Color case hardening (a process of using bone on metal under extreme heat to produce a dazzling exotic finish) was pretty much a lost art until Turnbull Manufacturing brought it back to life a few years ago. Turnbull specializes in firearms restoration and manufacturing limited runs of new guns with their unique finish. I bought one such limited run firearm about 10 years ago…it was a Smith and Wesson resurrection of their awesome Model 1917 in .45 ACP…with the frame getting the Turnbull treatment.
The 1917 .45 ACP revolver is an amazing story in itself. The US had already switched to the 1911 .45 auto, but when World War I broke out, we didn’t have enough of the new automatics to go around. Our military already knew that the new .45 ACP cartridge was the way to go, so they convinced both Colt and Smith & Wesson to chamber their large frame double action revolvers in that cartridge. I used to own a 1917 Colt, but I foolishly sold it when the prices were still in the “yeah, that seems okay” range (now they are stratospheric).
Anyway, I received an email last night that Turnbull is offering a limited run of the Ruger Mk IV .22 automatic pistol with their signature color case hardened finish…
I think I’m going to (pardon the pun) pull the trigger on one if I can find a dealer to order one for me, and if it is still legal to own one here in the Peoples’ Republik of Kalifornia. (We’ve got some really nutty gun laws in this state. You have to take the good with the bad, I suppose. We have great weather, great roads, and great riding, but on this gun thing, the inmates have taken over the asylum.) Back to the main attraction for a minute…I own a Mk I Ruger .22 auto. It is accurate and it is a lot of fun, so I know the gun will be good. With that Turnbull treatment, a Mk IV Ruger is going to be awesome. I’ll keep you posted on what I find out about buying one here in California.
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Now that we’ve shown it is indeed possible to travel long distances on the TT250 and use it as a touring platform, check out these Cortech saddlebags on the TT250…
The Cortech bags look good and they have a lot of space. If there’s enough interest, we’ll stock them. Let us know what you think.
I showed a photograph of this vintage BMW hot rod last week before we left for Baja, and when I returned to the plant this morning Gerry had it pushed out front. It was an opportunity to grab a few more photos and I did…
The bike is cool. It’s a 1962 R50, which was originally a 500cc BMW boxer twin. The “boxer” nomenclature refers to the engine configuration. The pistons move back and forth horizontally (like a boxer throwing punches), with one cylinder sticking out on either side of the bike.
The boxer in those days was an overhead valve engine, which means the valves were above the cylinder and they were actuated through pushrods, which were in turn driven by a cam lower in the engine. The chrome tubes you see above the cylinder in the photo above house the pushrods.
Pushrod engines are definitely old school, and the pushrod overhead valve engine design has been around for at least 60 years. It still works well, though, and it generally makes an engine easier to maintain. Our TT250 is an overhead valve pushrod engine, and I am more than pleased with the performance of mine. It’s a little torque monster. On the recent Baja trip, I found I could pretty much leave the TT250 in 5th gear once I hit 30 mph. I rode through most of the mountains without ever downshifting.
BMW made both a 500cc and a 600cc model back then (I’m pretty sure the bikes were the same, other than engine displacement). They also offered a high-performance version of the 600cc engine and that model was designated as the R69S. This bike has the R69S engine and, of course, a sidecar. Sidecars are cool. They’re not my cup of tea, but that’s okay. Some folks love them. Our good buddy Dan has two Urals (a contemporary Russian motorcycle based on the BMW boxer twin design) with sidecars. Oh, one other thing I almost forgot…BMW also offered a smaller single-cylinder bike back then. The size? It was a 250, of course…the ideal size for real-world adventure travel. It was based on just one of the BMW’s cylinders, with the piston traveling straight up and down (much like the TT250).
Another oddity that distinguished the BMWs of an earlier era were the Earles forks. Instead of using a telescopic fork design, BMW used the Earles concept, which is sort of a reversed swingarm for the front wheel…
The Earles design, I’ve read, works better on a bike with a sidecar.
I’m a vintage bike fan, and I always have been. I’d love to own one of those early BMWs like you see in the photos above. They’re just cool. Tomorrow I’m headed to the Doffo vineyards here in southern California, where the owner has a large collection of vintage bikes. It’s for a story I’m doing for one of the motorcycle magazines. Watch for photos here on the CSC blog.
