The Zongshen TT 250 is Coming

[CSCDude]

Originally Posted by 2LZ

In all honesty, I have yet to be sold on the necessity of EFI on small displacement motorcycles. Every Vic I've owned (all huge displacement) has been EFI and its worked flawlessly, especially compared to my buddies carbureted HD's, that need their CV carbs played with semi-regularly. Finicky, they are.

That said, on these small bikes, even the RX3, it takes so much crap and electronics, jammed into a small area to make the EFI work that it seems a huge waste, when a carb will do just fine to feed a tiny piston. Also, carbs are easily modified (or replaced) to maximize power, where with an EFI, you'd need a remap. Of course, I'm not including all the smog and EPA mandates that is probably at the core of all of this....

You accurately summarized our thinking when we made the decision to go with a carbureted TT250. Adding FI would have bumped the price substantially (by several hundred dollars), and it would have worked against what we wanted to do with this motorcycle. Our intent was to offer a simple bike with a low price that would be easy to maintain and modify, while simultaneously offering other upgraded features (counterbalanced engine, inverted forks, etc.). The emissions considerations were not a factor in the carb vs. FI decision. We knew both versions would meet the US and California requirements, as we had previously experienced smooth reviews of our carbureted Mustang replicas (which use similar engines) by the EPA and CARB. The Chinese emissions requirements are as stringent as the US requirements. Our experience has been that Zongshen builds bikes that easily meet the US requirements.

[simonjester]

. . . Not to mention that the Colombia version of the RX3, that is carbureted, seems to do just fine from what I've read somewhere.

[Jayman77]

I changed oil today at 220 km and I am glad I did. The oil was not burnt but had a chalky look to it different than anything I have seen. I will change it again every 200k to 1000.

But I think it is a good runner pulled a good wheelie today it was fun

Speedo is five miles off when I was doing 60 my gps said 65 I thought I was going faster that it was reading

I am very happy with this bike and I saved about 500$ with the don't miss the boat deal
putting some real thought in a RX3 or RC3

I sure at so point I will have some problems with it but you don't need a crystal ball to know that

[2LZ]

Originally Posted by Jayman77

I changed oil today at 220 km and I am glad I did. The oil was not burnt but had a chalky look to it different than anything I have seen. I will change it again every 200k to 1000.

But I think it is a good runner pulled a good wheelie today it was fun

Speedo is five miles off when I was doing 60 my gps said 65 I thought I was going faster that it was reading

I am very happy with this bike and I saved about 500$ with the don't miss the boat deal
putting some real thought in a RX3 or RC3

I sure at so point I will have some problems with it but you don't need a crystal ball to know that

Glad to hear it's going well and it sounds like it has enough gusto for a stock bike. The Hondoids of old needed much more playing with to run as they should.
I really doubt you'll have much trouble with it though. The Hondoid CG motors are so simple and have proven to be quite bullet proof. They even tell you when it's time for a valve adjustment because they get harder to start.

I'm hoping to hear something on my TT delivery this week some time....but Sara says they're swamped so I'm not holding my breath. Take yer time, get it right, is my thought.

[2LZ]

Originally Posted by CSCDude

You accurately summarized our thinking when we made the decision to go with a carbureted TT250. Adding FI would have bumped the price substantially (by several hundred dollars), and it would have worked against what we wanted to do with this motorcycle. Our intent was to offer a simple bike with a low price that would be easy to maintain and modify, while simultaneously offering other upgraded features (counterbalanced engine, inverted forks, etc.). The emissions considerations were not a factor in the carb vs. FI decision. We knew both versions would meet the US and California requirements, as we had previously experienced smooth reviews of our carbureted Mustang replicas (which use similar engines) by the EPA and CARB. The Chinese emissions requirements are as stringent as the US requirements. Our experience has been that Zongshen builds bikes that easily meet the US requirements.

Thanks for the insight Joe. Honestly, I would have laid a paycheck on the RX3 being EFI here in the states was due to EPA or CARB restrictions. Glad I didn't bet! ;-)

[SeerAtlas]

Originally Posted by Jayman77

I changed oil today at 220 km and I am glad I did. The oil was not burnt but had a chalky look to it different than anything I have seen. I will change it again every 200k to 1000.

But I think it is a good runner pulled a good wheelie today it was fun

Speedo is five miles off when I was doing 60 my gps said 65 I thought I was going faster that it was reading

I am very happy with this bike and I saved about 500$ with the don't miss the boat deal
putting some real thought in a RX3 or RC3

I sure at so point I will have some problems with it but you don't need a crystal ball to know that

in a car, chalky/milky oil usually means water....

