From 1975 to 80

1975 Honda bikes

1975 TL 125 High-Boy

In 1975 Sammy Miller introduced a big improvement on the TL125 frame. He developed a new frame for the 125/150 Honda.

This frame was built using Renolds 531 tubes and saves more than 11Kg and was finished chromiud plated. The sump shield was screwed. High-Boy frame was designed to accept all the standard Honda 125 parts.

The High-boy Sammy Myller frame was 11Kg lighter than the standard Honda TL125 frame.

An original one High-boy Sammy frame using an XL180 engine. The picture was sent by Dean Horwood from UK.

Thanks to Alan Johnstone for these pictures of a original Hi-Boy frame. This one, under restoring, is numbered as 226, and as Alan says less than 500 units of the original 1970's were made.
According the information I have I don't know any number higher than 400.

Thanks also to Frank Brzeski for to send me these interesting projects. First we can see two Hi-Bot frames, one original from the 70's and second one a 2010 reproduction. The most interesting is that on following pictures you can see the original one mounted with a 1978 TL125 engine and the 2010 frame assembled with a TLR200 engine, both projects thanks to Frank.

Hi-Boy original frame mounted with a 1978 TL125 engine

Hi-Boy 2010 frame assembled with a TLR200 engine

XL125 engine, hand made parts approaching RS200 look, thanks to Gabriele Milan.

1975 the Honda TL250
(Honda Code 376)

In 1975 the TL250 production started. The first details for this bike anounced a power output 16,5 Hp at 7.000 rpm, but finally the satandard production reduced that at 16 Hp at 8.000 rpm.

Honda produced roughly 4.000 bikes mostly for the Us market.

The USA rider Marland Whaley was riding with this bike at those years.

The bike inherited the TL125 design. Price was somewhat cheaper than Spanish bikes.

The ENGINE

Four stroke single Cylinder OHC

Displacement: 248cc

Bore and Stroke: 74mm x 57.8mm

Compression ratio: 9.1:1

Clutch: wet multy-plate

Ignition: Flywheel magneto

The TRANSMISSION

Five speed, constant mesh

The FRAME

Wheelbase: 1.333mm

Weight: 99Kg.

Tyre size 2.75 x 21, 4.00 x 18

Telescopic front forks

Rear swing arm suspension

The nice Honda TL250 was painted Honda Metallic Silver and the nice Honda Red Accent color.

Great picture of Derek Edgar at SSDT 1977, thanks to John Moffat. Moffat's Picture ©

Derek worked at the Puch factory, Graz, Austria and then worked for Montesa in the USA. He was one of Scotland's best trials riders, along with his elder brother Norman and both rode in the 1968 ISDT in Italy, then Derek rode again in 1969 - Garmisch Partenkirchen and 1970 at El Escorial, Madrid!

Funny TL250 picture thanks to Eddy Galea

1976 Honda bikes

1976 the Honda Derek Green XL250

Photo taken by Jimmy Young © thanks to John Moffat.

This nice and rare Honda trials was built at the shop of Vic Allan Motorcycles in Bathgate, West Lothian, Scotland during the 1975/76 season by the mechanic Derek Green.

It was a 250 XL Motorsport Honda converted for trials similar to the Jefferies Honda.

Later it was attached to a sidecar for a while.

Mudguards were Italian StilMotor, most parts are Honda, except the tank made by Homerlite, England. Shocks were Girling Gas Shocks.

Bike information also thanks to John.

1976 the Honda TL50
(Honda Code 150)

The TL50 went on sale on 1976. Its stylish lines came from the larger TL125 and TL250, and it was equipped with a 5-speed transmission.

The TL50 was offered in two colors, dark Green and Red Accent combined glossy White

The ENGINE

Displacement: 49cc.
Maximum Power: 4,2PS at 9.500 rpm
Maximum torque: 0,36Kg/m at 7.500 rpm
Ignition: CDI
The TRANSMISSION

Five speed
The FRAME
Diamond steel

Weight: 80 Kg

The Honda TL50 engine, perfect performance Air-Cooled 4-st. Single OHC

1976-77 Honda bikes

1976 Honda 305cc

Sammy Miller developed in 1976 this nice Long-stroke 305cc Honda.
With a new frame and the 250cc bored out to 305cc. Softer cams and small bore carburettor along with many hours, produced avery competitive bike.
As Sammy Miller says, only three engines were produced. The number one is today located at Sammy Miller Museum Trust. www.sammymiller.co.uk

More info at: http://www.trialmag.net/trialmag/article/5711/Sammy+Miller+Honda

The engine had 305cc displacement with a compression ratio 8.2:1 and offered 22.5 Hp at 8.00rpm

The weight was 90 Kg and was equiped with his own Hi Boy chrome plated Renolds 531 tube Frame.

