Vesty’s Honda
When Honda’s announcement in January 1973 told the world Sammy Miller had been contracted to begin development of its trials model older enthusiasts in the feet-up world rejoiced at the thought of a four-stroke back on the scene. Just what format this new machine would take fuelled press speculation for many an issue; the only thing certain was it wouldn’t be a pushrod single. Enthusiasts wondered, hoped perhaps, Honda’s version of a trials bike would reflect the exotica of the manufacturer’s Sixties race bikes with a jaw-dropping specification. Maybe the TL125 which did appear was a touch underwhelming though its ohc – over-head cam – engine and five-speed gearbox would have been exotic for a trials bike a decade earlier but it just didn’t have enough oomph to be more than a mild-mannered beginner mount.
As the works riders got hand-built bigger machines which made Honda’s name on the international stage, the public anticipated production versions soon. Meanwhile, there were those who felt the TL125 had potential locked away in its basic specification and set about proving it too by upping the capacity and altering the frame which improved things quite a bit.
This two-pronged attack from the factory and its racing division – basic for production, trick for the team – took Honda’s trials effort through the Seventies and into the Eighties. Yes, there were bikes like the Seeley Honda and the RS models which had limited runs but could hardly be classed as production. There was a glimmer of hope when the TLR200 was introduced and followed by the TLR250 but these bikes were still a basic spec compared with what Eddy Lejeune was riding. As with the TL there were those who felt there was more potential in the TLR range and set about proving it. Sadly for the TLR in those days
