Named after Ascot Park, a former flat-track raceway in Los Angeles, the Honda Ascot (also known as the VT500) was a V-Twin standard that was styled after flat-track bikes. I used to think the front headlight looked silly, and in the process I unfairly over-looked the Ascot. It didn’t sell well, but owners are passionate about this bike – an excellent Motorcycle Classics article suggests that it’s a “tight handling, urgent machine with seamless power and acceleration.”
This Ascot has 41,000 miles and has been ‘restored to as close to factory as possible.’ Despite that, it’s being offered for a great price – find it here on Craigslist for $1,490 in Sparks, Nevada.