This gives me a glimmer of hope. Motorcycles haven't really changed in decades but the prices keep on climbing. Something like this needs to come along and shake things up and bring the over inflated prices down, it's overdue...
Motorcycles have been getting better technology and improved quality parts. They have EFI, improved braking, improved suspension. Better quality plastics. You get what you pay for.
Bikes haven't changed in decades? Uuuuummmmm. That solid thing above you is a rock. If you push up on it, you can escape. Then you won't have to live under there anymore. I rode a 2014 R1200GS adventure when it came out and it made my 2005 R1200GS (the best bike I've ever ridden) look and feel like a rickety piece of junk. Yeah, they've changed a whole bunch. Like loads and loads and loads...
Riding bikes this small is like taking a yoga class. You just relax and enjoy. No stress, while taking in your surroundings, realizing just how good life really is. Perfect for cities, back roads, or just out for a Sunday ride.
@J G So men can't just relax and enjoy a slower bike? That bike doesn't do well on the highway, but it reaches the speed limit and that's what you "should" be driving anyway. Would you say that going past the speed limit is for men, and not for women then?
I am a big fan of CSC and how they operate. For the casual rider who doesn't care about performance specs, the bikes they offer are an incredible value and their customer service is top notch. It's really cool to see RevZilla taking them seriously and reviewing their bikes for what they are rather than what they are not. Excellent job!
@@austin1002 you are probably better off buying a $2,000 used Yamaha, Honda, Suzuki, Kawasaki or Harley. According to Consumer Reports, these are the most reliable brands. Better brakes, more power for 250cc or more. You could buy an old 250cc Kawasaki for $1,000 and put the other $1,000 into fixing it up.
@@jeffruebens8355 depending on what you find, you might not even have to throw that much money into it. I bought a used 2006 Kawasaki Eliminator 125 for $900. It only had 1,100 miles in it. It was in perfect condition. I put 20,000 miles in it in two years and put no money into it.
Do more of this. Best I've seen on this channel in a minute. It's cheap, it's silly, it's fun, it's exactly what a beginner dreams of. This video is really down to earth. I dig it.
Reality Check from reading the article it has a warranty and for warranty repairs you can take it to any motorcycle mechanic and CSC works with the mechanic shop to get them paid
@Reality Check it's about as simple a street legal vehicle as you can possibly get, and CSC tells you how to do literally everything mechanically related with it you can think of
Disrupting the dealerships has big downsides. Maybe this works for rural US, where you drive 120 miles to the next motorcycle dealer anyways. But within civilisation, I wouldn´t touch this thing if I was a motorcycle shop and has some customers left. So if anything breaks down, it´s on you to fix it. Good luck with getting any documentation or parts - you probably are supposed to throw it away if it doesn´t run and get another one.
@@gerokron3412 It's a very simple machine, due to the Chinese manufacturing replacement parts probably won't be hard to find (but may take a while to receive if CSC doesn't have a US warehouse). Any service center that works on motorcycles or small engines can work on this. Personally I can't stand dealers, they are just middlemen there to make money off you. Why do I need to pay more to pad someones pockets? I just want the vehicle for a set price. Tesla has proved we don't need them.
@@gerokron3412 you get the full manual with the bike. The intent is that you get it and you work on it. If anything is covered by warranty or recall they send the parts out to you.
@@c7uk the vast majority of dealerships don't let you test drive a thing. At least not in my area. The only one that will is a Harley Davidson dealership
Old EX250s or even 500s are cheaper than that where I am. But hey, more options. That front disk looks like it belongs on a mountain bike... but claimed “weight” (dry I presume) is only 273 lb.
Yeah a very nice used XT250 can be had for about $3000 if you look. I bought my '11 TW200 with 1200 miles for $3200 and it looks brand new. My brother got a 2014 (fuel injected, water cooled) CRF250L for $3000 - that was a rare deal though. But still, those are all quality bikes for similar cash. But hey I bought a Chinese minibike and love ripping around on that so who knows.
I can get a 2016 ninja 300 with 0 miles at the stealership for around 2500$ otd. Yes it’s 3 years old but it has never been used and It will probably be more reliable in the long term. I will always prefer a slightly used quality motorcycle than a very cheaply build new motorcycle.
Logi 7000 I still dream about my time riding at 50% throttle on a 1988 Honda CR500 at Hungry Valley OHV (Gorman). Lifechangingly amazing... The CR80 was pretty fun too though... Freedom isn’t free out here in the city in L. A...
This is my belief for cars as well, slow car fast is better than fast car fast. My slow car is really fun because I'm going as hard as I can everywhere and I'm in little to no danger.
I'm 48. I have a 2002 camry. I love it!! 248k on the odo. Just put new tires and struts on it. Needs a paint job. It's paid for. Gets awesome gas mileage. No oil leaks. Yeah... I'm a. CAMRY guy.
@Jon Smoltz Ok.....Why does that matter here. Im just saying his way of making Motorcycle reviews has rubbed on slightly on the Revzilla team and its nice. They put their own spin on it with the usual Revzilla trademarks.
@Jon Smoltz And...? Who cares? They still make fantastic, informative, unbiased videos that I've found very helpful. And everything they show off is something you can buy somewhere else anyway, so even if they did have a prejudice against Americans (which I've seen no evidence of) it's not like they're locking great stuff away from us.
@Jon Smoltz trust me, you're not missing much. As much as Fort9's youtube is just fantastic, the retail website is abysmal compared to almost any online retailer in the states. The selection is minute in comparison, and their ability to keep things in stock is almost laughable. Not their fault necessarily, Parts Canada is the sole distributor to them, and they have always been the shits. Source, a Canadian rider who would much rather ride the 30+km over the border to pick up orders from Revzilla.
I got this bike last November, my first bike, new rider, so far so good! I love this bike actually! Still have a lot of learning and practicing. Barely 250 miles in, the price and engine size were big selling points for me. Awesome review. 😎
I've been eyeing this company and their bikes, so I'm glad to see you guys doing a first ride video of them. Very interested to see how it "ages" and what you guys do for maintenance. Great video!
A couple of weeks ago, I bought a used 2020 CSC San Gabriel SG-250 with 17 miles on the odometer. It is fun to ride. :-) There are upgrade parts and sidegrade parts available from CSC and Moto-Cult. Depending on a person's budget ... - larger front sprocket - scrambler style handlebar - Scrambler tires - more comfy seat - oil cooler - new top of engine and bigger piston to get a full 250cc displacement (stock displacement is 229cc) - new bigger exhaust pipe - luggage rack - and some cosmetic parts Money saved getting this bike allows for upgrades or additional riding clothing and accessories and gasoline and maintenance supplies. The 26 inch seat height is nice for short riders or for people with short legs. I have no complaints, so far. It's a great first bike. :-)
Don´t get me wrong, I really like this little thing, as I dig it´s simplicity. But after buying it you should maintain it, maybe repair it, and that´s gonna be the pricey part of the relationship. w/o dealers I see the next repair shop charging you an arm and a leg as they will know that this is your only help to keep the little blueberry run. The bike will only fit poor people it f it runs fine. If it doesn´t, you´re effed. Get and old Honda instead, where you will find tons of literature instead of chinese manuals to download.
No, don't get an old Honda because you will pay to repair that too. Old Hondas are cool, but buying sloppy seconds on someone else's discarded beater is no better, and most likely worse, than buying a new bike of uncertain provenance. So if a new Chinese bike is what you want, go ahead and get the new Chinese bike, spend your repair money on some tools and a book on general motorcycle maintenance, and then use the owner's manual to learn to fix your own bike through trial and error.
@@cisium1184 how many miles do you think this thing is good for? For just over twice the price I got a cbr300r, already have 35k miles on it and it doesn't seem to be any worse for wear, and it is fully capable on the highway. I commute almost 100 milea a day on it. I won't vouch for a 90's beater, but anything in the past 15 years should be pretty reliable.
