As the TT250 is on the way...
 

I've got the documentation and the manual, I've got a couple of questions about break-in and oil that I couldn't see clear answers for.

1. Can I use the oil the bike ships with for the first 200 miles, or should I immediately change it?
2. The manual suggests standard break-in stuff; gentle acceleration, vary rpm's etc. However I also have a separate letter with the docs that mentions a limit of 5k rpm. I know there's no tach - do I have to worry about this too much? I didn't on my previous new bike, I was just sensible and didn't thrash it, indeed Kawasaki's break in rules would have you being passed by a tortoise, however the engineer in me tends to err on the side of caution when something's in print.

I'm planning to ride the bike as much as I can, weather permitting. Probably about 30 miles a day.

What were people's break-in experiences?

Vary the r's and take it easy for the first 500 miles. After the first 200 miles do some high rpm's for a few seconds. Do some hard stop's using the engine to slow the bike. This is a good write up:
https://www.bellperformance.com/blog...our-motorcycle

I am quite positive that CSC changes out the vegetable oil that these bikes ship with from China. You won't have to change it immediately but 200 miles is probably stretching it. I believe that most people (who DO have to change out the shipping oil which is done immediately) probably go 50 to 100 miles with their first oil change. I don't want to use conjecture, so I will let those who have bought a new Chinabike in a box recently give you their recommendations, but I am most certain that CSC has saved you the VERY first oil change as they state you can literally open the crate and ride it from day one. After that, let's see what people recommend...

The bikes shift horribly with the oil that they come with. Once you change to some quality (I used Motul) oil you will feel the shifting ease up and it will be easier to find neutral. I changed mine almost immediately.

Shifting on my TT was very smooth from the start on whatever oil they come with. Nothing I've read or heard from the CSC guys or saw at their place would indicate that they change the oil. Maybe the bikes come with better oil than the cheaper CBs.

My take on break-in, don't flog it and don't baby it. Start off somewhat gently but increase power and RPM use long before the 500-1000 miles many manufacturers call for. Dictating the break in period by miles is like determining brake lining life in miles, can't be done. I've seen good evidence from high end builders indicating that a harder break in is better than one that's too mild. The reality is that it's nearly impossible for the average person to know what the engine really wants. If one doesn't go extreme in either direction it'll probably work pretty well.

My friend babied a rebuilt CB550 and the rings never seated, burned oil for the 8+ years he had it; visible smoke level of burn. It's partly my fault because based on what I'd seen of his driving I thought he would abuse it so I stressed that he go easy on it. He took my recommendation of taking it easy to an extreme.

Break-in methods are about as clear as which oil is best.

Thanks all, very helpful. I am wary of babying the rings, but because it's a small engine I want to get it as right as I can.

Change the oil. 15W-40 diesel stuff is fine. Supposedly CSC changes the oil but both Mrs. 2LZ TT and my neighbors new TT had some pretty funky smelling and looking stuff in them. One quart is very cheap insurance.

Break-in. Like everyone says here, vary the R's, no sustained high R's. Just be cool to it, especially for the first 2-300 miles. You'll notice the motor will change its personality greatly in the first 500 miles. My neighbor has noticed it just in the first 200.

You'll need to reset the valves and change the oil again after break-in. Intake - .05MM and exhaust -.08MM, ice cold, overnight.

Enjoy the new TT250! Great bikes!

X2 on 2LZ' comments. Not only is 15W40 cheap, but you'll also have an opportunity to examine the oil screen before you ride it.

My TT250 is scheduled for delivery tomorrow! Photos to follow.

Peter Y.

That's great pyoungbl! I guess all they have is the fastest color white left for the year end sale?
My neighbor bought a TT250 after riding Mrs. 2LZ for the year end special. Now....it's hidden in my garage since his boy's in town for Christmas! LOL! He doesn't want his boy to tear it up........... Can't blame him!

Let us know if the shark fin is backwards and if any of the other issues that were had have been corrected now.

I guess I need to read up a bit....I don't know what issues have been identified. Shark fin??? My little puppy fired right up (once I found the choke lever). I think the clutch is engaging too far out so I might play with that once I have a few miles on the bike. BTW, mine came with only 1 mile on the odo whereas my RX3 had about 20 miles. That tells me that the TT did not get a serious test ride before it was crated up.

Shark fin. The little plastic thing under the swing arm on the chain side that's pointing forward to collect stuff up into the chain instead of pointing backwards to push things away from the chain. My neighbors new one just came in backwards so he changed it around.

Yah...the choke takes a proctologist exam to find. Nice to hear it came in unscathed!

I'm sure this is obvious but my neighbors levers were moved inward to make room for the tie downs. He was wondering why his clutch felt weird. I then pointed out that he needed to move the lever mounts out toward the grips to make room so the lever could be pulled all the way in.

I'm going to set the whole thing up for him when we have time after the holidays.

