2018 CSC SG250 San Gabriel: The Return of the Café Racer
UPDATE: for 2019 the SG250 is NEW and IMPROVED. Read to the end for information on the new features included on the 2019 CSC SG250’s!
Recently, RevZilla – the leading online motorcycle parts and accessory retailer – took delivery of a new CSC SG250 San Gabriel and put it through an uncrating and ride review. The full review was featured in the RevZilla “Common Tread” blog.
RevZilla received the SG250 in a crate – just like any consumer would. CSC ONLY sells motorcycles direct to the consumer. CSC Motorcycles first inspects, pre-assembles, and tests each motorcycle. The motorcycle is then crated and shipped to the buyer. Bypassing a dealer network allows CSC to pack the maximum value into each model while delivering a wealth of features for the absolute lowest possible price.
RevZilla receives the CSC SG250 for testing (RevZilla photo)
The 2018 CSC SG250 San Gabriel has a LOW retail price of only $1,995.00, plus fees. These fees are the lowest in the motorcycle industry. CSC charges a documentation fee of $55.00 so that the new owner can obtain a title, license, and insurance in all 50-states. (The CSC SG250 is EPA-certified in all 50-states.) CSC charges $345.00 for incoming freight, assembly and inspection. When your bike arrives, you just install the rear-view mirrors, top off the gas and start riding!
In less than one hour after delivery, you can be riding your new CSC SG250 San Gabriel!
Remove the crate, add mirrors and RIDE! (RevZilla photo)
RevZilla was impressed with the CSC SG250. It is just a LOT of motorcycle for $1,995.00! In many ways, the CSC SG250 San Gabriel motorcycle is a throw-back to the 1960’s. The San Gabriel is handsome, yet rugged. The staff of RevZilla agreed that the it is equipped with everything you need for heart-pumping, purist motor bike riding – and nothing you don’t!
2018 CSC SG250 San Gabriel: Old School has never been more affordable!!!
Based on price alone, the CSC SG250 San Gabriel is really in a class by itself. The only motorcycles that compare in the same price range are used “project bikes” – some from as far back as the 1970’s! While some experienced riders dream of rebuilding a “vintage” bike, some of these projects may require massive restoration and cost four or five times what you can pay for a NEW SG250! Plus, the 2018 CSC SG250 includes a 12-month unlimited mileage, parts warranty!
But how does the CSC SG250 ride? That was the main question for Spurgeon and the other riders at RevZilla.
Spurgeon took off across town and summarized his riding impression: “I was grinning the entire time. So many of the big-horsepower bikes we ride hate the city. They buck and snort at stop signs like an angry bronco ready to leap to the next red light, growing increasingly frustrated with the stop-and-go routine. But not this bike. The SG250 sat patiently, humming its relaxed song via the low-slung, blacked-out megaphone muffler.”
“The CSC became my bike of choice for riding around the city.”
Spurgeon enjoying the “urban blaster” SG250 San Gabriel (RevZilla photo)
But Spurgeon and the other RevZilla riders added some concerns about riding the SG250 which should be addressed:
- The transmission was described as “clunky”. Because of the small 230cc air-cooled motor that delivers 16 horsepower, the 5-speed transmission on the San Gabriel is intentionally “close-geared”. By necessity, the rider will work up and down the gears. However, the transmission is also under very little strain from the 230cc power plant and takes some time to break-in and will become smoother with more miles – particularly after the first oil-change.
- The suspension of the San Gabriel was described as both soft and harsh. This is a function of the lightweight motorcycle built with limited suspension travel. RevZilla admitted, “This is another place where the light weight works to the bike’s advantage, by making the budget suspension livable.”
- The test bike that RevZilla reviewed topped out at about 65 mph. With that in mind, the reviewers stated, “The SG250 San Gabriel prefers back country roads or city commuting to long treks on the freeway.” CSC would agree – unless the owner was willing to change gearing to enable more top speed at the cost of losing low-end torque. Riders should also note that this same 230cc motor is found in the CSC TT250 Enduro dual-sport motorcycle. Riders with different goals have geared the same 230cc motor for power off-road and speed on the freeway.
- Spurgeon calculated his test ride fuel mileage at about 59 MPG’s. Other owners of the SG250 (and TT250) have reported fuel mileage of 65 to over 70 miles per gallon so we have to assume Spurgeon’s mileage will increase as the bike is broken-in. When combined with a four-gallon gas tank, this provides the rider with a range exceeding 200 miles.
