Does it have a compression release? I can't imagine starting a big single without one.

The FT wasn’t changed to a V twin; Honda sold them side by side for a year. The single was sold 1982-3 and the twin was 1983-4. Nobody knows why they called both bikes Ascot—I don’t know if they had any common parts other than nuts, bolts and light bulbs. The twin was a neat bike, though.

Almost none of my bikes have kept their stock mirrors; they usually get Emgo Stadium-copy bar ends.

Gotta say, in my experience it’s a big overgeneralization to say next to the bike is a “horrible” way to kick start. It always worked flawlessly on my ‘77 Tiger, and my Jawa Californian and ‘67 Bultaco Metralla both had left-side kick levers (the Jawa’s was also the shift lever) so kicking astride the bike wasn’t…

*FEWER torques

If I had a three year old car that did NOT have its original brakes and clutch, that car’s maker would be hearing from my attorney.

Or if.

Even though it’s already been brought up, a hideaway headlight seems like pointless complication in the US. But then I’m a big round-headlight fan; if I’d kept my Ascot twin longer, I probably would have swapped out the rectangle on that bike. BTW, it’s a shame you didn’t go for the CS5. I bought one four years ago…

Dude, it's LEDs now, about 20 watts. Small price to pay to get an emotionally damaged billionaire to do your dirty work.

And with no circuses anymore, it's hard to find an orphan with the skill set you want.

I’m a little surprised there aren't labels saying BATPHONE and FALSE BUST WITH SWITCH FOR BATCAVE ENTRANCE. They had labels for everything else.

Weep not; I hear he's getting put out to stud.

Almost nothing that runs is worth $5000 max anymore.

Wouldn’t be surprised if Mexican octane was in the 70s when this was built.

Entertain yourself. Shop for these.

There’s got to be a dozen places that will build a VW engine with more than twice that power, even before you start thinking about a Wasserboxer or Subaru. Reliability might suffer, but for a VW owner the first ten breakdowns don't count.

Was looking for a mention of the Cordwood representative!

Just a few blocks north of there, on the southbound side, is where my tool kit fell off the back of my ‘83 Ascot twin and the shock spanner punctured a guy’s tire.

Coolant doesn't blend as well. Not speculating.

I apprenticed years ago in a shop that fixed British motorcycles, and definitely drained a few sumps and oil tanks that had crap like this in them. In the ‘90s it seemed like half the barns in the USA had old Triumphs stashed in them, with ancient gas and oil on board. The gas generally smelled like nail polish after…