Classic Bike Racing: Help Me Decide the Steed!

[chuck peterson]

A long look at Craigslist covering maine to Florida to Chicago…

It might be more a matter of what you’re able to buy…what year is the cut off for the class?

Saw a Honda Ascot, parallel twin 500 that had a race following

Suzuki 425 has made it into collector territory, not many

yaMaha RD’s seem plentiful but in two categories…rusted hulk for $1k or 4-8k

Reno Leoni, mentioned in the Spencer/Guzzi video, (thanks faffi!) is the guy on the left in my first picture, rider is Jimmy Adamo on a highly stressed Duc

[Kev m]

Saw a Honda Ascot, parallel twin 500 that had a race following

V-Twin?!?

[PeteS]

Dirk mentioned USCRA which says bikes 25 years or older. That would include Honda NT650 Hawks. Big following with lots of hop up parts so may be pricey. Excellent steed though in all respects.

Pete

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Saw a Honda Ascot, parallel twin 500 that had a race following

V-Twin?!?

Or single. FT500 (single), VT500 (v-twin). Both named the Ascot.

[Dirk_S]

Here’s a list of the classes and possible bump allowances:

[Kev m]

Or single. FT500 (single), VT500 (v-twin). Both named the Ascot.

Yeah I know that, I owned a VT500 .... I was questioning the term "parallel" for that reason.

Unless you mean maybe he SAW a single and ASSumed it was a parallel twin and not a single?  I guess that could make sense.

[faffi]

A long look at Craigslist covering maine to Florida to Chicago…

It might be more a matter of what you’re able to buy…what year is the cut off for the class?

Saw a Honda Ascot, parallel twin 500 that had a race following

Suzuki 425 has made it into collector territory, not many

yaMaha RD’s seem plentiful but in two categories…rusted hulk for $1k or 4-8k

Reno Leoni, mentioned in the Spencer/Guzzi video, (thanks faffi!) is the guy on the left in my first picture, rider is Jimmy Adamo on a highly stressed Duc

Around 1980, some championship in USA for 400s was won with a Honda Hawk I 400, the cheap version with wire wheels and drum brakes I believe, because it also lacked a starter and was much lighter than the ComStar wheeled Hawk II. It was hard to be competive against the RD400s, but there is not much in it. And Hawks should be much cheaper than RDs.

[bronzestar1]

Maybe something like one of these:

[chuck peterson]

Yeah I know that, I owned a VT500 .... I was questioning the term "parallel" for that reason.

Unless you mean maybe he SAW a single and ASSumed it was a parallel twin and not a single?  I guess that could make sense.

My mistake I always thought they were both twins named Ascot…

And the single has two exhaust headers

[chuck peterson]

Nice production racer…no modifications necessary





https://newyork.craigslist.org/wch/mcy/d/yonkers-1980-suzuki-gs450/7764101235.html

[chuck peterson]

Well spec’ed out RD, but would you risk throwing it down the track? Maybe in vintage racing where everyone is a little less cutthroat





https://winchester.craigslist.org/mcy/d/winchester-1973-rd-350-yamaha/7765443421.html

Most of the two strokes are well cared for like this, or a rust pile

[Kev m]

My mistake I always thought they were both twins named Ascot…

And a reasonable assumption, but Honda is WEIRD...

[Dirk_S]

Appreciate all the recommendations. Currently staying away from liquid-cooled engines, and I’m not sure I want a two-stroke. If I decide to ride the bike on the street (most likely inevitable), I’m not crazy about scooting around on such a loud bike.

I’m checking out the Lario tomorrow—it’s an hour away, and the seller’s asking $1500 for it. If I can talk him down to $1000 (my current budget), I  just might buy it. I have a couple friends offering storage (and assuming trailering will be figured out with similar flexibility). My rationale: if I can get a bike now, I’ll have the cold months to work on it.

That said, still open to suggestions and advice. I’d still prefer a naked air-cooled twin. Not looking to buy from afar, keeping the purchasing radius within 150 miles max—not the greatest living here in Maine, but there are certainly still enough bikes to choose from.

[twowings]

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

A real SFC sells for nearly $50k...

[Dirk_S]

Someone brings an orange Laverda to the Owls Head classic show every year

[Tkelly]

If the Lario runs get it,wouldn’t you rather race a Guzzi.Seems really cheap unless something is wrong .

[cliffrod]

Yup, this real SFC has been on fbmp over in GA for $55k for quite a while. 
  https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/509045517893287/

[Tusayan]

In spite of the aversion to liquid cooling etc, I think a solid choice for USCRA and for your budget would be an EX500 Kawasaki in Period IV, Formula 3.   Like all race bikes it'll be throw away in the end, not a collectors item and the EX500 has plenty of tuning potential at low cost and high availability.

[s1120]

In spite of the aversion to liquid cooling etc, I think a solid choice for USCRA and for your budget would be an EX500 Kawasaki in Period IV, Formula 3.   Like all race bikes it'll be throw away in the end, not a collectors item and the EX500 has plenty of tuning potential at low cost and high availability.

That EX500 engine is such a sweet mill! Good solid low end power, and a nice top end hit also.. They just keep going. That being said, I really like the old GS500E. You give up some power to the EX, but man that old GS twin just runs forever, and takes whatever abuse you can give it. Just stone simple.

[faffi]

GS500 is a twin and air cooled and a splendid handler, and the interweb is full of tips and tricks to make them better, usually with little cost.

[huub]

get the lario anyway, they are fun little bikes.
if you mod the valve train they would make great ( if slow) track bikes.

[twowheeladdict]

Freddie Spencer recommendation.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9jqPLgtBY4

[Dirk_S]

Seller and I got along very well, allowed me to dive into the spark plug hole and bell housing with a bore scope and check compression. We talked for quite some time over mechanics—he’s worked on many a machine. Accepted my offer kindly, and I’m now the owner of a V65 Lario…we’ll see if that’s a good thing or not  down the road ;)

Took the bike for a ride and it seemed fun. I have a learning curve with the steering, my first sportbike bar setup.

Borescope showed healthy crosshatching in the cylinders and dished pistons that weren’t terribly carboned-up at all. Also peeked into the bell housing—a little bit of oil staining at the bottom, but otherwise the dust inside didn’t seem terribly caked in junk.

Compression showed 140 psi on the right, but only 100 psi on the left—I enjoyed a cocky moment with the seller when, after feeling each side’s exhaust pressure with my hand, I accurately guessed the pressure of both cylinders. Tomorrow I’ll check head torques and valve clearances.

The rear/front-linked brake at the foot pedal works, but the handlebar master needs to be bled…or something.

Turn signals and switches don’t all work perfectly, either.

No sputtering or wavering in the throttle, so maybe the carbs are decent??

Those 16” tires are just the cutest things.

[faffi]

That is a great buy

[Moparnut72]

A friend has one of these, same red. Nice bikes.
kk

[chuck peterson]

Good commentary on a track day LeMan..

And the sounds of it at full song…

https://youtu.be/bwVbv7117ms?si=eCKu6g7waGuZP0gz