XL250 Motorsport. So it begins

[98tls]

Picked the old girl up today down in Dunedin which in itself almost led to disaster as the house i picked it up from had a cliff face for a driveway,not a problem in itself but upon leaving and reaching the top of said cliff the to low for its own good ute bellied out and wasnt far off refusing to move thankfully awhile back i had part of the exhaust replaced and the guy poked it up higher than it was otherwise it would have been a noisey trip home.Bloke i collected it from was a bloody nice guy who gave me a box of bits inclusive of original tailight/indicators and :banana:the missing tacho which must have been in the box for years as its like new.Got it home and going,took around 3 kicks and off she went.Gave it a quick scrub up and hey its not to bad i reckon.Wanted to stay out the shed and tinker but Mothers day intervened so was pulled kicking and screaming round to the in laws.Anyway will probably be the longest resto thread in history but thought i would kick it of with a few pics.More to come.

[98tls]

Question time,the bike has been on a farm in central Otago all its life,farms being sold the bloke i got it off was the original owners mate looking after the bike,original owner sent the key to his mate in an envelope resulting in it being lost in the PO sorting machine which they reckon they clean out every month and theres a fair chance of getting the key back,if not can i take off the ignition block take it to a locksmith and have him take it to bits then make a key?

[FJRider]

I owned on when I was in Burnham. The Selwyn river bed was its usual weekend haunt. From Highway one up almost to Hororata it was almost always dry for most periods of the year. Water DID flow ... but it ran under the gravel. There were a few water holes ...

The route to and from ... was via Two Chain "Road" ... a paper road for it's most part. And a mud track in the wet.
A regular companion was on an XL125. The air intake vent on the 125 was at the bottom of the air-box. On the 250 ... it was at the top of the air-box. That gave me six extra inches of water depth I could get into. And I DID get deeper a few times. I always hit the kill switch before it ... hydrolocked. A few times it was submerged (totally) .. and after being pulled out of the water (the heavy bitch it was), plug pulled (cleaned and dried) and kicked over a few times to clear the bore ... it went ... and got me home to camp. After letting it sit for a bit and draining a little water out of the tank .. A regular oil change helped keep it going.

I've even ridden it to Invercargill (and back) a few times from there too.

There used to be a 305cc kit you could get for them ...

[98tls]

I owned on when I was in Burnham. The Selwyn river bed was its usual weekend haunt. From Highway one up almost to Hororata it was almost always dry for most periods of the year. Water DID flow ... but it ran under the gravel. There were a few water holes ...

The route to and from ... was via Two Chain "Road" ... a paper road for it's most part. And a mud track in the wet.
A regular companion was on an XL125. The air intake vent on the 125 was at the bottom of the air-box. On the 250 ... it was at the top of the air-box. That gave me six extra inches of water depth I could get into. And I DID get deeper a few times. I always hit the kill switch before it ... hydrolocked. A few times it was submerged (totally) .. and after being pulled out of the water (the heavy bitch it was), plug pulled (cleaned and dried) and kicked over a few times to clear the bore ... it went ... and got me home to camp. After letting it sit for a bit and draining a little water out of the tank .. A regular oil change helped keep it going.

I've even ridden it to Invercargill (and back) a few times from there too.

There used to be a 305cc kit you could get for them ...

;)Fun eh,annoyingly my old man sold a TL250 awhile back and gave the guy the 305 kit he bought the same day as he bought the TL new.Doubt very much this thing will ever see much off road bar some gravel possibly.Tis a get it nice and ride it to work thing i think.Will add that the old man set in his ways by his own admisson didnt think the Japanese trials bike he bought would last long hence the purchase of big bore kit,that bike did huge miles (even on road use) and never let him down in 30 something years of ownership and as i say he never did use the big bore kit.

[FJRider]

Question time,the bike has been on a farm in central Otago all its life,farms being sold the bloke i got it off was the original owners mate looking after the bike,original owner sent the key to his mate in an envelope resulting in it being lost in the PO sorting machine which they reckon they clean out every month and theres a fair chance of getting the key back,if not can i take off the ignition block take it to a locksmith and have him take it to bits then make a key?

There may be a key number on the ignition barrel. Either above where you insert the key or on/in the internals. I don't recall the ignition switches being anything special/different for the 250 (compared to other Honda trail bikes)

Or get a new/replacement unit on the internet. I'm guessing you know how that's done ... :innocent:

[98tls]

There may be a key number on the ignition barrel. Either above where you insert the key or on/in the internals. I don't recall the ignition switches being anything special/different for the 250 (compared to other Honda trail bikes)

Or get a new/replacement unit on the internet. I'm guessing you know how that's done ... :innocent:

Yep think i can manage that mate:rolleyes:Got any pics of your old one?

