In the market for a 250cc Enduro...recommendations?

WilsonCat · 05-02-2014, 09:01 AM

Hello! Great site...been going over it for a few days and have a few questions.

I am looking for a nice starter bike for me to mess around on. I had a KX 80 a long long time ago and really miss riding. So, as an adult I am looking for something new (but cheap!) to re-introduce myself to riding. I was thinking about the SSR XF-250, are there any other new Chinese options that I should consider? Any recommended vendors to order from? Also, I need to make sure it can be street legal in NY.

katoranger · 05-02-2014, 09:04 AM

I think the SSR is a good bike. NY is on of those more stringent states for registration. I would recommend trying to buy an already titled bike or one from a dealer in NY.

Weldangrind · 05-02-2014, 10:48 AM

Peruse CL every day, and get a sense of what the market will bear in your area for a used China bike. The last one I grabbed was in the $300 range, but it had several broken plastic parts. I took the time to fix everything, and my son rode it from Idaho to Utah last year, to visit Bonneville during Speed Week.

As a general rule, the Honda clones tend to be less money and more plentiful. They Honda clones come in two basic flavours; overhead cam and pushrod. Most of my China bike experience is with the pushrod motors, and they're dead reliable.

SpudRider · 05-02-2014, 01:02 PM

Before you buy any Chinese motorcycle, check with your local DMV to insure you can get it licensed in New York.

culcune · 05-02-2014, 08:54 PM

SSR is 50 state legal and sold by a dealer network there cause I have seen the youtube video (just showed a bike on a rotisserie going around). That particular dealer seems to have 2 or 3 shops around New York and New Jersey.

A low cost alternative is the just released Bashan 229cc dual sport which is going for under $1500 via some mail-order places. I am sure it is better quality than Chinese bikes from 10 years ago (as well as offering a larger engine than the 150cc and 200cc engines 10 years ago), but it has not been truly tested, either.

The SSR is approaching Japanese levels (well out of the zone, but higher quality than typical Chinese offerings) but you will pay for it. On the west coast (L.A.) , the best deals I can see via dealers in Craigslist is $3k OTD which includes tax and California registration. One SSR-only dealer out of El Monte, Calif. states they will ship for free, or at least were offering that deal (they are on SSR's site under online dealers)

culcune · 05-03-2014, 02:04 PM

These people carry the XF250 'locally' to you:

http://www.cyclehousenj.com/gallery/new-dual-sports-nj/

WilsonCat · 05-03-2014, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by culcune

These people carry the XF250 'locally' to you:

http://www.cyclehousenj.com/gallery/new-dual-sports-nj/

Thanks culcune! I've been in contact with a dealer in CA, asking questions and such about the SSR. Free delivery to my home, then some setup which doesn't look to difficult. That place in NJ is about 3 hours from me so it's not that local. I'd rather have it shipped to me I think.

Still haven't pulled the trigger yet......waiting to see if anything comes up on CL or something else catches my eye.

XF250Chris · 06-04-2015, 04:11 PM

I am an SSR dealer here in Maryland. I picked up the XF 250 for myself, and it is the most fun I have had on two wheels. I havent made any modifications to it yet, thought to keep it stock to be able to give an honest review. 700 hard running miles w/o any issues.

Adjuster · 06-04-2015, 04:22 PM

Welcome Guys

Hey Chris can you give us a review of the SSR 250 as a dealer. I am most interested in a review of the differences between the Chinese $3,000.00 bike and a Chinese $1,500.00 bike. That SSR 250 sure looks nice but its double the price of the Chinese bikes that have been on the market the past few years. That's not an issue if the build quality justifies it. $3,000.00 is still less than half the price of an equivalent Japanese bike.

/

SpudRider · 06-04-2015, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XF250Chris

I am an SSR dealer here in Maryland. I picked up the XF 250 for myself, and it is the most fun I have had on two wheels. I havent made any modifications to it yet, thought to keep it stock to be able to give an honest review. 700 hard running miles w/o any issues.

Welcome, Chris. We are glad you joined us.

Please go to your user control panel, and add a signature line to your posts which reflects your status as a dealer.

http://www.chinariders.net/showthread.php?t=1747

dh · 06-05-2015, 01:46 PM

After 1 year and 3,000 miles on my XF 250 I would recommend it. It is pricier than some other Chinese options but living in CA at the time this was the only street legal CB option I could find.

If you decide to go with the SSR I suggest you try and make the 3 hour trip to the dealer; SSR says they will not warranty the bike if it is shipped to you. The warranty is good to have just in case, although beware if you have a warranty claim SSR will make you take the bike back to the dealer you purchased from, even if you have moved 300 miles away and there is an SSR dealership 20 miles from your new residence. I found this out after my cam sprocket broke at 2,500 miles and SSR had me truck the bike back to LA from NV. SSR did eventually install a new motor in the bike and the dealer was helpful, he shipped the bike back to me in less than a few weeks time.