Good thing it has a one year warranty so you won't be out on luck with it breaking early, looks like you can get different motor on it with a bit of skills
I really enjoyed this review. its should be standard practice for a rider to take it through different conditions and different rides. Kudos to the editor.
I want this bike to sell well simply because delivering directly to customer needs to catch on. Also the damn thing is so cheap it'd be a no brainer to mod it and hooligan around on it with no worries.
@@nicksonrobert even if I know the particular model I want to buy, I still want to see the actual unit. An exception would be if I already have a great relationship with the seller. What if there's something glaringly wrong with that particular bike? I could decide to pass on the deal, or ask the seller to fix it, or ask for a discount, etc. As for buying a new bike directly from the manufacturer or distributor, if there was something I didn't like I suppose I could refuse delivery, but what if I just want it fixed or perhaps a discount? All my leverage would be gone if the sale was already complete, and I'd then be dealing with customer service agents or even worse, automated systems. No thank you.
@@nicksonrobert Here's an example video of what I'm talking about. If I was purchasing a car from a sales person on a traditional car lot, I could either walk away from the deal or use these flaws to negotiate a better deal. Either way, I'd know the exact aesthetic condition of this brand new car before I made the purchase. However, what's my recourse if I was to take delivery from an online purchase? I think the owner of this channel does a fair and detailed job on his reviews. I know he's excited by the delivery, but I'd be pretty disappointed if my brand new car showed up at my house in this condition ruclips.net/video/FSLTNjGI8hw/видео.html
been riding 1000cc bikes for over a decade but for some reason i really want this little bike lol.. they are deff more fun for city driving, just lightweight and nimble and you can just full throttle it all day because well, lets be real.. you can't get into much trouble on it! lol
My biggest question isn't how it holds up, but rather, how good is the documentation and fast parts availability? With no dealership, when something goes wrong you need to be able to service it yourself. With it being aimed at new riders, you need good documentation so that someone whos never worked on a motorcycle can repair it. Are people going to have to wait for parts to ship from china when something goes wrong?
Something I've come across with my DR650 - I have to order everything for it. The local suzuki dealers never have any part for it... a DR650 isn't a rare machine, and it's been unchanged all the way back to 1996. But I still have to order parts, because none of them are available locally. This CSC machine would be the same for me, as far as parts are concerned.
Actually, Chinese parts are incredibly easy to get, and insanely cheap. Or at least they have been historically; our trade situation with China may alter that somewhat. And since all bikes of a given displacement from a given Chinese factory are fundamentally the same, generic manuals are readily available, with long lists at the back of the models covered. No, the problem with Chinese bikes is not fixing them yourself - it's getting someone else to fix them if you're unwilling to fix them yourself.
If you can access ebay, or Amazon, parts availability is better than any dealership. I haven't bought a part at a dealership since 2006. Dealership be like six dollars for a bolt be here in two week. Ebay. 6 bolts for a dollar be at your doorstep in 72 hours.
All of the CSC bikes include a full service manual with the purchase, and CSC makes a point to stock literally *every* part of each of their bikes. They could literally build one from their warehouse if they needed to.
Find a mom and pop shop for maintenance most in my experience are good with ordering parts and working on these bikes from China for the price even if u slowly replace certain parts on purpose little by little u still will be ahead but overall I believe this model is solid as long as u take care of it as with anything
All those bikes need carb tuning because they run lean. Add an exhaust then rejet and it'll open right up. Could change sprockets to smooth out the top end for highway riding.
I just picked up a used KLX250s. I have a gsxr1000 and a Heritage Softail in the garage. The 250 makes me smile. Brings back the same feeling I had when I was learning to ride motorcycles. So much fun to bash through alleyways and tight stuff. It’s not as fun on the highway. It will do highway just fine but it becomes a boring buzz saw. Sure, I wish it had a little more torque. Torque and power on a motorcycle is something you get used to having and when it’s gone, well, you know when it’s gone. Most of the time I’m the only one in my small town America blasting through traffic and it makes me imagine what it would be like mobbing around a small motorcycle Mecca like Indonesia or Malaysia. It would be a blast.
You are somebody that gets it. I own a big fast VFR, and I have just as much fun bombing around on my Hawk 250 (Think CSC TT250, but cheaper.). Been a surprising reliable bike when it isn't getting stolen. The cheap rugged simplicity and slightly under powered nature has a charm to it, and I find myself smiling just as much for different reasons.
What you said about the bike feeling good because it reminded you of being young and broke hits home hard for me. Thats exactly why I fell in love with motorcycles. Really cool business model.
I can't ride...I have never.... due to a medical procedure..... first time viewer here and I am in love with your presentation...now subbed..... thank you.
There's always trikes! I've seen plenty of handicapped folks keep on riding with the use of a trike. Even one man who was wheelchair bound. Has a ramp just close the door and it locked down the chair. Used an automatic and all hand controls. Another who was paralyzed chest down and used a special vest and backrest to stay upright.
Not me. I payed $700 for a stock 1975 Honda xl250 with 3,500 miles on it. I dropped the rear sprocket by 2 teeth and added a luggage rack and a top box. The perfect commuter, errand runner and even a little off road on the way home from work. And it looks so good next to the 1976 Triumph 750 Bonneville and the 1969 Honda CL125 Scrambler. Nice review and happy riding to all.
A less than excusable example. As a bigger bike and not living up to its necessary requirements, it is a disappointment. Not ready in any way for the American consumer
I must say that I am pleasantly surprised and shocked that you guys are reviewing a CSC bike. I think that is very awesome of you. :) So I want to ask: What can one do, if anything, to make the brakes better? Buy new levers? Replace the cables with steel branded ones? Are the stock tires decent enough? How is the horn? How is the bike serviced? Meaning is this bike best suited for people who are handy working on their own bikes since there is no local dealership to go to?
As somebody that messes around with Chinese bikes on the side. There are ways to slightly improve the brakes, but nothing that will make a huge difference. Since these bikes use cloned parts from other older Japanese bikes, you can find EBC pads that fit, and different lines are always an option. The stock tires are generally so-so, if you can find a good name brand tire that fits, it will make a big difference. The horn wont be amazing, but will function. Easy to upgrade. If you look hard enough you could find a place to service it, but honestly these bikes are so easy to work on yourself that it makes far more sense to do so. CSC actually has "how to" tutorials on a lot of the servicing on their bikes that are pretty decent. Their customer service and parts/prices are damn good, and they are usually very quick to get the parts to you. They will also work with you to find a shop and help cover warranty repairs.
This bike is pieced together by the same Chinese company that made the "Braaap" line of ST-250s for Australia. Being a past owner I can say that you get what you pay for. The build quality is poor, the performance is low, the tyres are shockingly bad, the transmission doesn't shift well and never into neutral. The carb doesn't use pilot jets you can buy anywhere. The carb adjustment screws wind themselves around on their own and the shift lever seal leaked from new. The speedometer was out 10% at least and it vibrates like hell. BUT it is very easy to work on (you will need to) and if you know what you are getting into then they are alot of fun and definitely eye-catching. Servicing is a pinch with no changeable oil filter and the air filter is washable. The horn is quiet and their is little in the way of brake upgrades.
Stalin Glad, that is incorrect. The Braaap is made by Jinan Qingqi Motorcycle Co. The CSC bikes are all made by Zongshen to CSC specifications. In addition to full motorcycles, Zongshen also makes numerous parts for well-known ‘name brand’ motorcycle manufacturers, including Harley-Davidson and Honda.