[FJRider]

Yep think i can manage that mate:rolleyes:Got any pics of your old one?

:killingme

Yep ... somewhere. I seldom had time to take photo's ... and the Kodak 126 camera I had at the time ... didn't like water (OR MUD) ... :(

[98tls]

:killingme

Yep ... somewhere. I seldom had time to take photo's ... and the Kodak 126 camera I had at the time ... didn't like water (OR MUD) ... :(

Get em on disc and post them up then eh...

[merv]

Can't help you with a key, but wondering why its sitting so low on the front forks - are the springs kaput coz doesn't look like its slipped up through the clamps?

[98tls]

Can't help you with a key, but wondering why its sitting so low on the front forks - are the springs kaput coz doesn't look like its slipped up through the clamps?

Can tell you the seals are well naffed so an inspection of the fork internals will be done anyway merv,cant imagine the oils been replaced in 40 years.Been a hellva long time since ive seen one but cant remember them having that much travel from new to be honest.

[JimO]

do you remember the TV add for the Motorsport??. I cant find it on utube but it was set in a quarry or sandhills from memory

[FJRider]

Get em on disc and post them up then eh...

Most of my old photos are in slide form. I'm taking a look through them now. A few good ones so far.

I'll post them here soon.

[FJRider]

You may like this one ...

http://youtu.be/wTCun-wnCNQ

And THIS ...

http://www.hondampe.com.au/docs/owning_a_honda/owners_manuals/motorcycles/xl250-1973.pdf

and ...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/bhp/honda-xl250-motosport

[Ocean1]

Been a hellva long time since ive seen one but cant remember them having that much travel from new to be honest.

6" front and 4" rear. The 6" in the front could be made to behave OK, but the 4" at the back was a lost cause. Fox shocks was the eventual cure for my 350.

[ellipsis]

http://i888.photobucket.com/albums/ac85/motorcycle-mania/10308215_10203772516462981_4098886719609034299_n_z ps77347ee6.jpg (http://s888.photobucket.com/user/motorcycle-mania/media/10308215_10203772516462981_4098886719609034299_n_z ps77347ee6.jpg.html)
..................,

[FJRider]

;)Doubt very much this thing will ever see much off road bar some gravel possibly.Tis a get it nice and ride it to work thing i think ...

The old school trail bikes do not rely on high rev's or high speed to get anywhere. The old Honda's will take you with little effort into all sorts of places ... that you will never walk into. Even if it is at just a bit more than walking pace. (take a tin of petrol ... )

Even the pillion seat has more comfort than late model trail bikes.

The Dansey's pub is just over the hill .. :innocent: (plenty of easy side tracks up there)

[98tls]

The old school trail bikes do not rely on high rev's or high speed to get anywhere. The old Honda's will take you with little effort into all sorts of places ... that you will never walk into. Even if it is at just a bit more than walking pace. (take a tin of petrol ... )

Even the pillion seat has more comfort than late model trail bikes.


All good mate ive fond memorys of my 1st an SL125 then XL175 followed by an XL350.Been busy at work so no progress other than scouring ebay etc.Spent some time yapping to Rick Self at Oamaru Honda whos something of an expert on the things and has plenty of XLs tucked away restored or awaiting restoration.Moneys tight so theres plenty of things ive come across that i just cant afford at the moment but did get a nice rear/front guard.Will take the ignition off and get a key sorted asap.Edit... just found a rear guard support bracket on ebay for bugger all but the guy wont ship os so will see if someone on the TL site will grab it and send it down.

[98tls]

Spent a little time in the shed this afternoon,removed chain/rear wheel etc.Got the kero and paint brush out and set to cleaning up the rear hub etc took hours to get it to this stage,whilst its coming off the inner hub its a slow process anyone recommend a quicker way?Whilst at it can anyone tell me what it costs roughly to get a rim re-spoked ?Ive seen plenty of spoke kits on ebay is it something you can do yourself or best left to an expert?

[Drew]

Take the spokes out, clean and paint them, then put it back together. $3 per for blank spokes, then they need to be cut and rolled. The thread on them is not cut.

[Kickaha]

Whilst at it can anyone tell me what it costs roughly to get a rim re-spoked ?Ive seen plenty of spoke kits on ebay is it something you can do yourself or best left to an expert?

If you have the time and patience you can do it yourself, there's a few online tutuorials

About $60 to have one respoked by the guy in Chch not including spokes

[98tls]

If you have the time and patience you can do it yourself, there's a few online tutuorials

About $60 to have one respoked by the guy in Chch not including spokes

Cheaper than i thought it would be.

