A work in progress
A work in progress
I seem to have a fondness for misfit vehicles; here I have adopted another orphan from the 1980s.
Honda's Ascot is a straight-up go-anywhere, do-anything bike-of-all-trades. Unfortunately, its moderate power and restrained styling did not sell well in the uncertain economic times of the early 1980s. Neither layback cruiser nor lie-on-the-tank sportbike, Ascot seems to appeal most strongly to a niche market of back-road riders and flat-track wannabes. (Including me: Ascot has been on my mental short list of interesting bikes for a long time.)
The original FT500 Ascot had a 500cc single-cylinder air-cooled chain-drive powerplant; this second-generation VT500 had a liquid-cooled V-twin with shaft drive. At first I preferred the first-generation Ascot's appearance; however, the VT500's long-legged, barrel-chested vintage style is growing on me. Also, the VT500 probably is a more civilized and dependable bike.
I have the itch to modify this bike -- or some bike -- into a cafe racer, but I like this one too well in its current form.
Getting there. Stay tuned . . .