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I wanted to answer no they aren't the same (shouldn't the TL be tuned for more low end operation?) but according to BikeBandit http://www.bikebandit.com/houseofmotorcycl...e-tl250/o/m9274 The XL250 and TL250 share the same camshaft part number: 3837387-001. With this in mind, the only engine differences that I know of are the TL has lower, and closer range, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd gears and it has magnesium side covers. Bike Bandit is a great reference for checking old part numbers. You need to register and get an account to save machines you are interested in, then it makes comparisons easy. Kent

If you go through their (AHRMA) website http://www.ahrma.org/ you'll see they've voted on modern twinshock nearly every year for the past five or six. It's always been voted down. When an excuse has been offered, it's been "we'd need more lines". I'm just a novice but I simply don't buy it. If Pre '65 and classic modern can compete on most of the same lines, certainly modern twinshocks and maybe even aircooled monoshocks can. My local AHRMA group http://www.rockymountainregionvintagemotorcycleclub.org/ will let modern twin shocks ride. They even get awarded event ribbons I believe, but they don't collect year-long championship points. I think it's a shame. Do we really want to let these great bikes, these pieces of history rot? Letting them compete would go a long way toward saving many of them. Not to mention the chance of attracting more people and money to our events if they were allowed to compete. As I said, I haven't been doing vintage trials long at all, but so far AHRMA has struck me as an organization burdened with an overabundance of politics. However the people at the Rocky Mountain Region are GREAT PEOPLE! I hope your local group is as organized and friendly.

I guess I'm one of those "old men on old bikes" I read some people writing here about vintage trials. I've been riding street, enduro, and some MX (a long time ago for MX) for 38 years. Always been interested in trials, never did it. My son bought a '73 TL125 this past summer and that made me buy a '76 TL250. Only rode one event so far, Tucker Ranch in August. We are becoming members of AHRMA Rocky Mountain Region and expect to ride a lot of events next year. We are currently restoring both bikes. I know Tony Down is a member here, but don't know if any other Rocky Mountain AHRMA people are here. If so it would be great to here from you. I really envy you guys in Britain. It seems the sport is much more widespread and mainstream over there. My son and I are doing this on a tight budget. If anyone wants to sell trials helmets size large and extra large, or boots size 9 or 9.5 or 11 let me know. Kent