The Worst Motorcycle of the 1980s - Honda Ascot Review
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- Опубликовано: 29 апр 2023
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The Honda Ascot was a catastrophically unpopular motorbike in 1983. The wannabe flat tracker has built a cult following in recent years, despite being truly awful.
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Directed and edited by Girish Appanah 
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What's this? F9 uploading more than one video in less than a week? This isn't even Christmas yet
Lmaoo, yeah. Something suspicious is going on 😂
Maybe new guy is picking up some slack somewhere?
A F9 video every month is good
A few F9 videos every month is amazing, and rare
A few F9 videos A WEEK? I'm going insane!
I literally said the exact same thing to myself out loud when I saw this video.
He spoils us
I was excited about it too !
"If you've never experienced the jacking of your shaft maybe one day you'll meet the right girl and all that will change.". The fact he can say such a line with a straight face and go right back on topic is amazing
I bet he said this off camera 200 times and this one that got into the video was the 201st attempt without giggling.
first of all it's not a very good joke second of all who giggles about his own joke ? just saying
@@jaspertish Cheer up, buttercup.
@@carlose6010 Its not a good joke , in fact its quite infantile .
Are you going to call me a name too?
That seems to be the extent of your intelligence
Having owned over 100 motorcycles ( I’m 70, spent 1/3 of my life working in motorcycle service departments) my VT500 was one of my favorite commuter bikes.
I agree with you, She a little "Swiss-army" kind of thing. Has a true overdrive top gear, and will cruse down the freeway 70mph and she only turning 4500rpm. Owned mine for 8 yrs. first year for the VT motor -
Yeah I distinctly noticed F9 never used the term "commuter bike". I though an Ascot would've been great when I was in college, certainly better for the task than a CL350. I did later own perhaps the supreme short-range commuter, a GL500, and it went & handled about as you'd expect, but good enough to out-score boredom in traffic.
YOU TELL THAT LITTLE BOY !
HONDA DON'T KNOW HOW TO MAKE A POOR QUALITY MOTORCYCLE CAR OR ENGINE. I HAD MANY OVER THE YEARS.
@@Mr.Robert1 if just it have some space for small bag. then yes, you can call it commuter bike.
Ray - you’ve owned a hundred bikes? You’re my hero! I’m on my 4th at 59 years old. I have to up my game!
The VT 500 was one of my favourite bikes. Used one as a London despatch rider in the 80s. It was great. Very nimble in traffic. Quick away from the lights. And well behaved on wet roads. The CX500 was heavy and cumbersome in comparison. I had one of them too.
Honestly, I love the looks of the Ascot. There is just something about the looks that make me want it
I had one! The styling was one of the biggest attractions for me. It was also relatively inexpensive and nearly maintenance free. A good "commuter bike".
Ha same! Hard to describe but yeah
Same🤣
It's because of Ryan.
Whatever Ryan sits on we all want one.
It looks like a motorcycle! Not some wind tunnel experiment.
I had one of these VT500's as a first street bike when I was 16. It was real sluggish for me until I discovered it was dual ignition and half the spark plugs weren't firing correctly (no, not the ones you can see). A full plug and wire job really brought it back to life, and seeing how much soot yours is blowing on acceleration I would recommend you look into that. It doesn't make it fast, but getting the full 50 horsepower out of the engine really helps it perk up.
my first bike was a yamaha trx800 twist-throttle-limited to about 34 hp (as is the law for beginner riders in my country) and it was still so much fun and more than enough compared to no bike at all especially.... seat position was also really tight for my frame, but in most cases beginner riders will be younger and therefore much more flexible and adaptable...
@@ritterkeks My first bike was an Interceptor 500. Used, but holy moly what a ride! Best thing was, if you just babied the throttle it was a well mannered machine.
@@JF-lt5zc My 1986 Honda VF500F2 is a great handling machine. Was the "best in class" for a while. You were lucky to have that as a first motorcycle.
😂 What's it like off road
Like everything back then, it came Factory Strangled. Jetting change, performance filter, free flowing exhaust, wake it right up. Bet it would sound decent too.
Like many others that posted - the VT500 Ascot was my first street bike. Added a MAC 2/2 exhaust, rejetted, a rifel mini faring and metzlers. Learned alot on that bike! I had far more frustrations with the 1982 CX500 Turbo... - take that far a spin and re-evaluate your decision!
My wife followed me for 7 years and 20 000 kms on her first bike, an FT500 Ascot. She liked it because it was narrow and light, but powerful enough to keep up with traffic. She would have liked the VT because of the shaft drive and liquid cooling for touring. Power isn't everything when touring but reliability and ease of maintenance is. Jack shaft effect was no worse than my 1986 K100RS at the time. I feel the VT500 was under-rated, especially for new riders and/or short riders.
I think it actually looks pretty good styling wise, especially when you look at some of the monstrosities being made today.
It LOOKED like a factory flat tracker at first glance.....then you saw the plastic, and the shaft drive.....
that's fine, IF you purchased a bike to Look at, and Not actually ride.
@@94SexyStang yes, you have a fair point, but wasn’t that the case with many bikes then, the Suzuki XN85 turbo rode terrible (i only had it a few months it was that bad). The Kawasaki Z900 eliminator looked great but didn’t like corners either.
it doesn't look good
My very first motorcycle that I bought in 1987 (aged 24)! I loved it because I didn't know how shitty it was. I learned to ride it on the streets of Toronto, and toured it several times to the east coast. Never a mechanical problem. I can't argue with Ryans's assessment of the VT500, so it is a true example of "ignorance is bliss". Thanks for the warm shot of nostalgia mixed with the cold, hard truth. Current bike is a 2013 Ducati Hyperstrada (821cc V-Twin, do-it-all), so except for the shaft drive, not much has changed.
Similar story here…I didn’t know what I didn’t know, so I loved that bike! It was freedom for a young US Marine all over Southern CA.
I loved my Ascot. I wish I still had it. Not the best motorcycle I have owned, but I went everywhere in So Cal on it for three years. Never a problem. The shaft drive did get exciting once and awhile.