05-02-2014, 09:01 AM	#1
WilsonCat Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 70	In the market for a 250cc Enduro...recommendations? Hello! Great site...been going over it for a few days and have a few questions. I am looking for a nice starter bike for me to mess around on. I had a KX 80 a long long time ago and really miss riding. So, as an adult I am looking for something new (but cheap!) to re-introduce myself to riding. I was thinking about the SSR XF-250, are there any other new Chinese options that I should consider? Any recommended vendors to order from? Also, I need to make sure it can be street legal in NY.
	0

05-02-2014, 09:04 AM	#2
katoranger Join Date: May 2007 Location: Altamont, Kansas Posts: 15,103	I think the SSR is a good bike. NY is on of those more stringent states for registration. I would recommend trying to buy an already titled bike or one from a dealer in NY. __________________ You meet the nicest people on a Honda Clone.
	0

05-02-2014, 10:48 AM	#3
Weldangrind Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Sardis, BC, Canada Posts: 25,977	Peruse CL every day, and get a sense of what the market will bear in your area for a used China bike. The last one I grabbed was in the $300 range, but it had several broken plastic parts. I took the time to fix everything, and my son rode it from Idaho to Utah last year, to visit Bonneville during Speed Week. As a general rule, the Honda clones tend to be less money and more plentiful. They Honda clones come in two basic flavours; overhead cam and pushrod. Most of my China bike experience is with the pushrod motors, and they're dead reliable. __________________ Weldangrind "I figure I'm well-prepared for coping with a bike that comes from the factory with unresolved issues and that rewards the self-reliant owner." - Buccaneer
	0

05-02-2014, 01:02 PM	#4
SpudRider Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Idaho Posts: 25,054	Before you buy any Chinese motorcycle, check with your local DMV to insure you can get it licensed in New York. __________________ Spud "Never argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level, and beat you with experience." Mark Twain 2015 Zongshen ZS250GY-3 (RX3) 2006 Zongshen ZS200GY-2 (Sierra 200) 2005 Honda XR650L 2004 Honda CRF250X 1998 Kawasaki KDX220 Mods made to my Zongshen ZS200GY-2: http://www.chinariders.net/showthread.php?t=6894
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05-02-2014, 08:54 PM	#5
culcune Join Date: May 2006 Location: Yuma, Arizona Posts: 9,035	SSR is 50 state legal and sold by a dealer network there cause I have seen the youtube video (just showed a bike on a rotisserie going around). That particular dealer seems to have 2 or 3 shops around New York and New Jersey. A low cost alternative is the just released Bashan 229cc dual sport which is going for under $1500 via some mail-order places. I am sure it is better quality than Chinese bikes from 10 years ago (as well as offering a larger engine than the 150cc and 200cc engines 10 years ago), but it has not been truly tested, either. The SSR is approaching Japanese levels (well out of the zone, but higher quality than typical Chinese offerings) but you will pay for it. On the west coast (L.A.) , the best deals I can see via dealers in Craigslist is $3k OTD which includes tax and California registration. One SSR-only dealer out of El Monte, Calif. states they will ship for free, or at least were offering that deal (they are on SSR's site under online dealers) __________________ "They say that life's a carousel, spinning fast you got to ride it well..." TGB Delivery Scooter 150 TMEC 200 Enduro--carcass is sadly rotting in the backyard
	0

05-03-2014, 02:04 PM	#6
culcune Join Date: May 2006 Location: Yuma, Arizona Posts: 9,035	These people carry the XF250 'locally' to you: http://www.cyclehousenj.com/gallery/new-dual-sports-nj/ __________________ "They say that life's a carousel, spinning fast you got to ride it well..." TGB Delivery Scooter 150 TMEC 200 Enduro--carcass is sadly rotting in the backyard
	0

06-04-2015, 04:11 PM	#8
XF250Chris Join Date: May 2015 Location: Washington DC Posts: 1	I am an SSR dealer here in Maryland. I picked up the XF 250 for myself, and it is the most fun I have had on two wheels. I havent made any modifications to it yet, thought to keep it stock to be able to give an honest review. 700 hard running miles w/o any issues.
	0

06-04-2015, 04:22 PM	#9
Adjuster Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Deerfield Beach FL Posts: 1,410	Welcome Guys Hey Chris can you give us a review of the SSR 250 as a dealer. I am most interested in a review of the differences between the Chinese $3,000.00 bike and a Chinese $1,500.00 bike. That SSR 250 sure looks nice but its double the price of the Chinese bikes that have been on the market the past few years. That's not an issue if the build quality justifies it. $3,000.00 is still less than half the price of an equivalent Japanese bike. /
	0

06-05-2015, 01:46 PM	#11
dh Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: NW Arkansas Posts: 453	After 1 year and 3,000 miles on my XF 250 I would recommend it. It is pricier than some other Chinese options but living in CA at the time this was the only street legal CB option I could find. If you decide to go with the SSR I suggest you try and make the 3 hour trip to the dealer; SSR says they will not warranty the bike if it is shipped to you. The warranty is good to have just in case, although beware if you have a warranty claim SSR will make you take the bike back to the dealer you purchased from, even if you have moved 300 miles away and there is an SSR dealership 20 miles from your new residence. I found this out after my cam sprocket broke at 2,500 miles and SSR had me truck the bike back to LA from NV. SSR did eventually install a new motor in the bike and the dealer was helpful, he shipped the bike back to me in less than a few weeks time. __________________ 2013 SSR XF-250
	0