Mrs. 2LZ TT250. Into the Fire....

[ughmas]

Originally Posted by motorcyclelove

"The TT listed at 1895 (boat price) when we bought them"
That was a great price! After all is added up the delivered price is 2575 now.

it was actually 2180 with shipping and documentation fee

[2LZ]

Update! Stock sprocket just sent off to JT Sprockets (Bike Alert) for measuring! Hopefully they'll be able to provide us with some "dished" sprockets in different configurations in the future....or maybe already have something. We'll see, but they sure wanted it.

[oddthought]

Originally Posted by 2LZ

Update! Stock sprocket just sent off to JT Sprockets (Bike Alert) for measuring! Hopefully they'll be able to provide us with some "dished" sprockets in different configurations in the future....or maybe already have something. We'll see, but they sure wanted it.

That'd be great. I was disappointed to find earlier today that no 47 tooth sprockets are available on Amazon, even through the link kohburn provided. I can get a 43, but I suspect that's too tall for the bike.

[Mudflap]

When I needed an uncommon sprocket size that JT made but no one stocked I called JT Sprockets and they sent me one direct.

[darmst6829]

Originally Posted by oddthought

That'd be great. I was disappointed to find earlier today that no 47 tooth sprockets are available on Amazon, even through the link kohburn provided. I can get a 43, but I suspect that's too tall for the bike.

43 tooth sprocket transformed my TT250 into a usable motorcycle. I was into 5th gear at 35mph with the 50 tooth rear sprocket. I think mine was shipped with the wrong primary gearing (between the crankshaft and gearbox) I have nothing to prove that but my experience with old motorcycles and gearing.

[pcspecialist]

a dished sprocket would be great on Hawks too

[2LZ]

Originally Posted by Mudflap

When I needed an uncommon sprocket size that JT made but no one stocked I called JT Sprockets and they sent me one direct.

Thanks for bringing this up Mudflap! I could swear that I ordered my last JT sprockets for Q and my X-Moto directly from them in the past and now? No more. They deal through dealers and third party vendors according to all my recent emails with them.

[2LZ]

Almost done folks. Got the rear brake bled last night, along with the switch to synthetic oil. Mrs. 2LZ took the saddle and I got all the bars and controls set up for her. She LOVES the Tusk risers. :-)

The brakes are superior now compared to stock. They act completely normal now and grip very well. The feel of the levers are now solid, both front and rear.

I took it out for a good hot loop and the engine runs excellently, though I still need to do a plug check in a while to see how the jetting is doing. The powerband has improved across the board. The mid-range has really come to life and stretches further to both the lower end and top end, though the CG will never be a screamer like an OHC motor. More "V8" style of power. On the steep twisties of Ram's Horn Grade, I don't have to downshift near as much rolling into a tight corner, just roll it on and it will pick up and catch the mid-range...even with the taller gearing. Very pleased.

Tonight, wash, wax, some finishing touches....and hopefully some pics. :-)

[SeerAtlas]

OK, its not yet time for my side by side comparo on the hawk vs. zong....I purchased both.
zong not yet completely broken in BUT...
let me give you a sneak preview-

I am NOT in california,I am NOT a 80road/20dirt or commuter/city rider, and,,,I'm one of those guys who is always on the lookout for a 'deal'. AND,
I wish that I had NOT bought the TT250, period.

Now IF, you are a motard type guy, or If you live in cal and plan to street your bike there, and IF you are the kind of guy that would pay a hell of lot more for a LEXUS, than the comparable (essentially same car) Toyota, then by all means go get a TT250 and live happy.

The TT250 has some nicer gear(switches/mirrors/led turn signals /grips/etc.The motor makes more noise than the exhaust- sounds really busy for some reason. The suspension is a higher grade but as mine came from CSC is much more jarring with less usable travel, than the hawk's. The TT is a better road bike, but on rough,back woods rutted, pot-holed, messed up fire roads and in anything other than packed dirt, the Hawk is a more competent/more comfortable ride. The TT is more comfortable at sustained high revs, but loses in low end grunt. Given the gear similarities, its amazing how different the bikes feel when riding. I am going to try sorting out the more sophisticated suspension on the TT, as stock, its beating me up on anything other than smooth pavement while the simple hawk suspension is far less jarring in the rough. PS, I'm about 270 in riding gear.

edit:-One more consideration, if you want to reward what in my lifetime is clearly the BEST mc customer
service effort OF ANY BIKE, then buy a csc bike, any of them, or all of them

[2LZ]

Originally Posted by SeerAtlas

OK, its not yet time for my side by side comparo on the hawk vs. zong....I purchased both.
zong not yet completely broken in BUT...
let me give you a sneak preview-

I am NOT in california,I am NOT a 80road/20dirt or commuter/city rider, and,,,I'm one of those guys who is always on the lookout for a 'deal'. AND,
I wish that I had NOT bought the TT250, period.

