Author Topic: New Ascot owner  (Read 22328 times)

Oldhondaguy

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New Ascot owner
« on: August 22, 2014, 09:41:23 pm »
Hi everyone, I  joined this forum because I just picked up an 82 FT500 last week at a vintage jap swap meet. This little bike is in great condition and is a blast to ride, I was told by some fellow riders at the meet that the engine on this bike is not stock as it has a compression release and a kick start shaft, would any one know what these upgrades are from and what did it do for the engine. I will post some pics as soon as I figure out how. Thanks
CB750 café, CB350 hardtail, XS650 hardtail,    78 CB750 supersport, 82 FT Ascot

J6G1Z

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Re: New Ascot owner
« Reply #1 on: August 23, 2014, 09:36:00 am »
Well... It sounds like someone either added the kick starter & the compression release, or swapped an XR/XL engine into the frame. Do you still have the electric starter?

Congratulations on finding an Ascot. Make sure that you read the "Ascot Essentials" in the Tech Section. There are a couple of things that you should check on or perform. Like changing the jets to richen up the mixture some.


Good luck
J.

Oldhondaguy

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Re: New Ascot owner
« Reply #2 on: August 23, 2014, 10:19:24 am »
It has the starter and tack drive, numbers on the engine case says its an 82 ascot. It looks like someone was setting it up to flattrack it they added Works gas shocks, supertrap exhaust and a sargent seat.
CB750 café, CB350 hardtail, XS650 hardtail,    78 CB750 supersport, 82 FT Ascot

J6G1Z

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Re: New Ascot owner
« Reply #3 on: August 23, 2014, 10:31:15 am »
Sounds like you found a very cool version of an Ascot. I sure wish Honda had seen fit to manufacture these bikes with a back up kick starter. Hell, they put kickers on the CB750 for a while. I wonder what kicking that over was like.

Do you know how to take & post up pictures? I'd like to see your bike.

J.

thumperdh

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Re: New Ascot owner
« Reply #4 on: August 23, 2014, 01:57:32 pm »
I'm with j6 on this one. I really want to see some pics of that bad boy.

Welcome to the club.
1982 FT500
Conti Classic Attack tires
Foam filter mod
Round headlight
Rejetted carb
Progressive springs
Supertrapp muffler
Thumperstuff header

Oldhondaguy

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CB750 café, CB350 hardtail, XS650 hardtail,    78 CB750 supersport, 82 FT Ascot

Oldhondaguy

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Re: New Ascot owner
« Reply #6 on: August 23, 2014, 03:36:21 pm »
  Hope you can get that 1 pic my computer photo file is messed up and I can not download photo's to it I will try form my work computer on Monday thanks for the comments.
CB750 café, CB350 hardtail, XS650 hardtail,    78 CB750 supersport, 82 FT Ascot

Oldhondaguy

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Re: New Ascot owner
« Reply #7 on: August 23, 2014, 03:51:21 pm »
J6 I have several CB750's they kick over easy, gear ratio is setup proper. The Ascot does not have the kicker on it just the shaft out the engine footpegs prevent the use of kicker
CB750 café, CB350 hardtail, XS650 hardtail,    78 CB750 supersport, 82 FT Ascot

J6G1Z

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Re: New Ascot owner
« Reply #8 on: August 23, 2014, 05:17:27 pm »
Nice looking bike. Very interesting looking exhaust system. That looks like a copy of the HRC pipe. There is a napkin drawing of the exhaust on the forum in the Tech section I think. Very cool. Sure would like to know more about the history & what all may have been done to the bike.

J.

