Restoring a beautiful little XL125k1 Honda trail bike. Ive owned it since 1979 and that's the bike that took me camping in Scotland and the Lake District and all over the UK then introduced me to off road adventures. All the big bikes have been great.... they've changed over the decades but my constant 'back of the garage' companions are the Suzuki TU250, the XL and my old Bantam. Funny that...yes more fun on the tiddlers Guy.
Your enthusiasm is infectious, Guy. What lovely bikes they were. You've got me reminiscing about the start of my own biking life about 45yrs ago. Happy days. Loving your channel. Cheers!
guy like you mate i am 56 now 40 years rideing lots of big bike z1000 /gsx1100e but now love the litte bikes got old 78 rd125 twin rs250 honda xl185 just loveing life ride free n safe guy davey east london
As a child of the 1960's, the Honda Benly was always a lovely little bike. Now, all these years later, I find myself increasingly drawn to buying one. Same with the cute Suzuki TU250.....
Cracking little bike , its an evolution of the old CD175 , friend of mine bought one new back in 75ish and he still has it and would never part with it .
What a gem 💎 . I remember the days when they were common . Because they were ubiquitous they didn't get appreciated even by myself. Just watching this made me giddy with excitement. Little bikes have a big place in this world . The smiles per hour are insane 😍
Just found your channel; Greetings and best wishes from the USA (Northwest Washington State). I have a number of big bikes (Triumph Sprint, Honda SP2, BMW R100), but I also love my small bikes (1965 Honda S90, 1963 Yamaha YG1, and a special place in my heart, a 1965 Yamaha Yl1 twin jet 100) Great fun! Cheers! Martyn Edwards
Definately know what you mean, im 63 now, worked for quicksilver dispatch circa 1980, on the only bike i ever bought new a z400. got b ack into biking about 15 yearts ago mostly ridin 500+ cc hacks but recently got a 1980 xs250 on the road, it takes me right back to my halycon days, good luck with your restoration.
Really enjoying your videos Guy, takes me back almost 50 years to when I started riding and tinkering with smallish Yamahas and Hondas. Just basic tools and common sense would usually get you out of trouble. Great to see a bike without Lambda Sensors, airflow sensors and ECUs etc etc and relying on a fault code reader when the dreaded warning light comes on. Looking forward to your next project.
Thoroughly enjoyed the first five episodes of your Benly being made fit and ready for the road. I have a Honda CB250 rs which I love, although, I am on the look out for a BMW R65. Ah yes! Back to the good old days. Great channel.👍
Only just caught this. Love it. My first bike was a CD175 twin, not unlike the Benly. I have had plenty of big bikes over the years but at 67 i am now really enjoying an Enfield Meteor 350 single. Great fun. Love the channel. A biker’s biker.
Excellent video! I've had a Benly for many years and use it as a commuter and runabout. It's a 12volt one with the electric starter and close to 40k miles on the clock. I get about 80 to 90 to the gallon and it'll do around 70 but is happiest around 50mph. They are great fun. Also good in the winter as they'll chug down to around 10mph in top. The only problem I've had with mine, (I also had a 6v one back in the 90s that burned out a coil and an exhaust valve) is carb icing, which is not a good thing to happen in the dark (or any other time) as there is no kill switch. So I would advise fitting a kill switch which is literally a life saver. It's not nice having to turn off the ignition in the dark whiist it tries to 'redline'.
Just found your channel Guy, loving it so far. I'm a restorer in South Oxfordshire. Looking forward to catching up on your videos. I saw your CB125T on another channel, which was my first bike. Great machines. Best wishes, Dean at Retromeccanica.
Loving the new channel Guy , I too am having fun with a 1964 Honda (not really fun very frustrating),wanted a project and boy it looks like I got my wish .
I had exactly the same feeling the first time my grandad let me ride his Raleigh Runabout. I dont have to pedal this !!!! Actually I did to start it but the feeling of being able to go somewhere and just sit there without having to pedal was great. I have also bought brand new spark plugs from the dealer that never worked. One was good the other one wasn't.
Hi Guy - My girlfriend and myself moved between Morecambe and Winchester many moons ago on a CD200 Benly. She had this enormous rucksack of our belongings that as soon as I set off caused her to be flipped off the back, after that it was 9 hrs of riding A roads in the rain because I didn't want to go on the motorway. I used to dispatch on a CX500 back in the 90s and have just bought another one which has brought back a whole load of memories ( not all of them good as I was a terrible dispatch rider)
Hi Owen, I can completely identify with what your saying having also moved all my worldly belongings on the back of a bike down to Winchester. Those were the days!
Hiya Guy, great video. I've got biggish bikes and I also have a tuned lambretta for whizzing around my local country roads. Maintaining momentum is critical to keep in the motor in the power band. Great stuff. Cheers Pete.
Fantastic videos Guy, cant believe its a 40 year old bike, looks and sounds great. I had a V reg CB250 N, kind of wish I still had it at times. Keep up the good work.
I just found your channel and have subscribed - Thanks for the great video Guy, me and my son are currently about two thirds through restoring a 1972 CB 125 K3 for him (I actually had a later 1987 CB125 TDE when I was 18, many moons ago..) Your nostalgic ride out made me look forward to ours even more, hopefully sometime in the Spring - fingers crossed !..
Almost 50 years ago I bought a CB 175. Twin carbs, 5 speed gearbox, chrome mud guards etc. I loved it! It took me and my girlfriend all the way from Leeds to the Mediterranean without a hitch. I'd had a BSA C15SS and T100ss before that, which were fun but unreliable. I realised then that Japanese bikes were not the "Jap Crap" that my peers talked about. Wish I still had the CB but I still have 2 Honda's which get used regularly.