The ENGINE

Air cooled, four.stroke, 4 valve with chain driven camshaft.

Displacement: 305cc.

Compressin ratio 8.2:1

Power: 22.5 hp at 8.000 rpm

The TRANSMISSION

5 speed, Rear sprocket 57 teeth and gearbox sprocket 14 teeth

The FRAME

Hi boy chrome plated Reinolds tubing

weight: 89,8 Kg

Wheelbase: 1295.5 mm

1977 Honda 305 long Stroke

Thanks to Pat from Aspen Cafe to sent me these valuable pictures. Please respect its Copyright.

1976 Honda 306 "Long Stroke"

© The Honda trials History, thanks to Mr. Hiroshi Kondo

1976 Honda 306 "Long Stroke"

Mr Hiroshi Kondo had the kidness to sent me this nice picture from 1976 when he rode at SSDT with this very special Honda Works RTL306 long stroke type. He rode later, next year, at World Trials Championship with the upgraded Honda Works RTL 305 Short Stroke type.

1977 Honda 306 Short Stroke

HIroshi Kondo rode at 1977 World Trials Championship with the upgraded Honda Works RTL 306 Short Stroke type.

Also Marland Whaley was riding at 1978 Scottish Six Days trial, Marland had problems with the machine and retired on Wednesday. After that, Marland ended the Contract with Honda and signed by Montesa starting with the new 310cc prototype.

The pictures of this machine and the Marland Whaley were taken by the friend of this site owner Pat Criou at Oberiberg, Switzerland in 1978.

Please respect the pictures Copyright

1976 Honda TL200R (Code 490)

© Picture thanks to Patrick Verrier

1976 TL200R

The RSC Honda TL200R was the first of the dinasty of nice and competitive 200cc RSC Honda trials bikes.
This model started using the TL125 (coming from Honda XL125 engine) 125cc engine (no CDI yet) upgraded to 200cc. Ignition system was the same used on the 1976 TL125 placed at camshaft and covered with the 125cc engraved cap.
This engine was fitted with a extra plate on the flywheel crankcase and one just on the base of the cylinder.

This bike was offered with two colours petrol tank and seat, White and red. The tubular frame was ever black powder painted. The frame was made in too thin section, only 84Kg weight, (competitors at this time usually had 92-94Kg weight!!) because of that, had some strength problems.

This bike was a super light trials bike at the moment, easy to ride, and with an exceptional engine withan incredible inertia an torque.

This was the Eddy Lejeune's bike used on the beginning of his World Trials Championship, from 1976 to 1979 when he inherited the Sheperd's RTL360. Also the site friend Hiroshi Kondo used this bike at Japan Trials Championship at 1976 and 77.

Thanks again to the friend of this site Hiroshi Kondo to allow me to us these nice pictures. The first Honda TL200R white color. © Hiroshi Kondo for The Honda Trials History web use only.

In opinion of Hiroshi Kondo the bike had the gravity center too high, in fact the second model Hiroshi had, was improved by him reducing this problem.
Eric Lejeune, Eddye's brother, also reported some strengh problems (Trial Classic Magazine very interesting article) and a tendency to lose the ground from the front wheel do tue its low weight. Eddy added 600gr extra weight attached on front suspension bars.

The singular silencer engraved with the RSC letters was the same that later used the TL200RII and the RS200T.

Thanks again to Hiroshi Kondo to allow me to us these nice pictures. The improved Honda TL200R red color. © Hiroshi Kondo for The Honda Trials History web use only.