Now IF, you are a motard type guy, or If you live in cal and plan to street your bike there, and IF you are the kind of guy that would pay a hell of lot more for a LEXUS, than the comparable (essentially same car) Toyota, then by all means go get a TT250 and live happy.

The TT250 has some nicer gear(switches/mirrors/led turn signals /grips/etc.The motor makes more noise than the exhaust- sounds really busy for some reason. The suspension is a higher grade but as mine came from CSC is much more jarring with less usable travel, than the hawk's. The TT is a better road bike, but on rough,back woods rutted, pot-holed, messed up fire roads and in anything other than packed dirt, the Hawk is a more competent/more comfortable ride. The TT is more comfortable at sustained high revs, but loses in low end grunt. Given the gear similarities, its amazing how different the bikes feel when riding. I am going to try sorting out the more sophisticated suspension on the TT, as stock, its beating me up on anything other than smooth pavement while the simple hawk suspension is far less jarring in the rough. PS, I'm about 270 in riding gear.

edit:-One more consideration, if you want to reward what in my lifetime is clearly the BEST mc customer
service effort OF ANY BIKE, then buy a csc bike, any of them, or all of them

Wait till it's broke in, and get everything set up as it should be for your liking. I'll be interested in hearing. The Lexus/Toyota thing seems right on, though I don't have a Hawk and can't get one here. The bikes share tons in common from what I've read and seen on this forum.

I CAN say that my final review will be coming in the next day or so to finish off this build thread when the "Mrs. 2LZ Phoenix Project" is completed. I feel it will be fair but honest.

Please keep in mind that I can't buy many other "streetable" China Bikes here so I'm comparing it to what is and has been available here in CA.....and I've gutted this thing. No stone left un-turned. I'm also looking at it from a long term China Bike owner., more from a mechanical aspect and comparing from what I've seen in the past as opposed to now....and the value that offers.

It's all I have to go on..............

[2LZ]

Mods and Upgrades:

Scott Double D Grips - White
Acerbis Uniko Hand Guards - White
Fox Cross Bar Pad - White
TTO Tach/Hour meter
Anti-Vibration Bar End Weight/Sliders
Bars Painted to Match the Plastics
Tusk 30mm (7/8”) Risers
Cruiser Assy’s Black Metal License Plate Frame
Unibear 428 Chain
Nibbi Racing 42mm Air Filter
Gates Fuel Line and Upgraded Fuel Filter
Mikuni VM26 (30MM) Carb with Jetting Assortment
Same Exhaust Everyone Else Bought
ARTR Titanium Exhaust Header Wrap (2”)
DEI High Temp Silicone Exhaust Wrap Coating
NGK DR8IEX Iridium Spark Plug
JTR269.47 Rear Sprocket
Air Box Delete
Smog Delete
Air Inlet Head Plate Mod
“Trash Can Mod”
Bilt Magnetic Mini Tank Bag

Maintenance:

Checked and Reset Goose Neck Bearings
Cleaned, Greased and Torqued Swingarm Bushings (No Spec - 25 ft lbs left it free but snug)
Cleaned and Lightly Greased Rear Shock Mounts, Torqued to Spec (22 ft lbs)
Loosened and Re-Torqued all Motor Mounts to Spec (18-22 ft lbs, respectively)
Changed Fork Fluid to Bel Ray 10W (drained and refilled 320 cc’s each)
Replaced Leaky Fork Cap
Torqued Triple Tree Pinch Bolts (12 ft lbs per 8mm bolt spec)
Mobil 1 Synthetic 10W40 Motorcycle Oil
Set Valves to Spec (.05mm Intake / .08mm Exhaust)
Torqued Rear Sprocket Bolts to Spec (25 ft lbs)
Torqued Axles to Spec (35 ft lbs)
Torqued Calipers to Spec (18 ft lbs)
Set Fork Dampening (one turn out, so far)
Set Shock Dampening (half a turn out, so far)
Bled Front and Rear Brakes with DOT 4 Fluid
Tire PSI @ 32 for Pavement
Wash, Wax and Armor All Plastics

[2LZ]

Tearing this brand new CSC TT250 completely apart (minus major motor work), giving everything the “2LZ Stink Eye” and reassembling it, has been a blast. There’s nothing better than wrenching on something new and clean.

