February 20, 200422 yr Could you wonderful informative people give us lousy ignorant ones some history on the Seeley? Could a person get one? Parts? What's differant? I can see that the frame and the seat/tank unit are unique, what else? Edited February 20, 200422 yr by Brian R
February 20, 200422 yr From what I gather and I do own one, hand built frame by Colin Seeley, Factory RS motor, now known as HRC, only 400 made, very expensive when they came out in 78-79 more info and pictures at this link below http://rtlr.club.free.fr/
February 20, 200422 yr Author Looks like new triple trees, forks and wheels too! Anything left of the TL?
February 24, 200422 yr Maybe some of my memory of the bike will help. The bikes were ground up builds by Colin Seeley, he only got the motor and wheels from Honda and sourced everything else locally just like the manufacturers do to today. i.e. they didn't start with a TL125. It was an official Honda project, run out of the UK. Motors came in from Honda Racing Service Centre (RSC) Weren't they Bored and stroked - I have a vague memory of a cylinder spacer, different cam/timing etc. The forks / yokes are Marzocchi same as the 200 Fantic at the time. The frame is a Seeley unit. Tank seat was glassfibre (over a alloy unit ?) I remember a prototype being ridden by a Japanese rider Hattori, in our local centre events, as he was based with Honda UK in Chiswick he rode in the South Midland Centre. He wasn't bad and gave everyone a good run for their money. The Seeley was competitive against the Bultaco Sherpa, Fantic and Montesa of the same era. What amazed me was I picked one of a fallen rider a couple of month ago and couldn't believe how heavy it was. Considering there were only 400 made, they did end up travelling far and wide
March 23, 200422 yr Hi. I have one of these lovely little trials bikes. I use mine here on the Isle Of Man in our very active trials centre. From what I can gather Colin Seeley built the frames, as the sticker on my tank states "for Honda UK" and his brother Richard Seeley built the engines and gave them his own engine numbers. Mine has Marzocchi forks. The fork clamps. I can't decide if these were made by Seeley or are Marzocchi too. The rest of the bike appears to be Honda TL. Ie the hubs and brake shoes. I love the hand made appearance of the air box and beautiful ally tank under the fibreglass seat / tank unit. (although the work is excellent) It is so typically british and each bike must have taken forever to manufacture, and must have cost a fortune when new!
March 24, 200422 yr I've recently finished restoration of one. Had posted pics on the old TA forum. Turned out to be a long, slow job but worth it at the end!! Got it 6 months before my 21st......finished it and rode my first trial on it about 4 months ago......at 24!!!! The Exhaust was the biggest problem, not one to be found anywhere, eventually got one made by a guy who did it "just for the challenge!!" Parts wise, the enfine is based on the XL185, bored by RSC (now HRC), different profile cams put in and other internal mods. I did a full engine rebuild, base gasket, side casing gaskets, timing chain etc, all from the XL185, regular over the counter stuff. Piston, rings, small end, gudgeon pin, clips, all came from Wiseco in the UK. All you need to do is get your cylinder bore measured professionally then download the online Wiseco catalogue & match to the size you need. Head gaskets..........Well Ishy knows the story with this one..... Obviously since it is a 185 bored to 200, finding a head gasket to suit was impossible, nearly as bad as the exhaust!! Eventually contacted a crowd in the UK Clough Croydon (now Ashton Seals) who took the original and manufactured 10 for me!! That was the smallest quantity they would do - Ish, will have your 2 in Scotland, cost you a few pints though!! One thing to look for is wear where the cam sits it the head. Had problems with carburation, but the previous owner had messed with jets, in the end had to bring it over to a friend in Wales, strip them side by side, and transfer parts!! All sorted now though and a fantastic little bike, well able to p*ss off guys on their new bikes (though have been known to do that on a Tiger Cub at times too!!) Anyway, will pull the covers off her this evening and get some new photos to post. If you need any info let me know, will try and help wherever I can.... STU
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