1978 Honda T305L FRASER

Thanks to Steve Alderson for this nice T305L picture

The T305L Honda Fraser was made by David Fraser Products from Redditch, UK.
Fraser made a new chromium plated frame for the Standard Honda TL250, to reduce the weight. Also enlarged his capacity to 305cc to get more power. The bike was more competitive than the standard TL250.

The bike was on sale in UK but I'm not sure about the batch. (most probably a few units)

Thanks to Martien from Holland for this Fraser frame picture.

Here we can appreciate fully naked chromed plated frame.

This other one shows full assembled Fraser bike (again thanks to Martien)

Some time later, David Fraser Products developed a new and revolutionary bike:

1978 Honda FRASER HT250

THE DAVID FRASER HT250

This one located in Spain (The Honda Trials History) and still under restoration could be one of the few David Fraser HT250 survivors today.

In 1978 David Fraser of Redditch developed this special machine. In this bike he used the XL250S (1978) twin exhaust engine. The bike was kown as Fraser Honda HT250.

Small desctription of this bike was related on Tommy Sandham's Honda trials book. (pag 74)

Nice restoration (not finished yet) from Joan F. from Spain. Here you can see twin exhaust system.

This very competitive trials bike mounted for first time on one trials bike history a unusual intermediate chain.
(later in 1985, JJCobas from Spain applyed same solution on his revolutionary Montesa and Bultaco engine: The JJ Cobas Trials bike)

This is the later JJ cobas double chain system frame. Picture property of The Honda Trials History webpage. Restoration made by "La Mola Restoration Trial Bikes" from Barcelona for a friend collector.

Still under restoration by Joan F. (The Honda Trials History). Here you can see the funny and clever intermadiate chain system.

This rare bike was made in a really small series. Less than twenty were built.

This second chain comes from gearbox sprocket to countershaft mounted on the swinging arm pivot. The large chain comes from this swinging arm pivot to the rear wheel.

The innovative system allows to maintain a constant chain tension without any tensioner help.

1979 Honda TL200RII

©Picture thanks to Patrick Verrier

1979 Honda TL200RII
(Honda Code 490)

The nice TL250RII was biult by RSC, Racing Service Corporation. As the contemporary RS200T and RS220T where produced in a small quantities (360 units white color and 150 red color).
Frame number began from number 2001.

From 2001 to 2360 frame number the TL200RII had a white painted fiver petrol tank, with a vertical transparent strip to see petrol level. Also had the old Honda logotype at both sides.
Second productions, from 2360 to 2510 were painted in red and finished with the yellow Honda wings decals.

Engine was 197,74cc RSC from Japan developed. This engine is still derived from XL125. First equipped with CDI at camshaft with 1.59 Kg/m maximum torque at 4.000rpm
Theengine number on crankcase began with the RS leters.
Fully engine was painted silver gray.

The frame was black painted diamond steel, with also steel swing arm.

TL200RII had a tubular diamond steel swing arm that later was replaced for the right-angled aluminium one on the RS200T.

Front forks were still Showa 31mm diameter that also were replaced on the RS's that mounted strongest ones, 33mm diameter.

If you have additional information please send at honda@onlytial.com

Thanks to Hap Oswald from California, US, for this TL200 picture, a nice start for a great Trials bike restoration.

1979 Honda RS200TS

1979 The Honda RS200TS

This model used the XR 185 engine upgraded to 200cc by RSC. The bike was thought for a Trail use with a enlarged seat, red painted frame and also red mudguards.
This model was lttle bit far from the competitive Trials RSC dinasty models.
Anyway interesting and nice model, well accepted in several markets as Belgium in Europe.

Picture thanks to the site friend Patrick Verrier

1979 Honda RS200T & RS220T

The very nice RS200T was built from RSC, Racing Service Corporation mounting a Gasoline engine, air cooled 4-stroke cycle, single cylinder inclined at 15º with 197,74cc displacement.

The RS200T had the frame number following the TL200RII, and began with the 2510.
All these machines were engraved with the name RS200T - XXXX (x means the number)

The RS200T had alloy red painted fuel tank and fiber support seat with oval windows on sides.

The swing arm were on these units light alloy made, had other details as the perforated rear aluminum axes. Later RS250T had also the front one perforated.

RS200T from Joan F. (The Honda Trials History)

Replacing the TL200R small front forks the RS200T was 33mm diameter Showa forks.

