DELAYED CSC Wolf 125 | NO Orders Until Further Notice!
CSC Wolf 125 Release: August 13, 2024
The MUCH-anticipated introduction of the 2025 CSC Wolf 125 has been delayed.
CSC Motorcycles has been notified by its manufacturing partner, Zonsen, that WORLDWIDE manufacturing of the Wolf (Zonsen Cub or Yemi) has been halted. Besides technical, mechanical, and environmental standards, the Zonsen motorcycle is also subject to DESIGN standards.
Zonsen notified CSC Motorcycles that the Wolf/Cub/Yemi violates the design patent on the Honda Trail CT125 and Super Cub. A court order has halted manufacturing and distribution, pending redesign. The NEW model will then undergo the recertification for the North American market.
I will continue to update The Great Out There subscribers as the reintroduction timeline becomes clear – so be patient and stay tuned!
For further details, please see the related article on the halt to production of the CSC Wolf 125: CLICK HERE.
Are riders ready for an affordable, versatile, economical, and FUN backroad “scrambler”?
This is the second installment in my offroad review of the Wolf 125, the new trail bike from CSC Motorcycles. CSC is now completing the (lengthy and expensive) EPA certification of this model and will be introducing it to the North American market as a 2025 model. For this review, I was allowed to ride the “pre-production” test bike (which has been sold outside the U.S. for two years already!)
The location for this test ride was the backroads above and west of Jerome, Arizona.
Jerome is located on the north slope of Mingus Mountain, at about 5,000 feet in elevation. The town was founded in 1876 after copper deposits were found in the surrounding mountains. It quickly grew to about 15,000 residents in the 1920’s when it was the fourth largest city in Arizona. The boom town was home to miners, bootleggers, gamblers, and prostitutes and gained the reputation as the “Wickedest Town in the West”.
The mining peaked during World War II and Jerome and the surrounding area grew to support the billion-dollar copper mine, plus gold and silver refining operations. Following the war, copper demand crashed, and with it the future of Jerome. The bustling city dwindled to less than 100 residents as the miners (and profiteers) drifted to the next bonanzas.
The few remaining residents promoted what was left of Jerome as a ghost town to attract tourists. Today, Jerome still trades on its “ghost town” reputation. But the town has become a thriving tourist and artist hub with a population of around 500 people, thanks in part to its location between the larger tourist destinations of Sedona and Prescott, Arizona.
I started this ride at the site of one of the closed mines outside Jerome. I next stopped at the Gold King mine before heading west into the hills along historic mining access roads at around 6,000 to 6,500 feet elevation. From the road I looked down into the Verde River valley and the towns of Clarkdale and Cottonwood, which sprung up to support the mining operations at Jerome.
I’m glad that I was able test the new Wolf 125 here in the high desert of Arizona. I have been visiting the Sedona area for over 25 years and lived outside of Cottonwood for three years. During this time, I have driven thousands of miles of backroads and trails by 4x4, ATV, and motorcycle. This area west of Jerome is still the wild west – in contrast to the tourist crush of the Sedona area.
The riding was on graded gravel roads, not demanding offroad trails. The CSC Wolf 125 was perfectly matched to route I had planned.
I climbed into the hills, effortlessly cruising at 30 MPH in 3rd gear, occasionally downshifting into 2nd around the sharp switchbacks. The CSC Wolf had been upgraded with more aggressive Shinko 244 knobby tires – and these were perfect in the gravel, which sometimes resembled riding on marbles and then also had sandy stretches. The CSC shop can perform this swap for you during the pre-delivery process.
Note: My objective was to test the new CSC Wolf 125 off road. Yet, I know that MOST buyers will spend the majority of their time on city streets. For riding on pavement, the stock tires are perfect – unless urban riders choose to upgrade to tubeless wheels and tires. For my preference of offroad exploration, I recommend swapping the stock tires for these knobbies. Knobbies roll just fine in the city, too.
The Wolf is perfect for these backroads – routes that not so long ago were only accessible by horse and pack mule. The little 125cc motor paired with the 4-speed transmission simply hums up and down the hills – while transporting you and your gear at the ridiculous rate of 100 miles per gallon. (This is simply amazing to me since my walk-behind lawn mower has a 200cc motor!)
