[@speedphreax]

Unfortunately the kickstarter is now hitting the rear brake pedal. Thanks for saving yet another old crummy bike and giving it another lease of life. At least for some years.

[@mafeharu]

Always fascinating - thanks for what you do.

[@allensooter8429]

Hi Mustie, new viewer here, cool videos and my kind for fixit stuff you do. I have a Carb. rebuild shop and I will pass along a trick we use with plugged carbs. Take a few drops of Muratic acid and drop in the holes, it will bubble and remove the hard crusty junk in the passage ways. Also you can make your own ethonal free gas at home with water. Nice job!!

[@kimoarmstrong3519]

Valve stem tool also has a threader for the outside threads. It will only go so far, but maybe enough to have made the nut thread on easier.

[@cptdavepilm3235]

@Mustie1 again, the rear wheel adjusters are on the wrong way round. the little tabs poking out are supposed to be poking in so they stop against the swing arm to stop them going to far. you have them on the wrong sides of the bike (its a safety thing)

[@cptdavepilm3235]

oh and for anyone who thinks im wrong, i used to work at honda, and i was just letting him know. nothing bad about what i said

[@xXnAsTyRiDeRXx]

Love the videos, Mustie. Good to see a fellow New Englander, accent and all making KZbin videos that are educational and entertaining. Keep up the wicked good work!

[@drewalsup9200]

what a cool old bike Mustie1 looks like a lot of fun to put around on standing up, all your weight is on that squishy grippy back tire, trials bikes are cool nice work bringing it back from the dead

[@mischef18]

Well looks like it is doing what it is supposed to do so that is all you can ask for. Great bit of wrench'n by the way. All the best

[@dankeyes2669]

Make sure the connection link clip has the open end facing opposite the direction of travel. Chain slap can bump it and knock the clip off... Cost me a win at a half mile in Belvedere IL in 1970 :)

[@alexreeve]

Wife: I really like this measuring cup Mustie: yea, me too Wife: what? Mustie: what?

[@alvon911]

LOL

[@BAZZAROU812]

The wife found her missing turkey baster on my work bench a while back.. I'm still in the doghouse..

[@beakittelscherz5419]

I always got doghouse time for emptying the cupbord while taking my coffee to the woodshop... and leaving the cups there during the week. Girlfriend said she had to" shop" on my workbench for them every Friday... . She also claimed that she had to peel the stickers off from the aples because I would always eat them too when in "workmode" when I pop in the kitchen to grab one and go right back to the shop... No Idea what that suppose to mean ...lol.

[@pangsbricks8412]

I have a 1970 sl100 super fun to rebuild! The bike you have is very similar. Cool video!

[@caseywillyoumarryme]

I've really enjoyed your adventure with this bike. Keep up the great work 👍

[@OldestYoungenInGuidePost]

Really enjoyed this 👍🏼 had the xl 125 with 185 head on and the timing set mid to upper mid , done sprocket 's to suit 72 mph even up small hills 😇👍🏼

[@Riprock296]

I knew he wouldn't leave us without a little putt around the yard!

[@billyking722]

Hi top work been after one of these for ages i am in uk so hard to find at reasonable price if at all been an enjoyable and a learning time thanks look forward to watching more

[@BasicPoke]

Awesome job on the bike. I really enjoy watching.

[@austenj4539]

Confidence that you got it right = no gloves on the test drive! Every time!