[Jayman77]

Originally Posted by SeerAtlas

in a car, chalky/milky oil usually means water....

Yeah I know what that looks like. If it is water the oil will musafi and break down this was different I don't think there is any problems just suggesting a early oil change the oil screen was clean no flakes or metal bits so far so good

[oddthought]

Originally Posted by Jayman77

Yeah I know what that looks like. If it is water the oil will musafi and break down this was different I don't think there is any problems just suggesting a early oil change the oil screen was clean no flakes or metal bits so far so good

That's good that there weren't any flakes or chunks of metal. The chalky color does seem odd though. Was the oil still smooth but looking kinda like coffee with cream in it? Did it smell any different from usual oil? I have usually seen water and oil mixtures become a bit emulsified like I think you said, but with enough agitation, they could mix thoroughly enough to be smooth. Has your bike gotten wet yet?

[Jayman77]

Originally Posted by oddthought

That's good that there weren't any flakes or chunks of metal. The chalky color does seem odd though. Was the oil still smooth but looking kinda like coffee with cream in it? Did it smell any different from usual oil? I have usually seen water and oil mixtures become a bit emulsified like I think you said, but with enough agitation, they could mix thoroughly enough to be smooth. Has your bike gotten wet yet?

I will know better a next oil change I am not sure what oil was in engine and I have not been in any water or even washed it yet and it is not water cooled so I have no worries there. it just seemed a bit off to me

[pcspecialist]

You sure it wasn't more of a silver sheen? If so, that's mostly if not entirely from the clutch.

[oddthought]

Originally Posted by Jayman77

I will know better a next oil change I am not sure what oil was in engine and I have not been in any water or even washed it yet and it is not water cooled so I have no worries there. it just seemed a bit off to me

Cool. I wouldn't be surprised if it was just whatever manufacturing junk was still in the engine. As long as the bike keeps working, I guess that's what counts!

[rojo_grande]

Just got back from a long weekend in the mountains with the TT. Riding forest services roads and jeep trails in the San Isabel NF in South Central Colorado in the Sangre de Cristo's. Rode to about 11,000 feet til we hit the snow line. Couldn't stop smiling.

[oddthought]

Originally Posted by rojo_grande

Just got back from a long weekend in the mountains with the TT. Riding forest services roads and jeep trails in the San Isabel NF in South Central Colorado in the Sangre de Cristo's. Rode to about 11,000 feet til we hit the snow line. Couldn't stop smiling.

Oh man, that looks like a blast! I can't wait to take similar roads up here in the Utah mountains. How did the TT do compared with those other bikes?

Edit to add: You should send some of those pictures to Joe! I'd be willing to bet he'd love to post one or more on the blog!

[rojo_grande]

Originally Posted by oddthought

Oh man, that looks like a blast! I can't wait to take similar roads up here in the Utah mountains. How did the TT do compared with those other bikes?



Edit to add: You should send some of those pictures to Joe! I'd be willing to bet he'd love to post one or more on the blog!

My buds ride a CRF250X and a CRF450. For one, their bikes are set up for some hard core trail riding and for altitude. Secondly, I'm not an extremely experienced dirt rider. These guys ride almost every weekend at Rampart Range or Rabbit Valley. However, the TT was able to keep up pretty well until the stock jetting started gasping for air. A few tweaks to jetting and gearing will be in order if I start riding at that altitude and on those steep rocky trails on a regular basis. The stock tires did unexpectedly well on the rocks and trails. Although there was not much in the way of sand or really loose dirt. We did hit some muddy and snowy sections. Got a little squirmy on the snow but handled the mud just fine.

Already sent Joe some pics.

Rojo

[oddthought]

Originally Posted by rojo_grande

My buds ride a CRF250X and a CRF450. For one, their bikes are set up for some hard core trail riding and for altitude. Secondly, I'm not an extremely experienced dirt rider. These guys ride almost every weekend at Rampart Range or Rabbit Valley. However, the TT was able to keep up pretty well until the stock jetting started gasping for air. A few tweaks to jetting and gearing will be in order if I start riding at that altitude and on those steep rocky trails on a regular basis. The stock tires did unexpectedly well on the rocks and trails. Although there was not much in the way of sand or really loose dirt. We did hit some muddy and snowy sections. Got a little squirmy on the snow but handled the mud just fine.

Already sent Joe some pics.

Rojo

That's just too cool. Those pictures are seriously awesome.