Winter project #2

[CharlieT]

It's only mid-January and about got this one done, not a Wing, but another Honda. Started life as an '82 Honda FT500 Ascot......a kind of funky, visually impaired, saki laden Japanese designers interpretation of an Ascot TT bike:




Not a bad bike, kind narrow, fairly light, mediocre power, but nimlbe little torquey thumper. Not really enough HP for decent 2-up riding, so I decided to turn her into a solo machine more into what a bike of her namesake should have looked like to begin with:

[BIG T]

nice work...nice to see there ain;t no "boxes" holding you back.
" boxes, we don' need no stinkin' boxes"
always look outside the box..............T

[octane]

Hi Charlie

...man, I like the look of that!

Please keep us posted.
Thanks!

Octane

[octane]

Hi again Charlie
couldn't help it. Bought a winter project myself (or spring project ...or summer, dunno).

Ever since using a friends Yamaha 500XT for a while a few years back, I've lusted for a 500 sort-of-off-road thumper, but heck why not a Honda, except you just can't find them in this country.
Found one in Germany (on the net), so went down there saturday and picked up this semi-tired, but original, Honda XL500s.



Boy, can't wait to get it fixed;
just ordered; exhaust pipes, Hagon shocks and a few other things.

Interestingly the engine is more or less the same as on your bike,
look at this page;
Honda FT-500 Ascot FAQ
that also have some good resources and some nice pics of FT500's:
scroll down this page:
http://www.thumperpage.com/mcpics.html

So again: keep us posted.
If you show me yours I'll show you mine .-)

Octane

[Try]

Hi again Charlie
couldn't help it. Bought a winter project myself (or spring project ...or summer, dunno).

Great bike octane, I would have loved to have one, used as
a winter bike in the City. with studded snow tire.

[NiteMare]

i had the XT500 back in '80-'81 was a really enjoyable toy, used it as an everyday ride, went on rallies on it beat it up through woods and over fields and funnily enough none of my friends could start it, i used to sort of challenge them and watch them bounce up and down on it to no effect, they'd complain that the decompressor cable was broke and that was the problem (all too used to leccy start) i think it used to p*ss them off when i'd walk over and show them how it was done first or second kick then explain there is a sort of knack to the starting of big singles and that leccy starts were for girls ....











no i haven't had a gender change since then

[CharlieT]

Looks in nice shape, just needs a bit of cleaning....and of course those personal mods we all like to do so much. Almost went the GB500 style on mine with a Manx style tank and a dunstall style seat. Big advantage to the XL/XR versions of the engien are the kickstart. The Ft has a problem prone electric start...and no back-up kickstarter!!

I've long kept my eye out for one of the XR500s:



Same basic engnie as the XL but in a much better chassis for off road/dual sport use.

Have always had a soft spot for thumpers:



That's me about '68 or '69 on my 441VS with Ceriani suspension. None of these newer thumpers, even the XT/XR/FT can match that old 441 for its thump-thumpiness. Keep looking for a decent one of those. Almost bought a BSA C15 trials bike last year and can kick myself for not getting it now.

Check out this one, too:

http://www.thumperstuff.com/FT500.html

Race cams, Carillo rods, etc etc

[octane]

Thanks Try. Unfortunately I have absolutely no time to fix it right now
....so no snow-riding this winter I'm afraid.

NiteMare, thanks for your story.
See, I'm used to my rather high compression 650 BSA,
that nobody else can start, but I can start first (or second) kick;
so hopefully I'll be able to handle the XL's kickstarter.

Charlie, great stuff. Keep those pictures coming, please.

Octane