CSC TT250...can she do it?

[Dusman]

Reliability question.

I really like the TT250, and not just for the price. I need a commuter bike that will withstand a 30 mile/day commute Mon-Fri with occasional light dirt use on the weekend and joyriding. Commuting speeds are between 35-55 mph.

Simple question: is the TT250 up to it?
That amounts to about 8K per year, and I’d to have the confidence knowing that this motorcycle will last for years to come.

Also, I like the Yamaha XT250, but after visiting the dealership the other day, that bike at $5199 MSRP is $6062 out the door. So, from a price standpoint, a TT250 sure is looking more appealing. Man, I forgot how crazy those dealership markups were.

Thanks for your answers!

[Megadan]

Commuting at 35-55? It will do that all day long out of the box.

[Dusman]

Originally Posted by Megadan

Commuting at 35-55? It will do that all day long out of the box.

Thanks buddy. Can we expect some longevity with this bike?

[JerryHawk250]

Originally Posted by Megadan

Commuting at 35-55? It will do that all day long out of the box.

Yep, I 2nd that.

[Ariel Red Hunter]

Originally Posted by Dusman

Reliability question.

I really like the TT250, and not just for the price. I need a commuter bike that will withstand a 30 mile/day commute Mon-Fri with occasional light dirt use on the weekend and joyriding. Commuting speeds are between 35-55 mph.

Simple question: is the TT250 up to it?
That amounts to about 8K per year, and I’d to have the confidence knowing that this motorcycle will last for years to come.

Also, I like the Yamaha XT250, but after visiting the dealership the other day, that bike at $5199 MSRP is $6062 out the door. So, from a price standpoint, a TT250 sure is looking more appealing. Man, I forgot how crazy those dealership markups were.

Thanks for your answers!

Yes it's up to it, but longevity depends on the maitainance it recieves. There have been owners reporting up to 50,000 miles on these engines when the oil is changed regularly, and valve clearances checked once in a while after break in...ARH

[2LZ]

I agree with everything above.
The CG motor is bullet proof. Funny thing... Everyone is always chasing top speed. What you're asking the TT250 to do is pretty much what it's designed for.

[Dusman]

Thanks guys...that's exactly what I need to know. The TT250 looks like the perfect ride for me. I also enjoy doing my own maintenance, so this looks like a good fit.

[2LZ]

Originally Posted by Dusman

Thanks guys...that's exactly what I need to know. The TT250 looks like the perfect ride for me. I also enjoy doing my own maintenance, so this looks like a good fit.

What happened to you when you went to the dealership is exactly what drove most of us to China Bikes. I just wanted two, small "3/4 sized" trail bikes for camping. I just about fainted when I saw the prices.

[Dusman]

Originally Posted by 2LZ

What happened to you when you went to the dealership is exactly what drove most of us to China Bikes. I just wanted two, small "3/4 sized" trail bikes for camping. I just about fainted when I saw the prices.

It absolutely just makes no sense to me. None. I drove the Japanese bikes as a kid back in the late 70's and early 80's and they were a blast, but they were starting to get overpriced even then.

I almost fell outta my skin when I saw that an XT250 was jacked up $1K just to get her out the door. Unbelievable. Good quality and reliability? Absolutely! Affordable? No, it's just not.

Why pay that when I get almost 3 reasonably reliable Chinese bikes for the same price and as long as I can turn a wrench, I can get essentially the same performance?

The Chinese market also seems to be improving all the time.

[JerryHawk250]

The China bikes aren't for everyone unless you are like most on here that are not afraid to wrench on them and maintain them. Most of the people that badged them as junk are people that don't have a clue on proper assembly and maintenance. They think you can just throw the wheels on it and put gas in them then just dog the hell out of them. The TT250 and CSC will serve you well.

[DpSyChO]

Originally Posted by Dusman

Reliability question.

I really like the TT250, and not just for the price. I need a commuter bike that will withstand a 30 mile/day commute Mon-Fri with occasional light dirt use on the weekend and joyriding. Commuting speeds are between 35-55 mph.

Simple question: is the TT250 up to it?
That amounts to about 8K per year, and I’d to have the confidence knowing that this motorcycle will last for years to come.

Also, I like the Yamaha XT250, but after visiting the dealership the other day, that bike at $5199 MSRP is $6062 out the door. So, from a price standpoint, a TT250 sure is looking more appealing. Man, I forgot how crazy those dealership markups were.

Thanks for your answers!

I have no input to your questions but I'm looking at the same bike you are for similar commute so I'll be following the thread replies.

[Wild Dog]

Originally Posted by Dusman

Thanks buddy. Can we expect some longevity with this bike?

Those CG clones can last a lot, if you use them correctly... Where i live (Argentina) they are very popular for Commuting, delivery work, etc.
Is not uncommon to see them with 60.000 miles and the engine was never open, just the regular maintenance schedule.

When they break?
When people don't know what they have in the engine bay.
Like i said CG engines are quite popular, either sold with chinese motorcycle or by Honda.
Some people get a small Honda Titan (CG150) and they want to ride it like they are using a cbr600.
A good example of misuse: In Brasil they make a good kit that will take the CG 150 to 230cc. It comes with a new connecting rod, new piston, gaskets, head and a chinese PWK carb. With that kit and a custom cdi, those small engines can reach up to 110 mph... Guess what those engines have a very very very short life...

Originally Posted by Dusman

Also, I like the Yamaha XT250

Not worth the Price, it sure has a nice chasis, but engine is somewhat underpowered. Just about 22HP, Honda sells in South American a "XR 250" with 26 hp and is still a far cry from a Japanese true XR 250.

Those chinese 250 which are actually 230cc get about 18hp with some fine tuning you can get about 20 hp

[Dusman]

Originally Posted by Wild Dog

Those CG clones can last a lot, if you use them correctly... Where i live (Argentina) they are very popular for Commuting, delivery work, etc.
Is not uncommon to see them with 60.000 miles and the engine was never open, just the regular maintenance schedule.

That's all I need to know right there. Thanks buddy!

[Dusman]

The only catastrophic failure I've read about, was in the TT250 Facebook group where a fellah reported that his transmission had a bearing failure at 17K miles that ruined the engine. However, that is the *only* catastrophic failure I've read about with this motorcycle, and I'm not sure if he was following the maintenance schedule or if he was dogging the mess out of it.

[Wild Dog]

This guy got a chinese motorcycle with a CG 150 and he did the whole Ruta 40, which is an Argentinian Road that crosses the whole country, about 3700 miles of non paved road.