First Generation Ascots > The Thumper Years: Modified To Full Customs
Race tech springs and emulators vs progressive springs for FT500 front shocks
J6G1Z:
I'm looking forward to seeing what all is involved with fitting the CBR1000 front end. I believe that it has 41mm fork tubes. That will stiffen up the front end.
J.
johnnymot1:
I finally closed the deal and got my CBR1000 front end. Looks nice and came with Race Tech springs installed by the previous owner. I did get the whole set up, triple trees, rim, brakes, (nice stainless steel lines too), MC and front axle. I'm going to begin working on the swap set up soon....According to one builder I've chatted with that 's started doing quite a few swaps on Viragos to GSXR front ends, "it's relatively simple and involves mating your current steering stem to the donor triple trees". Of course this guys pedigree is in motorcycle engineering, so it may be less simple for me.
I also picked up an NT650/Hawk front end, and am going to swap it into another ascot. From reading, that one appears that the entire front end including the hawk stem bolts right into the ascot steering head.
I'm happy to have found both of those complete front ends, but of course now that leaves me searching for two CBR600 Hurricane rear wheels/and components to complete a swap on both ends.
J6G1Z:
Good deal on scoring both front ends. I think that is the most expensive & difficult end to source. You can probably find a rear wheel assembly on eBay fairly easy. The rear axle is interchangeable & you can use the Ascot axle. You basically need the rear wheel & cush-drive assembly, the axle spacers, caliper mount & rear brake caliper. You will have to fabricate a length of steel or aluminum into a rear caliper stay. New bearings & seals are available from "All Balls" along with the steering stem conversion bearings if needed.
The CBR wheels are substantially lighter than the Ascot wheels. I think they are lighter with rubber on them, than the bare Ascot wheel & is the main performance improvement aside from the stiffer suspension. Plus there are a ton of 17" tires to choose from. I just went with my standard Avon RoadRiders in the stock size for the CBR600. The 520 chain conversion loses several pounds from your drive assembly also.
Good luck & please post up some pics of your collection & progress.
J.
johnnymot1:
Neil, from the list here who put a hawk front end on a very nice ascot he built was a big help in giving some details too, so his friendliness and information will be a big help too. He basically says with the tapered roller head bearings, the hawk triple tree bolts right up. And like many of us, he has some other nice projects in the works as well.
I'll post on these projects as well as a few other ascots too. Right now, it's "Ascot 101" just rehabbing a well abused ft500 back to stock running form, cleaning, tuning, and all that goes with a 30 plus year old bike overdue for it's routine maintenance. I've got the carb rebuilt/rejetted and with a few more tune up items and some OCD cleaning, it should be a nice stock daily rider. Another ascot sitting next too it undergoing similar rehab keeping looking at me saying "I want to be a GB500" a gnawing to attempt to imitate the low buck GB500 look alike ascot as seen in an internet picture.
Once I get those up and going, the CBR1000 fitted bike and the NT650 fitted bike should be fun, and I'm going to push the envelope a bit on the engines, suspension/frame and cosmetics too. I'll definitely post on those.....
Now to find a tank for the "GB500 Ascot" project.....Subject matter for a whole new thread!
J6G1Z:
They really perform well with new shocks in the back, upgraded front end & 17" wheels! You will enjoy riding the modified bikes.
I'm looking forward to whenever I have the extra $$$'s to go through the engine & improve its performance. New clutch, high performance needle bearing camshaft & port-work, probably a small increase in bore size & a bump in compression. Until then, just making the bike lighter in weight has improved the performance immensely.
Good luck
J.
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