The Chinese built Zongshen RX3 250cc Adventure Bike is on its way to the U.S., now rebadged as a CSC (California Scooter Company) Cyclone RX-3. CSC is known for small custom styled motorcycles built in their factory in Azusa, California. Now the company plans to certify the Zongshen RX3 for the United States market and rebrand it as their own.

CSC felt there was strong demand for a small, inexpensive Adventure Bike in the US market and spent some time reviewing the prospect of bringing the Zongshen to America. “The big adventure bikes are nice, but they are huge,” said President of CSC Motorcycles Steve Seidner. “We think they weigh too much, and we think they are not a good solution for exploring the world when riding off-road.” Convinced that the Zongshen RX3 met their quality standards, the company made the decision to invest in certifying the bike for street use in the US.

The Cyclone RX-3 is an inexpensive, low-seat height, relatively light Adventure bike with modern styling.

Earlier this year, another company took the same plunge and re-branded the Zongshen RX3 as the M1nsk TRX 300i for the European market. The reception to the bike on social media channels was very positive but the M1nsk company only expressed mild interest in bringing the bike to the US.

A pair of CSC Cyclone RX-3 Adventure Bikes out testing in Azusa, California.

It looks like CSC beat M1nsk to the punch and will likely be the first importer of the Zongshen RX3 to the US. “We’re proud to be the company taking it through the [US] certification process,” said Steve Seidner.

CSC has announced a very low price tag on the Cyclone RX-3 at $2,895 for pre-sale customers only. Once the first shipment of bikes has sailed from China, the price will increase to $3,495. That is still quite a bargain for a bike that offers fuel injection, water-cooling, 6-speed transmission, adjustable suspension, tall wind-screen, wire-spoked rims, electric start, panniers, top box, modern styling and a 1-year warranty, all as standard equipment. At that price, we expect many will overlook the “Made in China” badge on the bike and be willing to give the RX-3 a try.

CSC will not be taking orders until the bike passes the US certification process, but you can put your name on the waiting list and they’ll notify you when orders begin processing. CSC says the completion of US certification should happen before the end of the year and the bike will be street legal in all 50 states. Questions still remain about how the bikes will be serviced around the country, but CSC has confirmed they will be shipping a large amount of replacement parts for the bike to handle service orders.

Specs Comparison

For more information about the CSC Cyclone RX3, check out the CSC Blog and the Cyclone RX-3 page. Also check out our Cyclone RX-3 visual inspection and test ride review.

Author: Rob Dabney

Rob Dabney started a lifelong obsession with motorcycles at the age of 15 when he purchased his first bike – a 1982 Honda MB5. Through his 20’s and 30’s he competed in off-road desert races, including the Baja 250, 500 and 1000. Eventually, his proclivity for exploration led him to dual sport and adventure riding. Rob’s never-ending quest to discover what’s around the next bend has taken him on Adventures in Latin America, Africa, Europe, Asia, and throughout the American West. As a moto journalist, he enjoys inspiring others to seek adventure across horizons both near and far.