The photos of the 1983 FT500 that were posted to this forum are of my FT500 after a winters worth of work. I've been asked to provide a few details on the bike, so here goes.
The modifications/improvements actually began in the winter of 2012/2013. That winter saw the removal of the rectangular headlight, and instrument cluster. The headlight was replaced with a round unit from a Honda CB450. The instruments were replaced with a round tach and a bicycle computer/speedometer. The fly screen was also added then. I did a 520 chain/sprocket conversion with 15/39 final gearing as well. All this complimented the re-jetting of the stock Keihin carb and the re-baffled stock muffler. Guess you could call that Phase 1.
This winter started Phase 2. I added 17" wheels to both the front and rear. The rear came from a 88-89 Honda CBR600, and the front came from a 88-89 Honda Hawk GT (NT650). The front forks, triple trees, brakes, and front fender all came from the same 88-89 Hawk GT. I was lucky and was able to purchase the entire front end for a very reasonable price. I used an "All Balls" tapered roller bearing steering head kit to mate the Hawk triple trees to the Ascot frame. Because of the different wheel sizes I'm trying a combination of 16/38 final drive gearing. The exhaust system is from JEMCO and is a full system with a street baffle in the muffler. It provides excellent power and has a nice deep "thump". To compliment the new exhaust a 36 mm Mikuni VM carb was added as well. I used the stock air box and it was a fairly easy connect to the Mikuni. DYI braided stainless brake lines were added front and rear using Magnum line/fittings from Magnum Brake Products. I had the wheels powder-coated in the silver seen and the fuel tank, side panels, and front fender were all painted in basic black with minimal badging added. I also built a new custom one off dash using an electronic tach from a 1990 Honda GB500 as the focal point along with the bicycle speedo/computer and a small clock.
There were lots of other little touches done to personalize the bike, but the above listed are the main changes/improvements. Now if this loooooooooooong, coooooooold, mid-west winter will ever go away I'll get a chance to road test my work. Yes, as someone asked on another forum---it's a RIDER!! That's what motorcycles were made for!! :-)
Neil