I've got a similar Chinese bike the Stallions 400cc (from the Choqqing Shineray Corp). Had pretty lousy brakes fresh out of the factory. Swap the plastic shitty brake cable with a braided steel. Throw out the calipers from some brembos and get some organic compound pads. Might cost you a pretty penny, but you'll feel the difference several-fold.
i think engine is based on cg or cb 125 with a max displacement of 223cc on stock casings, in china they "engineered" the heck out of those things, with a new piston/ring it would probably be last decently
I have a 2016 CSC RC3 sport bike. Love this motorcycle, it was one of the last 5 CSC had when I purchased it. I paid just under $3,000.00 USD including delivery to my driveway. I owned a Chinese 150cc Scooter before this so was a big step up. I was looking at getting the Honda CBR300R before I saw the CSC RC3. I found only a few reviews for the RC3 on the internet at the time. The cost of the CSCS RC3 was great and had the Delphi fuel injection, digital gauges, 6 speed trans, water cooled. So I got it. This is something different and I always get people asking about it.
The company who actually makes this bike is Zongshen, the second-largest motorcycle manufacturer in China. It isn't exactly a no-name brand, as even companies such as Harley and Honda subcontract production of their parts to Zongshen. The engine is also an upscaled clone of Honda's legendary CG series "world-bike" engines. In fact, this clone engine is nicknamed "The Cockroach" in much of SE Asia on account of how unkillable it is. CSC acts as an importer and by all accounts has great customer service, stocking literally every part for these things and going over every bike before it goes out to the customer. I would far and away recommend a newb ride this for the sub-$4000 bracket instead of some beat-to-hell Japanese bike from the 80s or 90s.
Something not mentioned in the video - the bike seems to come with material (The shipping crate) that could be turned into luggage racks, by someone with too much time and a welder.
At that price point...might be a good starting point for the newer DIY modding types. I also think it’s pretty clear that this bike is designed specifically for city type riding. It’s not gonna handle dirt roads too well, highways are a challenge...This is good for kids right out of high school just trying to get to their local job and putting around town. Basically a Metropolitan scooter or Vespa...but cooler. Great review.
The highway section is 100% how I felt on my old cb200 😂 maxed out rev bombing at 7k just to keep up at 50mph on the highway like you said absolutely terrifying
I'll tell ya, I love Revzilla's enthusiasm when it comes to motorcycles...*all* motorcycles, not just sportbikes or Harleys. The fact that they even give this thing a serious look is pretty awesome. We can see where CSC saved money though: Not a speck of chrome on it (except maybe the instrument bezels). As H-D knows, black paint is cheap. But anyway, looks like a cool motorcycle if all you need is an around-town runabout. And hey, you really can't beat the price. (I wonder how warranty claims work on a mail-order motorcycle though.)
I am going to purchase and pickup a 1982 Suzuki GS 750T today for the princeley sum of $1300, it has 17000 miles and is an absolute gem. It will not have any trouble cruising at highway speeds. Craigslist is your friend , and plenty of Great Deals are out there, especially during the holiday season. It`s when people unload their unwanted machines to fund Christmas, and when guys like me swoop in and score some really unbelievable buys.
This is a very entertaining review. I watched it a couple of times just to hear you say "I love this bike..... I hate this bike..... this bike is so much fun......" please do more reviews like this one. Keep up the good work.
Unlike some other bikes, the standard exhaust looks really good. I've never heard of CSC until now, but I'm always keen to discover new things, especially if they're budget friendly.
Honestly, you can’t get their above 250cc bikes for less than around 5K so you’re better off spending the extra 500-1000 on a barely used royal enfield that’s faster, has better brakes and is still gonna be under warranty for a couple years
@@MrThejunkman Totally agree. For me, it's the dealer network/support that's important. As you say, spend a bit more and get something that's a wise purchase.
I am retired and living in Panama. Everyone that rides uses these Chinese motorcycles. They are cheap to buy and cheap to maintain in Panama. And, they can last longer than you would imagine. In Panama, we don't have the money to buy expensive Japanese motorcycles. The normal size motorcycle is 125cc. They are good commuter motorcycles and last a long time.
@@ywang92 He replaced it with a Mikuni. Granted, I have seen chinese bikes with new japanese carbs from the factory. Of course, even then, it still probably wont be a Mikuni. I have seen a few with Kei Hin, which is every bit as good as a Mikuni (After all, Honda uses them!) There are also some off brands that are made in japan , I have a "jilewang" PZ27 on my Honda 185s, and it's stamped "made in Japan" . It even had Kei Hin jets (had the logo and all) .
That's probably because they have forgotten about it or just planned on making the one video. If you are curious about these bikes, there are many people that upload their thoughts on it at mileages of 500 or more. They can give you a more definitive and objective look at this bike. Revzilla is great for exposure but seriously lacks long term objective looks at things.
I bought a 1994 Kawasaki Estrella 250 for 800 bucks. It is sweet and apart from a wire that grounded on the rear mudguard it is flawless. And it looks beautiful. Front and rear disks too. Classic 50s rotisserie looks.
Bought my first bike in 1994. It was a used 1980 Yamaha 650. Only paid $400 for it, and it was an absolute piece of crap but I loved it. My first brand new bike was a 2006 Kawasaki 636 ZX6R. I paid just over six grand for it. If they’re had ever been an option to buy a new bike this cool for $2000 I would’ve done it in a heartbeat! I couldn’t afford a car for a long time and bought a motorcycle because I needed to be able to get to work. If I was in that place right now this bike would definitely be on my radar! What a slick little ride for the money!! I actually would be surprised if the motorcycle riding schools didn’t grab a fleet of these!
Actual owner here (CSCRX4), - Way too many comments here based off of bad information and misinformation - period. From people who have never owned a CSC product, or likely even visited their website. I don't know how many times I read the bike has no warranty or something similar that is flat out a lie. CSC sells new bikes at low prices with warranties that can be used in any state. You just find a local shop who will service the bike. It likely won't be some major name dealer... which don't even always service their own bikes of certain vintage due to parts availability. I don't understand why people are recommending a ninja 250 (etc) when this is a cruiser style bike.. if they wanted a sports bike (or a enduro) they wouldn't be looking at a cruiser style bike.. come on people use that brain. A new rider with no motorcycle mech skill is looking at a new bike with warranty for 2 grand. Why set them up for failure recommending 2k craigslist bikes (if you can even find one) that likely need maintenance (chain/tire/valves) the new owner will need to pay for (increasing their price) right off the bat? Or be riding around on some poorly running/dangerous bike that needs maintenance? Or have some janky title that will make it hard to insure.. not worth it. Not to mention many of those bike are like 5 owner and have all kinds of poorly done DIY maintenance, or poorly installed mods which reduce the reliability of the bike. This bike reliably gets someone ONTO a motorcycle with fewer out of pocket repairs in the short term (warranty period).
I'm late but glad to see this comment, since I'm looking at the 2022 one atm. People are more mad about the engine coming from Zongshen without even realizing the CSC techs put the machines together and send them out, on top of the unlimited mileage 1 year warranty going on as I'm posting. It's strange to see people posting dirt bikes and sports bikes when this is clearly Cafe Racer style. Most of the people here who actually ride probably were ready to move on to something more powerful after a year or two anyway, so I don't understand what the big hate is all about.
I have 3 CSC/Zongshen bikes with more than 20,000 miles between them with not a single mechanical issue. The engine in the SG250 and TT250 are solid, hammer simple, Honda CG clone. Millions have been sold worldwide. CSC is a great company to do business with and stand behind their product. Don't assume a used Japanese branded bike is going to be any more or less reliable since many of the parts that make up that bike, including the engine, were also manufactured in China. You have no history on how a used bike was or if it was maintained, used or abused. Unless, you've seen or owned a CSC/Zohnshen bike in person, you've got no basis to speak on the build quality or reliability of these bikes.
This is a great video of this bike. Everything you are experiencing I did. Kawasaki G5 100 top speed was 65. This bike was a lot of fun for me. The strangest experience was going over the Skyway Bridge. It was so high at 65 miles an hour by the time I reached the top I was doing 15 miles an hour and second gear pushing it to its limit.
They say mopeds & big women are both fun to ride until ur spotted . U were spotted on a near moped equivalent bike . Have fun & keep da rubber side down & shiny side up .
