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.
I put the new 125cc CSC Wolf to the test on rough trails in the Arizona mountains!
It has been 60 years since Honda introduced the CT90 trail bike. It was an immediate success, appealing to sportsmen, campers, and ranchers. The CT90 was eventually replaced by the CT110, and now the current CT125 Trail or "Hunter Cub".
Even though Honda has sold MILLIONS of these cycles around the world, there has been a longing for a more affordable alternative. (The current MSRP for the Trail 125 is $4,099, plus $300 shipping and dealer fees. This puts the small, "economy" motorcycle out of reach for many prospective buyers.)
Introducing the CSC Motorcycles Wolf 125.
CSC Motorcycles has partnered with Zonsen Motorcycles to bring the new Wolf 125 to North America. Zonsen manufactures millions of motorcycles per year, under many brand names, for sale in dozens of countries. Zonsen now produces this 125cc motorcycle that matches the venerable Honda CT in both appearance and performance – but at a price that is THOUSANDS less!
Beyond complete motorcycles, Zonsen also builds millions of motors for motorcycles and scooters - including the H125 motor used in the CSC Wolf. This motorcycle has been exported around the world for two years. The "CSC Wolf 125" will be equipped with electronic fuel injection and is now completing DOT and EPA certification for the North American market
This is the FIRST offroad test of the new CSC Wolf 125.
After picking up the test bike at CSC Motorcycles in Azusa, California I crossed the 110-degree desert and fled to the cooler mountains of the Prescott National Forest, between Prescott and Crown King, Arizona.
The "Senator Highway" is a road that connects downtown Prescott (at one time, the capitol of the new state of Arizona) with the old gold mining towns of Crown King, Cleator, and Bumble Bee. This route was a wagon and stage line as well as a railroad right-of-way during the mining boom in the late 1800's. The mines have all closed and the remaining road is popular today with modern day explorers in Jeeps and side-by-sides.
The high elevations up to 7,000 feet provided relief from the hot June temperatures and fantastic scenery. The rough road provided a challenge for the brand new 125cc trail bike.
Creating the CSC Wolf 125 "First Edition" trail bike!
The test model CSC Wolf 125 that I was riding had been equipped with accessories for trail riding: engine guard with skid plate, rear aluminum top box, auxillary fuel container, and accessory storage racks. In addition, the CSC shop had swapped the stock 80/20 tires for beefier Shinko 244 knobbies in 3.0 x 17 size. The Wolf had also been outfitted with the raised front enduro-style fender to accomodate the larger tires.
This first test motorcycle was also supplied in the optional tan camoflage pattern, including the rear top case. It made a striking impression. EVERYONE that saw the Wolf 125 was very impressed and gushed, "That bike is WAY cool! Is it new? I remember that AWESOME look from YEARS ago."
Finally - getting to RIDE the new CSC Wolf 125 offroad!
As I noted in the previous article in this series, there was a short learning curve to become proficient with the four-speed semi-automatic transmission. After a few downshifts, I got the hang of it.
And don't downplay the importance of becoming a downshifting EXPERT! When you ride a 125cc motorcycle - especially on steep hills in the mountains - you will downshift A LOT!
Within the first few miles, I learned that you need to keep the engine revs up high. Honestly, I didn't look at the digital tachometer much, concentrating instead on the steep slopes and water crossings while dodging endless rocks.
I can tell you is that you need to be comfortable winding out the engine in first gear if you plan to ride in steep terrain. Second gear at lower RPMs just doesn't have the torque for gnarly hills. "Blip" the throttle, then click the heel shifter down into first gear as you loose momentum on each hill. (Honda CT125 groups routinely discuss lower gearing when riding offroad or with heavy loads. Swapping out the front sprocket is a simple task that any owner can do - or the CSC shop can perfrom during predelivery.)
Even Jeeps and high-powered SxS's do plenty of crawling on these challenging trails. The speed limit sign below was just for laughs!
Does the new 125cc CSC Wolf deliver on the promise? Is the CSC Wolf a legitimate option for anyone longing for a fun and economical 125cc motorcycle for town and trail? Can you buy a capable trail bike at HALF the price of the popular CT125?
