CSC Blog

Yep, the blog was down for about 24 hours.    Our apologies, folks, but sometimes these things happen.  We appreciate all the emails to let us know.   It seems there was a problem with our server, but all’s well that ends well and we’re back in the saddle again.

Other that that blog problem, it was a great weekend.   My good buddy Mike B was in town…you’ve seen him here on the blog before and you might remember that Mike and I go all the way back to the 7th grade.  Yep, we grew up together.

Mike has a real interest in the RX3-P police motorcycle, as he’s a retired chief of police of a major east coast city.    Mike and I stopped by the plant yesterday so he could get a good look at our latest motorcycle…

We had a good time.

Hey, you know what?   I’m getting out on my RX3 tomorrow for a run up in the mountains.   There’s snow up there and I might get a few photos.

Later, folks!

This is a quick maintenance tutorial, folks, on our new quick change oil kit.  This tutorial covers installation of our new $59.95 Cap Systems quick change oil drain plug kit.   This new accessory includes three components:  The oil drain plug, the hose, and the drain plug cap (as shown below).

This is the new drain plug with copper washer.

Here’s the drain hose.

And this is the drain plug cap.

Installation is simple.  First, put a pan under the bike and drain the oil by removing the stock drain plug.

Install the new Cap Systems drain plug.  It will take a 1-inch (or 26mm) socket.  Tighten it to 30 ft-lbs.  Install the drain plug cap and hand tighten it.

When you are ready to drain the oil at your next oil change, remove the brass drain plug cap and thread the hose fitting onto the drain plug.

As you tighten the hose fitting on to the drain plug, it will push the valve in the drain plug open.  When that happens, the oil will drain out through the hose.   You don’t need to remove the drain plug (it stays installed on the engine).   The photo below shows what happens when the hose is threaded on to the drain plug.  It pushes the valve open so the oil can drain.

After the oil has drained through the hose, remove the hose by unscrewing it from the drain plug (this will close the drain plug valve).   Reinstall the brass cap, and replace the engine oil.

Here’s a short video of Gerry using the new system…

Folks, that’s it!   If you’d like more information on this system or you would like to order it, please check our website or give us a call at 909 445 0900.

Things are moving along sharply on the TT250 motorcycles, folks.   Zongshen has the bikes slotted for production in early March.   We’re pushing to get that date moved forward, and we will of course keep you posted as we move closer.

As I mentioned last month, we’re incorporating quite a few upgrades on our TT250 bikes.   There’s always a chance some of these features (above and beyond the standard configuration) won’t make it into the final version, but here’s where we are right now on the upgrades beyond what we’ve already described:

• Our TT250 will have adjustable damping front forks.
• The frame color will be satin (rather than gloss) black.
• Our bike will incorporate the same left and right handlebar switchgear as the RX3 (these are higher quality switches than those usually provided on these bikes).
• Our bikes will have a satin silver finish on the handlebars.
• Our bikes will have the RX3 rear view mirrors.
• Our bikes will have braided stainless steel brake lines for both the front and rear brakes.
• Our bikes will have anodized fork caps.
• Our bikes will have wheels dynamically balanced from the factory.
• Our bikes will include several quality improvements that most folks will never see (that’s because of minor issues we saw on the four prototypes we’ve been testing; we’re addressing these things so you won’t have to).

It’s taken us a bit of back-and-forth with the factory to get to the above changes and we’re pleased with where we are.  The Internet being what it is, I have no doubt some folks will say, “can’t you get this?” or “can’t you get that?”    If it’s not on that list (along with the other features we’ve previously mentioned on this bike, like the inverted forks, the 300-watt stator, and the handle-bar-mounted accessories switches), the short answer is no.    The TT250 is available in red, black, and white, as previously described.   For $1895, it is a lot of motorcycle.

We’ll continue posting maintenance tutorials next week, and we are deep in the accessories development effort now.   We’ll be posting more on that between now and the time the bikes arrive.

On that accessories note, several folks have been asking about a couple of the cool accessories I showed you on the Colombian versions of the RX3 (and in particular, the headlight guard).   We’re not ignoring that; we’re having accessories sent to us as you read this, and I’ll be posting more in the next two or three weeks.  I know where the first one of those Colombian headlight guards is going (I was talking to that guy in the mirror this morning while I was shaving).

On the Colombian note, Moto Colombia is one of the most fun books I’ve ever written.   I’m reliving the ride as I write about it, and that’s a hoot.   You’ll get to read all about it.

Speaking of international moto travel, more than a few of you will get to make your own story on the Baja ride.  That’s coming up.  Watch for info on it right here on the CSC blog.

That’s it for now.   Ride safe and stay tuned.

Entry Level Motorcycle Technician. We’re growing and we want people with TIPH (Talent, Integrity, Passion, and Honesty).   You’ll get to train under a Zong Master on the hottest new motorcycles in America with one of the best teams in the world – CSC Motorcycles!  If you love motorcycles, if customer focus is your passion, if you want to take your talent to the next level, and if you want to join a great organization, please send your resume to us at info@cscmotorcycles.com!

Or, as I like to call it, the case against lunacy…and you can read it here.

This is a good read, folks…I just came across it today on a Facebook post.  Here’s the link:

The US Specials: Triumph’s Competition 650s

We’re off to the movies this afternoon.  Di Caprio’s Revenant is showing, and I want to see that one.  The coming attractions advertising it did their job when we saw two other movies recently, the latest Star Wars show (save your money; I was not impressed) and The Big Short (better, but still not a bell-ringer in my opinion).

I’m riding my RX3 tomorrow if it doesn’t rain.   If it does rain, I’ll continue to plug ahead on Moto Colombia.   I’m wrapping up the chapter on what the riding was like in Colombia.  Woo hoo, that was fun!