The Achilles Heal for this motorcycle is going to be the used market. With some effort an open mind and some negotiating skills you can find a much nicer and capable machine for the +/-$2500 this bike will cost. It may take some time learning how to wrench on one, or fixing a few minor issues. There are CB750s everywhere that need a little work but are great once repaired. Countless Hondas, Suzukis, Yamahas from the mid 90s and older that can be picked up for cheap. And personally, I’d rather see someone raise those older machines from the ashes rather than put their money into a machine that will limited in what it can be used for, and ultimately be traded for pennies on the dollar down the road. The money someone would spend on an older machine to repair it would go much farther than the 2500 to buy this bike. Since its not one of the big name brands you can expect to get next to nothing at a dealership, and slightly less than nothing on CL or Ebay.
Agreed Sooriyah007. Heck you don’t even have to go with a “classic” to get a more capable machine. A 5 minute search on CL for my area turned up 3 different 2010+ Honda 250s, an 09 Ninja 250, a 2006 Sportster 883 for 2700, or if your willing to eat some Ramen noodles and Easy Mac for a month to expand your budget a little bit, there was a 2011 sportster with 6000miles for 3000, which could very easily turn into 2500 with some negotiating skills.
@@cisium1184 Does CSC pay you by the word or insult. Damn... The point is correct and all the rides mentioned are beginner's bikes. However, they won't get you run down by a tractor trailer if you need to use an interstate.
@@cisium1184 I'd rather buy a decade old japanese bike in good condition than one of these new. It'd be more reliable. The chinese bikes tend to need repairs within the first year already, especially things like mounts, brackets, struts, etc that you need to weld back on, it's only really worth it if you can do your own welding. Aside from that the japanese bike will be safer, it'll have better brakes, and probably abs.
Yeah but minivans are actually cool coming from a motorcycle college commuter. They can fit 7 people, you can put a ton of stuff in them, police mostly ignore you, getting in and out is easy, and most of all air conditioning (If you are lucky enough to have it working.)
True, I am in Portland and this fall purchased a 2008 SV650 s abs for $2600 with 13,000 miles on it. I certainly would not trade the SV650 for this bike.
Yes, it essentially is. Known as a CG250, 229cc OHV air cooled with a counter balancer. Good reliable, if slightly underpowered engine. It's just an upscaled clone of the old Honda CG125 engine.
That amazing. It cost less then a decent mountain bike. Chinese bearings suck though. I bet thats the first thing that goes, unless you replace the brakes first. Need someone like AvE to take this apart and find all the demons lurking inside.
This gives me a glimmer of hope. Motorcycles haven't really changed in decades but the prices keep on climbing. Something like this needs to come along and shake things up and bring the over inflated prices down, it's overdue...
Couldn't agree more.
Motorcycles have been getting better technology and improved quality parts. They have EFI, improved braking, improved suspension. Better quality plastics. You get what you pay for.
Bikes haven't changed in decades? Uuuuummmmm. That solid thing above you is a rock. If you push up on it, you can escape. Then you won't have to live under there anymore.
I rode a 2014 R1200GS adventure when it came out and it made my 2005 R1200GS (the best bike I've ever ridden) look and feel like a rickety piece of junk.
Yeah, they've changed a whole bunch. Like loads and loads and loads...
@@SHx589 That isn't worth an 88% price increase for what is basically the same thing.
Not everyone is broke
Riding bikes this small is like taking a yoga class. You just relax and enjoy. No stress, while taking in your surroundings, realizing just how good life really is. Perfect for cities, back roads, or just out for a Sunday ride.
@J G So men can't just relax and enjoy a slower bike? That bike doesn't do well on the highway, but it reaches the speed limit and that's what you "should" be driving anyway. Would you say that going past the speed limit is for men, and not for women then?
@J G Ah, I see! Sorry for the improper answer. What bikes do you own by the way?
I find yoga very stressful. And also bikes under 700cc.
@@birddaddydetta Your comment makes no logical sense at all.
@@ws8080 Could it be because the person who I was responding to deleted his comment, thereby omitting the relevant context for it to make sense?
They should include one of these with every Harley for runs to the dealer for parts !
^hes mad cause it's true
@@trigger8152 always a harley hater.
Jealousy is a female trait.
@@mr.b3168 sexism is a Harley trait
@@StucklnAWell Triggered.
@@mr.b3168 hard to hate on overpriced over weight and underpowered Bullshit, that isn't even US made
I am a big fan of CSC and how they operate. For the casual rider who doesn't care about performance specs, the bikes they offer are an incredible value and their customer service is top notch. It's really cool to see RevZilla taking them seriously and reviewing their bikes for what they are rather than what they are not. Excellent job!
Mr TT250 your the mvp when it comes to reviewing that bike
I *love* this bike.....
I *hate* this bike....
I *love* this bike...
Introducing the best bike for the bipolar
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🤣🤣🤣🤣
Are we just not going to talk about the massive tentacles coming out of that building?
you saw nothing don't worry about it.
There are no tentacles. Call your doctor.
Move along, nothing to see here.
Haha. I actually didn't even notice them on the first view. Had to go back and see what you were talking about.
Sucker!
Fifty years from now, this is gonna be one highly disappointing barn find.
Especially since most of the metal and plastic will have rotted away.
you think anyone that bought one of these would live on a farm? maw, paw, i found me a motorsickle on the inter-tube for $2000, i'm gonna git me one!
@@austin1002 you are probably better off buying a $2,000 used Yamaha, Honda, Suzuki, Kawasaki or Harley. According to Consumer Reports, these are the most reliable brands. Better brakes, more power for 250cc or more. You could buy an old 250cc Kawasaki for $1,000 and put the other $1,000 into fixing it up.
@@jeffruebens8355 depending on what you find, you might not even have to throw that much money into it. I bought a used 2006 Kawasaki Eliminator 125 for $900. It only had 1,100 miles in it. It was in perfect condition. I put 20,000 miles in it in two years and put no money into it.
50 years???? Nah make it 3 years it will fall apart
Do more of this. Best I've seen on this channel in a minute. It's cheap, it's silly, it's fun, it's exactly what a beginner dreams of. This video is really down to earth. I dig it.
Perfect price point for a college student or someone wanting to just have fun. Seriously looking at one.
Reality Check, here’s a reality check, that goes for every bike.
Reality Check from reading the article it has a warranty and for warranty repairs you can take it to any motorcycle mechanic and CSC works with the mechanic shop to get them paid
@Reality Check it's about as simple a street legal vehicle as you can possibly get, and CSC tells you how to do literally everything mechanically related with it you can think of
Look at a used SV650, GS500, etc instead, way better value and potential.
@@PapaP86 Oh yes I own both, love em!
Might be worth noting that the 2019 model has upgraded brakes a different dash and an led headlight along with a few other changes.
For me the best thing about this bike is purchasing it without a dealership! I have been thinking about this possibility for a long time.
Disrupting the dealerships has big downsides. Maybe this works for rural US, where you drive 120 miles to the next motorcycle dealer anyways. But within civilisation, I wouldn´t touch this thing if I was a motorcycle shop and has some customers left. So if anything breaks down, it´s on you to fix it. Good luck with getting any documentation or parts - you probably are supposed to throw it away if it doesn´t run and get another one.
@@gerokron3412 It's a very simple machine, due to the Chinese manufacturing replacement parts probably won't be hard to find (but may take a while to receive if CSC doesn't have a US warehouse). Any service center that works on motorcycles or small engines can work on this. Personally I can't stand dealers, they are just middlemen there to make money off you. Why do I need to pay more to pad someones pockets? I just want the vehicle for a set price. Tesla has proved we don't need them.
@@gerokron3412 you get the full manual with the bike. The intent is that you get it and you work on it. If anything is covered by warranty or recall they send the parts out to you.