First RS200T bikes had plastic engine plate protector, and later RS220T and RS250T were equiped with strongest aluminum plate. Also shape of the plate was increased a little bit on the side wings.

The RS220T was exactelly same construction but increasing engine desplacement from 197.7 cc to 222.4 cc.

All these bikes were produced in a really small series.

Picture thanks to UPY Lift Bikes www.upybike.com

There is several informations saying that around 400 units were made. I don't know exactly the figures, but in my opinion the production was bigger.

This nice unit on the pictures has the 3201 serial number, but seams one of the latest RS200T produced. Knowing that RS200 serial numbers began on 2510 number, at least 690 units were made. Maybe 700 units?
These 700 units contain the RS200T, RS220T and RS200TS

Spanish woman rider Alba Villegas riding the Honda Trials History's RS200T in a Catalonia Championship Classic Trials.

The ENGINE

Gasoline air cooled 4-stroke

Displacement 197,74cc

Valve train: Overhead camshaft chain drive

Maximum Horspower:

RS200T 12.1 at 6.000rpm

RS220T 13 at 6.000rpm

Maximum Torque:

RS200T 1.59 at 4.000rpm

RS220T 1.62 at 4.000rpm

Compression ratio:

RS200T 8.2

RS220T 8.3

Ignition, CDI

The TRANSMISSION

6- Speed transmission constant mesh

Clutch: Wet multi-plate type

The FRAME

Diamond Type, aluminum swing arm

Front suspension 33mm, 70mm travel

Rear suspension alumini¡um swing arm 40mm travel

Fuel capacity 3 lit

Caster angle 26º

The DIMENSIONS

Weight

RS200T 85.8Kg

RS220T 86Kg

Wheel base 1314mm

Seat heigh 720mm

Thanks to Eiji Yoshida よしだ　えいじ from Japan to send me his nice RS200T picture.

1979 Honda bikes

1979 Honda SEELEY 200

A very nice restoration (made by La Mola Restoration bikes) made for a friend Spanish collector.

Based on the XL 185 trail bike, and increased to 195cc from Honda Racing Service, the frame builder Colin Seeley made for Honda Uk this little machine and iniitially planned to build 400 units.

First prototypes of this bike were made in 1977 and rode by Rob Shepherd as official pilot achieving the 4th position on his first championship and 10th position at same time by the US rider Marland Wahley.
Also Eddy Lejeune rode his first SSDT in 1980 with the 200 SEELEY, he was 12 position and the Best Newcomer.
Officially dating from 1979, finally I'm not sure about the final production. But, be carefully because there is some "replicas" on the market.

Let me note that this unit (picture on the top) has a wrong exhaust mufler due to the difficult on the finding spares from these rare bikes. The right one was the same as the contemporary RS's mounted (TL200R, TL200RII, RS200T, and RS 220T) wit only one outlet exhaust tube and the RSC engraved logo.

The ENGINE

Honda Racing Service engine for trials use

Two valves, chain-driven overhead camshaft

Displacement 197,7cc

Compression Ratio 8.3: 1

Power 12.1 hp at 6.000 rpm

Torque 1,98 kg/m at 4.500 rpm

6,77 Kg/Cv

The TRANSMISSION

6 speed, constant mesh

The FRAME

Diamond frame tubing

Wheelbase 1285 mm

Footrest height 400mm

Weight 82,6 Kg

Front suspension: Marzocchi trial 170mm

Nice 1979 SEELEY restoration sent by Stuart.

1979 Honda Fraser 125

Many thanks to Ramon Seuba to have the kindness to inviting me to take these pictures from his nice restored Fraser DMW frame. The picture was edited by The Honda Trials History.
Thanks also to Patrick verrier for the additional information and documents sent to me.

A revolutionary concept.

In 1979 David Fraser of Redditch made this revolutonary bike concept.

He used a frame based on the idea to use the gas tank as part of the frame.
I'm not 100% sure about following, but as I know, DMW (Dawson Motors Wolverhampton) developed these frames, Fraser bought 20 of them and assembled 8 using 2 stroke Villers engine and 12 using the Honda 4 stroke 125cc from the TL 125.

The glass fiber cover was only that, a shape cover.