Author Topic: TL125S Finished!  (Read 299 times)

Offline Laverda Dave

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TL125S Finished!
« on: November 23, 2025, 06:35:31 PM »
I finally completed the TL125S today :).

The bike when it came to me had 'a minor electrical problem' but like all field bikes it was virtually worn out, no wiring loom, most electrical parts missing, siezed engine, frame brackets cut off and rusty.

It has taken just on a year to restore and thanks go to Bryan for the restoration and all his patient help with the wiring, Ash for the parts he obtained from Yahoo in Japan, Piki for the fantastic decals and Rozabikes Tim for sending the photos of the missing brackets, eBay leads on parts and encouragement when I really wanted to throw the towel in!

Now this is the interesting part, as it isn't my bike and I've restored it for an old mate I had to keep a careful note on the spend, £5735 and he already had the bike (well, some of it!). The cost is so expensive because thats how much services such as painting, powder coat, chrome etc cost now. I have spent 497 hours on it and this includes going to the painter, chromer etc. My time is free but how can any bike (or car) restoration company make any money!

so now onto the next project, a NC30, I'm not sure if I should start a thread on here as there are FOUR cams involved :o
« Last Edit: November 23, 2025, 06:56:27 PM by Laverda Dave »
1976 Honda 400/4
1977 Rickman Honda CR750
1999 Honda VFR 800FX
1955 750 Dresda Triton
1978 Moto Morini 350 Sport
1978 Honda CB400/4 'The Flying Banana'
1982 Laverda 120 Jota
2020 Royal Enfield Interceptor 650
1990 Honda VFR400R NC30

Offline Skoti

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Re: TL125S Finished!
« Reply #1 on: November 23, 2025, 06:49:16 PM »
Glad it's finished, how about some photos please?
Skoti


Motorcycling is Life, anything B4 or after is just waiting...

1976 Honda CB750F1

Offline Laverda Dave

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Re: TL125S Finished!
« Reply #2 on: November 23, 2025, 06:51:11 PM »
It wont let me post any, I've tried half a dozen times and it just keeps saying server error 500!
1976 Honda 400/4
1977 Rickman Honda CR750
1999 Honda VFR 800FX
1955 750 Dresda Triton
1978 Moto Morini 350 Sport
1978 Honda CB400/4 'The Flying Banana'
1982 Laverda 120 Jota
2020 Royal Enfield Interceptor 650
1990 Honda VFR400R NC30

Offline Laverda Dave

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Re: TL125S Finished!
« Reply #3 on: November 23, 2025, 06:54:24 PM »
Here we go........last try to post photos.......
1976 Honda 400/4
1977 Rickman Honda CR750
1999 Honda VFR 800FX
1955 750 Dresda Triton
1978 Moto Morini 350 Sport
1978 Honda CB400/4 'The Flying Banana'
1982 Laverda 120 Jota
2020 Royal Enfield Interceptor 650
1990 Honda VFR400R NC30

Offline SteveD CB500K0

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Re: TL125S Finished!
« Reply #4 on: November 23, 2025, 06:56:07 PM »
Your mate had better not bend it around a bloody tree!


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1971 CB500K0

Offline Laverda Dave

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Re: TL125S Finished!
« Reply #5 on: November 23, 2025, 07:01:53 PM »
Your mate had better not bend it around a bloody tree!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

The one thing I have learnt from this is never take anything for granted, just because it looks OK it isn't! Even the fuel tap had a hairline crack in it that I didn't see until I poured fuel in the tank and it leaked through the crack! I had to wait three weeks for the replacement (pattern part) to arrive.
1976 Honda 400/4
1977 Rickman Honda CR750
1999 Honda VFR 800FX
1955 750 Dresda Triton
1978 Moto Morini 350 Sport
1978 Honda CB400/4 'The Flying Banana'
1982 Laverda 120 Jota
2020 Royal Enfield Interceptor 650
1990 Honda VFR400R NC30

Offline Bryanj

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Re: TL125S Finished!
« Reply #6 on: November 23, 2025, 07:31:33 PM »
Glad to have helped Dave.
It will be slightly down on power due to the compression change but that might stop getting in too much trouble!

Not much ideas on the 4 cam, you need Roo for that

Offline Ken4004

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Re: TL125S Finished!
« Reply #7 on: November 23, 2025, 07:44:11 PM »
That looks great Dave top job, the engine looks light enough to lift from the frame single handed but probably isn’t.
My cb400 was definitely a two man lift and was awkward putting back into the frame, was it hard to find replacement parts for this model ?

Good luck with your next project it sounds interesting, can you post some pictures of the RC 30 before you pull it apart?

Regards Ken





Offline Craizeehair

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Re: TL125S Finished!
« Reply #8 on: November 23, 2025, 07:51:16 PM »
Wow

Great job , I love that! Looks amazing.