I bet you’ve had more mechanical problems though?🤔😇
hmm the engine look similar to nv 400 , which i understand its a good engine ? to be frank most of all stock bikes look ugly , a few mods get the look of the bike looking like a softtail , but back then people just ride as it is without changing the look
"I loved it because I didn't know how shitty it was" is now my new story opener for at least 5 of the first 12 bikes I ever owned.
Sadly hilarious, accurate and absolutely true. I had a VT500 back in the day, paid about $500 for one with only 1,500 miles around 1986. Never could figure out why they named it the Ascot. It should have been named the Commuter Scooter or something that would prepare the rider for reasonable expectations.
It really was a great commuter bike for newbs and smaller riders. It was low maintenance, reliable, tractable in traffic, and pleasant for longer weekend rides after I replaced the swept handlebars with flat bars and a minimalist windscreen to divert some wind without dragging down another 50% of the meager power.
Only problems I can remember was that one plastic side panel wanted to pop off once in awhile, forcing me to circle around and grab it again. And it shorted out once or twice in rain.
Wish I still had it. But TBH, the Yamaha SRX 600 thumper was more fun and better looking. Also more of a retro but not quite authentic bike, but good despite itself.
Everything you did not like about the VT500 was exactly why I opted for the FT500 while I was in school. Loved that bike. Fun video as always! You guys are the B roll kings!!
I had one for a while. Very easy to maintain with shaft drive. Thread and lock-nut valves. Got along well on gravel roads. A do-it-all, inexpesive bike you could take from the dealer and never dirty their showroom floor again if you wanted to self maintain. I guess I was not sophisticated enough to despise it.
Did you experience the shaft drive issue with your Honda Ascot that he described as “shaft drive jack” that he claimed almost making him lose the bike on the road? The reason I ask is that I have a chance to get one of one of these & this video was the first I heard of that issue with the shaft drive so I’m relieved that you liked the one that you had. Thank you for your time if you have a moment to respond. If you don’t, no worries because you’ve already helped by making the comment that you like your Honda Ascot.
@@r.williamcomm7693 No, I did not.
@@r.williamcomm7693 it kicks to the right when downshifting, but I only notice it during wet riding. it's underpowered in the top end, but overpowered in the lower revs. It's really easy to ride as it has power everywhere. its fun to launch, but it's not top speed addicting. it's hard to describe. the bike is difficult to describe, but I'd buy another one, given the chance.
@@ReadyDC2 Thank you.
@@mike9rr Thank you.
I really enjoy your reviews of older bikes. Being from India it’s amazing to see how even the ‘worst’ or lower end 30-40 year old bikes have more engine displacement than 90% of Indian bikes in 2023. Im really hoping that one day you review the Yamaha RX-100, a measly 98cc bike that captured the hearts of millions of Indians. I still use my dad’s 33 year old stock RX-100 as my daily rider, it’s an amazing little thing.
As an American I miss having small displacement bikes, specifically 2 strokes.
The greatest thing about small displacement bikes is during "spirited" riding you are giving it your all, at the edge of the bike/roads capabilities, ripping through the gears and look down at the speedometer and see you are doing 45mph.
You get all the smiles, g-forces and vibrations that make motorcycling fun but never exceed the speed limit or worry about police.
My last 3 bikes were a 600cc, 750cc and a 700cc and my favorite is still my 80cc 2 stroke because I can ride to the edge of my abilities and with gear remain safe
100%
I wonder if Canada even has that bike... You might have to ship him one.. but then I bet you he'd make a video :)
@@fundymentalism We had them in Australia, cheap commuters, had one.
I was broke and needed transport.
No reason Canada wouldn't have them.
Yes Akash, I bet this Ascot thing will be a big deal here even today! :)
Nothing wrong with these bikes!
I once experienced a flat tyre, and unfortunately in a rather fast bend...
The bike tried to depart and I was being dragged behind it, crossing the street since my army boot shoestring happened to get snagged by the fuel cock.
Very little damage ensued and some time after when I wanted to sell it, there was plenty enthousiasm for it, sold in an hour!
Overhere in The Netherlands they're very rare indeed.
I remember riding my first shaft drive motorcycle in the 1970's. Getting used to the bite back from the driveshaft when cornering must be a learned riding skill I guess. Great review!
This was my second bike coming off of 12 years with a SR500 single. Needed to experience more types of rides. Absolutely loved the styling. I keep my bikes mostly as they were designed. I was the third owner. I still remember the Ascot fondly and took it on two week long tours while I had it. Very reliable and because of it's "flaws" kept me humble and out of trouble and still riding at 69. May have been technically bad, but treated me well. Maybe not a looker to many, but it was obtainable and I had a great time with it.
I believe Ryan plain got it wrong with this "review". Too many people blindly swallow his work.
I had an SR500. The only bike that makes a Sportster seem hi-tech deserves a place in this category. To think all that steel could have been used to make washing machines really hurts me.
@@artful_dodger59 I really enjoyed the SR 500. Very simple, reliable, old-school motorcycle. I did several weeklong tours on that bike as well. Low in tech, high in enjoyment…..for me.
@@archer52dhm Yeah, Brian, I really shouldn't have been so harsh. I know better. One man treasures, et cetera ... I just had a very bad ownership experience with mine, but I am old enough to realize that I should not impugn the bike, overall. Strangely though, I always come back to singles. Larger cc, small cc, my favorite bikes have been singles, so maybe the ole SR made more of a positive impression on my subconscious than I thought, previously? ☮️ I appreciate you gently slapping me back to reality!
Humble, or slow? Hell, even smart?
Funny how vastly different our opinions can be. I agree the the VT Ascot had some limitations. But looking back at the 50 or so bikes that have passed through my garage during my lifetime, I must say that my Ascot was most certainly one of my favorites. In stock trim, the Ascot engine was a bit of a pooch. But the addition of a K&N Filter, proper carb tune and a Mac megaphone header that my neighbors surely hated … that little engine delivered a solid punch! Being my only street bike at the time, I rode the wheels off that bike. I racked up thousands of touring miles, straphed a lot of apexes, rode a lot of wheelies, and even won a few drag races on that sweet little machine. While it was no dirt tracker, it never stopped me from sliding the corners any time I wandered down a dirt road. Yep… that weird, quirky little bike was a gas! :)
There was a VT250 as well which was actually a great little bike. 35bhp from a four stroke 250 twin in the early 90's was impressive.
