1977 Honda 305cc

Sammy Miller developed in 1977 this nice Long-stroke 305cc 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.

Rob Shepherd won the British Championship in 1977 with this 305cc long-stroke Honda bike.

More info at The Honda Trials History webpage

1976 Honda TL50

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

More info at The Honda Trials History webpage

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.

The frame has stamped the number 267 that means probably the first and original High-Boy frame production.

More info at The Honda Trials History webpage

1975 the TL250

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

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

Funny picture thanks to E. Galea

More info at The Honda Trials History webpage

1974 The Sammy Miller's Honda

After sign a contract with Honda Japan, Sammy Miller made his own Team to develop the specific Honda for trial. Early 1974 he agreed to develop all the Honda range of trial bikes.

This Team developed in 1974 the new Honda trial 250cc based on the XL250 engine.

This was one of the first off-road bikes to feature a truly tuked-in upswept muffler. Its 4-valve OHC engine and chassis were uprated SL components.

The single cylinder, four valve engine was made all-alloy and equiped with a five speed gearbox. The final weight was only 90Kg.

Soon after Sammy Miller presented his new evolution, the new Honda 250cc Hi-boy frame with alloy plate replacing the bottom tubes.

The Honda 250cc first prototype

Sammy Miller and his nice first Honda 250 trials prototype

More info at The Honda Trials History webpage

1974 Harry Fairbairn's Honda 125 trials

More info at The Honda Trials History webpage

1973 Honda TL 125 Trials

Little Honda Tl 125 was very popular, Honda had big success in the US and Europe.

The Honda TL 125 had a lot of series, for sure the most successful Honda trials.

From 1973 to 1988 little Honda TL125 had following series:

Honda TL125 US Model Series

1973 Honda TL125 K0 (US model)

1974 Honda TL125 K1 (US model)

1975 Honda TL125 K2 (US model)

Thanks to this Honda Trials History collaborator we can enjoy with these nice pictures of his 1974 TL125 purchased new and recently transformed to a SAMMY MILLER bike. Thanks for your pictures.

Picture sent by Jiří Kříž Czech Rep.

1976 Honda TL125 S (EU model)

1981 Honda TL125 Ihatovo (EU and Japan) from there equipped with CDI

1983 Honda TL125 DJ (EU model)

1988 Honda TL125 JD06 (EU model)

Honda BIALS 125 Japan Model Series

1972 Honda BIALS 125 K0 (Japan model)

1974 Honda BIALS 125 K1 (Japan model)

1975 Honda BIALS 125 S (Japan model)

1981 Honda IHATOVO 125 SB (Japan model)

For more detailed TL125 information see please the link below (fantastic web page enterely dedicated to this TL125 model from Jose, France):

http://tl.125.free.fr/index2.htm

Who say's you can't go big on a vintage bike~

1974 Honda TL125 thanks to John Ulver from USA


More info at The Honda Trials History webpage

From 1965 to 1973, First Honda Trials Bikes

Ken Ives' S90 Honda Trials Special

Ken Ives was a Honda dealers that made one of the first transformations from the "street" Hondas to ride on Trials races.

Ken Ives took a 1965 Honda S90 and made following modifications and improvements to well adapt on atrials riding:

He replaced the tyres, made a wider swing arm, of course improved the position and design of the foot rests, special exhaust, and add a bash plate to protect the bootom engine.

Engine was a lttle 90cc OHC, but strong enough to start on the first trial races.

At same time the Japanese Hideo Tanaka made his own transformation and rode with his S90. Tanaka, some time later was working on the RTL305 development.

In 2006, Mori Kojiro entered at Kinlochleven Scotish Pre 65 2-Day with this machine. 

Really a funny history!! Do not you think so?

The S90 original version

Later, around 1967, 68 Kevin Ives built a new Honda Trials bike based on the CB 160 and CD 175 engine.

Of course he replaced the wheels, tyres, rear suspension, also he changed the forks, special twin exhaust, frame with a lot of improvements like Camber angle, swing arm, reinforced sections, bash plate... Engine also was modified, low compression, lower gearing,..

Really a nice bike!!

Peter Gaunt's Honda History

Peter Gaunt riding a Suzuki trials

Peter Gaunt was the first engineer who in 1973 developed a serious transformation using a Honda bike as a base. The bike was sold under the Jefferies Honda name, this is because Jefferies bikes, located at Shipley, Yorkshire, was the dealer. The bike was offered ad L469!!

Small series were made, no more than 20 units.

Almost two units still alive!!

Thanks to Carlo, from Italy, I found an original Peter Gaunt's Honda Jefferies,

and thanks generosity of Carlo to share these pictures, we can enjoy today with this nice bike survivor.

I also found another original one, and thanks to John comments we know that the bike was from 1973. You can find pictures on the excellent and maybe the best Honda trials bike web page: www.honda-trials.com

The bike is from Adres Cook, and you can see it on following link:  http://www.honda-trials.com/_sgg/m1ma_1.htm

The Jefferies Honda XLS

Gaunt started using a XL250 (trail/enduro bike) but modifying several points in order to have a competitive trial bike.

Actually Peter Gaunt still ride and participates on races as Two Scotish Days with his wonderfull Royal Enfield. This bike has a lot of clever solutions, and perfectly explains how this engineer could make a transformation so successful. The bike is today in Spain bought by a private collector.

More info at The Honda Trials History webpage