My CSC TT250

['16 TT250]

I've been asked to start a thread with photos, video, info. I can't post photos & video because I don't have a place to host them, at least I think that's what I need. They seem to be too big to post as attachments. I'm not computer savvy.


Overall the CSC bikes look and feel way less like a cheap Chinese thing than any others I've seen, most of them scream "cheapo" at a glance.

I picked it up late Saturday morning and headed home. The speedo cable broke 12.6 miles in. It was caused by the assembly guys not routing it right when they put the headlight in, known problem and a new cable awaits me. As soon as I got home I did a compression test (160-165 on a generous gauge). I was planning to take it with me when I went to pick the bike up just out of curiosity and to track any changes along the way but forgot it. I haven't ridden it a lot, but I played around with it a bit over the weekend and have some stuff to say about it.

Engine: Wait, is that what they call that thing? I'm sorta getting used to it. I'm coming from riding a Ducati999s and a Honda CBR1100XX so of course 16HP feels slower than walking. Power delivery is smooth, the engine runs great at any RPM and load. Hot restarts take a few seconds of cranking, otherwise it seems to always start right up whether electric or kick. My first startup at the dealer I kicked it, took 2. It had been partially warmed up by Steve who appears to the go to guy there for bikes, they sell VW parts also. He took it around back to put more gas in it for my ride home so it was partially warmed before I started it. I really wish the throttle were quicker. Since it's something that needs a lot of throttle to ride it's annoying to have to twist it so far. Hopefully I can find a way to modify that. The throttle spring is soft and I found myself accidentally pulling it off idle a few times while braking. It's probably a combined effect of the light spring and the long pull making me want to have my hand in the wrong position on the throttle. I'm used to something that never needs more than 1/4 throttle to giterdone.

Transmission/clutch: It's way under geared, or at least feels that way, so it'll probably be getting a sprocket change. It doesn't have a Tach, but it feels like it could wind out 5th gear. It shifts very smoothly but I wish the shifter spring were tighter. With my steel toe work boots on I had several occasions where the lever didn't come back to center between shifts. It never skipped or did anything goofy, I just had to try again for the next gear. I just couldn't feel it like I can other shifters. I think the lever travel is more than I'm used to as well possibly adding to my shifting issue. The clutch lever effort is very light, it moves smoothly, clutch engages smoothly. I haven't dumped the clutch on asphalt but did on some hard dirt; got a small spin and small wheelie. Wasn't a high rev dump, just a light one in the backyard heading to the bike parking entry way (AKA back door leading to family room). The shift shaft seal was leaking when I first got home but it seems to have cured itself.

Suspension: (I weigh about 175 without gear) Rear feels pretty good but a bit under sprung. The forks have more stiction than I'm used to and seem to be over sprung. Going over a series of dips where most cars slow to about 10 I rolled through at about 30 (no speedo) staying seated. The rear felt like it bottomed, the front didn't seem to compress much. Standing they were smooth to go over.

Switches/buttons. All of them are soft and smooth, maybe too much so. It's hard to feel the turn signal switch with gloves on. It's springs are pretty soft and it's further back than I'm used to requiring a bit of hand twist/lifting away from the grip to get on it. I find myself straightening my index finger to rotate my hand and noticed I was hitting the flash to pass button, it's spring is very soft and easy to accidentally press. I'll try rotating it down, that should help make it easier to get to.

Handling: I haven't ridden a dirt bike in decades and never did much of it then. I've had a couple standard bikes but mostly sport bikes so I have no fair comparison. Wind pushes it right around at will. It's so light and tall I find myself wandering a bit when making low speed turns. Bar input/leaning is odd feeling. No fault of the bike I think, just me and what I'm used to riding. It doesn't feel skittish or poorly designed, the geometry is just way off of what I've been riding. It feels closer to riding a bicycle, something else I haven't done in years.

Brakes: Adequate and beats the heck out of drums like found on most cheap bikes. I adjusted the rear brake pedal position to my liking and adjusted the pushrod to shorten up the throw. On the front brake I put a piece of stick-on foam between the lever and master body (where the brake switch is) to take out some freeplay and shorten the pull. They'll never feel like Brembos but any simple way to make them feel better is worth it.

The mirror shape is goofy and the glass is warped on both, more so on the left one. I'll be hunting for replacements when I go get my speedo cable and hope to find a flat pair. The hose to the front brake rubs on the back of the left turn signal stalk and has already started marring up the rubber so I'll be looking to re-route it. The turn signals are rotated off of straight. The rears were easy to rotate, the fronts seem to have a post keeping them in position. I didn't feel like taking them off right then to fix but I will. The rear fender is crooked, bottom of it is pretty far right of center. I can see that it's not mounted straight so I'll play with the mounting and hopefully get it straightened up.

That's all that currently comes to mind.