Didn't Honda also make an Ascot _single_ based on the XL/XR engine?
I had a Honda VT250 Spada, best bike I should never have sold
I have a VTR250 in my garage right now I plan to get running for my kids. 😊
Great video Ryan thanks for sharing. I remember back in the 80s here in Australia Honda released the FT500 Ascot so I found your video interesting. The Ascot we got was powered by a retuned XL500 single with a chain drive. It’s funny the body work was much the same and your colour choices were red or black. They really weren’t a bad little bike.
My buddy had the FT500 single back in college. That was a fun run around bike. It's what got me into motorcycles.
I owned a FT500 in the late 80s. It was cheap and got the job done. But that was all I expected.
My buddy had one of those too. What a thumper. We were all standing around checking it out when someone asked what FT stood for. I said "Fingle Tylinder" lol
I had a VT500E in driving school in Germany. I thought it was pretty peppy and it got me the license.
My first street bike after many years of riding off road dirt bikes was a FT500. After dropping the front forks about a inch and putting a White Brothers Stage 1 kit on the engine it handled incredible. Wish I still had it.
My bike is an xl500s which is the engine honda stole for the ft500, i actually have an ft500 engine for spart parts(and to improve my electrical system)
I have one! In red. Agree with everything you said, but somehow, it has grown on me. The fact that I can fire up a 40 year old bike with minimal cranking and only change the oil once in a while, makes it a great commuter option.
The song which begins at 6:34 is "Window with a View", by Sleepaway Camp.
You are my hero
The camera transitions in this video are awesome, starting with the one over the handle bars and continuing for the rest of the video. Nice work.
I owned one of these darlings back in the day 1992-1995, it was my first motorcycle and to be honest it was perfect for me. I'm a short rider and it just fit me perfectly. Economical to ride, I'd spend all day, every weekend, riding that Shetland pony all over the Midwest. I agree it isn't the master of anything, not even good at most things but for a beginner I was glad they built it. Thanks for reviewing this, brought back some good memories.
At the time, I bet it met all of your needs? I'd have been jazzed to own that model when I was 18.
@@gt7500 no woman or kids and cheap gas you bet I had a ball.
You sound like a GS500 owner lol. A terrible, yet terribly beloved machine.
Well, one good thing about a shaft drive that doesn't have an anti-torque arm is that it teaches you to be smooth on the throttle. A valuable lesson, indeed.
Juggling chainsaws teaches you to be precise with your hand movements, too. ~RF9
@@FortNine as does shaft jacking
@@NoPrivateProperty Lol, Ryan was on fire in this one!
@FortNine
Runs w/ chainsaws
Here...
May xs 750's haunt your sleep.🤣
My favorite shaft drive bikes that I have owned were the v65 sabre and the V45 "super magna" both of which I didn't have any issues with because the kind of writing they are made for or ideal for shaft drive. I left all that behind though when Honda made the best motorcycles ever, the gear driven cam, single side swing arm VFRs. My favorite was the 1993, although they were all great, 1990-2000 before they ruined them.
Wow I won the lightweight class at Daytona in 1986 on one and the # 1 plate in District 7 on one. All I did to it was put a honda 750 front end on it for dual disk brakes and made my own exhaust pipe for it. I thought it handled well for a shaft drive. I loved it. Super dependable.
I had one for a couple of years and I loved it. It was light, zippy and I could carve through the hills endlessly. I had no problem with the key. I didn't like the look of the square headlight so I switched it out to a round one. It got a lot of attention at the biker cafes. I never had a problem with it, tires, oil changes and once I had the forks repacked. I thought it was a great little bike until I upgraded to a Hornet. Then I sold it for what I had paid for it. I like the smoothness of Hondas and the fact that stock you don't need earplugs.
Ah the Ascot VT. My first bike. Very easy to be mean to it if you've been on better and newer bikes, but it was a nearly PERFECT first bike. Not too powerful. Quirky, so I had to get my hands a bit dirty. And fun... This bike is/was seriously fun. Sure a CB650 or CB700 of that vintage would have been "better" bikes, but probably a bit much for a 19 year old who really just wanted to see what mountain roads were like on two wheels.
I love you Ascot VT. You were the high school girlfriend who helped me learn to be a better partner to my later and more serious girlfriends.
Yes. Wasn't my first bike, but it was as good as my first two, and I still fantasize about not having to do chain maintenance. I rode it halfway across the country. Had a bad crash but landed on grass and didn't do too much damage to the bike.
Plus it jerked your shaft.
There's no such thing as a CB700.
@uguysrnuts CB700 nighthawk. Made from 84 to 86. It was basically a short stroked 750. Honda's response to the Harley tax.
Terrific bike. Handled much like the 650, but felt really hot in the upper rev range because of the short stroke.
It not only existed, but I briefly owned one... you could also google it...
@@LockeClone Thanks Andy, I stand corrected.
I own an Ascot presently. Low miles. Extremely reliable. Not sure why… but I’m obsessed with its uniqueness, build quality and ride experience. The combination of v-twin thump and shaft drive whine in this skinny package… idk I love it.
It’s also an attractively subdued bike design. Kind of like a Lexus LS. Doesn’t offend the eyes and proportions are extremely even throughout.
I think I might like it too - depending on how many revs it's doing in top gear at 100km/h?
I keep looking for another one in decent condition. Great midweight bike.
My first bike was a red FT500 (the other Ascot). I went with dad went he bought it back in ‘83 (was an ‘82). It had flaws, but I sure enjoyed it.
I owned the Red FT also, chain driven thumper. At 6'2" I looked like a dog riding a flea(or so I was told). It was the first bike I purchased. The second was the Black V65 Magna. Talk about a contrast.
@@dwaynetucker6185 ha! I am 6’4”. One of my riding buddies said I looked like a praying mantis perched up there.