The CSC TT250 in my experience appears to be the nicest Hondoid built to date. The fit and finish, flexible plastics, added extras, and the overall feel of quality for a China Bike, is vastly improved compared to even just a few years ago. As I’ve mentioned prior, there’s no more reason to keep a drill handy just to make things line up.

The only problems I had were the bolt holes for the side covers, and that was caused of my laziness. After you pop the side covers in the grommets, take a flashlight and make sure that the bolt holes are lined up with the holes in the plastics. I had to run a tap through them once each side, due to trying to “wiggle fit” the bolts in the holes. Take your channel locks and slightly tweak the brackets to line up with the holes, if they even need it. You’ll save yourself a little grief.

There are still some “Old World” relics on the bike, such as the no-link rear shock setup, the same ol’ box tubing steel swingarm and heavy steel rims, both of which add generous amounts to un-sprung weight. All of these items have been addressed long ago by Q Link/Konker/SSR,….but you’ll pay for it. The new SSR XF 250 comes in at around 2799.00+, depending on website….plus, where’s the service and parts?

For a CA legal (50 state) bike, and as nice as the TT250 has turned out for the price, I feel it’s more than worth it, even with some old world engineering in spots. You add to that value with excellent and completely accessible customer service (Ryan and Sara, et al), phone technical help (Gerry and crew), and prompt, available parts supply, it’s a no-brainer compared to what I consider a “slightly better bike” with newer technology in the SSR. It’s what tilted the scales and the main reason we made our purchase from CSC, when both the TT250 and SSR XF250 were on the table. (Reminder: Hawks and Storms are not available here)

Seeing how well the TT250 was built and put together during the project was a surprise bonus to our purchase. Even the frame is noticeably beefier (and made of real tubing) than that of Hondoids offered just a few years ago and some that are still marketed today. The bolt holes line up and I had not one single “Chinese butter bolt” strip out on the entire project. Other than Q, this was a first for me.

I also felt that the extra care taken and additional bling that CSC/Zongshen have provided, that includes the balance-shaft motor, 300 watt stator, two accessory plug-ins, upgraded switch gear with built-in A+B switches for accessories, USD forks with dampening adjustment, LED turn signals, fully adjustable rear shock that includes dampening adjustment and to me, the extra mile gone with things such as the use of stainless hex head bolts for the exterior trim pieces, and the fancy flush mount locking fuel cap, were all very classy touches that put the cherry on the proverbial cake.

My impression of the CSC TT250 is that it’s a very good value for the 1895.00 plus fees that many paid…and well worth a look at the 2195.00 retail, especially if you’re here in CA where your purchasing options for streetable China Bikes are very limited. The next step up would be the Suzuki DR200SE but at 4195 (add 200.00 for CA), it still comes with 90’s-style plastics, regular forks and an antiquated and heavy rear drum brake for 2017. This may be totally acceptable for a 1200.00 China Bike, but it’s thoroughly unacceptable for an expensive, “modern”, Japanese bike. This alone makes the both CSC TT250 and the SSR XF250 at their retail prices, look like smokin’ deals.

To finalize, I can honestly say that the CSC TT250 is a very solid and comfortable little bike, and now that’s it’s breathing properly, geared for our area, with the suspension set up correctly for us, it’s a real hoot to ride. We just can’t lose sight of what it is,…an inexpensive, small displacement, light commuter that’s great on gas. A reliable fun-runner and trail bike, ….and it’s dang good looking too. Now that I see how it ticks, I have no regrets on its purchase or the price and I’m looking forward to many years of good service from it.

For those who have been following this thread, thanks a bunch. I hope you enjoyed it and may have learned something. I know I did both.

[2LZ]

Here's some pics after wash and detail.

[2LZ]

More pics

[ughmas]

Awesome work 2LZ, wish I had the time and energy to do all of that right now but will have to space it out a bit. Did you go up any main jet sizes for the exhaust?