I’d rather test drive something before committing
@@c7uk the vast majority of dealerships don't let you test drive a thing. At least not in my area. The only one that will is a Harley Davidson dealership
Cool that it exists but I'd rather have a $2500 - $3000 used quality Japanese bike.
Old EX250s or even 500s are cheaper than that where I am. But hey, more options.
That front disk looks like it belongs on a mountain bike... but claimed “weight” (dry I presume) is only 273 lb.
Completely agree. We'd pick up a used XT250 over this.
Yeah a very nice used XT250 can be had for about $3000 if you look. I bought my '11 TW200 with 1200 miles for $3200 and it looks brand new. My brother got a 2014 (fuel injected, water cooled) CRF250L for $3000 - that was a rare deal though. But still, those are all quality bikes for similar cash. But hey I bought a Chinese minibike and love ripping around on that so who knows.
I can get a 2016 ninja 300 with 0 miles at the stealership for around 2500$ otd.
Yes it’s 3 years old but it has never been used and It will probably be more reliable in the long term.
I will always prefer a slightly used quality motorcycle than a very cheaply build new motorcycle.
Point.
Funner riding a slow bike FAST than riding a fast bike SLOW!
Or you could ride a fast bike.... Fast
99% of my riding has been on the street with laws and law enforcement so that’s how I go balls to the walls and maintain a clean driving record!
Good point. I live out in the country so lotsa open roads
Logi 7000 I still dream about my time riding at 50% throttle on a 1988 Honda CR500 at Hungry Valley OHV (Gorman). Lifechangingly amazing... The CR80 was pretty fun too though... Freedom isn’t free out here in the city in L. A...
This is my belief for cars as well, slow car fast is better than fast car fast. My slow car is really fun because I'm going as hard as I can everywhere and I'm in little to no danger.
5:10 "Showing up to school on a motorcycle is a hell of a lot cooler than showing up to school in a CAMRY"
I feel personally attacked.
Edward Teach same Camry gang for life.
After seeing this video I'll take the Camry lol
Yeah most of us feel attacked by that comment.
I'm 48. I have a 2002 camry. I love it!! 248k on the odo. Just put new tires and struts on it. Needs a paint job. It's paid for. Gets awesome gas mileage. No oil leaks. Yeah... I'm a. CAMRY guy.
And in 35 years that kid will be driving that same Camry without as much as changing the oil
I see y'all are getting some tip from Ryan F9 about doing motorcycle reviews:) Love the back and forth
@Jon Smoltz Ok.....Why does that matter here. Im just saying his way of making Motorcycle reviews has rubbed on slightly on the Revzilla team and its nice. They put their own spin on it with the usual Revzilla trademarks.
@Jon Smoltz And...? Who cares? They still make fantastic, informative, unbiased videos that I've found very helpful. And everything they show off is something you can buy somewhere else anyway, so even if they did have a prejudice against Americans (which I've seen no evidence of) it's not like they're locking great stuff away from us.
Jon Smoltz kinda like a Canadian trying to buy from Revzilla...
Funny thing about borders, they have duties/taxes/costs to cross them.
@Jon Smoltz trust me, you're not missing much. As much as Fort9's youtube is just fantastic, the retail website is abysmal compared to almost any online retailer in the states. The selection is minute in comparison, and their ability to keep things in stock is almost laughable. Not their fault necessarily, Parts Canada is the sole distributor to them, and they have always been the shits. Source, a Canadian rider who would much rather ride the 30+km over the border to pick up orders from Revzilla.
They started doing this long before F9.
I got this bike last November, my first bike, new rider, so far so good! I love this bike actually! Still have a lot of learning and practicing. Barely 250 miles in, the price and engine size were big selling points for me. Awesome review. 😎
I've been eyeing this company and their bikes, so I'm glad to see you guys doing a first ride video of them. Very interested to see how it "ages" and what you guys do for maintenance. Great video!
A couple of weeks ago, I bought a used 2020 CSC San Gabriel SG-250 with 17 miles on the odometer.
It is fun to ride. :-)
There are upgrade parts and sidegrade parts available from CSC and Moto-Cult.
Depending on a person's budget ...
- larger front sprocket
- scrambler style handlebar
- Scrambler tires
- more comfy seat
- oil cooler
- new top of engine and bigger piston to get a full 250cc displacement (stock displacement is 229cc)
- new bigger exhaust pipe
- luggage rack
- and some cosmetic parts
Money saved getting this bike allows for upgrades or additional riding clothing and accessories and gasoline and maintenance supplies.
The 26 inch seat height is nice for short riders or for people with short legs.
I have no complaints, so far.
It's a great first bike. :-)
What about the elephant in the room or in this case the tentacles??
It was an art installation in the Philadelphia Navy Yard where RevZilla's HQ is located.
What's the timestamp?
Notice how the tentacles descend.,,
The Japanese like it
Finally ! A bike for us poor people ! Yay!
Don´t get me wrong, I really like this little thing, as I dig it´s simplicity. But after buying it you should maintain it, maybe repair it, and that´s gonna be the pricey part of the relationship. w/o dealers I see the next repair shop charging you an arm and a leg as they will know that this is your only help to keep the little blueberry run. The bike will only fit poor people it f it runs fine. If it doesn´t, you´re effed. Get and old Honda instead, where you will find tons of literature instead of chinese manuals to download.
No, don't get an old Honda because you will pay to repair that too. Old Hondas are cool, but buying sloppy seconds on someone else's discarded beater is no better, and most likely worse, than buying a new bike of uncertain provenance. So if a new Chinese bike is what you want, go ahead and get the new Chinese bike, spend your repair money on some tools and a book on general motorcycle maintenance, and then use the owner's manual to learn to fix your own bike through trial and error.
@@cisium1184 how many miles do you think this thing is good for? For just over twice the price I got a cbr300r, already have 35k miles on it and it doesn't seem to be any worse for wear, and it is fully capable on the highway. I commute almost 100 milea a day on it. I won't vouch for a 90's beater, but anything in the past 15 years should be pretty reliable.
Good thing it has a one year warranty so you won't be out on luck with it breaking early, looks like you can get different motor on it with a bit of skills
@@deathwish8339 Start disassembling that bike and i guarantee you will change your mind
I really love the format and execution of this review. Keep turning out quality stuff, Team Orange!
A 400cc version would be more practical in the US
@Adam Burke My reasons is the roads are longer and faster in general. 250 bikes are maxed out keep with traffic.
@Adam Burke I live in California and if you can't go over 70mph you'll probably get killed on our highways.
A Horse Outside I live in the middle, where a “country mile” is a real thing. Big wide open spaces, and a 250 isn’t gonna do it
I agree I'd love to see a 400
@Adam Burke Spoken like an ignorant non- American.
I really enjoyed this review. its should be standard practice for a rider to take it through different conditions and different rides. Kudos to the editor.
I want this bike to sell well simply because delivering directly to customer needs to catch on.
Also the damn thing is so cheap it'd be a no brainer to mod it and hooligan around on it with no worries.
A bike like this, sure why not. A vehicle that's actually worth a damn I'd rather see before buying. Plus, no haggle buying is more expensive.
@@cazgerald9471 I'd buy a S1000RR sight unseen.. the reputation is good enough for me!
@@nicksonrobert even if I know the particular model I want to buy, I still want to see the actual unit. An exception would be if I already have a great relationship with the seller. What if there's something glaringly wrong with that particular bike? I could decide to pass on the deal, or ask the seller to fix it, or ask for a discount, etc.
As for buying a new bike directly from the manufacturer or distributor, if there was something I didn't like I suppose I could refuse delivery, but what if I just want it fixed or perhaps a discount? All my leverage would be gone if the sale was already complete, and I'd then be dealing with customer service agents or even worse, automated systems. No thank you.
@@cazgerald9471 yeah I was referring to a new purchase.. I need to ride/drive anything used (unless grossly underpriced).