A friend of mine owned a brand new CD 200 Benly reg 1984 . I borrowed it for about a week it was the same colour as that one . The bike was very reliable ,but the vibes through the handlebars at decent cruising speeds ,were very painful . They got so bad I couldn’t operate the clutch or front brake . Both pistons in the engine go up & down the same time ,making the engine rough above town speeds . Also the low slung exhaust pipes decked out easy on corners . Some years later I had a ride of the custom version with same but smaller capacity engine ,it was an ugly duckling ,but a much sweeter ride & a lot less vibes . In the late 80’s I saw a 250 version with a front disc brake in the local Honda dealers ,but never saw one on the road . I believe they later revived the engine in the new CB 250 Honda ,but it wasn’t as smooth or preformed as good as the old Superdream models with ,3 valve per cylinder heads & balancer shafts .
I owned a cd250u in the late 90s, having earlier owned 125 and 200 Benlies. The bigger bike was a disappointment. Longer rods, heavier crank = not nearly as "sweet". I thought the disc was a bit unnecessary too as the 5.5" drums were perfectly adequate.
@@tombartram7384 I reckoned the Honda front brake cables ,stretched like hell ,& you had to make an appointment for the front brake just to slow you down .On the other hand I had a 1984 Suzuki GP 100 U with the best front drum brake I ever came across ,it was better then some disc brakes . I reckon the CD Benly 200 engine having pistons that both hit TDC at the same time ,made it more like a split single ,& made the engine agricultural .The heavier crank & longer rods on the CD 250 U ,should of helped smooth out the vibes & give it more momentum & grunt up hills .I think the CD Benly’s looked good & reminded me of a classic BSA twin .,but the ugly duck custom version felt sweeter to ride & could be cranked over further due to upswept exhaust silencers .
@@maskedavenger2578 the 250 was literally no faster (70) than the 200 and I prefer 4 gears. It only did 67mpg as opposed to 80+ on the 194cc and 90+ on the 124cc. I won an almost mint cd185 on ebay a couple of weeks ago for £1200 but the seller pulled out because he was peed off how little it went for. Bit gutted because it was only 2 miles away too. Engines are often worse for being hogged out, like the VT500/NTV600
@@tombartram7384 I clocked the Honda CD 200 Benly ( 1984 reg 12 volts ) at 80 mph on Speedo ,on long flat road on a couple of occasions .I would of thought the 250 would have had similar top speed ,with more low & mid range grunt ..The Honda Superdream CB 250 twin with 3 valve heads would clock around 85 mph & the Honda CB 250 RSA Twin port 4 valve head single ,which I owned did 85 mph & on a very good day 93 mph on the clock . Back in the 1960 ‘s the original Benlys were classed as 125cc twin carb sports bikes . Pity you missed out on the 185 Benly one of my neighbours had one for years & used it everyday ., The seller shouldn’t of put it up for auction ,if they planned on welching on the deal . £1200 quid wasn’t a bad price . I have seen mint unmolested Bandit 600’s go for similar & less .
Had same issues with my CD and fake NGK plugs. Make sure battery has good power if 6V also use non resistor caps for a better spark. So much fun with the little bikes. 👍
I used one of these (even down to it being the same colour) for a 60 mile a day commute, got it with 13k on the clock run it up to 63k by which time the rot had set in and everything rusted away. The engine was still running perfectly having had regular oil changes, I never once checked the valve clearances. The only major issue I had was continual carb icing in the winter. Its a pity I abused it to the point of destruction but needs must. Malcolm.
I’m 59 had a Benly at 17. I know exactly how how Guy feels. I bought an intercepter and now the 350 classic. Selling the interceptor. the 350 classic is amazing and very like my old Benly
Wish more folks would realise the same then maybe more /younger people would get into bikes ,most neerly all are toys so one not loosing money in depriciation- only classic insurance eaz off use / get caught thrashing no jail time etc etc wee bikes rock ,would not touch it mate looks good as is .
I'm quite envious of you finding this bike. It's lovely, in a low key sort of way. No tax, no MOT, £40 insurance, spares reasonably priced. What more do you need to potter about on?
So glad I chose a Honda in the day rather than a oil leaking rattle an shake Brit bike (No offence) The cb125/cb250/350 was my thing dependable and great fun 😉
Nice little series. Will look forward to more. You say that it's tax exempt. Historic bikes, and other vehicles over 40 years old are not tax exempt. The tax is free, but you still need to tax them. Perhaps it was just a different way you said it, but meant the same, but better to be safe than sorry.
Whats that helmet you got there man ? Enjoying this. I have a 95 1200 sporty, rusty, fausty, but beautiful for the year round Devon lanes and a 2001 twin cam , with hse carb. 1550 conversion also. I also hate the fob, batterys run down you're there forever trying to get little red sign to stay solid, especially if sunny you can't even see it. 🤩
Just subbed your ch guy....if you cant find a benly and want small bike fun.. im thinking a new royal enfield classic 350...best wishes for more subscibers brill...cheers dave and my nickname is skids.. too due to my surname...
No tax yes but MOT?................Looking into that......What year are you talking I could go back to my Z250A K (first NEW bike) Just sold my HD Sportster 48 bought new 2016/17 spec broke my heart.........I still need the therapy.........
Your absolutely spot on what you say about riding little bikes as i always ride big bikes too, these smaller machines are fun to ride and are what got us into biking in the first place……. I may be on the lookout for a smaller bike project myself after seeing you do this. 🤔👌
@Kay I've got two 750 Hondas, one newish and the other a 1980 CB. I really enjoy riding them but my Yam DT 175 is the one that puts the biggest grin on my face by far. Treat yourself and you won't regret it