I've own street and dirt bikes since the early 70s. My '84 Ascot was easily my favorite motorcycle that I've ever owned. Very responsive, you could REALLY lay it down and it would top 110mph on flat roads. And of course you can feel the bike lift up a little during acceleration. So what. They are great bikes! I took it to Sturgis numerous years. (about 400 miles each way) It a great bike bike to explore the Black Hills.
My heart dropped when I saw the notification haha. My first bike was an 84 vt500 ascot i got when i turned 18 a few years ago. I sold it and eventually tracked it down a year and a half later and got it back. 20k miles and 38 years old and still runs and looks immaculate.. they are definitely not the worst of the 80s
Amen, a great {and great looking} bike.
I think I'm gonna need a podcast episode over this argument.
I'm also gonna need people to like your comment because a bot stole it.
@@arnehurnik fucking gay ive never even seen that happen before until now
The VT500 was ahead of it's time, V twin, liquid cooled, shaft drive, screw and lock nut valve adjustments instead of shim and bucket with no need to spend 8 hours removing and reinstalling plastic to get access. The Ascot did not come with fork boots and the mirrors on your bike are not original other than those items that is a very nice unmolested example. You nailed it on two items the pegs are high I have a 34" inseam and my knees were never happy and the stock seat is good for about 25 to 30 mins on a good day, at one time I had both the VT and the FT Ascot in the garage, I sold the VT and still have the FT. I'm in White Rock if you want a nice FT Ascot to poke fun at let me know.
This is a very well shot video. Repeatable to watch, and I loved the shots, some great views and scenes. Made a bike I normally would pass over, one of my favorite videos I have watched from you guys, Keep it up!!
I love the laugh at 3:22, the laugh showing how much fun you can still have just revving the thing they made. It's good to know what to avoid, and I really appreciate how you break down and connected the ideas over the years.
Edit: After seeing all the nostalgia others have offered up, the engineers were on to something, maybe not something great for the company overall, but for those who had one and loved it, something worth having despite its flaws.
FT500 was my 1st bike. Only 4 years ago and im over 30. I absolutely loved it except for the fact that parts are getting exceptionally hard to find. Still managed to rebuild it and ride the shit out of it.
@@alecguinan91 Yep. The engine was actually the easiest part of the ft500. That little thumper was fun while i had it.
I started at 37...I'm 44 now and religiously obsessed lol.
A drive shaft 👍👍 After putting 40,000kms on my crappy KLR, I swore I'de never go back to chain and sprocket.
@@ChaNnArD-mD the FT500 was chain and sprocket.
The VT500 bike was divided into THREE versions! The Ascot (sold only in North America), the VT500 Shadow and the European and Japanese "Eurosport"! (VT500E) I had the latter in the 1990's as a touring bike and courier workhorse! BLOODY BRILLIANT! Would do 2000 miles per week and allowed me to sleep/party at weekends as the maintenance was minimal. I STILL have one rotting in the backyard and WAS converting it to a cafe racer style weekend toy, when health caught up with me and ended that! The VT500 was an innovative motor, that spawned an entire range of bikes from the VT125 Shadow, all the way up to the original XRV 750 Africa Twin! Honda LOVED the V-Twin! The shaft drive was to allow COMMUTERS to experience motorcycling without the greasy and dirty job of chain maintenance! ...and it worked! ....Check out the CX500/650 history! The VT500 was the successor, but not as popular as the CX! (due to the inboard front disk, which again was meant to hide the "dirty bits"!)
I liked the "Ascot"! It was an unusual "flat track" take on the commuter, but VERY rare here in the UK!
Sorry Ryan, but you showed a lot of "Murican" bias here! There is MUCH MORE to the VT500 range than you showed here! ....and a lot of it was very good!
I have a ascot in the UK
Agree, I despatched in London in the 80's and used CX's and VT's, unbustable workhorses that were a hoot to ride.
@@johnneild3914 Very likely a used import?
The VT500E was a great bike. He’s kinda missing the point of the VT range neglecting the CX (Especially as he referenced the CB750)
Growing up riding 80’s bikes, you adapt to bendy chassis’s and how each bike handles. Shaft drive bikes from this era (CX/GT/Guzzi) always needed to be ridden differently to chain drive, it’s a different mindset.
I completely agree with every statement you have made about the Ascot. But like many older models Honda produced, they now have a cult like following. I bought a non-runner FT500 a few years ago for $700.00 Cleaned up the carb, new battery, fork oil, clutch cable and chain. Many times while out on this bike someone, somewhere along my route I am asked if I want to sell it! Just like my CT90
I don't normally give a negative review on what somebody else has posted, and this is a pretty slick and professional review, but I feel compelled to respond and justify why I "dislike" this, as I have owned, restored and ridden 2 of these models...
Just to summarize some of the Specs: This bike weighed in at around 450 lbs., has a 6-speed gearbox and a (claimed) top speed of 120 mph (more likely to be around 105 mph...)
This is one of many shaft drive models that Honda provided in the 1970/80's (and still does), such as the GL1000, CX500/GL500, CB550/650/700 Nighthawk SC, Sabre's, and Magna's, all of which means not worrying about lubricating, adjusting and replacing a chain final drive.
The review has a title that certainly grabs the readers/viewers attention. But IMHO is overall unfair, and even with the analysis on this - somewhat imbalanced and biased (for example, I'm not sure about the point being made when FortNine is trying to put the bike on a center stand from the right side of the bike, and not the left?).
Scroll through the responses here of riders who actually owned (for a while) the VT500 Ascot or other VT500 models (and not to be confused with the single cylinder, SOHC FT500 Ascot)... Read the reviews below from those who have had one, have used it and learned a lot on it and then maybe had other motorcycles (that might have been larger capacity or just because...) all seem to have left fairly positive responses about the bike.
To categorize this as the "worst" is purely subjective based solely on the bikes appearance and style, beauty (as they say) is in the eye of the beholder. The seat height is fairly low on this and even lower on the VT500C, which appeals to some riders. A well-maintained version of these bikes can provide an owner with a ride that is safe, stable and fun to ride. Like all bikes (not just Japanese), as they get progressively older, then it can become harder to find parts and do cost effective repairs.