I’m working on my newest book, Moto Colombia, and I am having an incredibly good time remembering and reliving an absolutely awesome adventure ride.    You know, when you’re a guy who’s a guest (as I was on this ride), it’s easy to get intellectually lazy and just kick back, lean waaaay over navigating the most amazing twisties I’ve ever ridden, make the chicken strips tinier and tinier, and not think about where you are and what you are doing.   It was incredible fun.

Now I’m doing what I didn’t have to do on the ride…I’m looking at the maps on Google to see which ranges of the Andes Mountains Juan guided us through, which routes we took, and all the rest that goes with defining the adventure so I can capture it in print.   I am even more amazed as I do this, looking at what we did and where we rode, than I was when we were actually doing it.   My good buddy Juan did a marvelous job planning and organizing this ride.

That’s Juan in the photo up top, on the right, shooting a photo of Carlos on the edge of a cliff somewhere west of Barichara.   That spot all by itself was worth the trip.  I was getting vertigo just standing 20 feet away from the edge.   Juan and Carlos rode their bikes right up to the edge and parked them at that precipice as if it was the most natural thing in the world to do.    Not me.   I was scared.   I don’t like heights, even though I found out a long time ago when jumping out of airplanes being afraid of heights is silly.   So is a fear of falling.   Now, that sudden stop at the end…that’s worth fearing.   I was thinking all of these things as I watched these two mountain goats wheeling their bikes right up to the edge, and then dancing around to get the best photo.  Wowee!

My entire time in Colombia was incredible.   It was a wonderful experience and it was one of the best rides of my life.

Ah, back to Moto Colombia.  Reliving that adventure is its own reward.   Writing this book is fun!

Hey, the CSC RX3 is getting critical acclaim from experts in the field, like Motorcycle.com, ADVMoto, ADVPulse, Motorcyclist, and Cycle World magazines!   You’ve read about their on road and off road tests, our CSC Inaugural Baja Run, the Western America Adventure Ride, and most recently, our 2600-kilometer circumnavigation of Colombia!   You’ve been reading the positive Internet forum and Facebook comments from riders all over the world.

Here’s our invitation to you…come see the RX3 and our new TT250 for yourself!   We’re right here in Azusa, California, at 1331 West Foothill Boulevard, and we open at 8:00 a.m. Tuesday through Saturday!

Stop by, and you can personally check out the RX3…

…and the exciting new TT250!

And as always, if you have any questions, please give us a call at 909 445 0900!

Boy oh boy, this is fun!

Folks, the RX3-P is making inroads, and departments nationwide are taking notice.   There are a lot of things you can do on a maneuverable high performance 250 that you just can’t do on the current crop of bloated police motorcycles (like spending well under $5K for a unit instead of $25K, or going where you can’t go on an R1200RT-P or an FLH, or…well, you get the idea).

The best part of this, for me, is riding the RX3-P to the agencies and meeting the motor officers.  Just getting there is a hoot!  I know what you’re thinking, and no, I’m not using the siren or the strobe lights (but it’s taking every ounce of restraint I have).

The response to our RX3-P announcement has been amazing.   We’re working through the emails and calls now, and if you’ve contacted us, give us another few days…we will get back to you!

Oh, one more thing…don’t start calling Ryan and me Ponch and John.   It’s tempting, but we’re going to stick with our current names.

You know from following the blog that I have been real impressed with the Nikon D3300 camera I bought specifically for adventure motorcycle touring.   I have a Nikon D810 and its performance is incredible, but I needed something smaller (and less expensive) for tearing around in Colombia, Baja, and the other cool places I get to visit.   That’s why I went with the D3300.

I’ve been using the standard lens that comes with the D3300.  It’s an 18-55mm zoom, and it is surprisingly good.  I really like the vibration reduction feature, too, because the photos tend to be a lot sharper even when shooting from my RX3 going 60 or 70 mph.

The D3300 uses an approach that has the lens focusing motor in the lens (instead of in the camera).   That’s great, but what it meant to me was that some of the older lenses I had (which relied on the camera having the focus motor in the camera body) would no longer autofocus.  One of those older lenses was the Tokina 12-24 mm lens, which is a super wide-angle number that I really like.   Hey, no problem, I thought.  I’ll just manually focus and everything will be okay.  I took the 12-24 mm Tokina with me to Colombia and I scored a few great shots manually focusing it, like this one below just outside of Barichara, with the bikes on a sheer cliff overlooking the valley below…

I love that photo (so much so that I’m using it on the cover of Moto Colombia, which is progressing very well).

But, the issue is this:  I’ve been spoiled.  I like that autofocus capability, and I blew a few shots with the 12-24 lens because I was too used to the camera autofocusing.   I just assumed the thing was focused (I forgot to manually focus a few times) because that’s what I’m used to.

Tokina came out with an 11-16 lens about a year ago that replaced their excellent 12-24, and the new lens has the focusing motor in the lens.   It autofocuses on the D3300.  It went on sale recently, and that did it for me.  I pulled the trigger and UPS dropped the lens off at my front door a couple of days ago.  Here’s what it looks like on my D3300 (the photo below is from my iPhone)…

With that gigondo Tokina lens and the Nikon flash unit, the little D3300 almost looks lost. It sure works well with the new lens, though.   Here’s a shot I grabbed (with the lens at 11mm!) in the service area just a few minutes ago…

We’ve had nonstop rain here for the last day or so, but the sun put in an appearance and the San Gabriels just behind the plant are magnificent.   They are capped with snow right now, and I may get out to grab a photo or two of those a little later.

That’s it for now, folks.  Ride safe, stay dry, and stay tuned!