The Cyclone RX3 distributed by CSC Motorcycles was introduced with an inaugural group ride through Baja Mexico in April 2015. This ride took 15 adventure riders on a 1,700-mile round-trip journey through the Baja Peninsula and back to the CSC offices in Azusa, California. In all, the 15 new Cyclone RX3 motorcycles racked up 25,500 miles with just a few minor issues.
This first promotional ride was followed by the “Western Adventure Tour” in July 2015. Here, 10 riders from Columbia, China and the US racked up 50,000 miles in total on 10 new bikes. This epic journey inspired the book, 5,000 miles at 8,000 RPM by Joe Berk, the CSC spokesperson. Again, there were no major mechanical issues with the new CSC Cyclone RX3 motorcycles that rode hard for 18 days at speeds of up to 75 mph and sometimes over 400 miles per day. Tour passengers (and machines) encountered freezing temperatures of more than 100 degrees and elevations from sea level to 9,000 feet in the Continental Divide.
These rides conclusively demonstrated the durability of the RX3 adventure bike. But the attractions also pointed to some improvements that would be needed in subsequent shipments of the CSC Cyclone RX3, including upgrades to standard 12-volt batteries. The rides also helped finalize the recommended maintenance program for bicycle owners in North America.
But the RX3 motorcycle was tested before it was available for sale in North America. The bike has been sold in China for several years and is also sold in many other countries under various brands. For example, the same basic bike is sold in Belarus as the M1nsk TRX300i and in Central America as the AKT Moto TT250. In fact, the largest motorcycle market in Zongshen is in Columbia. Motorcycle sales exceed 700,000 units per year in Columbia, compared to less than 500,000 total motorcycle sales in the United States.
It is also interesting that the most popular motorcycles in Columbia are only 100cc to 125cc. A 250cc motorcycle is considered huge! The best-selling machine is a 100cc motorcycle made in India. The version of the Zongshen / AKT Moto sold at Columbia is called the TT250 and is considered a high-quality upgrade and exudes prestige.
What is an M1nsk?
The M1nsk motorcycle company originated in 1951 when the USSR took control of German DKW motorcycles as part of WWII repairs. The company moved to Moscow and manufactured motorcycles under the M1A brand. Eventually the factory moved to Belarus, where they built bicycles under the Minsk brand. Since the early years, the Minsk brand has been actively involved in motorsports, especially motocross and circuit racing. The Minsk-Pamir (1969) and Brest-Vladivostok (1971) rallies became iconic milestones in the history of the Minsk brand. Based on this reputation, Minsk motorcycles became known for their durability and were exported to other European countries.
In 2007, the company went private and began using the M1nsk brand. Today, the M1nsk company produces snowmobiles, ATVs, scooters, dirt bikes, and retro-style motorcycles based on their vintage 1950s model designs.
How does the M1nsk TRX300i fit? M1nsk does not manufacture the TRX300i adventure motorcycle. Instead, the TRX300i is a renowned Chinese motorcycle, the Zongshen RX3. Zongshen is a modern manufacturer, founded in 1992, that manufactures more than 1,000,000 (yes, 1 MILLION) of engines and motorcycles per year. Many of these models are now sold worldwide under various brand names by master dealers.
The US and North American dealer is CSC Motorcycles, and they sell the CSC Cyclone RX3 directly to the public. To connect the past with the present, M1nsk entered three TRX300i motorcycles as standard in the 2013 Brest-Dushanbe rally with a total length of 6,200 miles (10,000 km). The rally traveled through the rugged terrain of Belarus, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan and all three bikes completed the journey. This rally was previously covered in an ADVPulse article in February 2014.
Note: this “rally” is not the Baja 1000 or the Dakar Rally. Think more of the Ewan and Charley line traversing the rough countryside of the same region on Long Way Around. A video of the rally (in Russian) can be seen on the Minsk Motorcycles YouTube channel.
Once again, it was an impressive endurance milestone that Zongshen’s three stock motorcycles covered a cumulative distance of 30,000 km without mechanical problems.
The CSC Cyclone RX3 – Proven Reliability
The M1nsk TRX300i is almost identical to the Cyclone RX3 sold through CSC Motorcycles. Yet another unique attribute of Zongshen is that each domestic dealer has the ability to make changes to the final motorcycle specifications to meet the regulations of their continent and the demands of their target buyers. In his book, 5,000 Miles at 8,000 RPM, Joe Berk describes how CSC made changes to wheel size, alternator capacity, wiring harness, battery, and other components before finalizing the model that would become the Cyclone. RX3 for sale in North America. Additionally, CSC Motorcycles has also assembled a comprehensive catalog of aftermarket parts, accessories, options, and special editions to meet the requirements of adventurous motorcyclists in the US and Canada.
The net result is that the North American Cyclone RX3 is even BETTER than the original Zongshen model. Remember that tens of thousands of these original models have already been tested in Asia, Central America and Europe. (The INITIAL order for the AKT Moto model by the Colombian dealer was 6,000 motorcycles!) Since 1992, Zongshen has produced tens of MILLIONS of engines in many sizes. State-of-the-art manufacturing facilities test EACH of these engines before assembling them into a complete motorcycle, and then EACH of these complete motorcycles are dynamically tested for quality control.
While adventure motorcycles are a growing recreation niche here in North America, Zongshen motorcycles have built a solid reputation for quality and durability in the rest of the world, where motorcycles are the primary mode of transportation and a part integral of the trade. These motorcycle owners demand reliability and economical operation. In some of these countries, the average annual income is less than the cost of a set of luxurious aluminum cases found on many European “adventure bikes.”
In addition to this, CSC Motorcycles is committed to continually refining the base bike and selection of parts and accessories for sale to North American riders. CSC Motorcycles includes a complete maintenance manual with every Cyclone RX3 and is also producing a comprehensive catalog of tutorials covering all aspects of routine maintenance. Finally, CSC backs the Cyclone RX3 with a warranty that covers parts and labor for one year and all parts for two years with UNLIMITED mileage.
Is the Cyclone RX3 the right adventure bike for you? That is a very personal decision since the requirements of each person are different. However, the reliability of the Cyclone RX3 is undoubted. Not only has CSC Motorcycles subjected the motorcycle to torture tests on real life tours, but tens of thousands of adventurous motorcyclists around the world have also proven its reliability. There is a growing and devoted “cult of the Zong” associated with this motorcycle because it not only works, but outperforms motorcycles that cost two to five times more than a comparable fully equipped touring package. Further proof of the reliability of the Cyclone RX3 is that two national motorcycle rental and tourism companies now offer this model for rent and in tour packages.
Now available: the CSC RX3-P Police motorcycle, a specially equipped variation of the Cyclone RX3 Adventure model that has been used (and abused) by law enforcement agencies in Asia. Stay tuned to the CSC Blog for more information.
References:
ADVPulse, 02112014
CSC Motorcycles (cscmotorcycles.com)