I have built more than a few of the Honda FT/XL motors and I am not a fan of the 540 piston. I thought it felt a little lazier than the stock bore and a little slower revving. However, that was on the track and not the street. The extra torque might make it a fine street motor. If you go with one of the higher compression Wiseco pistons, you will have to run some high octane fuel to avoid detonation, which will break a piston. ( I know from experience).
I have a 38mm VM carb on my current Ascot racebike and it works fine with the basically stock motor. When I build my next XL it will have the Wiseco 1.5:1 1st over piston, megacycle 4140 cam, which requires shortened guides with hd valve springs and hardwelded reshaped rockers. With that I will run at least a 38 flatslide and a a ported head.
That doesn't look like a stock header on your ascot, which is a good thing. Good exhaust systems are hard to find for the FT. Jemco makes a flat track pipe that makes great power, but it really is a race only item as it is pretty loud and not that good looking.
Let me know if you have any questions, as I have been racing these since 1981. I currently have 1 Ascot ( leaving tomorrow for the WERA GNF at Barber) and 2 XL500S.
I have a 38mm VM carb on my current Ascot racebike and it works fine with the basically stock motor. When I build my next XL it will have the Wiseco 1.5:1 1st over piston, megacycle 4140 cam, which requires shortened guides with hd valve springs and hardwelded reshaped rockers. With that I will run at least a 38 flatslide and a a ported head.
That doesn't look like a stock header on your ascot, which is a good thing. Good exhaust systems are hard to find for the FT. Jemco makes a flat track pipe that makes great power, but it really is a race only item as it is pretty loud and not that good looking.
Let me know if you have any questions, as I have been racing these since 1981. I currently have 1 Ascot ( leaving tomorrow for the WERA GNF at Barber) and 2 XL500S.