CSC TT250 Commuter Upgrades

[Goob]

Hello, I am re-posting this under Dual Sport...originally put under Videos/Photos, but I thought maybe fewer folks would look there.

Well, it has been about a month and 300 miles of commuting (and some riding around)! I live in Denver and rode 5 days last week, and 4 days each of the two weeks before. The forecast looks good for 4 days next week.

It was as low as 22 degrees in the AM, but we usually get a 20 degree rise by the time I leave work. Only an 8 mile RT, so the cold 4 miles in the AM isn't bad.

I have made a few upgrades for the commuter use, as I will likely never use off-road. These include:

* LED headlight, 15W, 1600 Lumens (vs. 35W 800 lumen stock)

* LED brake light bulb replacement (has the brake flashing built in)

* extra brake/tail light below license plate... I found a better one that is for trucks that will replace this one...has 30 LEDs + 6 license plate.

* 20W x 2 LED front spots (1600 lumens each, I set up the halos to flash all the time using a CSC turn signal relay)

* Mega-Tube tool "box" to replace the small stock one

* "BigAnt" folding milk-crate for carrying capacity (and acts like a regular rack when folded). I carried 3 bags of groceries, 12-pack and 6-pack in this. One week of groceries for 3 people.

Future additions will include heated gloves because the grips won't keep my finger tips warm below 35 degrees (hoping this is a Christmas present) and Continental GO! tires.

Sites for some of the parts:

[url]https://www.ebay.com/itm/36-LED-Combination-Stop-Turn-Tail-License-Plate-Light-Red-White-Trailer-Truck

https://www.bigantus.com/bigant-heavy-duty-collapsible-stackable-plastic-milk-crate-ip543630-12-7-gallons-medium-size-charc-gray-set-of-1-absolute-snap-lock-foldable-industrial-storage-bin-container-utility-basketip543630-cg-ip543630-cg.html

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Motorcycle-Tool-Tubes-Gloves-Put-Box-Waterproof-Raincoat-A-locker-Waterproof

https://www.ebay.com/itm/AUXITO-H4-9003-HB2-LED-Bulb-Hi-Lo-Beam-HID-White-Motorcycle-Headlight-High-Power

https://xotictech.com/products/2pcs-1157-3157-7443-red-40-smd-led-flashing-strobe-brake-stop-tail-light-lamp?_pos=1&_sid=cf0ae87fa&_ss=r

https://www.motosport.com/continenta...-combo?variant[CON000I]=CON000I-X001-Y009&variant[CON000K]=CON000K-X001-Y008

Goob

[Essayons]

Lots of good upgrades. Can't view the ebay links though. Not sure why.

[Goob]

I truncated some of the ebay links because they are so long. If you copy the item description from the URL and paste into ebay it should pull up the stuff.

[Orange.fox]

Love what you have done to the tt250 to bring it up to commuter standards. Couple of questions on your build.

- are those the original foot pegs without the rubber inserts? They look beefier but could be an illusion without the rubber inserts.
- the brake bulb with the built in flasher - was it a direct replacement? Do I need some help from MacGyver to install this?

Would love an insight on your performance mods... do I spot the eBay exhaust?

[collector rob]

That is a sharp looking bike. Great upgrades!

[Goob]

Thanks for the positive reviews.


Orange Fox: The previous owner (PO) may have replaced the foot pegs with cleat type. He bought it for trail riding.

The bulb I got is plug and play. That is why I bought it. The more expensive and greater Lumen bulbs with the big heat sinks, like CSC sells, often require modifications and I wanted to avoid that. This one is WAY brighter than stock and serves my needs. $18 vs. almost $70!! I bought two different manufacturers (figured I could use a backup) and put in the first one that arrived in the mail.


<EDIT. Sorry....the above is referencing an LED headlight replacement. Yes, the taillight with flasher fits just like the standard 1157 bulb...I think it was $15>

Not sure where the PO got the SS exhaust, he said it was one that is made to fit the Honda 250 (not sure of the model) that has the same design. I think this is pretty much what they sell on ebay. He did slot out the mounting holes at the flange and had to put a 2" aluminum extension on the bolt location for the muffler to lower it. It does not hit the clutch lever. He cut out the airbox for using a foam air filter, so the exhaust doesn't touch that, and removed the charcoal cannister (I think because it connects into the airbox somehow). He also cut the plastic on the exhaust side of the license plate to keep it from getting melted.

Because of the exhaust being more free flow he changed the carb to a Keihin PWK flat slide clone (better flow than round slide). ....KOSO KSR 30mm. The odd thing is that the one he got has the jetting like the PWK 28mm (see pdf below), where it uses a slotted screw in main jet (Mikuni fits) rather than the hex head type that all the PWK clones seem to have. It is definitely a 30mm. I did some searching and found an Aussie website that has my type of jetting for their PWK clone. What the PO said was that the hex type jets are made for racing/motocross, easier field change out, and that the carb he got was more suited for the street and trail riding because the roll on isn't as sharp. Either way the main is easy to change by just removing the bottom plug, draining the fuel and rotating the carb horizontal. 5 minutes tops. https://www.drowsports.com/koso-ksr-...ng-carburetor/
https://www.keihin-na.com/assets/1/7/pwk_parts.pdf
https://www.keihin-na.com/aftermarket/pwk/

Finally, he changed to the 47 tooth rear sprocket for more top end speed and lower rpm at lower speeds. I may change to the 45 (that still uses the stock length chain), not for top speed, but for lower rpm in the city. My commute speed rarely hits 50 mph; typically 35 mph.


Goob

[Goob]

Future mods include a small set of panniers and more street friendly tires.

I just ordered Maddog/Coleman panniers on Amazon for $40+$10 shipping. They are 15 x 10 x 6 and have built in heat shields. I think Maddog discontinued them, so they are $30 cheaper on Amazon. I decided to go for some cheaper panniers first, just in case I don't like them.


I did figure out last night that the heat shield, or adding one to the muffler, isn't really necessary on the TT250. After my ride home I could hold my hand directly on the muffler and it was just warm. Actually a nice hand warmer. The plastic around the end was cool. The pipe where it enters the muffler was hot enough to burn. So, there must be some good insulation in the muffler.


These should fit by putting the straps under the seat and they will be farther forward than panniers are typically mounted....closer to the bikes center of gravity. I needed to lower the weight for my grocery runs after I found out last week that four bags of groceries in the milk crate is VERY top heavy. Now I will do 2 bags up top and one in each pannier.


I was looking at Nelson-Rigg (yellow or black), Chase Harper, or Viking. They are all $117-$170+, but if my cheapos work out I may upgrade. I especially like the Viking, either the large Dirt or Street bags.
(https://www.amazon.com/SE-3050-Saddlebags-Waterproof-Adventure-Motorcycles/dp/B01NC0V4M0/ref=sr_1_10?keywords=Motorcycle%2BPanniers&qid=157 6689906&sr=8-10&th=1),
(www.amazon.com/Chase-Harper) Abbreviated, site name is too long.
(https://www.vikingbags.com/motorcycle-saddlebags.htm).

For tires I have picked out Continental GO! tires that are described as being 4-season. And at their speed rating I can attempt 130mph!! Revzilla has the pair for about $225, while on Amazon they are $205.