From 1980 to 85

1981 Honda Bikes

1981 Honda RS170T

Same as RS200T model RS170T was made following same philosophy. The bike was designed and manufactured for competition use only.
The bike did not conform to federal motor vehicle safety standards and operation on public streets, roads or highways is ilegal. The RS 170 was based on a TL 125 S but rebored from 125 to 169,3cc

This special Trials bike was only sold in Japan, , small quantity were produced by RSC Japan Division.I have never seen any unit in Europe.

The RSC engine did offer an extra power from the original 125cc engine to more than 2,5 hp.
Japanese Catalogue anounced 10,5 hp power at 7.000 rpm and 1,2Kg-m at 4.000 rpm

1981-82 Honda Bikes

1981 Honda RS250T

Same as RS200T models RS250T was made following same philosophy. The bike was designed and manufactured for competition use only.
The bike did not conform to federal motor vehicle safety standards and operation on public streets, roads or highways is ilegal.

It appears that RS250T production was lower than TL and RS 200. In fact first development was made late on 1981 and the production was done by the renamed RSC, the new HRC Honda Racing Corporation.

The RS250T was the excellence of the RS's range. Very nice and competitive bike, based on the same RS200T chassis but modifying a little bit some parts to introduce the powerful 15Hp 249,8cc HRC engine. Like the RS200T rear wheel axle was perforated on all his extension, RS250T had also the front wheel one perforated.

Honda Rs250T from Joan F. (The Honda Trials History)

The bike has no lights and any electrical installation. The front upper forks were covered by a nice aluminum plate.

Front forks were improved from the RS200T adding a connection link between both fork tubes in order to balance the inner air pressure.

To reduce the fuel tank width and allow to assemble the high performance Keihin 22, the RS250T had a really special shape fuel tank.

Original RS250T fuel tank color was Honda Red Accent painted. This nice unit (from Spain) was metallic silver/Honda Red Accent mixed painted on a personal choice of color.

The final appearance of the bike is really a professional prototype!!

The RS250T silencer, HRC logo engraved and two exhaust outlet.

The RS205T silencer had two exhaust outlets and the de new HRC engraved logo. The TL200RII and RS200T models had only one and the RSC engraved logo.

The RSC engraved logo, one exhaust outlet form RS200T

A very nice aluminum silencer replica for RS200T, RS220T, Honda SEELEY and TL200RII.

An other difference between RS200T and RS250T is the color of the wheels, the RS250T had gold anodized finish, the engine had also different color painting, the RS250T was black color instead Metallic Silver.

In some RS250T units we can see special air expansion chamber on exhaust. Not all the units had this feature and not all the expansion chambers were made on the same way or shape, this is something that was hand made specially for every unit.

This unit, thanks to Carlo from Italy, was painted as the later Yamamoto RS250TW

The ENGINE

Gasoline air cooled 4-stroke

Displacement: 249,8 cc

Valve train: Overhead camshaft chain drive

Maximum Horspower: 15hp at 6.000rpm

Maximum Torque: 2 Kg/m at 4.000rpm

Compression ratio: 8.3

Ignition: CDI (Capacitor Discharge Ignition)

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: 87 Kg

Wheel base: 1314mm

Seat heigh: 720mm

1982 Honda Hiroshi Kondo

Picture © The Honda Trials History webpage thanks to Mr. Hiroshi Kondo (owner of the Picture)

HIROSHI KONDO

Hiroshi Kondo was the winner of the Japan Trial Championship at 1974 with Yamaha TY250 and 1977, 1978 and 1979 winner with Honda.
Kondo also rode at SSDT in 1976. Hiroshi rode at SSDT with a special Honda RS250T in 1984 inscribed with the number 154. Below you can see more info and pictures.

Thanks to Hiroshi Kondo for the kidness to send me a lot of information, pictures and comments about this machine and his own Honda Trials experience.

Thanks also to my friends Ryosuke Ikuno and John Moffat for also his contribution with also pictures and information on the Kondo bike for The Honda Trials History webpage.