Off the box truck and onto the street. I peeled off some of the cardboard just to make sure everything was OK...and it was:
https://photos.smugmug.com/Motorcycl...DSCF0660-M.jpg
Once I found the choke lever the bike fired right up. The only hiccup was that my license plate would not line up with the holes in the TT plate bracket. No sweat, I just made a new bracket out of some aluminum scrap. Now the plate won't crack from vibration and I made sure there was blue locktite on all the threads. Overall, as I look at the fasteners I'm impressed. Tomorrow I'll do an oil change and generally get a feel for the bike. We have a two day warm snap so I should get a few miles on the bike before temps fall again.

I like the white. :tup: Looks great!

Plate mount
 

Same here. It wasn't even close. Did they drill all the way through to your plastic fender too?

nice bike!

I thought my clutch needed adjustment too, until I looked and saw just what 2LZ said.

My plate also goes to the left. :hehe:

I'm not very good with Windows Paint so don't look at the 1 and 2.

this is why that tag holder is so big! got a $15 lock box for mine works great and uses the existing tag holder mounting holes.

I'm curious, why do folks blot out their tag number in pics? I mean don't like fouteen hundren and fiftly eleven people see the number when you are out riding, and parked in parking lots? :hmm: :lol: :lmao:

Arrived this morning, I got her out the crate pretty quickly.
http://i.imgur.com/k9PlAvL.jpg?1

Just done at the tag notary; she's plated!

:tup: sweet! Bike looks real good.

After a quick check to make sure everything was tight, I decided to go for a quick test ride around my plan, and to get some petrol. I ended up riding 10 miles around some back roads.

It's been a while since I experienced a carbed bike (since my MSF, actually!) and it took me a little while to get started in the 39F weather, but I got there and it was rumbling along happily.

This bike is extremely easy to ride. If it wasn't so tall (I'm 6'3" so I really like it) I'd think it would be a perfect starter. It has a light clutch, beautiful manners and is very kind to the rider at low speeds.

I'd cleaned the rotors on the advice of this forum. I knew the brakes would be weak at first, and indeed I'm glad I took her round the plan first. It reminded me of new sintered pads on my ninja; when they're out of the box they have as much friction as Rico Suave in a lube factory. They came in soon enough though. Nice firm lever pressure, too.

Couldn't get a neutral to save my life; I expect that will improve with a little time. I also had occasional difficulty getting into third, but again I think this is just everything mechanical settling in.

Downchanges are like butter. I find them easier than any bike I've ridden, and the engine makes such a satisfying little toot on rev-matching. In fact, throttle response is damn nice full stop.

I like the tyres. That surprised me. They're progressive and give pretty decent feedback, and that's on a chilly, greasy back road.
So far I love it, and I can't stop staring at the damn thing as it sits on my patio...

Neutral will be easier to find after it breaks in and do your 1st oil change. That 1st ride is always fun. Also a little carburetor tuning will make it start a lot better even in the cold.

Darn good looking bike. Is it OHC or OHV?
5 or 6 speed?
Honda or Suzuki based (or other)?

I didn't think I would like white but damn I can't stop looking at it either. They did a great job with colors and graphics.:tup:

Just really hate double posts....

Hi Doc,

It's yer basic counter-balanced, CG Hondoid with pushrods and OHV. Rock solid. Nice runner, lots of mid range.

What a great write-up!
Yep, very friendly bike to ride. Nice looking. I like the extra bling they did like the stainless allens, switch gear and LEDS. It is hard to stop staring at it, especially once the beers come out.

license plate bracket
 

As I mentioned earlier, the OEM license plate bracket did not have holes that would line up with my license plate. I see where someone drilled two extra holes but even so, no joy. I made my own bracket:
https://photos.smugmug.com/Motorcycl...IMG_0065-M.jpg with 6mm bolts coming from inside the fender into threaded holes in 1/2" aluminum plate. Then I drilled and tapped holes to match my plate and done. Of course I had to gild the lilly a bit in order to reduce the weight.
https://photos.smugmug.com/Motorcycl...IMG_0066-M.jpg

Peter Y.

Very Nice bike Sully, Congrats! Those TT's are very nice looking. I love the tank shrouds on them.

Well the bike will have long since rusted down and become part of the retaining wall holding back the embankment but it sure has a dam nice licence plate holder.

Retirement = idle hands = overkill

Retirement....spare time.... One can only hope. ;-)
Someday....someday.....

Very nice bike, and I like the color as well. A little advice, if you don't mind. Keep checking spoke tension by "tinking" the spokes with a spoke wrench. You want them at least at the pitch of middle "C" on a piano, or a little higher. Just don't over do it.

Peter, I thought CSC changed the oil as part of the set up.

That's what they told me on the RX3.

Is that not so for the TT 250?

jb

Seeing as Joe and the gang haven't even corrected the problems that the owners here found months ago. I'd say change the oil.

The documentation sent with the bike is very thorough. They mention recommended fuel additives (Lucas cylinder & injector juice) and standard break-in instructions, but nothing about the shipped oil. My guess is it's okay, or at least well within what the engine will tolerate.

I believe if it was particularly important to change it, CSC would have said so.

Come on man
 

It's not like 15 qts f250 diesel

1 qt ,3 minutes...done