The answer to ALL of these questions is YES!
Like the original CT90 back in the 1960's, it is easy to compare the little Wolf 125 to a pack mule. You just click the semi-automatic transmission into gear, twist the throttle and ride away. You easily climb aboard with the step-through frame, enjoy a comfortable seating position, the low center of gravity that makes tipping over nearly impossible, and great cargo carrying capacity. When you return back to "the barn" (or your final destination), you are thankful that the CSC Wolf 125 is such an "easy keeper" - sipping gas at the ridiculous rate of 100 miles per gallon!
It was fitting that I was "prospecting for some pure riding pleasure" along the historic route to Crown King, in the mountains where you can still stake a claim to search for the gold that the Old Timers missed over 100 years ago. Back then, horses and mules carried the loads. Today, I was able to ride deep into the mountains on the efficient Wolf 125 and not break a sweat!
By the end of the day, I had ridden up and down steep trails and bounced over rocky water crossings for about 25 miles. I had ridden another 25 miles on gravel roads near the trailhead, and some pavement coming and going from Prescott. I never dropped the bike on rough patches. The engine never stalled. It started in a split second every time I touched the key - and the few times I played with the kickstarter (just for fun.)
Needless to say, I was NEVER over-powered! But I was also never stranded. A few times I stopped to take photos, then PUSHED the bike to another position or to turn around - TRY THAT on a larger dual sport!
Is the CSC Wolf 125 the PERFECT offroad motorcycle?
I can't answer for you without asking, "Compared to WHAT?"
Do you want to ride fast, on and off the pavement?
Is your idea of offroad fun making jumps out of every "whoop" on the trail?
Do you want to carry a massive load, for example, overpacking to ride the Trans-America Trail over the high passes in Colorado?
Are you 6'5" tall?
Do you weigh over 250 pounds?
Do you want to ride the freeway at 75 MPH to and from the trailhead?
If the answer to any of these questions is YES, then you might want to consider a bigger dual sport or "adventure" motorcycle. There is a reason manufacturers offer powerful "ADV" bikes that go faster, have more ground clearance, and carry more with engines of 1,000cc and larger! CSC Motorcycles will also introduce a new CSC TT250X later this year with fuel injection, 250cc's and double the horsepower of the tiny Wolf 125.
These questions help describe who SHOULD NOT buy the CSC Wolf 125.
With these limitations, why has Zonsen and CSC Motorcycles made the massive investment to produce and distribute the Wolf 125 to North America, where "Bigger is Better" is the default?
First, you need to understand that at least 90% of the MILLIONS of buyers of the Honda CT90 thru CT125 (along with the Honda Super Cub C125) and 90% of the future buyers of the CSC Wolf 125 will never ride their cycles at 7,000 feet in the mountains, crashing through rocky water crossings. At the MOST, they may wander onto finely graded gravel roads for a few miles.
As described earlier, the test motorcycle that I was riding had hundreds of dollars of accessories installed, along with larger tires, specifically to increase the trail-worthiness. To these accessories, and with my ride experience, CSC also later added spacers in the front forks to add more spring tension and eliminate bottoming the suspension under severe conditions.
If I was riding the offroad Trans-America Trail or one of the demanding Backcountry Discovery Routes with camping gear, I would also change the gearing to provide more torque in the lower RPMs. This is an easy fix, BUT (like all the other offroad modifications to the stock Wolf 125) COMPLETELY unnecessary for the average rider!
Sadly, MANY Honda CT125 Trail owners buy this motorcycle for the wrong reasons or without considering the limitations. I hope this review helps CSC Wolf 125 shoppers make the RIGHT, informed decision.
If you follow any CT125 Facebook groups or online forums, you will find MANY owners hoping to sell their bikes - many with under 100 miles on the odometer. Why? Basically, they all complain that this small motorcycle is not a big, powerful, fast, loud, high-tech dual sport bike. They all voluntarily bought a 125cc motorcycle and expected the performance of a 500cc to 1,200cc adventure bike.
To repeat: MOST Wolf 125 owners can disregard the results of my offroad testing. They want an economical motorcycle for commuting in town and fun rides in the country, enjoying quiet roads and avoiding high speed highways, except for short connections. But ALL riders can be assured that if the CSC Wolf 125 is tough enough to withstand offroad abuse, it will certainly handle your daily commute or shopping trip.