Picture © The Honda Trials History webpage thanks to Mr. Hiroshi Kondo (owner of the Picture)

Hiroshi Kondo made one of the most revolutionary performances never seen before in a Honda trials machine.
Starting from HRC Honda RS250T machine he developed the first complete aluminum frame for a trials machine in the world. Was in 1982, just coinciding first Honda World Trial Championship that Eddy Lejeune won.

This amazing machine had a special design containing the fuel tank into the upper side of the faluminim frame, just under the shapes. Also at same level was included a perforated entrance window for the intake of the air to the Carburetor air box. I have no reference of the final weight of the bike.

This special design defined an strange an peculiar look who favored the name of "ALIEN" in reference of the movie.

The bike is today still alive. In fact, Hiroshi retsored and rode with this bike in a regional Japan Trials not long time ago.

Picture thanks to John Moffat and Mark Lamplough. Picture was taken and belongs to Mark Lamplough.

The Hiroshi Kondo bike more closely view. Picture was taken by Mark Lamplough.

Remenber: The use of any picture shall be authorised by his owner through The Honda Trials History web page.

Thanks to my friend Ryosuke 生野涼介 to help me on this interesting information.
You can find interesting videos made by him at following links:

Kenichi Kuroyama Hokkaido round.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7YHC3WlCSic

Takumi Narita on randonee.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M73B6Du9XHw

Young rider Akira Shibata worming up.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDISRVlNjaw

Kenichi Kuroyama worming up.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ChP3JEoA4A8

Tomoyuki Ogawa worming up.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdbkKXmGO2E

1982 Honda bikes

Honda RTL 360

At only 18 years old, Honda gave the powerfull RTL 360 to Eddy Lejeune.
Kiyoteru Hattori was another rider from Honda Trials Team that also rode the RTL 360.

First Honda 360 prototypes were made early 1978, Rob Shepherd was one of the first to ride on this big machine. The new machine was the most powerfull trials bike never made. After several problems at first time, the bike was revised by Honda due to a overheating problems.

This nice picture sent by a friend of this website Pat from Aspen Cafe (French Alps) shows the three historical 360 RTL's

Number 3: Honda RTL 360 Short Stroke big tank for Scottish. Eddy Lejeune.
Number 4: Honda RTL 360 Eddy Lejeune 1982
Number 5: Honda RTL 360 Eddy Lejeune 1984

After a lot of engine improvements and long time, at end 1979, the 360 runs as a new engine, so different comparing the old one.

Eddy Lejeune, 1978 World Trials Championship, Coll de la Presolana, Italy. Picture thanks to Gabriele Milan from Italy.

In accordance to Tommy Sandham's journalist expert the RTL 360 was the best bike he never rode, on the same way also he reported that in opinion of the top British riders have ridden the bike, it was the best trials bike of the moment.

As telling the 1983 American Motorcycles magazin, Schreiber said "Eddie's an excellent rider, but the bike is also excellent in muddy and wet conditions.

There is small quantity RTL 360 survivors today. This pictured one owns at Italian collector. Maybe one of the most expensive Honda trial bikes and of course difficult to see.

This picture taken by Antonio Maugeri in 1982 shows the first Lejeune's RTL 360.
Painted all Red color, Silevr grey engine, Silver aluminum wheels, Today, the bike is still alive in France, belongs to a French collector.
Thanks for the picture Antonio!!

Thanks to Dean here a nice picture from 1983 World Championship. Eddy Lejeune with the very special RTL360 83.

Eddy Lejeune at World Round in Texas with the Honda RTL360 in 1983

Picture thanks to Albert Wing.

This original one 360 from 1982 owns to my Honda Trials History friend Carlo from Italy. Grazie again Carlo!!

The Engine
Type: Four stroke single OHC 2-Valve, air cooled
Displacement: 359,09 cc
Power: Over 20 hp at 6.000 rpm

The Frame
Type: Diamond tube
Caster angle: 26º
Weight: 88 Kg
Wheelbase: 1300 mm

The Honda TLR200

The TLR200
(Honda Code KJ2)

No words!! Super pioture sent by my friend Pat from French Alps. Thanks again Pat.

Original condition restored Honda TLR200 from 1984. Joan F. (The Honda Trials History)

Nice restoration made by my friend Edu from Barcelona.

