Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/143876
e e c-r 00 .It 0') ....-4 ... 0') C'.f M ll,) ..0 S ll,) -.,l c, ll,) o: (Far left) XR/XLderived thumper engine produces good torque. but top end is lacking. (Middle . left) Dual piston calipers make the front brake a real winner. Leading axle forks work with aplomb. (Near left) Compact electric starter makes this basic machine a civilized unit. (Above) Rakish good ' looks make the Ascot a striking machine. It drew notices wherever we went. The lightweight, narrow profile, good ground clearance, solid frame and excellent brakes make sport riding the IT a genuine pleasure. The front end, suspended by an air-assisted telescopic fork assem bly with 37mm tubes, works fabulously. The suspension responds well to road irregularities and sticks well in corners. Also on the front en d of the motorcycle is a single disc brake. It features the dual piston caliper of the bigger CB750/900, and we ha ve encountered no better production whoaunit. It's strong, requires m in imal lever pressure, and gives good feedback. More than one staffer has been eyeing the brake with the idea of putting it on their personal machine. The front end also sports an aluminum fork brace. It's well- finished, but we're not sure th e bike really needs it. Straddling the Ascot afte r riding four-cy linder machines gives the impre ssio n of piloting a broomstick. It's narrow and lean, and with a weelthought- out riding position, attackin g cu rves seems the natura l th ing to do. Gro und clearance was grea t, a nd only the most banzai of our test crew was able to scrape anything at all. On the back end hangs another great dual caliper disc, and th e box section swingarm seems strong enough to work on a KZ1300. The . rear shocks, however, were not that impressive. The springs worked fine on the number two (of five) preload setting, but the damping and rebound of the gas charged shocks didn 't qui te hit the mark. Yokohama tires come stock on the IT500. We had no real complaints, but a few of us wondered aloud about how the Ascot would perform with really sticky aftermarket rubber. Vibration aside, rider comfort was good. The handlebars are well shaped for sport ridign , and the seat to peg relationship was fine for most. The seat was a little sparse, but without the vibration, perhaps we wouldn't have noticed. All in all, we really liked the Ascot. One staffer liked it enough to bu y one. For a second motorcycle, we'd jump at it too, but with the profusion of 5505 around that tackle the canyons as well as the long haul, we'd hesitate to make it our only bike. But we'd never hesitate to ride it.;.• ,S pecifications Engine Type Displacement Bore x stroke Compression ratio Starting system Carburetion Clutch Transmission single-cylinder four-stroke. -. 498cc. ' 89x80mm. 8.6:1. ' Electric. One Keihin 35mm CV with accelerator pump. Wet. multiple disc. : Constant mesh. five-speed. Frame Type Rake /trail Front suspensio n /travel Rear suspension /travel Front tire Rear tire Front brake Rear brake single downtube. semi cradle. 29°/4.7 in. Telescopic fork. coil spring with air assist/6 in . Gas-charged shock absorbers/3.3 in. 3 .50x19 Yokohama. 4.25x18 Yokohama. Single disc. ; Single disc. Dimensions Overall length " Overall height Overall width '..' Seat height , Wheelbase : ,Minimum ground clearance Fuel capacity Suggest~ ret~i1price : ; ; : ,.. : ' ;: 82.5 in. ' 44.3 in. 43.4 in. 31 .2 in. 56.5 in. 6.5 in. 2.9 gal. '': $2198. 23