HONDA VT500FT Ascot (1982-1984) Specs, Performance & Photos

The VT500 was a common name for the family of motorcycles manufactured by Honda that share the V-twin engine, which featured the cylinder set in line with the long axis of the frame. The bike was launched at the Cologne Motorcycle Show in 1982 and manufactured in different variations for different countries, such as the Ascot, Shadow, and Euro.

The Ascot was only available in North America and only for 1983 and 1984, while it overlapped the similarly named but entirely different 1982-1983 Honda FT500 Ascot. The bike featured a sporty appearance with a square fuel tank, a long sleek seat with a gentle bump for the passenger, and a similarly-shaped rear cowl.

In 1983, the Honda VT500FT Ascot was available in Pearl Siren Blue and Candy Bourgogne Red, while in 1994, it was available in Gloss Black and Metallic Red, which was similar to the 1983 Candy Bourgogne Red but with a slightly darker red base coat.

Some of the notable differences between the 1983 and 1984 machines included the wheels, where the 1983 model featured thick rims and the 1984 thin rims, the foot controls of the 1983 model were chrome, and the 1984 model were galvanized black, the tank decals featured different shades of gray, and the wiring change for the 1984 model.

For suspension, the bike featured an air-assisted telescopic fork on the front and dual shock absorbers on the rear for optimum suspension performance and handling.

In the braking department, the bike packed a single disc with a dual-piston caliper on the front wheel and a drum braking unit on the rear that offered optimum stopping power.

As for the power figures, the 1983 Honda VT500FT Ascot took its muscles from a 491cc four-stroke V-twin liquid-cooled engine fitted with two Keihin carburetors that helped deliver an output power of 50 hp at 9,000 rpm and 42 Nm (31 lb-ft) of torque at 7,000 rpm.