RevZilla also raised the question of the long-term durability of the SG250. The 230cc motor used in the CSC SG250 (and the CSC TT250 Enduro) is a modernized version of the “world-design” CG 125cc motorcycle engine first developed by Honda back in 1975 for the growing market of Southeast Asia. The concept of routine maintenance was completely foreign to these new motor bike owners. The “CG” motorcycle engine was specifically designed to require minimal maintenance.
Over 40 years later, the original CG125 motor patent has long-expired. Today, Zongshen, the manufacturer of the CSC SG250, builds both a 125cc and a 230cc version – but CSC distributes only the 230cc version in its modern motorcycles, with the additional update of a counter-balancer.
The San Gabriel has maximum “fun factor” (RevZilla photo)
RevZilla noted that the simple and economical SG250 may be the perfect motorcycle for new riders. But CSC has also learned that a second (and larger) category of CSC SG250 San Gabriel buyers are experienced bikers who already own several motorcycles.
As Spurgeon noted, the San Gabriel is streamlined, minimalist, and retro. Experienced riders are attracted to the SG250 because of what it ISN’T. The SG250 San Gabriel isn’t high-tech. No electronic suspension; no surround-sound stereo; no trip computer; and no hassles! The San Gabriel is motorcycle riding at its roots.
Old School Cool! Pure riding fun! (RevZilla photo)
The CSC SG250 San Gabriel is faithful to the appearance of the old bikes, but also well-equipped with important features like 17-inch tires on aluminum rims, full instrumentation including a speedometer, tachometer, odometer, fuel gauge, gear indicator, neutral light. You have telescopic front forks with rubber boots plus adjustable rear reservoir shocks. Stopping power is provide by a front disk and rear drums brakes. The CSC SG250 also includes a 300-watt alternator to power additional accessories, phone chargers, cameras and more.
Spurgeon summed up his ride review this way: “As for my initial impressions, I’m stoked. I think the SG250 is priced right to get folks into motorcycling. It took me back to my early days of riding and brought a smile to my face. And if it makes motorcycling more accessible to the masses, it’s hard to not to like it.”
CSC is pleased that the reviewers at RevZilla agree that the CSC SG250 is an unmatched value. The proven dependable and economical 230cc motor is paired with a huge list of standard features that cannot be duplicated elsewhere for TWICE the price!
The 2019 CSC SG250 San Gabriel is EVEN BETTER!
CSC SG250 San Gabriel Standard Features – including new features for 2019:
- 230cc air-cooled engine, overhead valve, with counter-balancer
- Fuel system: Keima slide carburetor
- Long maintenance intervals and easy repairs backed by a full Owner’s Manual and online service tutorials
- 5-speed transmission
- Starter: Electric and kick starter
- Stainless Steel Megaphone steel exhaust – new for 2019
- 4-gallon fuel tank with locking gas cap – keyed to ignition
- LED headlight with halo ring – NEW for 2019
- Dash with digital speedometer and tachometer, odometer, fuel gauge, gear indicator, neutral light, turn signal and high beam indicators – NEW!
- LED brake light
- 300-Watt alternator
- Inverted front forks, front fork lock – new for 2019
- Adjustable dual rear shock absorbers with reservoirs
- Larger diameter front disk and rear disk brakes – NEW for 2019
- Front 90/71/17 spoked wheel with DOT tire and tube, black aluminum rim
- Rear 120/70/17 spoked wheel with DOT tire and tube, black aluminum rim
- Folding rider and passenger foot pegs with rubber inserts
- Black low handlebars with bar-end weights
- Dual rear-view mirrors
- Comfort seat for driver and passenger
- 2019 Available Colors: Gloss Black/Matte Black, Metallic Silver/Matte Black with contrast trim
CSC Motorcycles also stocks a variety of accessories for the SG250 San Gabriel so you can customize your new bike to match your riding style and personality! As noted above, owners can swap drive sprockets for higher or lower gearing. CSC also has optional higher or lower handlebars for a café racer or scrambler look, along with various choices in mirrors. You can even swap knobby tires for scrambler riding on unpaved roads.
The 2019 CSC SG250 San Gabriel is available now for ONLY $2,195.00, plus fees. This price includes shipping to your door anywhere in the Lower 48 U.S. states! Check out the full specs for the SG250 San Gabriel at CSCMotorcycles.com
Note: the MSRP price does not include the documentation fee of $55.00 so that you can obtain a title and license the new motorcycle in all 50-states. (The CSC SG250 is EPA-Certified in all 50-states.) Also not included is an assembly and inspection charge of $345.00. This fee covers the inbound import fees and the assembly at CSC so that all you need to do when your bike arrives is install the rear-view mirrors, add gas and start riding!
SG250 San Gabriel Cafe Racer
RX4 450cc Adventure
TT250 Enduro