Basket Cases

[Takhli44]

Where did you mount the manure fork and #2 spade?

[mrgor]

Hello,
Still trying to sort out Front Fork issues for the project TL125 Honda, fitted with a Sammy Miller Hi Boy Frame that we recently found.
Bike has been much unloved and in storage for many years and the guy we got it from has no history or knowledge of the bike.
The front fork triple clamps look incorrect.
Have nothing to compare them with, but when looking on the net, the crowns/fork tubes sit much closer to the head stem.
The fork tubes are still 31mm diameter but look way too long.
Looking to do full rebuild, but would like to sort this out before we go too much further.
Anyone out there got any suggestions or comments.
Thank You, Ron and Peter Spencer

[David Lahey]

Ron I am definitely NOT a Honda person, but you don't seem to be getting much in the way of guidance on the forums so I will have a go.
Maybe they are SL125 triple clamps and forks. You might find a photo of them on the web to compare. The bottom sections look like TL125 forks to me, but there may be many 1970s 31mm Honda forks that look the same. If I was to guess I would have a stab that the whole front end might be from an SL100, SL125 or similar and they have slid the tubes higher than they would have been on the donor bike to get the right front end height for the SM TL frame. I would have thought that the SM frame would have originally been made to suit a TL125 front end. Maybe there is a forum for people who collect SL125s.
I have heard that MR175 or MT125 or CR125 triple clamps and (leading axle) fork sliders go well on the standard TL125 frame, but need something done to provide clearance at the fuel tank.
Another suggestion if you are worried about originality is just to buy a second-hand TL125 front end or basket case TL125 so you have the right front end for your SM TL125

[pop]

David, any chance you can put that picture of the spliced up sprocket here, or is it here allready?

[David Lahey]

David, any chance you can put that picture of the spliced up sprocket here, or is it here allready?

[Greg Harding]

Hello,
Still trying to sort out Front Fork issues for the project TL125 Honda, fitted with a Sammy Miller Hi Boy Frame that we recently found.
Bike has been much unloved and in storage for many years and the guy we got it from has no history or knowledge of the bike.
The front fork triple clamps look incorrect.
Have nothing to compare them with, but when looking on the net, the crowns/fork tubes sit much closer to the head stem.
The fork tubes are still 31mm diameter but look way too long.
Looking to do full rebuild, but would like to sort this out before we go too much further.
Anyone out there got any suggestions or comments.
Thank You, Ron and Peter Spencer

21 OCT 12-1.jpg

Hi Ron and Peter,

Without seeing the tripple clamps and sliders up close, they look like standard TL125/S ones to me. The chrome legs on the other hand do look long, possibly out of leading axle forks. 31mm is quite a common size, what I would do is take a complete fork leg to a bike wrecker and compare, starting with XL185 ones as they are very common. Depending on wether you want an original bike and it is not because of aftermarket frame or a bike to ride? If the latter, the chrome legs may be salvageable, linish them and fit new seals, the longer legs and springs will make the action more progressive. Appearance wise, the only difference is the legs protrude out the top, makes for strong tie down points!

Hope this helps?

[David Lahey]

Appearance wise, the only difference is the legs protrude out the top, makes for strong tie down points!

Greg I knew you were going to mention the "tie down points" :)

[Greg Harding]

Hi Everyone,

David, you bite so quick!

Went through the parts that I did not use on the KT today and found the mistery items.

IMGP3871%20-%20Copy[1].JPG (40.07 KiB) Viewed 6503 times

This one was replaced with handlebar sliced to the correct length (a little lighter)!

This one no one solved, but about 2/3rds of the way accross and 2/3rds of the way up is a house key!

[pop]

Thanks David, thats perfect.

[pop]

Re Gregs part, if its not of a Massey Furgeson, it could be one of those weird shock linkages from the 70s that someone was selling. or gear lever or brake lever linkage.