I Bought a Brand New 40 year Honda Motorcycle

From 1982 - 1985 I worked at a Honda/Yamaha/Suzuki dealership, and my main job was putting together bikes packed just like this. Brings back a lot of memories.

There must be hundreds or more of these new old stock bikes scattered across the country at dealerships. That’d be a fantastic series! I purchased a ‘00 ZX-12R from a dealer in Texarkana some years back that was still in the crate. Good times.

Sweet find. I was working in a Honda dealership 20yrs ago when a guy rode in on a shockingly immaculate 60s Hawk or Super Hawk. I goggled gaped and gasped. Guy said it was found in a wooden crate in a relative's basement. She looked and ran like new. Just sitting in a crate for decades. Rich black paint, gleaming chrome, gauges perfect. Even the rubber looked good. I'm still in awe.

I had that exact bike when I lived in Arizona in the early 90's. Unfortunately it was stolen and never recovered. I miss it dearly and all of the memories that were made with it. If you ever sell it let me know. Enjoy it.

I was a salesman at a motorsports company in 1993 and a similar thing happened to us. One of the employees found two, brand-new mid-1980's on-road/off-road motorcycles in unopened crates in the warehouse. We put them out on the floor and they sold almost immediately.

This was my first real motorcycle! 17 years ago... Wish I still had it. Same year, color, decals etc! My first wreck (hopefully last) occured on it...afterwards I repaired it and turned mine into a dual sport.. lol a bit heavy, and all we had to ride where I grew up (eastern nc, coastal areas) was in sand, the forests around there was basically beach sand, but I could manage it...I'm glad I did, although knda crazy realized it had its benefits Since I put up with wrestling that thing through sand dunes as a teenager it made it to where I had no issues in sand when I switched to a lighter, better suited machine.

I've been working at a body shop for a bit now and extra tips I learned was if you're painting the door, it's better to take off the mirror and belt molding (the trim at the bottom of the window) for a better paint job in the end. The mirror can get in the way, and if you're unlucky, the clear coat could stick in that gap between the door and the belt molding.

I am so glad I clicked on this video! I had a 1984 Honda Ascot as my very first bike at 16 years old! Looked exactly like this. Really cool to see one come right out of the crate!

I'm old enough to remember these bikes. This is a major score!...back in the 80's Honda dealers were stuck with too much inventory & they were offering deep, deep discounts! I purchased a Nighthawk 650 in the crate, dealer assembled for $1395 out the door!

Thank you for bringing back some incredible memories. My first street bike was a 1982 Honda Ascot FT500, exactly like this one. I bought it in March of '83 from the Honda dealer in Shawnee, OK. Unfortunately, I totaled it the summer of '85. I was on my way to work and broadsided a young Limousine bull that spooked and ran out an open gate and into the road. The bull wasn't hurt, and I just had minor scrapes, but my Ascot's frame was bent beyond repair.

I bought one of these back in the day for $1500. Never gave me any trouble at all. A great commuter bike because you sit nice and high above the traffic. The only thing I ever replaced were the bearings in the steering head which got pounded into little D tents so it became hard to steer.

As an old parts salesman I appreciate your patience with that man, it's a hassle nobody wants but corporate is always pushing to get your names and info. It's just part of the script.

Grew up on a 1982 CB 450. Seeing you put that time machine back together damn near brought a tear to my eye. Beautiful find, excellent bike.

Wow how cool to find a 40 year old Honda still boxed up. Would love to know how much you paid for it! Amazing find! 👍👍🔥🔥🔥

Weird Tip: Keep your old toothbrushes instead of pitching them, toss them in a jar of isopropyl or ethyl alcohol and label them "cleaning brushes" and keep them in the garage. Then when you have situations like that brake "dust" you can get in there and scrub it nice and clean without jacking up a good knife or cutting yourself. The alcohol keeps them clean but will evaporate from any surface so there's no residue. They've been super useful in my little shop.

Loved them, still do. My first street ride was on a new Ascot FT in the summer of 1982, a friend’s new purchase. A whopping 6, maybe 8 miles, but it was still very memorable. I bought my first new street bike in April 1986, a Honda VF500 Interceptor, but I convinced my best buddy to buy a used Ascot FT so we could ride together. I did some rudimentary hop-up mods to his bike, jet kit, F1 slip-on, even a mild cam, and I would eventually eventually talk him into loaning it to me so I could take my road racing new rider’s school on that bike. I wired it up and prepped it for the track, and scooted around the track in October 1987, successfully getting my race license. I’ve been road racing ever since, and I still have a soft spot for the FT, such a classic design, even if America didn’t get the little thumper. I have raced and ridden a metric ton of bikes since then, but oddly, to the best of my recollection, I don’t think I have ever ridden a VT… 🤔

This is unbelievable! I've been hunting for a classic motorbike for months. I finally decided on the Honda ft500 and bought it 12 hours before this video was released. Mind blown! Love the content. Chur the lads

I got one, and it's the greatest little bike ever! Groms, Monkeys, Benelli 135s are gobbled up easily. I'm late to the party on this but the pictures of the ascot at 1:55 is the twin that came out in 1983. The 1982-83 FT500 was/is a single cylinder. Also the single was chain driven and the twin was a shaft drive. I love old 70s,80s Hondas. It takes an in the know guy not to mess up the starter. Don't grind it! It will run highway well but realize it's a 500 single. When I ride it , it always delivers and old guys love seeing it. It should do that 350 miles back to Lancaster easily. The gas mileage is exceptional. And it wheelies so easily !

I am proud of Honda's technological capabilities in Japan. Thank you for the video.

I daydream of all the times I want to have a vehicle from the past that is all original straight from the factory. Then I come to the reality I will never be able to have one. Then I see this video in my feed. I wonder how rare this opportunity is to find something like this. I was 20 when this bike was born.