@@nicksonrobert Here's an example video of what I'm talking about. If I was purchasing a car from a sales person on a traditional car lot, I could either walk away from the deal or use these flaws to negotiate a better deal. Either way, I'd know the exact aesthetic condition of this brand new car before I made the purchase. However, what's my recourse if I was to take delivery from an online purchase? I think the owner of this channel does a fair and detailed job on his reviews. I know he's excited by the delivery, but I'd be pretty disappointed if my brand new car showed up at my house in this condition ruclips.net/video/FSLTNjGI8hw/видео.html
I'd like to see Honda revive the 250 Scrambler of the 60's.
been riding 1000cc bikes for over a decade but for some reason i really want this little bike lol..
they are deff more fun for city driving, just lightweight and nimble and you can just full throttle it all day because well, lets be real.. you can't get into much trouble on it! lol
I thought u couldn’t ship bikes with gas and fuel in it
edit: gas and oil lawl
JTsuits - they don’t. It’s usually one or the other 😜
Weeeeeooo goteeemmm, JT I wanna see you on one of these yelling PAPPPAAAA while wide open
Oil is ok. Never gas.
I guess that depends on how many fugs your shipping carrier gives when they think about hazmat.
FedEX won't be the ones dropping this off. A Semi with a liftgate would and they can haul most anything with the proper placarding.
Where is the long term review of this motorcycle? Did it die? How many miles did it have before it required major repairs?
My biggest question isn't how it holds up, but rather, how good is the documentation and fast parts availability? With no dealership, when something goes wrong you need to be able to service it yourself. With it being aimed at new riders, you need good documentation so that someone whos never worked on a motorcycle can repair it.
Are people going to have to wait for parts to ship from china when something goes wrong?
Something I've come across with my DR650 - I have to order everything for it. The local suzuki dealers never have any part for it... a DR650 isn't a rare machine, and it's been unchanged all the way back to 1996. But I still have to order parts, because none of them are available locally.
This CSC machine would be the same for me, as far as parts are concerned.
Actually, Chinese parts are incredibly easy to get, and insanely cheap. Or at least they have been historically; our trade situation with China may alter that somewhat. And since all bikes of a given displacement from a given Chinese factory are fundamentally the same, generic manuals are readily available, with long lists at the back of the models covered. No, the problem with Chinese bikes is not fixing them yourself - it's getting someone else to fix them if you're unwilling to fix them yourself.
If you can access ebay, or Amazon, parts availability is better than any dealership. I haven't bought a part at a dealership since 2006. Dealership be like six dollars for a bolt be here in two week. Ebay. 6 bolts for a dollar be at your doorstep in 72 hours.
All of the CSC bikes include a full service manual with the purchase, and CSC makes a point to stock literally *every* part of each of their bikes. They could literally build one from their warehouse if they needed to.
Find a mom and pop shop for maintenance most in my experience are good with ordering parts and working on these bikes from China for the price even if u slowly replace certain parts on purpose little by little u still will be ahead but overall I believe this model is solid as long as u take care of it as with anything
All those bikes need carb tuning because they run lean. Add an exhaust then rejet and it'll open right up. Could change sprockets to smooth out the top end for highway riding.
I just picked up a used KLX250s. I have a gsxr1000 and a Heritage Softail in the garage. The 250 makes me smile. Brings back the same feeling I had when I was learning to ride motorcycles. So much fun to bash through alleyways and tight stuff. It’s not as fun on the highway. It will do highway just fine but it becomes a boring buzz saw. Sure, I wish it had a little more torque. Torque and power on a motorcycle is something you get used to having and when it’s gone, well, you know when it’s gone. Most of the time I’m the only one in my small town America blasting through traffic and it makes me imagine what it would be like mobbing around a small motorcycle Mecca like Indonesia or Malaysia. It would be a blast.
You are somebody that gets it. I own a big fast VFR, and I have just as much fun bombing around on my Hawk 250 (Think CSC TT250, but cheaper.). Been a surprising reliable bike when it isn't getting stolen. The cheap rugged simplicity and slightly under powered nature has a charm to it, and I find myself smiling just as much for different reasons.
What you said about the bike feeling good because it reminded you of being young and broke hits home hard for me. Thats exactly why I fell in love with motorcycles. Really cool business model.
Cool bike! Fun to see Spurgy having so much fun, this seems extremely straightforward and unfiltered. Great review, I loved the format!
This video should be called "Mishap at the calamari factory."
Was there ever a follow-up video???
Nope because it's Chinese probably blown up and in a landfill now.
After watching this video one thing is very clear to me.
Every abandoned building should have tentacles and eyeballs.
I can't ride...I have never.... due to a medical procedure..... first time viewer here and I am in love with your presentation...now subbed..... thank you.
There's always trikes! I've seen plenty of handicapped folks keep on riding with the use of a trike. Even one man who was wheelchair bound. Has a ramp just close the door and it locked down the chair. Used an automatic and all hand controls. Another who was paralyzed chest down and used a special vest and backrest to stay upright.
Not me. I payed $700 for a stock 1975 Honda xl250 with 3,500 miles on it. I dropped the rear sprocket by 2 teeth and added a luggage rack and a top box. The perfect commuter, errand runner and even a little off road on the way home from work. And it looks so good next to the 1976 Triumph 750 Bonneville and the 1969 Honda CL125 Scrambler. Nice review and happy riding to all.
somebody should do a lap time on nurburguring
They would die though
They are, they just haven't crossed the finish line.. we will get timing anytime now
At 6'0 and 230 will I look goofy big on it? Can I get handlebar risers or something?
Waiting for a revzilla review of the Royal Enfield interceptor 650
A less than excusable example. As a bigger bike and not living up to its necessary requirements, it is a disappointment. Not ready in any way for the American consumer
I must say that I am pleasantly surprised and shocked that you guys are reviewing a CSC bike. I think that is very awesome of you. :)
So I want to ask:
What can one do, if anything, to make the brakes better? Buy new levers? Replace the cables with steel branded ones?
Are the stock tires decent enough?
How is the horn?
How is the bike serviced? Meaning is this bike best suited for people who are handy working on their own bikes since there is no local dealership to go to?
As somebody that messes around with Chinese bikes on the side. There are ways to slightly improve the brakes, but nothing that will make a huge difference. Since these bikes use cloned parts from other older Japanese bikes, you can find EBC pads that fit, and different lines are always an option.
The stock tires are generally so-so, if you can find a good name brand tire that fits, it will make a big difference.
The horn wont be amazing, but will function. Easy to upgrade.
If you look hard enough you could find a place to service it, but honestly these bikes are so easy to work on yourself that it makes far more sense to do so. CSC actually has "how to" tutorials on a lot of the servicing on their bikes that are pretty decent. Their customer service and parts/prices are damn good, and they are usually very quick to get the parts to you. They will also work with you to find a shop and help cover warranty repairs.
This bike is pieced together by the same Chinese company that made the "Braaap" line of ST-250s for Australia. Being a past owner I can say that you get what you pay for. The build quality is poor, the performance is low, the tyres are shockingly bad, the transmission doesn't shift well and never into neutral. The carb doesn't use pilot jets you can buy anywhere. The carb adjustment screws wind themselves around on their own and the shift lever seal leaked from new. The speedometer was out 10% at least and it vibrates like hell. BUT it is very easy to work on (you will need to) and if you know what you are getting into then they are alot of fun and definitely eye-catching.
Servicing is a pinch with no changeable oil filter and the air filter is washable. The horn is quiet and their is little in the way of brake upgrades.
Stalin Glad, that is incorrect. The Braaap is made by Jinan Qingqi Motorcycle Co. The CSC bikes are all made by Zongshen to CSC specifications. In addition to full motorcycles, Zongshen also makes numerous parts for well-known ‘name brand’ motorcycle manufacturers, including Harley-Davidson and Honda.