Speaking of classic bikes, my money is on the RX3 as a future classic. The bike’s design is iconic, and it certainly is making waves in the motorcycle world. We’ll see.
Today was one of those days when I didn’t feel like taking any photos or doing any video. We had already experienced three great days on our San Felipe TT250 adventure ride, and on this, our fourth and last day, all I wanted to do was go for a motorcycle ride with my friends. And I did. But let me back up to yesterday.
We were up early yesterday in San Felipe, and when I went out to watch the sunrise over the Sea of Cortez, Captain Dan was already out there taking pictures. I took a bunch, including several to create a panoramic shot from the hotel’s new wing to the north all the way to points south. This was the first shot of that series…
Sunrise in San Felipe (a view looking north at the El Cortez Hotel).
And this is the panoramic shot I put together from six shots…it’s a full 180-degrees from north to south, with the sun rising in the east..
180 degrees of a San Felipe sunrise.
The ride out of San Felipe yesterday morning was great. It was already hot in San Felipe, but the temperatures dropped as we rolled north on Mexico’s Highway 5. We turned left 31 miles later to ride roughly diagonally northwest to Ensenada. I didn’t stop for photos, but I captured great video. This is what it looks like from the seat of a TT250 riding Highway 3 across the desert…
We rode all the way across northern Baja and rolled into downtown Ensenada shortly after noon. We stopped for lunch at a seafood restaurant Willie knows well. I don’t eat lobster any more (you know, old guy cholesterol restrictions and all that), but I can still dream. The lobsters were live, and this guy looked like he knew his day wasn’t going to end well…
Help!
We’d been riding for 3 days, and everybody was in good spirits. Dan said that sometimes you just have to slow down and smell the roses, and I was there to capture the moment…
Stopping to smell the roses.
From there it was back on Highway 3 where it turned northeast through northern Baja’s wine country. I bought a bottle of cabernet at the L.A. Cetto vineyard with the thought that we’d open it with our dinner later in Tecate that night. We did, too, but I’ll get to that part of the story in a minute or two.
The vineyard visit was fun. Here’s a shot of our crew there…that’s Matt, Dan 1, Willie, Mike, Dan 2, and yours truly. A very nice young lady took this photo with my iPhone…
The boys.
We stayed in the Hacienda Hotel last night in Tecate (the El Dorado Hotel, where we had stayed two nights earlier, had no rooms). After we checked in, we kicked around in the Hacienda courtyard for a bit…
Captain Dan and his copper TT.
We asked about nearby restaurants, and the hotel dude recommended a taco place just up the street. We walked over to Dumas Tacos. You can guess at the jokes we made when we saw the sign…
Tacos Dumas had about every kind of taco you can imagine, except chicken. I wasn’t up for tripe or tongue, so I opted for plain old asada tacos (that’s beef), and they were beyond delicious. Willie explained what all of the different meats were, and watching the guy making tacos was a treat all by itself…
The restaurant gave us little Styrofoam cups, I opened my bottle of cabernet sauvignon, and it all went down well. It was quite a night.
We were up early this morning, and the ride home today was cool. Abe and Greg taught us a trick the last time we did a CSC Baja run through Tecate, and we know how to go to the head of the border crossing line on a motorcycle. It took us less than two minutes to get through the US border checkpoint. Willie, Matt, and Mike went home on Interstate 5. The two Dans wanted to ride the same road back that we came in on through the California countryside, and I did, too. It was another glorious ride.
The take-aways on all this? Hey, there are several…
We did almost a thousand miles on the TT250s, and the bikes performed wonderfully. Willie lost a muffler cap bolt, Dan 1 had a headlight switch that was acting up, and we got some bad gasolina heading out of Tecate, but that was about it. I’ve led groups of guys on other bikes on other Baja rides (Kawis, Yamahas, BMWs, Triumphs, Harleys, and probably more), and what we experienced on this trip was, as they say, par for the course. The TT250s performed as well as any other motorcycles at an eighth of the cost.