Honda in the late 1970's and 1980's continued to follow a path of innovation and experimentation with vehicles they brought to market, which is alluded to and briefly covered here, other manufacturers did the same too - it's a boom to bust mentality that allows R&D departments to be funded and explore what a market might be able to support. Many examples (not just this one) are now regarded as "classics", and collectible as previous owners re-live their youth or just want a vehicle for investment purposes.
With all that said, having restored and rebuilt this model, I will say that the maintenance, repair and restoration on this bike is a challenge. For example: - as this V-twin has 4 spark plugs, possibly for emissions or reliability purposes. But to change 2 of them is an almost impossible task, and made easier by removing the cylinder head cover...
As with any older carbureted vehicle, if not looked after the carbs will need to be rebuilt or replaced. getting parts for that is easy - but the installation of them on this bike, with a very confined space and a "chamber" that connects the air filter to the carbs makes the overall task very, very time-consuming and frustrating.
One particular item that I replaced, and which required a lot of work after having and losing spark on one cylinder was the Pulse Generator, which is the core of the electronic ignition timing. To replace this requires the exhaust to be removed, as well as the right engine crankcase cover. The engine is an integral part of, and connected to, the frame, so access to replace the Pulse Generator also requires the engine to be supported/jacked up. All very time consuming...
The bike is also liquid cooled, so long term there is a possibility of contamination of engine oil as gaskets or the water pump might break...
Bottom Line: Overall, a very nice, affordable, reliable bike that can - if well maintained, provide many years of great, fun riding. Most parts for this are available, either as New Old Stock (NOS), used, or after-market replacements. I would rate the bike with an Overall Grade of maybe a "7 out of 10", or a B+. There are better bikes, this is almost definitely not the worst...
Always loved the styling of the v-twin ascot, and considered it in 1984 as a first street bike when i turned 16. Went with the CX650e instead; another beautifully styled bike. The hondaguzzi stayed with me for over 100,000km until replaced with a VFR. Miss those days when there was so much variety within every manufacturer's lineup.
I rode one for 7 years , it was fun. I had a custom exhaust and rejet. I'm 5'8" , it fit me perfectly.
Great channel, you have fans here in Brazil. Quality editing, amazing camera views, in such a beautiful country, always with interesting bikes on road. Ah, and the "funny" coeficient is pretty high. Congrats!
If the BC Dept of Tourism doesn't sponsor your channel, they're nuts. That scenery is breathtaking.
Ah, the Ascot, the name Honda loved so much they used it twice!
I loved my FT, had it for twenty five years.
Ah yes, the FT / VT thing is yet another confounding thing about this bike. ~RF9
@@FortNine The FT 500 Ascot was a single with chain drive so your not really talking about the same bike, you should add VT to the title.
This was a beautiful bike. I owned one and never had a problem with it. The only thing is I think Honda should’ve made it a 750 with chain drive. But this Was during the tariffs given to Harley Davidson for bikes larger than 700cc engines.
I've always heard good things about the Ascot. It's one some people would like to add to the stable if you keep more than one scooter around the house.
Most reviews have been totally the opposite of this one.
The FT Ascot is desirable. The VT Ascot is not.
@@bertflores6377 to you possibly. I didn't get much out of my FT. My VT was much better. A VT500FT in good condition brings big money these days. I've been looking for another one at a sane price. The FT500s pop up pretty regularly for a decent price. About 1/3-1/4 what a Yam SR500 brings.
@@tlbonehead did you buy your VT new ?
@@bertflores6377 I did indeed. I bought my FT used though with just under 1000 miles.
The earlier FT500 Ascot was what I rode for my motorcycle-endorsement test.
I thought "FT" meant "Fake Twin" - there are two exhaust pipes from the front of the FT500's single cylinder, one from each exhaust valve.
FT stood for "Flat Track".
same here! 500 cc thumper
One of the best bikes made. I had an 84 and I drove it for 5 YEARS with BOTH HEAD GASKETS BLOWN AND A CRACKED HEAD. never left me stranded. I once even hauled a massive hay bail home from the farm shop bungee corded to the back of the bike. Its a real workhorse
Would you happen to know a new production alternative with equivalent reliability? Asking for a friend.
A KLR 650
@@leadboots72 that's what I thought initially, but from what I can gather, the VT has superior build quality - KLR has doohickey (and something with the thermals?), chain instead of shaft drive (no chain maintenance/slack/catching/breaking) and cheap plastics with insufficient OEM protection. Not an expert, but these bikes seem somewhat far apart in that regard. Admittedly, half the cylinders is half the trouble.
Yup, they’re good bikes.
Honda Magna is the worst. Carb work is a pita and they eat up transmissions, which requires pulling the massive engine out and splitting the cases, while the Ascot is still running around
I love these videos you guys make about the obscure and bizarre bikes of yester year!
I think it's just a reason for Ryan to spend his life on Craigslist buying the really cheap weirdo bikes he comes across...
@@iamaparanoidandroid1 I’m holding out hope for a motocompo episode.
@@dirtcopdualsport couple of episodes on them on Mighty Car Mods and MCMTV2 over the years
@@iamaparanoidandroid1 I'm probably too chonky and long to ride one but I think they're cool as hell!
I lived in the UK then and enjoyed reading some of the US mags to see what was going on over there. I seen an ad for a red 500 Ascot and loved the thing. Fast forward 10 years and I was staying with friends in Florida for an extended vacation and noticed a neighbour had one, looking a bit unloved in his garage. A bit of a chat and some money changed hands and I was the new owner. I never left the city limits with it and as a general bike just for zipping around the city it was absolutely perfect. I never once regretted buying it and still remember it as a favourite. I was a superbike rider/racer back then and enjoyed the big fast bikes and associated action. The VT500 Ascot delivered exactly what I expected - motorcycling enjoyment!
I've got a massive soft spot for weird '80s Honda bikes, especially one-year-wonders, and this one is no exception. I love the goofy styling on this one. Would fit in the garage great with my '88 Shadow 800 and my '83 Nighthawk 550. That shaft drive takes a bit of getting used to, but I love not having to deal with chains. Great video as usual!