The current CT125 with fuel injection (and the 2025 CSC Wolf 125) has DOUBLE the horsepower of the original carbureted 90cc engine. But neither the CT125 or Wolf 125 has the low-range transmission found on the original CT90. Why not? Over 90% of the buyers don't go offroad and don't need it! The small minority that want to tackle the TAT know how to regear the bike to match their needs and are willing to pay for the modifications.
Is the new Wolf 125 CAPABLE of long trail rides and cross-country expeditions?
YES - as long as you plan around the inherent limitations of small motorcycles. As shown below, Ang and Jonny rode their CT125's across the U.S. on the Trans-America Trail. Ang (Some Guy Rides on YouTube) described the 5,000-mile journey as "The ride of a lifetime - but one that made very little sense!"
If you never forget that you are riding an 8 horsepower, 125cc motorcycle you will have fun. Relax and enjoy the ride. Expect the performance of a 500cc dual sport than costs four or five times more and you will be constantly annoyed and disappointed.
So you don't make unreasonable demands on your Wolf 125cc motorcycle, let me make a few comparisons.
Number 1. I owned a Honda 5 horspower outboard motor that I used to power a small skiff (basically, a large 2-person kayak.) That 5 HP motor had similar displacement of 127cc. Top speed on the water was about 15 miles per hour. The Wolf 125 is rated at 50 to 55 MPH.
Number 2. I have owned successive Honda lawnmowers, and my current 21-inch walk-behind mower has a 200cc motor. 200cc's to mow my grass - compared to 125cc's to propel the average "plus-size" American down the highway or gravel road.
Side note: BOTH the Honda outboard and the motor on the Honda lawnmower are manufactured by outsourced suppliers in China and/or Thailand.
Number 3. CSC's two most popular motorcycles are the TT250 Enduro and SG250 Cafe Racer. The Enduro is better offroad than the Wolf 125.. The Cafe Racer is better on the street. Both share the same 229cc carbureted motor and have twice the horsepower of the Wolf 125 - but can't match the fuel mileage. Both are currently sale priced at the same $1,995.00 as the MSRP of the new Wolf 125 (plus set-up and documentation fees, and optional shipping.)
Conclusion: After just ONE day on the trail, I can understand the ATTRACTION to the 125cc trail bike. It just WORKS!
Like other 125cc motorcycle riders, I can echo their statements:
"I own (or have owned) many motorcycles - ALL more powerful and fancier. But this is the one that I ENJOY riding the most!"
"This little bike isn't the best at anything. Yet it is capable of taking me almost anywhere."
"I don't need the biggest, fastest, fanciest, or most expensive any more."
"Just give me something that works - all the time."
"I am so tired of high-tech everything. There is a reason retro is cool."
"No other bike gives me such a sense of accomplishment when riding."
"Less is MORE. Over 100 miles per gallon? The lowest registration and insurance costs? That's all I need."
"This little motorcycle delivers more smiles per mile! Other motorcycles come and go, but I will NEVER sell this bike!"
Here are some views from the trail, including a walk-around of the CSC Wolf 125 at the Palace Station, a wagon stop along the original Senator Highway between Prescott and Crown King:
Check out the NEXT CSC Wolf 125 Ride Report in this series at GreatOutThere.online. Next stop: the high desert around Jerome, AZ!
CSC Motorcycles has completed the DOT and EPA regulatory processes and is bringing the Wolf 125 trail motorcycle to North America for 2025. The MSRP price will be ONLY $1,995.00 (plus fees and shipping direct to your address.) Advance deposits will be accepted in August, with expected deliveries beginning later in 2024.
Zonsen has been manufacturing HUNDREDS of THOUSANDS of 125cc motorcycle engines for decades. Economical, dependable, and low maintenance 125cc motorcycles are the standard in most of the world. In addition, CSC will be offering a HUGE range of accessories and modifications for the new Wolf 125. CSC will install your accessories for FREE when you order your 2025 Wolf! See CSCmotorcycles.com for more details.
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