New Zongshen RX3 (ZS250GY-3) Dual Sport

[culcune]

Okay, I hope that is how it works. I had asked Excalibur if they would let me buy my bike and ride it back to Yuma, and he had told me I would have to pay sales tax. I had wondered, but did not ask, if I could buy the bike, have him send me the MSO, register it in AZ and pay the taxes, etc. and then go to Chino to ride it back.

Just double check with CSC at any rate.

[SpudRider]

Originally Posted by Wolftrax

Woo hoo got my call from Sarah at CSC. Took my deposit and informed me my should be ready for US shipment around the 1st of February 2015. Think I might store my bike in Ca. And do a fly and ride in early March!

[Weldangrind]

Originally Posted by Wolftrax

Woo hoo got my call from Sarah at CSC. Took my deposit and informed me my should be ready for US shipment around the 1st of February 2015. Think I might store my bike in Ca. And do a fly and ride in early March!

To Georgia? You're a better man than me.

[SpudRider]

The stock tires on the Zongshen RX3 are the following sizes.

Front: 100/90-18
Rear: 130/90-15

These tires are the same size as the stock tires on the Zongshen ZS200GY-2. Therefore, I surmise the rims are the same size.

Front Rim: 2.15-18
Rear Rim: 2.75-15

Finding a good, domestic tire for the front rim is relatively easy. I first intend to wear out the stock, CST, C6017 front tire. The stock tire is not available for sale in North America, so I will probably replace the front tire with a Shinko 244 in size 3.00-18.

http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com...CqLBoCWvzw_wcB

Before I switched to a 21-inch front wheel on my Zongshen 200GY-2, I mounted a Shinko 244 on the 18-inch front wheel, and it performed well. Here is a photograph of the size 3.00-18 tire mounted on my Zong's front wheel.



This is a nice, dual sport tire with an attractive price of $30.99.

I also intend to wear out the tire on the stock, 15-inch rear wheel. After the rear tire is worn, I am switching to the 17-inch rear wheel, since you cannot buy a 15-inch knobby tire anywhere in North America. However, there are several nice choices for 17-inch tires.

One choice is the Shinko, 244 rear tire in size 5.10-17.

http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com...edWBoCLoLw_wcB



Another nice choice is the Shinko, 700 rear tire in size 5.10-17.

http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com...miMhoCRpjw_wcB



Yet another good option is the Kenda, K270 rear tire in size 5.10-17.

http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com...pose-rear-tire

[SpudRider]

Here is an old video describing the Shinko, dual sport tires.

[SpudRider]

The stock, CST, C6017, 15-inch rear tire is not available for sale in North America.



However, if you switch to a 17-inch rear wheel, the Shinko 705 tire is available in size 130/90-17.

http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com...IUihoCdynw_wcB

[CSCDude]

I use the Shinko tires on my KLR and they are good. They sing a bit at speed but the price is right and they were much better than the OEM Kawasaki tires.

My KLR is the red one. This first photo is the church in San Vincente in Baja about 170 miles south of the border. It's one of the places we'll stop to take photos when we ride our Cyclones through Baja.



The next photo is the Isla Del Carmen, a ship that partially sank off the San Jacinto coast in 1984. That's a bit further down in Baja.

.

I first saw the Isla Del Carmen in Clement Salvadori's book about motorcycling in Baja. The only difference between his photo and mine is that the salt water had a quarter-century to work its magic on the wreck. The ship had broken into two pieces by the time I took my photo. And, my photo has the KLRs in front of it. I think a similar photo with a bunch of RX-3 Cyclones would look even better.

Both of these locations (and many more) are photo ops that we'll hit on the inaugural CSC Cyclone Baja ride. If you want to see more of the places we'll see on that ride, you can visit my personal site at www.motofoto.cc. A better way to experience the beauty of Baja, though, would be from the seat of your Cyclone. In my mind, I am already visualizing how good the Cyclone will look in future Baja photos. The riding down there is the best in the world, and the Cyclone is the perfect bike for it.



We'll be out in the dirt and on the highway on the RX-3 tomorrow. Watch for more photos on the CSC blog.

[culcune]

Do you guys have to get rid of the test bikes? Just wondering how that works when you import test bikes while awaiting EPA/DOT approval.

[CSCDude]

Originally Posted by culcune

Do you guys have to get rid of the test bikes? Just wondering how that works when you import test bikes while awaiting EPA/DOT approval.

When we are done with the test bikes, we either have to return them to their country of origin or destroy them. These particular bikes cannot be sold for use in the US. It seems like a crime against nature, but it is what it is.

[SpudRider]

Originally Posted by CSCDude

When we are done with the test bikes, we either have to return them to their country of origin or destroy them. These particular bikes cannot be sold for use in the US. It seems like a crime against nature, but it is what it is.

Indeed, destroying a perfectly good, new motorcycle is a shame. However, this type of requirement is typical of governmental regulations.

[katoranger]

Originally Posted by CSCDude

When we are done with the test bikes, we either have to return them to their country of origin or destroy them. These particular bikes cannot be sold for use in the US. It seems like a crime against nature, but it is what it is.

Would you be allowed to use them for parts?

[Wolftrax]

The Shinko 244 is actually a pretty decent dual sport tire. They handle very good on the pavement and are quite good off road. The only shortcoming I noticed on them was the tendacy to chunk knobs. I never had a failure and rode them through the lifespan of the tire sans a half a dozen missing knobs. Got about 3000 miles out of them. This was on a KLR riding a lot of dirt.

[SpudRider]

Originally Posted by Wolftrax

The Shinko 244 is actually a pretty decent dual sport tire. They handle very good on the pavement and are quite good off road. The only shortcoming I noticed on them was the tendacy to chunk knobs. I never had a failure and rode them through the lifespan of the tire sans a half a dozen missing knobs. Got about 3000 miles out of them. This was on a KLR riding a lot of dirt.

In touring mode the RX3 should weigh about 100 pounds less than the KLR650, and the NC250 engine makes less power. Therefore, I think the Shinko 244 tires should work very well, and last a long time mounted on the RX3. I never had any problems with the Shinko 244, size 3.00-18 tire mounted on the front wheel of my Zongshen 200GY-2.

[Wolftrax]

Originally Posted by SpudRider

In touring mode the RX3 should weigh about 100 pounds less than the KLR650, and the NC250 engine makes less power. Therefore, I think the Shinko 244 tires should work very well, and last a long time mounted on the RX3. I never had any problems with the Shinko 244, size 3.00-18 tire mounted on the front wheel of my Zongshen 200GY-2.

You're right there Spud. I never chunked a front 244 and they lasted 10000+ miles.

[SpudRider]

Originally Posted by Wolftrax

You're right there Spud. I never chunked a front 244 and they lasted 10000+ miles.

I certainly hope not!



I do shred and chunk knobs on the front tire of my Honda CRF250X. The Rocky Mountain trails of Idaho are very tough on dirt bike tires.