Offline McCabe-Thiele (Ted)

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Re: TL125S Finished!
« Reply #9 on: November 23, 2025, 08:47:09 PM »
That looks really  good Dave.👍👍👍
Honda CB400NA Superdream (current money puddle)
Honda CB500 K1 (second money pit)
https://www.sohc.co.uk/index.php/topic,28541.0.html
Honda CB400 four super sport (first money pit)
Link to my full restoration http://www.sohc.co.uk/index.php/topic,23291.0.html
This is a neat 500 restoration in the USA.
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,151576.msg1731556.html#msg1731556

Offline Rozabikes Tim

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Re: TL125S Finished!
« Reply #10 on: November 23, 2025, 08:49:22 PM »
Stunning Dave. Got there in the end. You ridden it?
One day I'll have the time to restore it, not just talk and dream....

Offline Johnwebley

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Re: TL125S Finished!
« Reply #11 on: November 23, 2025, 09:27:37 PM »
That looks great Dave top job, the engine looks light enough to lift from the frame single handed but probably isn’t.
My cb400 was definitely a two man lift and was awkward putting back into the frame, was it hard to find replacement parts for this model ?

Good luck with your next project it sounds interesting, can you post some pictures of the RC 30 before you pull it apart?

Regards Ken
Yes please,

More details on the NC30



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lifelong motorcycle rider,and fan

Offline Laverda Dave

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Re: TL125S Finished!
« Reply #12 on: November 23, 2025, 10:34:46 PM »
Stunning Dave. Got there in the end. You ridden it?

Thanks for the comments all. I won't be doing another of these bikes unless its all there to begin with!

I don't have insurance on it Tim so I've only ridden it down the alley at the back of the house, its slow as Bryan suggested! I dont think the owner will wrap it around a tree as he'll have trouble riding over the roots given its power, I think it is 8bhp! It needs a vin plate to finish it, I did email the guy who Julie suggested but no reply but then I'm not on FB (Faceache). I'll leave that for the owner to do (and to get a MOT, I know it doesn't need one but I would get one just to make sure what I have done is up to standard).
I'll start a thread for the NC30 once the TL leaves the garage and I have some room.
1976 Honda 400/4
1977 Rickman Honda CR750
1999 Honda VFR 800FX
1955 750 Dresda Triton
1978 Moto Morini 350 Sport
1978 Honda CB400/4 'The Flying Banana'
1982 Laverda 120 Jota
2020 Royal Enfield Interceptor 650
1990 Honda VFR400R NC30

Offline AshimotoK0

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Re: TL125S Finished!
« Reply #13 on: November 24, 2025, 07:17:05 AM »
Wow ! that looks truly stunning Dave ... Wish we all had mates like you.
Glad to have helped a little via my 'Man-in-Japan' ChrisJ . It's astonishing what comes up on Yahoo.co.jp Auctions (No eBay in Japan!).

I was convinced your next resto would be another CB250RSA  ;D ;D and what's all this buying Julie's SS collets for your next 400F resto?
“Alright friends, you have seen the heavy groups, now you will see morning maniac music. Believe me, yeah. It’s a new dawn.” Grace Slick, Woodstock '69 .. In the year of the Sandcast.

Offline Laverda Dave

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Re: TL125S Finished!
« Reply #14 on: November 24, 2025, 11:34:11 AM »
Wow ! that looks truly stunning Dave ... Wish we all had mates like you.
Glad to have helped a little via my 'Man-in-Japan' ChrisJ . It's astonishing what comes up on Yahoo.co.jp Auctions (No eBay in Japan!).

I was convinced your next resto would be another CB250RSA  ;D ;D and what's all this buying Julie's SS collets for your next 400F resto?

Thank you Ash, this bike wouldn't have been completed had it not been for the fantastic people on this forum (I forgot to thank Roo for getting the toolbox in the US and bringing it back in his luggage, thank you Roo
I'm going to get the collets as a spare because the BZP ones always go rusty and look a bit pants (that's a technical word for terrible)🙁.
The NC30 is the next one up on the bench but I've promised myself a major change after spending just under 500 hours on the TL.....No restoration during nice weather, I want to be out riding a bike, not spinning spanners!
I'd love another RSA after the NC, the kickstart model, not electric but it's trying to find one😉.
Don't laugh but I quite fancy a MZ Supa 5, I've always liked those with their ring-a-ding ding soundtrack and I've never owned a stinkwheel.
1976 Honda 400/4
1977 Rickman Honda CR750
1999 Honda VFR 800FX
1955 750 Dresda Triton
1978 Moto Morini 350 Sport
1978 Honda CB400/4 'The Flying Banana'
1982 Laverda 120 Jota
2020 Royal Enfield Interceptor 650
1990 Honda VFR400R NC30