Buccaneer SRT250 Classic or Cafe Purchase

[ChopperCharles]

I already have a Dobeck EJK (Electronic Jet Kit) that I modified to work with the Buccaneer. Once I get an acceptable filter mounted up, I will see if the tuner makes a difference. It's been installed for quite some time, but I found that any changes I made with stock exhaust and stock intake just made it slower and killed the fuel mileage. So it's currently set to add zero fuel across the board. With intake and exhaust changes I am going to make multiple runs against a particular hill on the interstate, and go with whatever settings give me the highest top speed going up that hill. Dyno when and if I get the chance, but real world ability to go up a hill without dropping speed is what I really need, and so it should be a good test to dial in the motor correctly.

Charles.

[ChopperCharles]

I mounted the K&N filter. I don't love the mounting position, but it does fit. It's crammed under the tank a bit. Still, there's a notable performance increase over the stock airbox. Plus the stock airbox and filter weighs almost 2 pounds, the K&N weighs just a few ounces. I like this setup, but I've got one more filter I want to try before I call it good. It's just so blasted cold here these days, it's hard to find time for testing and riding.

Charles.

[culcune]

The Buccaneer was recently awarded California CARB certification for the Classic and Café models. Interesting that it wasn't SSR certifying the bike, but rather the OEM, Ningbo Longjia, but I am guessing it will still be SSR distributing them here in the US (Canada, too?). The certificate was just awarded on 1/7/2020, but the certificate covers 2019 models, so I am not sure what is going on.

https://ww3.arb.ca.gov/msprog/onroad..._249_1d0_h.pdf

The US EPA site has not been updated since October, but I am sure there are several bikes, this one included, that has been EPA/DOT certified in the meantime as there are usually not bikes ONLY certified for California.

Edit: I should have pointed out that this is a re-certification for the bike in California, as it has been available there for a few years. I wanted to point out that this is good news in that the bike will likely continue to be sold in California and the US in general.

[ChopperCharles]

That’s excellent news. The frame was redesigned in 2018 to make the passenger section stronger, so it will be nice to see new models. It will make the luggage rack far more useful for carrying heavy loads — there is too much frame flex for a large top case right now.

I’m super curious however if it will be a Buccaneer or the new caffiena that comes over.

Charles.

[ZeroSwagger]

Anyone know if the caffeine is going to make it's way state side? I have been eyeing the Buccaneer for a few months now, but the caffeine is damn sexy...

[ChopperCharles]

FYI, this is the state of my bike now.



It’s no longer a cafe, it’s a scrambler now. And honestly it’s a better bike for it. It doesn’t matter that it’s not fast, it’s WAY more fun this way. It’s geared for 80mph actual at 9000rpm. This gives me plenty of torque on gravel to spin the wheel a bit and to pop the front up to hop over an obstacle in 1st gear with ease. But I can also hold 70-75 on the freeway even up medium hills. This is gps speed. Only mild performance mods - caffenia exhaust and a K&N filter.

The wheels and tires and tubes are way heavier than stock and actually are a negative hit to performance. Gearing, a 520 chain and sprockets, and the intake and exhaust mods more than make up for it though.


Charles.

[wheelbender6]

Cool. Looks like a Ducati.

[ChopperCharles]

The classic is now $2899 and the cafe $2999 right now. Great prices on a great bike.

Charles.

[OKG]

Hello from Germany,

I'm also riding the European version of this bike. It's a Romet SCMB 250 from 2016 distributed by Polands Romet company.

However the bike is pretty good, I'm also interested to modify it. Manly performance but also safety.

Do you have any idea where to buy parts? I only found a shop in Poland selling OEM parts but no mods.

I'm also looking for the caffeina exhaust and maybe the breaking system because it's an ABS system. Any Idea? I plan to also modify the air intake with a open K&N filter, therefore I'll try to design a better Air intake using my 3d Printer.

Second would be to code the EFI, the Delphi MT05 was also used by H&D in past. But it's hard to find the right plugs and software to deal with. I think the standard setup is coded to deal with any low gas quality in the world as it is also sold in India and other asian countries. Gas quality in Europe and maybe in the US is much better which usually has significant potential to increase performance.

