First Generation Ascots > The Thumper Years: Stock To Lightly Modified
tires, what do you recommend?
johnnymot1:
Glad to see this, as I'm a new FT500 owner (5 actually now as I've been on an FT500 binge), but for the nicest/ride-able one I'm going to actually ride while I work on the others, I'm looking/searching for a decent 50/50 dual sport tire...Maybe a 30/70, as I live right in the middle of some epic canyon riding territory, but also have access to miles, and miles of BLM improved dirt roads I'm thinking of taking her on too.....
What's anyone's favorite dual sport more oriented to a little off road riding? Are we limited to the stock listed sizes or do we have some variance in size as well?
J6G1Z:
--- Quote from: johnnymot1 on January 17, 2014, 12:03:46 am --- Glad to see this, as I'm a new FT500 owner (5 actually now as I've been on an FT500 binge), but for the nicest/ride-able one I'm going to actually ride while I work on the others, I'm looking/searching for a decent 50/50 dual sport tire...Maybe a 30/70, as I live right in the middle of some epic canyon riding territory, but also have access to miles, and miles of BLM improved dirt roads I'm thinking of taking her on too.....
What's anyone's favorite dual sport more oriented to a little off road riding? Are we limited to the stock listed sizes or do we have some variance in size as well?
--- End quote ---
Welcome to the Ascot world. Are you able to post up some pics of your collection?
There has been talk from a few new Ascot owners of trying to use the bike as a Dual-Sport bike, but I can't recall anyone actually doing so. Even though the Ascot looks like a Flat Tracker dirt bike, it's really designed to be a street bike & is a bit heavy for dirt riding. If you have a real clean Ascot, you should probably keep it on the street instead of dinging it up out in the dirt. They are fairly rare bikes, plus the oil sump hangs down kind of low. Keep your eye open for a Honda XR/XL type of bike, or a Suzuki DR, etc. I think you will be much happier.
If you're determined to put Dual-Sport tires on the bike, I'm afraid that I can't really help you. I run Avon Roadriders as I've found that the Ascot makes a much better Canyon Carver/Wannabe Sport-Bike than you would expect. There was a thread on the Yahoo Groups VT500FT Forum on dirt tires recently & you might try scrolling through that to see if there is some good info. Here is the link to their site: https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/ascotvt500enthusiasts/conversations/messages
Good luck & please let us know what you end up doing.
J.
johnnymot1:
Thanks for the information. I'm still at the starting point of being "all over the map" about what I want to do, but yes, definitely one of the bikes, possibly two are going to go the original route. My thoughts on one are more of a "naked tracker" that I'm less worried about dinging up.
Luckily, I have 2 DR's to play with (a 400 and a 650) so the more road oriented route makes a bit more since as well... All have the varying degrees of neglect so I'm starting with the best example, and going from there....Tires, the essential mods (great article on here by the way for a newbie!) and have some fun and play with the others.....The two that are running (I use that loosely) have a horrific starter noise, so I'm sure I'm about to enter the world of starter pinion diagnosis and beyond....
Pics to come soon........The awesome canyon lined roads around here are begging to be carved, so I may start looking the sticky route on more road oriented tires! :o
J6G1Z:
Here's a link to the Yahoo Groups FT500 Ascot Starter Problems Files: https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/honda-ascot/files/Starter%20Issues/
This is the most information that I know of on FT500 starter problems.
Have you seen this bike yet? http://ascot500.com/index.php?topic=15.0
Good luck
J.
johnnymot1:
Interesting bike....I like the mechanical end of it, but the graphics just aren't quite my style. I bet it's a blast to ride though.
I think it's google images that has that same bike with someone actually on it riding. Nice pic of it too. One of my "left over" FT500s may end up with a similar build. There are certainly some nice varied examples out there to draw ideas and inspiration from!
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