The TLR is used today as a good option at Classic Trial competitions (twinshock).

This picture from Mike, UK is a good example of a TLR250 nice tuning.

Thanks Mike!

Thanks Pat for trhis nice picture! TLR at Aspen Cafe.

This TLR200 sent By Chris Stevens from Classictrial.com was a great performance done by Classictrial.

The secret of this performance is majority on the carb and exhaust improvement.

Barry Higgs is having success with this relatively standard TLR200. (Tank-seat kit, colored rims, rear shocks, and some finish

make a no TLR Standard look, but frame, engine, and wheel base mesurements are basically the same as standard TLR)

TLR200 nice pictures sent by Pat, from Aspen.

Wayne Dunn sent me these nice pictures from his TLR 200 elctrical Starter engine fitted!!

Jenny Morgan sent me this specila TLR 200. This nice TLR was refurbished in May 2010 by him with the intention of using it as a mild trail bike, plus to have a go at a few twinshock events.
The engine and suspension remains as the original ones but some ather components received small modifications, improvments or changes as the front break system that was replaced by the XR400 disc brake. Thanks Jenny.

1983 Honda TLR250

The TLR250
(Honda Code KR9)

1982 was a great year for Honda, Eddy Lejeune won the first World Champinship riding the RTL360, The following two years 1983 and 1984 Eddy Lejeune continued giving joys to Honda, he also won two years more the World Championship.

Based on this successfull RTL360, Honda made at end of 1982 a really good and competitive series trial bikes, the new TLR's.

Piers Dillon onboard his TLR 250 at the VMMC trial Billown, Isle of Man, 2010

Flying TLR 250, sent by David Andres Zels from Belgium

TLR 250, sent by Patrick Soudan from Belgium

TLR 250, sent by Pat from Aspen Cafe.

These TLR bikes were a essential milestone on the Honda trials history.
The bike was offered in two different engines and practically same frame, TLR250 and TLR200. The first one had a HRC based (but not developed) 249 cc displacement, 4 stroke and two valves engine. Second one, the TLR200 had 194 cc 4 stroke engine.

Thanks to Donald from Belgium for these two TLR250 options (different gas tank color)

Perfect condition TLR250 sent by Paul (now on sale, contact paulnixon@ntlworld.com)

TLR250 equipped with special Petrol tank-seat kit. Picture thanks to Mike Pearce

TLR250 equipped with special Petrol tank-seat kit blue Red-Bull painted. Picture thanks to Mike Pearce

Thanks to Dean Swann. Nice Honda TLR 250 with RTL 250 cc engine fitted.

From Australia Steven Hervie sent me this well performed Honda TLR 250

From Spain, the nice Josep Feliu's TLR 250 performed first by Josep banyeres and later refined by Limit Motos. Josep is still making some fine tunning on carb and clutch. On the pic we say that It is standing by the UPY stand bike. Thanks Josep.

TLR 250 restored by Donald Eggen From Belgium. Thanks Donald, good work.

This TLR picture was sent by Donald, the bike was in original conditions, look at mudguards, silencer, original Showa rear absorvers. Beautiful original Honda.

Very nice and special TLR250 sent by a friend of this site Toni Buxadé. Thanks Toni !!

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TLR250 & TLR200 Technical Data

The TLR250 ENGINE

Gasoline air cooled 4-stroke

Displacement: 249,8 cc

Valve train: Overhead camshaft chain drive

Maximum Horspower: 15hp at 6.000rpm

Maximum Torque: 2 Kg/m at 4.000rpm

Compression ratio: 8.3

Ignition: CDI (Capacitor Discharge Ignition)

The TLR200 ENGINE

Gasoline air cooled 4-stroke

Displacement: 194 cc

Valve train: Overhead camshaft chain drive

Maximum Horspower: 13,4 hp at 6.500 rpm

Maximum Torque: 1,8 Kg/m at 4.000rpm

Compression ratio: 8.2 : 1

Ignition: CDI (Capacitor Discharge Ignition)

The TLR250 and TLR200 TRANSMISSION

6- Speed transmission constant mesh

Clutch: Wet multi-plate type

The TLR250 FRAME

Diamond Type

Front suspension: 35mm diameter, 247cc oil capacity

Rear suspension: swing arm 150mm travel

Fuel capacity: 4 lit

Caster angle: 24º 30'