[Brian d marge]

Cheaper than i thought it would be.

Had one of those , stuck it into the front of a car

Then I went two stroke

Stephen

ps , wheel building isnt that hard .... make a jig, a few tutorials off the internet and a digital camera

[98tls]

Not bad for $15 eh,bit of a polish up and all good:niceone:The cocky that owned this old thing welded a tailight bracket to the original one.

[FJRider]

Yep think i can manage that mate:rolleyes:Got any pics of your old one?

A few pic's of me on the 250 in the Selwyn river ... and two chain road ..

[98tls]

A few pic's of me on the 250 in the Selwyn river ... and two chain road ..

:clap:Cheers mate great pics indeed.Knock on the door this morning bought the guards from the states,very good nick they are to.Imagine that eh,realistically priced and delivered within the same month i paid for them:killingme

[98tls]

Not much progress and still no key but managed to open the seat lock with a very small screwdriver amazingly that revealed the original toolkit and a few other bits n bobs.Went to start the thing but was a no go,checked for spark and nothing...turned out the plug lead had decided to part company with the coil:brick:Only time i had touched it was to replace the plug soon after getting the bike home,must have been the leads last leg eh.Anyone with an old Honda coil lying about feel free to speak up...Somebody mentioned earlier the forks looked devoid of travel turns out they are,pretty sure they went up n down when i looked at the thing in Dunedin so figure they must have locked up when i tied it down on the trailer to bring it home,no matter the seals are both fucked so will get them sorted down the track.

[Drew]

Get a lead from repco and put it in the old coil. Unless the spike is missing inside the coil.

[98tls]

Get a lead from repco and put it in the old coil. Unless the spike is missing inside the coil.

Tis buggered Drew,tried to boge it up as you can see but no go.

[FJRider]

Went to start the thing but was a no go,checked for spark and nothing...turned out the plug lead had decided to part company with the coil:brick:Only time i had touched it was to replace the plug soon after getting the bike home,must have been the leads last leg eh.Anyone with an old Honda coil lying about feel free to speak up...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/honda-xl250-1972-73-ignition-coil-09340-/360947886680?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item540a2baa58

[HenryDorsetCase]

http://www.davidsilverspares.co.uk/XL250-MOTOSPORT/


http://www.davidsilverspares.co.uk/XL250-MOTOSPORT/part_26573/

are you restoring this or just riding it? If it is just to ride I would look for an electronic ignition and a pattern coil. I loathe points. If it is a resto then spend the $150NZD odd to get an HGP.

I absolutely recommend DSS: they are great to deal with and very prompt with the sending of the bits.

[98tls]

http://www.davidsilverspares.co.uk/XL250-MOTOSPORT/


http://www.davidsilverspares.co.uk/XL250-MOTOSPORT/part_26573/

are you restoring this or just riding it? If it is just to ride I would look for an electronic ignition and a pattern coil. I loathe points. If it is a resto then spend the $150NZD odd to get an HGP.

I absolutely recommend DSS: they are great to deal with and very prompt with the sending of the bits.

Cheers guys ended up with one off ebay.Restoring or riding good question,when i bought the thing i figured strip it down to the frame and go the whole hog but to do it properly tis going to be a long drawn out affair not to mention the $...new plan is get it tidy and enjoy using it,methinks the neighbours will enjoy its subtle exhaust note at 5am compared to the booming TLS:lol:so yea tidy it up and ride it.Theres still plenty to do to get it tidyish ie paint tank/guards/exhaust,decal kit,cables sort the forks and find some rear shocks which will be a misson methinks,heaps of other things but will get there.Enjoying having it in the shed to be honest.No doubt DSS will see plenty of my hard earned and at this stage i really need to keep away from there website theres just so much on there i would like.:crazy:

[98tls]

Finally got some time to muck about with the old girl this afternoon (na not the mrs),fitted new coil but still no spark:facepalm:mate called round whos good with lecky and did his thing with a meter but all seemed a mystery still then after once again removing plug and turning it over we got a great spark so tank on and started kicking away but nothing,cables are all pretty much fucked and i got to playing around with the choke then wound out the idle which produced a 1st kick start followed by quickly flicking the kill switch as the thing wound its way up to blow up rpms,seems some bugger had been fucking about with the idle screw :facepalm:wasnt me i swear:laugh:Anyway we have a runner,no smoke and bloody quiet so all good.Few bits turning up off ebay so will look at stripping some bits off the thing and doing something re tidying up the frame when i get some time.