Oldhondaguy

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Re: New Ascot owner
« Reply #9 on: August 26, 2014, 06:11:26 am »
more pics of my FT
CB750 café, CB350 hardtail, XS650 hardtail,    78 CB750 supersport, 82 FT Ascot

Oldhondaguy

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Re: New Ascot owner
« Reply #10 on: August 26, 2014, 06:12:54 am »
some pics of the engine mods
CB750 café, CB350 hardtail, XS650 hardtail,    78 CB750 supersport, 82 FT Ascot

J6G1Z

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Re: New Ascot owner
« Reply #11 on: August 26, 2014, 09:10:59 am »
Very cool! That exhaust looks like it might be a Jemco pipe: http://jemcoexhaust.com

Looks like someone went to a lot of trouble to source the parts to add a kick starter, then placed the engine in the frame & found out the foot controls are in the way. I've seen pictures of an FT with a kicker on it before. Maybe that bike had rear sets.

Nice bike!

J.

Oldhondaguy

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Re: New Ascot owner
« Reply #12 on: August 26, 2014, 11:57:12 am »
Thanks, Im really enjoying this bike, I havnt been on my CB750 cafe since i got the FT and my cafe is my favorite.
CB750 café, CB350 hardtail, XS650 hardtail,    78 CB750 supersport, 82 FT Ascot

Lefty

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Re: New Ascot owner
« Reply #13 on: August 26, 2014, 12:06:27 pm »
Holy moly that header pipe is trick looking! Very nice fins!

Luke

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Re: New Ascot owner
« Reply #14 on: August 26, 2014, 03:07:09 pm »
Very nice!
1984 VT500FT - WIP

Oldhondaguy

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Re: New Ascot owner
« Reply #15 on: September 19, 2014, 06:15:10 am »
Just to update, I've been riding the Ascot to work everyday now for 3 weeks (40 mile round trip) it performs great, loves the twisty roads (so do I) getting about 60mpg. Found i never have to use the choke even on cool mornings it just fires up and idles great, i belive the jetts have been changed. Runs a little rich but not going to mess with it cause it runs so well. Also someone removed the pull/return cable on the carb, just has the one but still has stock carb. Finally found a right side cover, ebay, so it looks better too. Glad i picked this little bike up, its great fun!
CB750 café, CB350 hardtail, XS650 hardtail,    78 CB750 supersport, 82 FT Ascot

J6G1Z

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Re: New Ascot owner
« Reply #16 on: September 19, 2014, 10:53:37 am »
That's what the FT Ascot shines at. Short, spirited rides along the twisty back roads. Anything that keeps the bike in the 35 to 75mph range.

I just noticed your seat. Is that a 2-tone upholstery job, or is there a hard cover over the back? Looks really cool either way.

Very nice Ascot! Looks like you found a real nice example.

J.

Oldhondaguy

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Re: New Ascot owner
« Reply #17 on: September 19, 2014, 11:49:17 am »
The seat is a Sargent, it is two tone upholstery, looks real good with the red piping and its comfy too. Havnt seen another like it anywhere. The more i ride this bike the more i like it.
CB750 café, CB350 hardtail, XS650 hardtail,    78 CB750 supersport, 82 FT Ascot

J6G1Z

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Re: New Ascot owner
« Reply #18 on: September 19, 2014, 12:52:44 pm »
Be careful, they can be addicting. Next thing you know, you will adding a black FT to the collection. And then there are the VT Ascots... They are great bikes also. You can collect at least 3 of those. A black one, a burgundy one & the '83 model came in a blue that I've never seen. LOL!


J.

Lefty

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Re: New Ascot owner
« Reply #19 on: September 19, 2014, 01:24:44 pm »
That's one trick looking FT! That Short Supertrapp looks badass!

Oldhondaguy

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Re: New Ascot owner
« Reply #20 on: September 22, 2014, 12:08:08 pm »
J6, Ascots seem very scarce around here i've got the only one i've ever seen, and have never seen a vt. But your right about aditting i would get another if one came avalible at the right price.                                                                                      Lefty, the supertrapp is cool and its loud. I like loud.
CB750 café, CB350 hardtail, XS650 hardtail,    78 CB750 supersport, 82 FT Ascot

Lefty

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Re: New Ascot owner
« Reply #21 on: October 06, 2014, 06:26:36 pm »
I was on CL yesterday & saw your ad for this bike, any bites yet?