Personally, I think that unless you've got a small displacement bike that needs all the efficiency it can get, belts are the way to go. You lose only a little bit of efficiency, but the reduction in maintenance is significant.
I agree, belts are the Goldilocks final drive. The silence is cool too. ~RF9
Speaking as a totally unbiased owner of a belt-driven commuter bike, I wholeheartedly agree!
You can have a shaft drive if you've already got your momentum in right plane, like in boxer or longitudinal V engine. But having to rotate momentum twice just too put the shaft drive in is veeery questionable indeed.
@@FortNine Goldilocks only until dirt is on the menu....
I appreciate the belt drive of my BMW F650CS. Smooths out the single as well.
Ryan, you should do a retro review of the Scarver. A unique bike that wasn’t appreciated in its day but I think you will find it a great performer.
Relevant today too with bikes like the new BSA that is using a Rotax 650.
My first bike was an 84 VT500 Ascot with 3000 miles on. I rode it for years. Doesn’t even hold a candle to my current bike and I don’t miss it
If you rode it for years, it must have done something right.
@@heiner71 it was a great beginner bike. My butt would hurt like crazy after an hour though lol
I'm glad that you are honest enough to be willing to point out some of Honda's bad points. which are not that many. since other people seem to have a hard time saying anything bad about Honda. probably because they are biased because they own a Honda. I especially liked the phrase about shaft jacking that was hilarious. I owned a 1980 CB 750 K with a Vetter full fairing with lowers. and I thought it would be a good touring bike. that is until I took it for a 30 mile ride. and when I got to the destination. and took my hands off the bars and they stung so bad. I had to wait thirty minutes before I could ride it again. and I knew that I was going to experience this again. on the return trip because of the chain drive. but besides that I loved that bike. but I eventually sold it.
Great as always.Please make a video for the new single cam Honda Transalp 750,i would love to see an interview for this engine from you!
I own one of these, a bone stock version. It’s a great bike to ride. 500cc 6 speed transmission, fairly nimble and nice and quiet so when you zip down the road, unlike my 883c, nobody is the wiser.
I followed a coworker who was riding a Gold Wing to Unadilla NY. to spectate the Motocross National one year. Brooklyn CT. To Unadilla and straight back after the race ended. One of my favorite riding memories for sure. We were techs(I was also the service manager) at Burt Ives Honda in Columbia CT.
Hey, I am reading this in Manchester, CT. I have been to Burt Ives in the past. Lived in Columbia back in 89-90 and work in NOrwich, Ct. Stopped riding in 2000 when first son was born. Biike at tht time was an 83 Kawasaki Gpz 750. Just started riding again. got a 2003 BMW F650CS. It checked out the boxes, fuel injected, no chain to maintain, and ABS, and could get it cheap for cash. It's a quirky weird bike and that is why could get it so cheap. Wasn't what I really had in mind but love to ride it.
I could easily bury the 883s with mine.
Camera work, editing, writing and monologue are all on point for this video. Awesome work!
plus the choice of music... had never heard that song before, but is is both fitting for the videos and pumping for a ride
My brother was the video editor on this! Im sooo proudddd ❤❤❤
@@ChadveeA hmm?
F9 hired a new editor? And he's your brother?
@@suryagurung7793 yes!
If you happen to want a camera, click on the link in the description 😂
this bike cannot be the worst bike of the eighties. In fact it was a clever engine design that you could maintain at home installed in a good looking bike. Got to learn how to get the best out of what you have !
Yamaha Viragos were the worst of the 80s, or the Yamaha Vision.
Interested, but the "Worst of the 1980s" , come on. This was peak AMF Harley Davidson era. They were turning out absolute garbage.
Nice one Ryan F9! I recently bought my first ever motorcycle and I've been watching through all the fortnine videos for tips and tricks on staying safe out on the road and keeping my bike in good nick. You guys rock!
What bike did u pick?
Doing the same. Happy riding
Was it...an Ascot?
@@lovelessissimo he watched all F9s vids before making the purchase except for this one.
@@brianallan4577 hahaha
My first bike was a brand new 1985 Honda Shadow 500 in Cherry Red, same engine. I loved that bike, shaft drive was the best feature. I remember this bike and thinking it was blah compared to the Shadow.
Even Honda can't be all things to all people. I purchased my first bike, a 1983 Nighthawk 650 (old school? new school?), and one of the promo give-aways was a deck of 52 playing cards. Honda had a different model depicted on every suit & rank. The two cards I can recall these forty years later was the my own Nighthawk was the King-of-Diamonds and the Ace-of-Spades was the V-65 (diffidently new school!) Magna. So the local "You Meet the Nicest People" Honda dealer would be more than happy to sell any number of the 52 different Honda models to meet your needs . And if you were looking for a bargain Honda had you covered because in a few years time they would over generous dealer rebates for left-over through 1987 and beyond.
Thanks for posting and Awesome camera work!
This was really nostalgic for me. 35 years ago when I wanted to get back into street riding there was one of these babes for sale at a great price at the repair shop within a dog walk of my home. Went over there quite a bit and was so close to pulling the trigger. However, what I really wanted was a Moto Guzzi, and now I am so glad I did.
Thanks again for another great production. I feel that a lot of time you're catering to us 60 year old riders. Remembering a lot of these bikes. Back in late seventies and early 80s oval racing and MX were king. Heroes I.E. Penhall, Hana ruled. Living in So Cal had great venues as of Cost Mesa fair ground Oval, Carlsbad and Saddle Back MX racetrack and riding parks. I owned a 1981 Honda xl500s with works performance rear shocks and extended front shocks street legal and could make it around the Saddleback mx coarse and ride to school and back. As I remember Honda made an Ascot 500 single cylinder with the same engine as the Xl 500s.
Honda certainly got their fill from this engine, I believe it was re-bored and re-headed several times; I was told that the shaft-driven NT650 and 700 Deauville's which make great commuter/tourers used engines that were derived/developed from the VT500. I've owned or ridden both models and they are great bikes, the lack of chain maintenance is something I'm ever-grateful for, and if longetivity is a any kind of indication, it was a stereo-typical Honda engine in that they could get decades of reliable use from it.