The TLR200 FRAME

Diamond Type

Front suspension: 35mm diameter, 207cc oil capacity

Rear suspension: swing arm 150mm travel

Fuel capacity: 6,5 lit

Caster angle: 26º 30'

The TLR250 DIMENSIONS

Weight: 88 Kg

Wheel base: 1315mm

Seat heigh: 750mm

The TLR200 DIMENSIONS

Weight: 90 Kg

Wheel base: 1315mm

Seat heigh: 780mm

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1983 Honda bikes

1983 Honda Alpha 240

Thanks to Patrick from Aspen Café*, today I'm glad to rescue this nice bike and history.
In 1983 French engineer Jacques Coll* developed this advanced frame based on a Honda XL125 engine.

Jacques Coll designed a very special frame, mixing alluminum parts and inox steel detachable rear sub frame.
He made a very clever and advanced solutions as the air filter at top (light position, between front forks) and gas tank under the seat. With this solution the bike has everytime clean and fresh air n the combustion and moving down the gravity center. This solution was also applied at same time in Sweeden by the hand of Maltry brothers to develop the also advanced Trans Ama bike.

Today some actual bikes as Sherco Trials are applying some of these solutions, but 27 years later!!!
This advanced engineer also put a monoshock as a rear suspension, achieving 199mm displacement, reducing weight and also moving down the Gravity Center.

Honda XL 125 engine was updated and improved increasing his capacity to 240cc. besides used Keihin 22, and changed transmission ratios to finilize the fine tunning.

All made by an excellent quality and good adjustments.

The ENGINE
Air cooled 4 stroke single cylinder
Displacement: 240 cc.
Maximum Power:
Maximum torque:
Ignition: CDI

The TRANSMISSION
Six speed

The FRAME
Diamond steel type, Inox and alluminum detachable sub chassis.
Wheelbase: ? I have no this information
Caster angle: ? I have no this information
Front suspension: Telescopic
Rear Suspension: Monoshock
Weight: 79 Kg!!!
Wheelbase: 1.305

* Jacques Coll was a clever and advanced French engineer. He was working at Militar Aviation service on the begining and leter became an outstanding engineer working in several projects as this nice ALPHA bike. He was the engineer who developed the first Sherco engines and also the first four-stroke Sherco engine. Unfortunatelly world of trials bikes lost one of their best engineers, Jacques Coll died in 2006 in Vacarisses, Catalonia, Spain.

* Thanks to People from Moto Club Vacarisses to update us the information about his last days place were he lived.

* Aspen Cafe is a nice and long tradition five generation Cafe placed in French Alps, more info at: www.aspencafe.com

Honda Alpha 210
Jacques Coll made also this nice Honda Alpha 210 based on the TL200 Engine assembling only 19 units of this model. Picture thanks to friend Patrick Verrier.

1983 Honda TLM 50

For the young beginners Honda made in 1983 this nice two stroke engine little machine, The TLM 50.
Design was fully based on the TLR's series. Red with white, blue stripes, red frame and black painted engine. This is not a "really" Honda machine, due to his two stroke engine, but I wanted to introduce here because may be some Honda four stroke Trials fans were lucky to start with this model.

On this picture (thanks to Andrew Hoddler) the Honda TLM 50 in action with a young rider. This unit equipped the TLR 250 Fuel tank and seat. Also engine capacity was increased to 60cc, some improvements on carb and big TL125 wheels.
Take a look at aluminum bash plate, it was replaced instead original plastic one. Swingarm was also replaced by the TLR200 (with small modifications) to adapt TL125 wheels.

The ENGINE
Air cooled Two Stroke single cylinder
Displacement: 49 cc.
Maximum Power: 5,4 hp at 7.300 rpm
Maximum torque: 0,98 Kg/m at 4.500 rpm
Ignition: CDI

The TRANSMISSION
Five speed

The FRAME
Diamond steel type
Wheelbase: ? I have no this information
Caster angle: ? I have no this information
Front suspension: Telescopic
Rear Suspension: Hidraulic
Weight: 70 Kg