I've got a similar Chinese bike the Stallions 400cc (from the Choqqing Shineray Corp). Had pretty lousy brakes fresh out of the factory. Swap the plastic shitty brake cable with a braided steel. Throw out the calipers from some brembos and get some organic compound pads. Might cost you a pretty penny, but you'll feel the difference several-fold.
I know where every single part on this bike comes from in China. Trust me, this will not last more than a couple years.
laowhy86 just saved me 2k love your videos. My dream bike is a Churchill.
Depends how dumb and/or unlucky the owner is. Basic mechanical skills go a long way in owning any bike
You have my trust brother! I'll stick with these Japanese bikes, or the big American bikes made by men with beards.
Thanks for the heads up, love watching you and Vivi!
i think engine is based on cg or cb 125 with a max displacement of 223cc on stock casings, in china they "engineered" the heck out of those things, with a new piston/ring it would probably be last decently
I have a 2016 CSC RC3 sport bike. Love this motorcycle, it was one of the last 5 CSC had when I purchased it. I paid just under $3,000.00 USD including delivery to my driveway. I owned a Chinese 150cc Scooter before this so was a big step up. I was looking at getting the Honda CBR300R before I saw the CSC RC3. I found only a few reviews for the RC3 on the internet at the time. The cost of the CSCS RC3 was great and had the Delphi fuel injection, digital gauges, 6 speed trans, water cooled. So I got it. This is something different and I always get people asking about it.
My first review on Revzilla, and you got a new subscriber out of it from Pa as well.
Welcome!
The company who actually makes this bike is Zongshen, the second-largest motorcycle manufacturer in China. It isn't exactly a no-name brand, as even companies such as Harley and Honda subcontract production of their parts to Zongshen. The engine is also an upscaled clone of Honda's legendary CG series "world-bike" engines. In fact, this clone engine is nicknamed "The Cockroach" in much of SE Asia on account of how unkillable it is. CSC acts as an importer and by all accounts has great customer service, stocking literally every part for these things and going over every bike before it goes out to the customer. I would far and away recommend a newb ride this for the sub-$4000 bracket instead of some beat-to-hell Japanese bike from the 80s or 90s.
Something not mentioned in the video - the bike seems to come with material (The shipping crate) that could be turned into luggage racks, by someone with too much time and a welder.
At that price point...might be a good starting point for the newer DIY modding types.
I also think it’s pretty clear that this bike is designed specifically for city type riding. It’s not gonna handle dirt roads too well, highways are a challenge...This is good for kids right out of high school just trying to get to their local job and putting around town. Basically a Metropolitan scooter or Vespa...but cooler. Great review.
I just got mine a couple days ago. And it is the coolest thing ever.
Keep updated like more info after a few thousand miles.
Not a lot of good reviews or info on these. I loved the Yamaha 250 that he compared this too, but they never come down in price even used.
Are you still riding it? Does it still work?
@@kahnmichaeltk Yes. Holding up good so far.
iamrodo do you ride it often
So $1995 bike and shipping is 500 bucks?
How about an update on the durability of this thing? I'm very interested to hear how it's held up. Thanks for the great videos.
Here's the first update! -DrewZilla
*www.revzilla.com/common-tread/one-tank-of-gas-through-the-csc-sg250-san-gabriel
The highway section is 100% how I felt on my old cb200 😂 maxed out rev bombing at 7k just to keep up at 50mph on the highway like you said absolutely terrifying
I'll tell ya, I love Revzilla's enthusiasm when it comes to motorcycles...*all* motorcycles, not just sportbikes or Harleys. The fact that they even give this thing a serious look is pretty awesome. We can see where CSC saved money though: Not a speck of chrome on it (except maybe the instrument bezels). As H-D knows, black paint is cheap. But anyway, looks like a cool motorcycle if all you need is an around-town runabout. And hey, you really can't beat the price. (I wonder how warranty claims work on a mail-order motorcycle though.)
I am going to purchase and pickup a 1982 Suzuki GS 750T today for the princeley sum of $1300, it has 17000 miles and is an absolute gem. It will not have any trouble cruising at highway speeds. Craigslist is your friend , and plenty of Great Deals are out there, especially during the holiday season. It`s when people unload their unwanted machines to fund Christmas, and when guys like me swoop in and score some really unbelievable buys.
Squid building is impressive! Transforms a dilapidated eyesore into the coolest building on the block.
This is a very entertaining review. I watched it a couple of times just to hear you say "I love this bike..... I hate this bike..... this bike is so much fun......" please do more reviews like this one. Keep up the good work.
I'm stoked that spurge is a fellow Kutztown alumni!
That's some brilliant editing, well done!
This bike isn’t fun, THIS BIKE IS FUN😂
Unlike some other bikes, the standard exhaust looks really good. I've never heard of CSC until now, but I'm always keen to discover new things, especially if they're budget friendly.
Honestly, you can’t get their above 250cc bikes for less than around 5K so you’re better off spending the extra 500-1000 on a barely used royal enfield that’s faster, has better brakes and is still gonna be under warranty for a couple years
@@MrThejunkman Totally agree. For me, it's the dealer network/support that's important. As you say, spend a bit more and get something that's a wise purchase.
I saw this video about 4 days ago and have spent 4days trying to find it again success😎
One of the most entertaining reviews I've ever watched.
This exact motorcycle is sold in Pakistan with a 150cc motor, but having the same ergonomics.
very useful and eco-friendly for suicide bombers
@@fwefhwe4232 boo
I am retired and living in Panama. Everyone that rides uses these Chinese motorcycles. They are cheap to buy and cheap to maintain in Panama. And, they can last longer than you would imagine. In Panama, we don't have the money to buy expensive Japanese motorcycles. The normal size motorcycle is 125cc. They are good commuter motorcycles and last a long time.
30 percent more chinese than a harley.
At least the carburator of this bike is with a Japanese brand.
@@ywang92 He replaced it with a Mikuni. Granted, I have seen chinese bikes with new japanese carbs from the factory. Of course, even then, it still probably wont be a Mikuni. I have seen a few with Kei Hin, which is every bit as good as a Mikuni (After all, Honda uses them!) There are also some off brands that are made in japan , I have a "jilewang" PZ27 on my Honda 185s, and it's stamped "made in Japan" . It even had Kei Hin jets (had the logo and all) .
Sounds like 30 % more reliable
pleasd review the csc sg400
No follow-up post in 4 years. That doesn't bode too well.
That's probably because they have forgotten about it or just planned on making the one video. If you are curious about these bikes, there are many people that upload their thoughts on it at mileages of 500 or more. They can give you a more definitive and objective look at this bike. Revzilla is great for exposure but seriously lacks long term objective looks at things.
Someone needed to mention....
10/10 Man Spreading!
Hey Camry's are reliable! Scotty would be pissed
Plug Puller ICan see scottys arms going crazy
I bought a 1994 Kawasaki Estrella 250 for 800 bucks. It is sweet and apart from a wire that grounded on the rear mudguard it is flawless. And it looks beautiful. Front and rear disks too. Classic 50s rotisserie looks.
I've seen enough anime to know where this is going.
Seems a bit small…just curious how tall you are as I was considering buying one.
I am 5 feet 6 inches tall.
The 26 inch seat height works for me.
I can have both of my feet flat-footed while on my SG-250.
I bought a bike exactly like this....
for $550
Sam Beatty do you remeber where you bought it
Bought my first bike in 1994. It was a used 1980 Yamaha 650. Only paid $400 for it, and it was an absolute piece of crap but I loved it. My first brand new bike was a 2006 Kawasaki 636 ZX6R. I paid just over six grand for it. If they’re had ever been an option to buy a new bike this cool for $2000 I would’ve done it in a heartbeat! I couldn’t afford a car for a long time and bought a motorcycle because I needed to be able to get to work. If I was in that place right now this bike would definitely be on my radar! What a slick little ride for the money!! I actually would be surprised if the motorcycle riding schools didn’t grab a fleet of these!
My mistake, it was a Yamaha 650, a few months later I got a Honda cb650 custom. Same year 1980.
