hondanut

i have to say after 25 years of trying i finaly won a trial on a trials bike at the bath event on the weekend, so i would have to say muddy hill climbs as that was where the trial was won and lost, that slippery red mendip mud realy suits four strokes like my tlr200. i recently did a yeo vale trial where it was bone dry, and the bike conked out after 4 sections, leaving me realy gutted, so i would have to say , mud,mud,mud!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i reckon if you can get that for

hi, maybe i should have posted on this topic, but my honda xl twinshock special shots are now viewable at http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/smshonda185/my_photos let me know what you think, any questions answered.

yes i was quite pleased with myself, in keeping with the very small budget the paint i got for free and just happend to be the green very simmilar to the late ossa's as they were green with gold wheels, so you can see the logic in that coulor scheme. it does not look so good now after 6 years of use, the fantic tank now fitted has no paint on it at all and it looks a bit of a mess, but it still runs ok. i would not like to do a ldt on it myself as the seat is not very comfy, and since riding it i have had to make the seat smaller and double the foam and it still a bit too hard. its next outing will probably be the bath classic at lambs lair on mendip, somerset on 26 november, where last year it coped well with the very slippery red mud.

the shots of my xl engined twinshock that i made over a 1 year period in the late 90's are on line at http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/smshonda185/my_photos it does not look like it now after a 6 year trials use, it has lost some of its green paint and has now got xl 125 forks and a fantic tank, which being plastic the paint just wont stick to especially after a power wash. it still runs well after a brand new carb which made all the difference as well as a rebore to +50 o/s. the compression is still a bit high for realy delicate tight turns, not like my tlr, a totaly different riding technique is needed, i was toying with the idea of selling it, but my son now 16 wants to ride it in events where his sherco is not allowed, so much for making more room in the shed! for anyone contemplating doing the same, get a good roling chassis first as it makes a lot of difference and cuts out a lot of time and effort, the ossa frame was used as it was only

i built a honda xl engined special, but because i had to do it over time and gat the bits to a budget and in dribs and dabs, i did not use a rollong chasis which would have been easier and probably cheaper. some of you in the south west would have seen it in the somerton and blackmore vale amca events along with others it is/was bright green, i used an ossa frame, xl125 mono forks & front wheel, after market shocks, mudguards, fantic tank, xl 185 rear wheel and engine, and hand made airfilter box and other bits and pieces i enjoyed building it and learned quite a lot about engineering and problem solving, and after 6 years found it to be quite reliable but a bit too powerfull and not smooth enough, due to carb and compresion problems, but still is competative, especialy in the muddy hill climb type events, shorter forks would also make a big difference, i have now got a tlr 200 and my son now fancies riding the grren machine in twinshock trials. i can post photos if anyone is interested

did the sunday at totnes on my recently aquired tlr, great event a challenge but cleanable if carefull, nice lot of slippery rocks, must ride smoother!, cant wait untill the next trial.

as i have now got 5 honda single cylinder bikes, xl185, xl125, xr200r, crf230f and now a tlr200 i may be in a position to help some of you with what part is the same? ect. as honda do seem to make more different bits than needed, i have noticed a lot of parts the same on the tlr as the xl, and some may well fit the other bikes, you can allways email me as i may be able to help!, i also now of a shop with at least 6 tlrs for sale, these are imports and will need to be done up even for trials use, most are generaly all there, some with the odd part missing or shot tyres ect.

yes another honda trials nut on line!