The pace was slower. You don’t roll across the desert at 80 mph on a TT250. These bikes are comfortable at a more relaxed pace. The bike likes to roll at 50 to 60 mph, and we spent a lot of time in that range. I believe we saw a lot more than we normally would as a result of our lower speeds. There was that bobcat I mentioned a blog or two below. We saw two wild turkey flocks. I spotted a roadrunner and a Roadrunner (one made by nature, the other by Plymouth). I saw several coyotes. I enjoy small-displacement bikes and all that they offer, and the TT250 just flat works for me.
You might be wondering…is the TT250 a touring bike? Folks, if I say it is, the keyboard commandos will want to argue about it. If I say it isn’t, a different set of keyboard commandos will want to argue about that. To both groups, I say: Get a life. Get off the computer and get on a bike. Ride to Baja. Have a Tecate and a few fish tacos. Me? I just rode a thousand miles in two countries on a CSC TT250, so you tell me. On second thought, don’t. I know what I did on my TT250. I had a blast riding it over the last 4 days in places most folks only dream about. That’s enough for me to form my opinion. Your mileage may vary. I know what mine is.
Speaking of that, I ran about 60-61 miles per gallon on my bike on this trip. I’ve geared it taller (which should improve fuel economy). I have done a few things to the engine (which should degrade fuel economy). I was carrying about 70 pounds of stuff with me (clothes, a cable lock, my laptop, the laptop’s power supply, cameras, lenses, batteries, tools, and more), and all that should degrade economy. We rode long uphill stretches and we rode long stretches wide open (and that’s yet another thing that should degrade fuel ec0nomy). Like I said, your mileage may vary. Mine was slightly north of 60 miles per gallon.
The Wolfman saddlebags are perfect on this bike. I love them. Dan and Willie had them, too, and they feel the same way.
Six people is an ideal size for a group like this. I could look in my rearview mirror and know immediately if everyone was still with me. I like this size group. This was the easiest group ride I’ve ever led.
A 4-day Baja foray is a nice way to do it, and averaging about 250 miles per day makes for a good ride (but not an overly-fatiguing one). I’m up for more of these. If any of our blog readers want to do this again in the near future, let me know. I’m in.
The ride through the country in the southernmost parts of California (Azusa-Oak Glen-Idyllwild-Anza-Aguanga-Julian-Tecate) was amazing. California really is a beautiful place. Just riding this part of California could be a really fun 2-day adventure, and you can do the entire thing without ever getting on the freeway. Same deal there…if you’re up for a ride like that, let me know and we’d be happy to organize it.
So there you have it…our first adventure ride on the TT250s, a fun-filled 4-day adventure, a great new motorcycle, and another cool tank decal. I had a great time, and I’m pretty sure Dan 1, Dan 2, Matt, Mike, and Willie did, too.
Keep an eye on the blog, my friends. There are many more great stories and adventures coming your way from your favorite motorcycle company!
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Wow, what a day! The Rumarosa grade, riding across the desert to San Felipe, and swimming in the Sea of Cortez! The bikes are running great and so are we. Good buddies Greg and Abe met us in Tecate last night and the eight of us had a fabulous ride!
Check out the photos from a fantastic day in no particular order (I uploaded them to the blog in roughly the same sequence as I took them)…
Greg in downtown Tecate at the start of our day…he’s on his TT250. Like many of our riders, Greg owns both an RX3 and a TT250.
Good buddy Dan 2 at speed on his TT250. Dan owns both an RX3 and a TT250.
The boys on Mexico Highway 2 headed east toward Mexicali.
Willie, the most interesting man in the world, on his TT250. Willie is yet another guy who owns both an RX3 and a TT250.
Good buddy Abe on his RX3.
Good buddy Mike’s highly personalized RX3. This is an awesome motorcycle!
Entering the Rumarosa Grade!
Greg hamming it up for the camera.
Matt on his white TT250 in the Rumarosa Grade.
My bike. The TT250 is a ton of fun. It has to be the best deal on a new motorcycle ever. We are having a blast down here in Baja. If you’re thinking of buying a TT250, hey…pull the trigger. You could be riding with us!
Greg on the rocks…
Good buddy Dan 1 (or is he Dan 2?). Dan is incredibly photogenic. Yep, he’s another guy who owns a TT250 and an RX3!
