Happy new 2011 !!

The Honda RTL250S new information

A valuable document sent by Carlo showing a nice picture from the original Lejeune's RTL
Don't forget it, take a look on:

www.onlytrial.com

The Honda Trials History webpage

Honda RS250TW Yamamoto and Honda TL125 K2

Thanks to Jeremy and Jean-Pierre for these two new valuable documents for "The Honda Trials History" web page.


The Honda TL 125 K2



The Honda RS250TW Yamamoto Replica

More information about these documents at www.onlytrial.com The Honda Trial History site

The Honda Trials Movie

...a summary of the most beautiful Honda Trials bikes, Enjoy the movie :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvRRuyoPQhw&feature=player_embedded

More info at The Honda Trials History webpage

The Nicest Honda Trials never made

Here you have the final results of the Honda Trials poll. The 1983 Honda RTL360 won the "crown" of the best Honda trials ever made.

Also you can see this YOUTUBE movie with all the Honda's from the Honda poll:
Thanks to all Honda Trials History fans and collaborators

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

1979 Honda Fraser 125cc

Near to 1979, David Fraser made this innovative frame using the small and light 125cc. Honda engine.

See more information at www.onlytrial.com

Thanks to Donald from Belgium for this Picture.

Another Fraser from 1977 thanks to Steve Alderson, the Honda Fraser T305L

See more information at www.onlytrial.com

The Honda Trials engines

Working in this new section. All Honda engines tecnical aspects, diagrams, benefits...

All your help, pictures, information... will be appreciated.

See at www.onlytrial.com 

The Honda Trials History website

More info at The Honda Trials History webpage

1989 Honda TLM260R (nice but not four stroke engine!!)

Based on two stroke Spanish Montesa engine, Honda made these bikes for Japanese market. The TLM's never came to Europe or US market.
This was the "temporary" change made by Honda Trials Bikes, but no later, Honda returned to his Four-Stroke engines.

The 1989 TLM260R


More info at The Honda Trials History webpage

1988 Honda RTL250S Disc brakes

In 1988 Honda made the last updating of RTL's series, Disc brakes and updated HRC engine, based on the last 1987 RTL (pink color).

As Tommy Sandham say in his Four-Sroke Finale? book, may be the ultimate trials weapon.

John Shirt Jr rode with this nice machine achieving good results also in the Scottish Six Days Trial in 1988.

Thank to Patrick here is a nice 1988 RTL250S Disck brakes from Zurich.

D'ont forget to also see it at Patrick's web:

http://www.twnclub.ch/classic_trial_files/Classic_Trial.htm

Nice Honda RTL250 picture Thanks to Pat from Aspen Cafe,French Alps.

If you have more information and pictures,

your help will be welcome!! send at honda@onlytrial.com

Nice RTL250s Disck brakes thanks to Jiří Kříž from Check Republic


More info at The Honda Trials History webpage

1986 Honda TLR250R

In 1986 Honda developed this four stroke engine trials bike for the Japanese market. Most innovative feature was the frame type. 
The weakest point of this machine was its weight, 93kg!

TLR 250R picture thanks to Jiří Kříž from Check Republic


More info at The Honda Trials History webpage

1986 Honda RTL250s

Nice 1985 Honda RTL250S. Picture sent by Andrew from Maitland,Australia.

See updated info and pictures at www.onlytrial.com (The Honda TRials History webpage)


More info at The Honda Trials History webpage

1985 Honda RS250TW

The RS250TW from 1985 was based on the 1982 RS250T, painted Red, White and Blue colors, HRC engine TLR front forks and some improvements like oil cooler link.
The RS250TW was also called Yamamoto because he was the rider of this official bike.
Yamamoto Masaya was the winner of Japan Trial Championship from 1982 to 1986!!

Thanks to Hap for this nice RS250TA picture. See more info at www.onlytrial.com


More info at The Honda Trials History webpage

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.

* 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.

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

More info at Honda Trials History web page: Honda Trials History web page

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.

More info at The Honda Trials History webpage

1983 Honda TL 125

Picture thanks Pat from Aspen Cafe

Based on the TLR200 (see 1982 Honda TLR200 and TLR250 Honda Trials History article) Honda developed the TL 125 model adapting same frame, similar gas tank, seat, plastic parts, and using the 125cc four stroke engine.

The model was offered in two plastic colors, Blue and red. Engine was silver Gray, Frame ever in Silver Gray.
Later in 1986 (1989 in Europe) TL 125 was Black engine painted frame in white, also gas tank and front forks. Seat pad was colored in blue.

Picture thanks Pat from Aspen Cafe

More info at Honda Trials History web page: www.onlytrial.com 

1982 Honda TLR250 and TLR200

THE TLR250

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.

More info at The Honda Trials History webpage

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

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.

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.

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

From Spain, the nice Josep Feliu's TLR 250 performed by Limit Motos. It is standing by the UPY stand bike.

More info at The Honda Trials History webpage

THE TLR200

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!

Another TLR 200 from Aspen Cafe, thanks to Pat.

TLR 200 Vopour blasted and polished engine, thanks to Torbjorn from UK

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


More info at The Hondsa Trials History webpage

1981 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 1979, 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.
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.

Thanks to Pat for this nice picture from Honda meeting at ASPEN Cafe. in front we can see a nice RTL360.
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!!

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: 26ºWeight: 88 Kg
Wheelbase: 1300 mm

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.


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 yellow 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.

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