Glad to hear they have the XTR, but your old friend didn't let you test ride it?

Oh, well!
The XTR 250 from Pitster Pro in the US (via Puzey of S. Africa/Australia) can be had for $3400 shipped to your home, if you don't have a local Pitster dealer. Pricier than the Qlink XF200 (UK Sinnis motard), and definitely in (good) used Japanese territory! I would still consider one, more to spoil myself, rather than making a rational decision. It seems a shame that CCM has such a poor quality lineup, from what you have seen and researched, but at least the XTR might, just might, be something to hold them together until they can start manufacturing their own stuff.