I rode the CSC Wolf 125 on the scenic backroads for hours, mile after mile. It never stalled. It didn’t overheat (even though the motor is air-cooled, and the temps were near 90-degrees.) And it sipped less than one gallon of fuel.
100 years earlier, it would have taken me several DAYS on horseback to cover the same miles. Today, the CSC Wolf 125 is ready to transport campers, hunters, ranchers, and adventurers into the backcountry - without breaking a sweat!
At the end of my test ride, I loaded the lightweight Wolf 125 on the hitch rack on my truck. Nothing had rattled loose. It needed no repairs or adjustments. I (thankfully) didn’t suffer any flats due to sharp rocks or cactus thorns. The only modification required when I returned the bike to CSC was the addition of 1/2-inch spacers to add more stiffness to the front fork springs. (Note: this is NOT required unless you plan to ride aggressively off road. CSC can also make this modification for you during the Pre-delivery process.)
Here are some views from the ride above Jerome, including closeups of the features of the CSC Wolf 125:
Conclusion: The Wolf 125 from CSC Motorcycles is a fun and economical gravel road “scrambler”.
I hesitate to categorize the Wolf 125 as an “adventure bike” or dual sport.
These labels include images of wheelies, rough single-track trails and ascents through boulders. Riders on the Wolf 125 are limited by less than 9 horsepower, 17-inch wheels, minimal suspension and ground clearance. “Scrambler” is a better description for a motorcycle that is designed for all types of ROADS. STILL – over the last 60 years riders of similar mini-motos have ridden tens of thousands of miles across the U.S., Europe, and Asia. They have scaled the highest passes in the Rockies and Alps. I certainly consider all these “adventures”!
Would I trust the CSC Wolf 125 to ride the Trans-America Trail? ABSOLUTELY!
I’ve ridden the TAT and many Backcountry Discovery Routes, plus thousands of miles on back roads from border to border. MOST of these unpaved roads can be driven by a Jeep in TWO-wheel drive – and are PERFECT for the light Wolf 125. The average riding speed is 30 miles per hour. You simply don’t NEED 800cc, electronic traction control – or $1,000 panniers with 100 pounds of gear.
Generations of riders on similar 90cc to 125cc motorcycles emphasize the “fun factor” of these mini-motos.
New and experienced motorcycle riders can look forward to more “smiles per mile” with the Wolf 125. It’s a go-anywhere vehicle – as long as you avoid freeways (with a top speed of under 50 MPH.) High gas prices? Who cares! High-tech overload the rest of the week? Enjoy the simplicity of a small, lightweight, and INEXPENSIVE with Bluetooth nothing!
No wonder riders who own several motorcycles report that the mini moto is their favorite, the one they choose to ride the most, and the cycle they will never sell!
Are riders ready for an affordable, versatile, economical, and fun ALL road mini-motorcycle?
CSC is ready to accommodate offroad explorers with a wide variety of Wolf 125 accessories. But they are also anticipating that most buyers of the Wolf 125 will be satisfied to ride it to work and school or on shopping trips across town. On these urban “adventures” they will gleefully enjoy 125 miles per gallon or more, spending $5.00 on gas once a week! Maintenance will consist of an annual oil change. Urban riders should consider the low-cost TUBELESS tire and wheel option from CSC Motorcycles.
The new 2025 CSC Wolf 125 has an MSRP price of ONLY $1,995, plus minimal set-up and documentation fees. The CSC Motorcycles shop will install your choice of accessories without labor charges during the pre-delivery process. CSC can also arrange low-cost, flat rate shipping right to your door!
This is LESS than half the current price of alternative “Trail 125” motorcycles and still less than most 125cc EFI scooters.
That means you can own the super-economical CSC Wolf 125 for LESS than most electric bikes. $1,995.00 is less than many BICYCLES – and the Wolf 125 can be parked or stored in the same amount of space.
Sadly, the Wolf 125 is delayed indefinitely. BUT, the CSC SG250 is in stock NOW. Full comparison of the BEST VALUE CSC SG250 vs the Honda #CT125:
https://www.greatoutthere.online/post/csc-sg250-vs-the-honda-ct125 @cscmotorcycles