Acme Inc. It was a special. Dark blue.
Actual owner here (CSCRX4), - Way too many comments here based off of bad information and misinformation - period. From people who have never owned a CSC product, or likely even visited their website. I don't know how many times I read the bike has no warranty or something similar that is flat out a lie. CSC sells new bikes at low prices with warranties that can be used in any state. You just find a local shop who will service the bike. It likely won't be some major name dealer... which don't even always service their own bikes of certain vintage due to parts availability. I don't understand why people are recommending a ninja 250 (etc) when this is a cruiser style bike.. if they wanted a sports bike (or a enduro) they wouldn't be looking at a cruiser style bike.. come on people use that brain. A new rider with no motorcycle mech skill is looking at a new bike with warranty for 2 grand. Why set them up for failure recommending 2k craigslist bikes (if you can even find one) that likely need maintenance (chain/tire/valves) the new owner will need to pay for (increasing their price) right off the bat? Or be riding around on some poorly running/dangerous bike that needs maintenance? Or have some janky title that will make it hard to insure.. not worth it. Not to mention many of those bike are like 5 owner and have all kinds of poorly done DIY maintenance, or poorly installed mods which reduce the reliability of the bike. This bike reliably gets someone ONTO a motorcycle with fewer out of pocket repairs in the short term (warranty period).
I'm late but glad to see this comment, since I'm looking at the 2022 one atm. People are more mad about the engine coming from Zongshen without even realizing the CSC techs put the machines together and send them out, on top of the unlimited mileage 1 year warranty going on as I'm posting. It's strange to see people posting dirt bikes and sports bikes when this is clearly Cafe Racer style. Most of the people here who actually ride probably were ready to move on to something more powerful after a year or two anyway, so I don't understand what the big hate is all about.
Great bike review. Really felt like I got to know it in a very short amount of time. Keep em coming.
I have 3 CSC/Zongshen bikes with more than 20,000 miles between them with not a single mechanical issue. The engine in the SG250 and TT250 are solid, hammer simple, Honda CG clone. Millions have been sold worldwide. CSC is a great company to do business with and stand behind their product.
Don't assume a used Japanese branded bike is going to be any more or less reliable since many of the parts that make up that bike, including the engine, were also manufactured in China. You have no history on how a used bike was or if it was maintained, used or abused.
Unless, you've seen or owned a CSC/Zohnshen bike in person, you've got no basis to speak on the build quality or reliability of these bikes.
This is a great video of this bike. Everything you are experiencing I did. Kawasaki G5 100 top speed was 65. This bike was a lot of fun for me. The strangest experience was going over the Skyway Bridge. It was so high at 65 miles an hour by the time I reached the top I was doing 15 miles an hour and second gear pushing it to its limit.
In 2009 I bought a new KLR 650 single. $3800. Owned it til 2012 sold it for $3900.
New subscriber here. Major kudos to your editor, and huge kudos to your entire channel for your thorough tests and explanations. Keep em coming
5:03 Its true! Id take my ninja over my Camry to class any day
So if you get a lemon, whats the return process? You have to pack it and pay for shipping yourself?
They say mopeds & big women are both fun to ride until ur spotted . U were spotted on a near moped equivalent bike . Have fun & keep da rubber side down & shiny side up .
When your pee pee is small and so is your confidence you tend to have the problem of feeling embarrassed by your peers.
I like how the video compares the different riding scenarios in a non linear fashion.
The Achilles Heal for this motorcycle is going to be the used market. With some effort an open mind and some negotiating skills you can find a much nicer and capable machine for the +/-$2500 this bike will cost. It may take some time learning how to wrench on one, or fixing a few minor issues. There are CB750s everywhere that need a little work but are great once repaired. Countless Hondas, Suzukis, Yamahas from the mid 90s and older that can be picked up for cheap. And personally, I’d rather see someone raise those older machines from the ashes rather than put their money into a machine that will limited in what it can be used for, and ultimately be traded for pennies on the dollar down the road. The money someone would spend on an older machine to repair it would go much farther than the 2500 to buy this bike. Since its not one of the big name brands you can expect to get next to nothing at a dealership, and slightly less than nothing on CL or Ebay.
Not to mention the abundant aftermarket parts for more established models. This might get there to but not anytime soon
Agreed Sooriyah007. Heck you don’t even have to go with a “classic” to get a more capable machine. A 5 minute search on CL for my area turned up 3 different 2010+ Honda 250s, an 09 Ninja 250, a 2006 Sportster 883 for 2700, or if your willing to eat some Ramen noodles and Easy Mac for a month to expand your budget a little bit, there was a 2011 sportster with 6000miles for 3000, which could very easily turn into 2500 with some negotiating skills.
Cisium, it’s a real shame that you decided to bury your decent point under a crap load of aggressively belligerent ad hominem attacks.
@@cisium1184 Does CSC pay you by the word or insult. Damn... The point is correct and all the rides mentioned are beginner's bikes. However, they won't get you run down by a tractor trailer if you need to use an interstate.
@@cisium1184 I'd rather buy a decade old japanese bike in good condition than one of these new. It'd be more reliable. The chinese bikes tend to need repairs within the first year already, especially things like mounts, brackets, struts, etc that you need to weld back on, it's only really worth it if you can do your own welding. Aside from that the japanese bike will be safer, it'll have better brakes, and probably abs.
Where's the update video?
It remins me on an old Yamaha RD250 from the looks
I can see it all ready! People doing Stage 2 upgrades, bobbing it out , mini apes , dyno , the some vs’s ...
As an algebra student with a mini van, I feel a bit insulted
Babybop Kidsrock hahaha....
If you have a mini-van, you should be used to being insulted.
Yeah but minivans are actually cool coming from a motorcycle college commuter. They can fit 7 people, you can put a ton of stuff in them, police mostly ignore you, getting in and out is easy, and most of all air conditioning (If you are lucky enough to have it working.)
😂AHAHA!😂
@@sed8181
...and they can carry a LOT of weed...
the fact that you're going to rack up the miles on this and report back to us is awesome.
$2,500 is used SV650 territory...
Maybe where you live. In LA it's hard to find a bike made in the last 15 years that still has all its wheels for less than $4000.
My buddy picked up a decent used one with 20k mi for $500, you just have to be an aggressive searcher
I don't know your demographic but up here in Oregon, Craigslist always has something I don't need for a good price lol.
True, I am in Portland and this fall purchased a 2008 SV650 s abs for $2600 with 13,000 miles on it. I certainly would not trade the SV650 for this bike.
@@PaulGuy Just another reason to *not* live in CA.
CSC has good reputation for selling some dam good solid bikes , mostly all Air Cooled and stuff but that engine is gold
Is this the same Chinese engine used in the $3,700 Cleveland CycleWerks bikes and the $7,000 Janus bikes? If so, it seems like a fairly proven engine.
I think so
Yes, it essentially is. Known as a CG250, 229cc OHV air cooled with a counter balancer. Good reliable, if slightly underpowered engine. It's just an upscaled clone of the old Honda CG125 engine.
So... 2 years later.... How is the bike now?
how it will hold in time, "we going to ride it for ... bla bla bla , i search your chanel 3 years later still no long term review.
Yoooo, minivan squad! I rocked an 03 Odyssey through college, best vehicle I have ever driven
'87 Dodge Caravan with fake wood paneling.
Still not used to un-bearded Spirge.
wildhoagie you and me both.... my face is cold.
I picked up a Chinese hawk 250 street and trial for under 1600. Fun as hell! It tops out at about 55 60 though. This is a pretty cool little machine.
That amazing. It cost less then a decent mountain bike. Chinese bearings suck though. I bet thats the first thing that goes, unless you replace the brakes first. Need someone like AvE to take this apart and find all the demons lurking inside.
You're right. I performed an "exorcism" on my Chinese 250 scooter LOL!
I am getting this bike Next year