Any idea?

Best

[ChopperCharles]

I have a tuner. It can help with midrange, but no performance gains are to be had at the top end. The efi computer adjusts itself to give you the right fuel mix even after upgrading to a caffiena exhaust with no catalaytic conveyer, and a k&n pod filter on a short 90 degree bend. You can gain a bit of midrange torque but the ecu already adjusts the high speed fueling perfectly. All playing with the upper range on the tuner did was drop my power and gas mileage.

The k&n and exhaust are worth sustained Highway speeds about 5mph higher than stock, for a sub-200lb man. If you couple that with a 520 chain and sprockets and a 15 tooth countershadt sprocket, the bike becomes infinitely more rideable.

Check out my thread on advrider.com for all of my mods. Intake, exhaust, tuner, gearing, rims, rack, speedometer reprogram (to display correct speed), etc.

Charles.

[ChopperCharles]

Caffinea exhaust is now available on amazon btw. It’s not cheap, and the hardware is not listed. But look up the lexmoto vendetta on amazon, and you should find a bunch of good parts.

Charles.

[ChopperCharles]

Today’s achievement:



I’ve owned it for one year two months one week and some change, and today I turned 10k miles. I even was able to stop just in time to take the perfect photo.

Charles.

[ChopperCharles]

Of course the forum software kinda sucks and it turned my photo upside down. But you get the idea.

Charles.

[ChopperCharles]

So in 10k miles, I have relatively little to report. Reliability-wise, the bike has had 3 turn signals, one shifter linkage, and a fork seal replaced under warranty. I've geared it way down and put bigger, heavier wheels and tires on it. It's geared for 80mph at 8900rpm (100rpm before the rev limiter) .Additional upgrades include a free-flowing exhaust, airbox removal, K&N filter, 520 chain and sprockets, and a Barnett kevlar clutch kit with springs (so I can pop the front wheel up)

I ride it between 7000 and 8000rpm for long distances, I shift at 8500 rpm, every stop sign is treated like a drag race. The bike will do 1st gear wheelies, but I'm a little gun-shy on getting it up near the balance point. The most I do is pop the front wheel up a few inches. With a rider who doesn't weigh 260 pounds, it will probably do second gear wheelies. It really tries with me on it, but I'm just too heavy.

This is to say, I ride the HELL out of this bike. I broke it in hard and have kept riding it hard. It kept building power until about 4000 miles and then leveled off. I'm extremely happy with this bike, especially after all the mods. It's not been Japanese reliable, but it's been pretty close. It always starts, always runs, always gets me to where I'm going.

In all those miles there has been a slight hint of cam chain rattle that got louder and louder and then suddenly one day quiet again -- slack taken up by the auto tensioner no doubt. It was never particularly loud or noticeable, but having owned a lot of high mileage Honda V4s, I know the sound well. I have run the bike on 87 octane usually, and ethanol free 89 or 90 when it's late fall and I don't know how long it's going to sit up before being ridden again.

In short, I'm using the hell out of this bike, riding it balls to the walls, and treating it like a Honda or Yamaha. And it's been wonderful!

Parts availability has been one week or less to the dealership, except for a couple of months when turn signals weren't available. Everything I've needed, from o-rings and gaskets to luggage racks and seats to levers and spacers has been available. Only the turn signals had a back order in all that time.

Would I buy this bike again? Yes, in a heartbeat. If I could go back in time and change anything, I'd actually not buy my Yamaha, and buy this two years earlier instead.

Charles.

[culcune]

I recently watched the video from Adam Waheed, the guy from Motorcyclist.com, who rode one along the coast in the Orange County area of So. California. He raved about it, and I even put a quote of his in my signature regarding the bike and how much fun he had at 'low' speeds. You are having a similar experience, but daily! I like the idea of them taking a EFI Lifan cruiser twin and putting it in a café racer; a formula that seems to work VERY well from a performance, aesthetic, and aural angle. I think my only 'complaint' is the front fender. Not sure what else they could have done there, but I think it looks awkward, but NOT something that would stop me from buying it. I think the only thing that would stop me from buying this bike is the recently released Lifan KPM200. Decisions, decisions...