US EPA Approves CSC Cyclone!

What a way to close 2014 and enter the New Year!   We learned today that the United States Environmental Protection Agency approved the CSC RX-3 Cyclone!   We’re still waiting for California Air Resources Board (CARB) approval, but it’s typical for CARB approval to take a bit longer.    We know the guys at CARB, they’re good people and good engineers, and we’re not expecting any problems.

Right now we’re cleared to deliver the Cyclone in all 49 states except our home state of California, and as soon as we get CARB approval, we’ll be able to do California, too.   Good news indeed!   Under Steve’s capable leadership, this is quite an accomplishment!

Steve Seidner, the man who is bringing the CSC Cyclone to America!

I know, I know….everyone is chomping at the bit and your next question is:   When can I get my bike?

Here’s where we are, folks.   During our visit with the motorcycle manufacturing maestros in Chongqing last week, Zongshen committed to a 25 January ship date.    Yay!

What happens next is the ship leaves the port in Chongqing (a city deep in China) and sets sail on the mighty Yangtze River.    That’s the same river Susie and I took a cable car across when we were in Chongqing!

The mighty Yangtze on a typically dreary Chongqing day…the route our bikes will take to the Pacific!

Our bikes will sail halfway across China on the Yangtze, go through the locks at the Three Gorges Dam (the largest dam in the world, by the way), and continue along the Yangtze to Shanghai where the Chiang Jiang (the Long River, another name for the Yangtze) meets the Pacific Ocean.   From there, the ship crosses the Pacific to Long Beach in California.   If you’re wondering where I’m going with this “slow boat from China” story, it’s here:  The trip from Chongqing to Long Beach takes about 3 weeks.

The route across China, sailing from Chongqing to Shanghai, and then on to Long Beach!

Once the ship arrives in Long Beach, it can take anywhere from a few days to maybe 3 weeks to clear US Customs.   It usually takes a week for this part of the cycle, but it can occasionally take longer.   For example, we’ve got another shipment of other stuff that’s been hung up in Customs for 2 weeks.  It’s unusual that it takes this long, but it can happen.

So what’s all this mean?   Right now, our best estimate is that we’re looking at 3 weeks from 25 Jan to reach Long Beach, and a week after that to get to us.   That puts the CSC Cyclone’s arrival at our plant on or about 20 February.   Might be a little longer; might be a little shorter.  We’ll keep you posted.    But I’m pumped.   I’m already digging into the detailed planning for the Baja trip, boys and girls, so keep an eye on the blog to learn more about that!

And for our friends in Canada who we know are watching things closely:   We’re working it.   Your bikes have already started the Canadian approval process.  We’ll keep you posted, too!