Toured Europe 2-up for 2 months in 1985 on a UK spec, rented VT500 with dual pipes and a headlight fairing. While it was nothing special on the looks, power or handling fronts, it was extremely reliable and worry free for the entire 6,500 kms through England, Scotland, Belgium, Germany, France, Austria, Italy and Switzerland. Maneuvering through small village lanes and parking anywhere made this the perfect mid-80s europe-touring bike and it also got about 60 mpg with 400 lbs of load. It may have been a dog of a bike, however it allowed us to create some amazing memories.
At 18, I had a Red 81' Ascot picked out at my local Honda dealer, when I took my day to the shop to see it. We quickly changed our minds to purchase a Honda CX650Custom. That too at 18 my first real bike was great. Still see the ascots on marketplace at times. Always think of the one I almost bought. Great video.
The VT500FT being reviewed was only made for model years 1983 and 1984. The 1981 you remember was an air cooled single cylinder chain drive.
Just love the scene where he parks in front of No Parking sign. Slides to a stop to do a review on the seat with sign over the shoulder. Every aspect of F9 videos are just so entertaining!
I have an 86 shadow 500. It was my first bike! I still have it. It’s had its issues.. honestly put a jet kit in it, lil valve adjustment recently. Thing runs perfect still puts a smile on my face. I’ve had mine up to 115 just about bangin off the limiter. Fun times ;)
Clever and hilarious writing and presentation had me laughing out loud! Loved the slow....soft nature segments...trees...leaves rustling...water lillies...the strangled faraway sound of an anemic VT500 struggling down the road...scored with a sleepy Western song. LMFAO. Well done!
I had one of these back in the day, my first bike. It was utterly buttetproof and would have been a great beginner bike if not for the deeply strange handling. I got used to its quirks that the cost of being by far the slowest rider our little group. I never had any accidents on that bike, but again I was always too wary to really push it.
I rode with Harley dressers back in the day so I definitely did not have the slowest bike.
A pair of top quality road tires, particularly with a low profile front, cleared up most of the weird handling.
I was in love with the Ascot, it looked the perfect motorcycle; small, light, easy maintenance, high revving, stylish. Then it was gone before I could get my license. Thanks for eliminating my 40+ year dream of the perfect motorcycle.
Still riding, still looking for the unicorn of motorcycles.
People who got it seem to remember it fondly, and some still have theirs.
Never seen the Ascot before. It has slightly different geometry to the VT500's that I am used to seeing. The VT was the replacement for the CX500. Lighter, and with a slightly lower centre of gravity. I've only ever ridden, though never owned, a VT. Although I did have a CX500 for about 2 years, and 20k miles. The shaft drive makes maintenance easy. The only thing that failed during my ownership, was a fork seal !
I have never heard of "shaft jacking" as a problem before on shaft drive bikes. Never even thought about it. I am now further educated. Thanks F9!
Hey !! Now you crossed the line . I owned 1 for a while and even did some production racing w/some upgrades and had fun and some decent results .But just about all you said is true😂😂
I owned an 86 Honda KnightHawk. I definietly experienced "Shaft Jack." That said, I was in college and I otherwise loved the bike! It saw 100mph+ every day that I owned it- and I never had to clean or adjust the chain! That was huge, 30 years ago, when a lot of chains were not O ring chains and had to be constatnly maintainted.
I had the Shadow 500 (same engine) and i was waiting for comments on the motor. Hands-down my favorite engine of any bike I've ever had, though the rest of the bike wasn't my favorite. I would have liked the Ascot but I guess now I'm glad I didn't have one.
Maybe someday I'll pick up another Shadow or Ascot and swap the engine and driveline into another bike.
I bought new in 1984 after high school, loved the VT500 and rode it everywhere. Ryan has some good points in hindsight, but the reliable and easy maintenance while being sporty looking and riding was fun and unique. I loved the V-twin sound and performance.
Sure, most other bikes 500 and up had more go, but as a student transport I couldn't be happier, until I crashed it at 100 mph....
Hey Ryan, is it possible that the ascot you rode was fairly poorly maintained? I never had an Ascot, but I had a vt500 shadow for a short bit and I loved it, I really didn't have any of the problems you mentioned, but the bike had been really well taken care of by it's previous owner. TBH, some big alarm bells went off for me on the "turn right rev out" thing, since that's a common problem with 80s hondas that've had their throttle cables improperly replaced. Then bigger alarm bells when you said you were having trouble revving it out to past 5k, bc my bike revved like crazy to the moon, and had a respectable power surge ~8k. But I think you wouldn't get that with a bike that had low compression or a not so in tune valve train. Just something maybe worth thinking about when you do reviews on older bikes.
or in about 1985 you could have bought a brand new VT ascot for $1000, commuted on it for 35 years at 50 miles per gallon and 2000 miles per year, then in 2020 sold it for $2000. Sounds like pretty good deal to me!
@@benvoiles3505 I'm not sure how that's related to what I said, but since the VT500 had a new MSRP of ~$3500, yeah I guess buying one for less than a third of it's price would've been a really great deal....
its quite silly that he takes some old used bike that has issues and has been repaired badly , and tries to pass those issues off as if all Ascots had these issues.
Yes , clearly someone did not route the throttle cables correctly and did you get a load of those ridiculous fork boots someone added . haha
This Ryan guy doesn't know his rear end from a hole in the ground , but his vids are good for a laugh or if you know nothing about motorcycles
I had an Ascot years ago. First bike I ever crashed. Hit the ground because of sand at about 50mph. Still got the scars. I have learned a lot about riding since then. That was a cool bike for 16 year old me. Glad I didn't break anything. Thanks for making a fun video about this wacky bike!
I had a pre-vtwin ascot 500, it was a chain drive thumper, essentially a xl500 engine, shared most parts. Didn't suffer most of the problems you've brought up, only issue for me is it was a little bike. I'm 6'4" and it wasn't very comfortable for me. Sold it to a buddy and he's still enjoying it today
My first bike ever was an Ascot. It was the thumper version, FT500. I loved it and still aspire riding one again. There are many differences between the FT and VT. Definitely think the FT was a better bike. Consider me damaged though. The only negative feature, not mentioned, was the square headlight. No motorcycle or Jeep should ever have a square headlight! 😂😂 Awesome review and excellent humor!