Greg, our good friend. This is your pilot speaking…
Dan 2? Dan 1? A great shot with the Rumarosa Grade in the background.
The Rumarosa Grade! This is an awesome stretch of highway, and it was one of many highlights on our ride.
After descending through the Rumarosa Grade, we headed south on Mexico Highway 5 toward San Felipe. We stopped at a roadside taco stand in the middle of the desert for some incredible goat tacos (it’s called birria down here). Wow, they were fantastic!
This is what riding in Mexico is all about, folks!
A birria taco master chef at work!
Mike and Willie ordering lunch.
They were incredible!
My helmet, my tacos. Life is good.
After lunch, it was an easy run to San Felipe. We stopped for a photo beneath the San Felipe light house…
El Faro!
We checked in to the El Cortez hotel in San Felipe and immediately went for a swim in the Sea of Cortez. This is a great ride!
A couple on an ATV in San Felipe….she’s taking a photo of me!
Along the Malecon in San Felipe…we had a great dinner. It’s been a grand adventure!
I couldn’t get a good Internet connection in San Felipe last night, so I’m posting this from Tecate. It’s our last night in Mexico. I’ll post photos of today’s ride later. We sure are having a great time. I know you’re wondering, and here’s the answer: The bikes are running great. It’s funny…our bikes cost $2,195 brand new. We’re seeing guys down here on $25,000 KTMs and Beemers, and I don’t think they’re having as much fun as we are.
Just $2,195 for a new TT250. Think about that, and think about this: It could be you in those photos above. It should be you!
Oh, one more thing…boy oh boy, am I getting awesome video! I won’t be able to post it from Mexico, but when I return to the plant you are going to see some awesome stuff!
Later, my friends!
Posted inCSC Motorcycles|Comments Off on The TT250 San Felipe Run – Day 2
Here’s a strong statement: My ride through southern California today was the best motorcycle ride I’ve ever taken in the Golden State. It was that good.
There are six of us on this run…five on TT250s and one on an RX3. We went from Azusa to Tecate (in Baja, where we are now), and we did it on surface streets all the way (not one inch on freeways). It was roughly 250 miles through towns, deserts, and glorious mountain roads, and it was just great. I almost collided with a redtail hawk. We saw a bobcat walking along a trail by the side of the road like he owned the place (maybe he did). We saw two flocks of wild turkeys and I got photos and video of them. We had a great lunch up in the mountains in Idyllwild, we stopped for pie and ice cream in Julian, and we just returned from a great dinner in downtown Tecate. Wowee!
I’ll just post a few photos and one short video for now, folks…it’s late and I’m tired. I’ll post more when I get back to the US. Boy oh boy, are we having fun!
The boys, less yours truly. From left to right, that’s Willie, Mike, Matt, Dan 1, and Dan 2. Well, maybe I got the Dans mixed up.
The TT250 San Felipe Run decal on my TT250. It looks cool!
Where we stopped for a great Italian lunch in Idyllwild earlier today. You need to ride with us!
On the road south of Julian, with my iPhone doing a great job as a GPS! It’s tied in to our standard underseat accessories plug!
Our good buddy Matt! This is the first time Matt rode with us. Matt bought a new TT250 and he is putting it to good use. We love this guy…he is a great rider.
Our good buddy Willie! Willie owns an RX3 and a TT250! He is the most interesting man in the world!
The bottom line: The riding was fantastic today (incredible, really) and the bikes are running gloriously. Everybody loves the TT250, and it is showing itself to be a great motorcycle.
Hey, did you think I was kidding you about those wild turkeys? Take a look at this!
That’s it for today…we’re headed for San Felipe tomorrow. We are having fun. You should be here doing the same. Stay tuned…as always, there’s more coming your way.
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With deep regret, we announce the passing of our good buddy Jim Cavanaugh.
Jim Cavanaugh passed away last night at the tender young age of 84. He was a key advisor to the California Scooter Company during its formative years, and he occupied that role for several very good reasons. Jim had a strong sense of what makes for a good motorcycle, and that was rooted in his experience as the Production Superintendent of the original Mustang Motor Products Company. Yep, Jimbo ran the original Mustang factory in Glendale back in the 1950s…
Rest in peace, Jim. We miss you already.
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