Honda TL 250 Trials Rebuild

[colin jay]

Cutter, PM me what bit you are after as I might be able to help out with some part or advise.

Earlier this year I picked up this '75 TL250;



I had been after one for quite a few years, and even though I have built up a few bike from wrecks, I had passed up a few other TL's that I had seen as beyond econimic repair. It cost me $1500, but is quite original and has a very sweet engine, (no flogged out cam bearings in the head). Had hoped to do a few trials on it this year but tweeked my back the day before the first trial here in SA, so havn't had a chance to ride it in anger.

CJ

[Guy53]

A friend as a complete TL 250 ready to ride execp for the canshaft. The guy work in a bike shop here in Quebec and looked everywhere to find one but was not lucky. Is there a replacement that can be use?

Thank for any advise

Guy

[FM350]

Should be able to easily get a used cam from US Ebay, if not you can still probably get XR cams new from someone like Powroll or XRs Only.

[David Lahey]

Should be able to easily get a used cam from US Ebay, if not you can still probably get XR cams new from someone like Powroll or XRs Only.

The TL motor is based on the XL250 motor, nothing like an XR motor

[Guy53]

The last time we talked about it, I asked about the XL cam but it seem's that there is a lot off difference between the two ( lift and duration ) maybe the cam that he checked was not an XL one.

Guy

[FM350]

Typo in my last post, sorry..............XR cam fits the TLR, but you will need early XL cam for the TL. The XL cam is slightly different, but unless you dont want increased mid and top end power and easier starting, it will work fine in your TL. Fitting the XR cam to the TLR has the same effect, and is well worth doing.

[Tee-Why]

It is truly worrying when someone blames a typo on poor research and lack of knowledge, especially when giving advice on forums like such. Caveat Emptor
To think that the TL era engine was like an XR was bad enough, he comes back with another folly, that the XR cam will fit the TLR, now really ????

As I seem to remember (back in my day racing enduro bikes), the XR250 was a 4 valve SOHC design, and from '84 was the RFVC - radial four valve combustion design. (and with disastrous results as a consequence).
The TLR being 2 valve SOHC design, I cannot see in a fit that these cams designs would be related. The XR200 went from 2 valve, to 4 valve RFVC for a period then back to the earlier 2 valve. Unless the earliest XR250 in the 79 to 80 engine configs cams fit or the XR200's, I would be really surprised.
Do your own research, google is only a mouse click away!

[FM350]

How familiar with the old TL motors are you I wonder Tee Why? I am currently building a 305 long-stroke which is quite close to what was used in the early factory bikes. The early XR200 cam fits TLR200 and 250, but the ignition trigger quill drive needs to be removed first. These cams are easily available on Ebay, and in combination with a higher compression piston will mean quite a bit more power, and also seem to reduce the tendency to spit back and stall which is quite common on some TLR's.

[Tee-Why]

What you say with the XR200 would make more sense, as you failed to mention, I was going along the lines of XR250 to what I have some familiarity. sorry no, only know of the TL125.

In the day with my local Honda dealer, we we amazed at the power and torque figures being identical between the XR250 and the TLR250, albeit for the different RPMs they were achieved at. This smacks in the face that they were of different head configurations as I mentioned before, can't recal if this with the twin throat carby setup to the XR250 that came in '84.

[FM350]

Back in the 70s there was a UK produced (Fraser) trials bike fitted with the 4 valve XR/XL 250 motor, and while it was much more powerful than a TLR motor, it was also very heavy and much bulkier than the CB125 based TLR................pretty nasty piece of kit really, and better suited to trail riding.