Easily replaced with a round Emgo unit.
Ascots and the 500 Shadow (same motor and chassis) are both fun little bikes. And they absolutely can corner well, it just takes a slightly different technique compared to chain drive bikes.
I’ve been enjoying seeing the 80’s cruiser videos recently. You should make one about the magna line up.
If you read the review in Cycle World from August of 1983 the last paragraph says " But the handling is crisp, the controls delightful and the engine responsive beyond it's numbers. The Ascot is quick and sure and rewarding. The hype and compromises somehow fade away. The Ascot is fun."
The bike and it's technology is almost 40 years old. It's not a modern sport bike. I have fun every time I ride mine.
At the time I thought the Ascot would be a great around town bike, and I liked clean & lean styling. Every motorcycle of the 80's had big square headlights, it was new halogen technology. Now that fuse box location is hilarious! I didn't know it was shaft drive, that makes NO sense on a bike this size! 🙃
From 2 videos a month to 2 videos a week, some substantial increase in tempo, I hope it isn't possible for an entire company to get burnout
The VT500C (Shadow) was a better use of that drivetrain. 1983-86.
Also used the same hilarious toolbox. OE toolkit came with about 20 items, 15 could be jammed into the box on a good day.
Had a 500 Shadow version in the 80's and used it as a daily driver commuter (in the military) to the base and back home.
That's probably where this engine fits well; not cruising, not in the twisties, not sporty, just get me there and back with just enough power to get the heck out of the way of the blind 4 wheelers.
In the meantime I've lived a bunch of years in Germany, put thousands of kilometers on a GS1100, then a GS1150 including curving the Alps, a probably illegal level of fun on a bike like that.
Now I've traded in the 2 wheelers for a 2 stroke 200 propeller thingy and a fitted sheet. Paramotoring is probably the most fun possible at 25 mph; you get to make your own curves and the views are always stunning. Plus, it's safer than biking because there's basically almost zero obstacles in the air.
And the Inst360s? I'm all in on those. It's a game changer. (See my channel.)
The fact that this bike is now on market place is awesome haha i was checking some bikes with my dad and saw a Ryan selling this Honda
Since you're revisiting old motorcycles, consider doing a review of the FZS 600. I own one and the more I ride it the more impressed I am with how they made that Frankenstein's monster and it somehow turned out good.
Fortnine on a roll. I love it
Thanks for the Video Mate. I drive a 1983 Ascot and I love it. It has more than 83.000 Miles, looks like a Garbage can but its the best Bike I have ever had :-) It´s not all about beauty...it´s all about Soul🙂 Best Regards Nik
At 59 years old I've been a lifelong Honda fan and have owned about 20 from Interceptor to Magna to Goldwing... Currently have a 1992 750 Nighthawk and really enjoy your videos.
This channel is like the Top Gear for motorcycles. Thank you for the content, Ryan! Keep it up!
That would actually be @44teeth
It would be really interesting to see your review of the Honda NC700x..I have the DCT, it was/is my first bike. I’ve had a great experience with it, but its definitely an odd one. I’ve taken it from a commuter to a full on adventurer going on trails/offroad, and even in snow and heavy rain its performed great. Weird for an almost scooter lol.
I have the ASA700, DN01, it's kind of sport touring and also DCT, just rode it about a hundred miles today for first time this year, I'm 68 and live with two disabled ladies, wife and mother in law, hard to get away sometimes. when I bought it it was exactly what I was looking for and fortunately no one else was, it was new and had been sitting at the dealer for a long time, so I got it for a steal. I was glad and they were glad to move it😃
Me too, it's my own bike (not the DCT model, though) and where I learnt to ride. I rode 3 bikes while taking my license and I love my NC700x more than any of the others. It revs and responds exactly my diesel 1.6 BMW does, even the same top speed. It's a really interesting experience.
This is a video beautifully written enough to rival the Alaskan CTXP episode, or the KLR 650 Torture Test. The most carefully written, best line in there is something that makes me a little teary; "Honda famously confronts the old engineers, and says 'Your motorcycle is bad at everything!' To which they reply 'Yes. That's what it's meant to be.'"
I had the Australian version VT500ES with the fully enclosed front disk brake. I remember it being a fun little bike, even managed to overtake harleys on mountain roads.
My first street motorcycle was a Ascot single cylinder. Racing muffler, leaked oil always, but man what a fun bike! Fast for a 500cc. Loved that bike.
Bought one new in September 1984 as a college freshman; racked, bagged, with a new helmet and shop manual for around $2k- it cost me $99 down, and $99 a month for the two years of the note. Rode it everywhere, and did everything with it for three years until I found an old Guzzi 850t. It was my first 'road bike', after enough youthful dirt biking incidents had led my parents to completely rule out any street bikes on their watch. It was 100% reliable, easy to maintain, light, and reasonably compact enough to spend winter in the hallway of our small apartment while I rode the bus. The absolutely fatal flaw to me was the front end geometry (31 degrees/5.7 trail) lifted right off its 'Honda Shadow' cruiser bike twin. While stable enough for 2 a.m. top speed runs, it flopped into corners badly, wanting to wash out the front end where other bikes would just bank over and take an apex- fast, smooth cornering was tricky- but for the in traffic, college town cut and thrust lane splitting it worked well. It could hang with older English and Euro twins, as well as older Jap 750 fours, but a buddies 900 Z1 Kawi could leave me behind pretty quickly. The 90 mile fuel refills were aok since the ass destroyer seat made that distance as long as you'd want to go without a break anyway, and the ergonomics worked for me, since my 5'9" Popeye style frame was the target demo, evidently. Back then, $4/hr. jobs were what poor college kids lived on, so anything similar now would have to be around $6k or less, out the door and loaded like mine was. There's your fair comparison; 1984 entry level vs. 2023 entry level.