Ascot Owners forum

[ThatOtherGuy]

'83 FT500 Ascot
Just bought it today.

[truck6driver]

Nice looking bike. I believe that is the color my FT was before the PO painted it Nighthawk Burgandy.

Welcome to the thread.


Ray

[ThatOtherGuy]

Thanks.

Does anyone know the size of tire that will fit an Ascot?

[ADVCoot]

I managed to find and purchase a one owner VT500 Ascot back in 2002 from a fellow up in Indianapolis. The Ascot was nearly new with only 6100 actual miles on it.
Brought it home, added two new Kenda street tires, did all the required maintenance and drove it another 2500 miles. Lot's of fun in the twisties around southern middle TN. Drove the Natchez Trace Pwky, the entire distance roundtrip out of Nashville, TN and smiled all the way. Sold it to 2wheelbill from Memphis.
Photo was taken at the 1st annual Bikes, Blues and BBQ event in Columbia, TN.

[ADVCoot]

During the same time I had my VT500 Ascot, I found a FT500 Ascot; good price, but needed TLC. I pretty much stripped it down and went through every component to make it street worthy again. It was plagued with the '82 FT500 starter dragging/grinding issue when I bought it. That was fixed by me, a new battery installed, new bearings wherever there were bearings, new Kenda street tires, new fork seals/fluid, brake calipers rebuilt and new pads installed kept me busy when not riding my VT500 or working. It ran and rode great when I put it back together. I didn't ride it as much as my VT500, so I ended up trading it for another project bike. The '83 models seemed to have better luck with the starter. Perhaps Honda listened.

[flyguync]

Was that the one advertised on C/L in Sylva? I'm in eastern NC looking for a VT Ascot. I was looking through some old pictures from the 80's last night and found a pic of my 84 candy apple red Ascot - it really made me kick myself for selling it years ago and now I'm wanting another one

Originally Posted by ThatOtherGuy

'83 FT500 Ascot
Just bought it today.
Attachment 273872

[ThatOtherGuy]

Originally Posted by flyguync

Was that the one advertised on C/L in Sylva? I'm in eastern NC looking for a VT Ascot. I was looking through some old pictures from the 80's last night and found a pic of my 84 candy apple red Ascot - it really made me kick myself for selling it years ago and now I'm wanting another one

Yep

[ThatOtherGuy]

What kind of gas do you guys run in your ascot's? I have heard conflicting explanations about the use of the E10 that most gas stations sell.

I have heard that anything but 100% gasoline is bad for the carburetor.

[truck6driver]

Originally Posted by ThatOtherGuy

What kind of gas do you guys run in your ascot's? I have heard conflicting explanations about the use of the E10 that most gas stations sell.

I have heard that anything but 100% gasoline is bad for the carburetor.

Yes it is true that E10 Gasoline is wreeking havock on older machines. It causes rubber seals to fail and alot of plastics to swell. In fact it is funny as I just had to replace a fuel cap, fuel filter and all the fuel lines on a chainsaw off the firetruck today for just that reason. Called the mfr and got "we know that is a problem we don't know what to do". I translated it to yea it's a problem and we didn't cause it but our parts sales are through the roof so we are not in a hurry to correct the problem since we didn't cause it.

Here is what you can do. Either find a place that sells non-alcohol enriched fuel or run 91 or higher octane fuel that has a lower alcohol content (believe less than 5% but that is not fact).
Also current fuel stabalizers will not work with E10 fuels. You must find one that is alcohol resistant for it to work. A local lawnmower shop sells an enzime additive that is susposed to nutralize the alcohol content in fuel but I have not seen any proof that it really works yet.

I have gotten into the habit of shutting off the fuel and running the bike (1983 model) til it quits, if the bike is going to sit longer than a week.
Also alcohol attracts moisture so it will cause water to collect in humid weather and in a stored bike that can cause rust in fuel tanks.

Ray

[Malcolmlovesbikes]

Depending how far I've been, I nearly always fill up just before home. That way the tank dosen't breathe and pull in water vapour. I restoring an VT500FT at the moment and the tanks in a poor state. Now wheres my beer

[ThatOtherGuy]

Just got back from a ride to Cedar Mountain, NC, down near the NC/SC border. Got some pics of the old Ascot.

[ThatOtherGuy]

I figured she wouldn't mind a few gravel roads either, seeing as she's the spawn of an enduro.

[truck6driver]

Nice. Thats the color my bike should be. The PO painted her Nighthawk Burgandy. So i now have two bikes the same color and it wasn't even by choice.

I put a Kenda K761 dual sport rear on the Ascot. Helped out on the dirt roads.

Ray

[ThatOtherGuy]

Originally Posted by truck6driver

I put a Kenda K761 dual sport rear on the Ascot. Helped out on the dirt roads.

Ray

probably would, I get a little dance out of the bridgestone bt's in gravel and dirt. If I end up keeping her that long I may try a dual sport rear.

Love those dirt roads.

[GEARHEAD9969]

Ascot's Rock! My first road bike was a Red 83 FT. I actually bought the bike new in the late fall and I was only 15. I didn't even have my license for driving a car and I managed to put about 2300 miles on the bike with out getting in trouble since we live out in the boon docks. I spent a lot of time on that bike as a kid riding all over and back. I always keep an eye out for a decent example, eagerly waiting to snap one up.