Ssr 250 Top Speed
The small-bike segment has had a renaissance in recent years, with many two-wheeled delights gracing showroom floors from 250 cc to 500 cc. Many of those small-bike offerings have been in the sport bike segment, offering flickable trackday toys. But what about the modern classic segment? That's had a renaissance, too, though most vintage-styled new bikes are still 600 cc and up. One exception is SSR.
SSR has been distributing a variety of two- and four-wheeled products since the company was founded in 2002. After a few years offering pit bikes, SSR moved on to ATVs and UTVs, then added scooters, dirt bikes, and street bikes. Their current lineup consists of pit bikes ranging from the 50 cc SX-50A to a 170 cc SR170TR and TX, and an 800-watt electric pit bike; dirt bikes ranging from the 150 cc SR150 to the 450 cc SR450C; a 250 cc dual-sport XF250; and 170 cc UTV. On the street, they offer a 50 cc moped, 50 cc and 150 cc scooters, the 125 cc Razkull and 250 cc Snakeyes and Buccaneers. More recently they added the Benelli brand to their family of bikes, helping revive the Italian brand with the TNT 135, 300 and 600, and the Zafferano 250EFI and Caffenero 150 scooters. They also have a handful of electric bicycles. All of SSR's bikes are made in their factory in China.
"People have the impression that anything from China is a piece of crap, so I knew we could make something better," said SSR Motorsports President William Li. "Our mission statement is to provide quality product at an affordable price with good customer service, and we are on track."
Reliability is a common concern for buyers looking at an import with an unfamiliar name. SSR's bikes come with a one-year, 12,000-mile warranty, which can be extended to four years for $744. As for availability of replacement parts, their headquarters in Southern California houses a warehouse of parts ready to ship to their growing network of more than 250 dealers nationwide. They are indeed prepared and determined to provide good customer service and support.
Two flavors of retro Buccaneer
The Buccaneer street bike comes in two iterations: the Buccaneer Classic and Buccaneer Café. The differences are aesthetic; the Classic is a completely naked bike and comes with a flat, two-person seat with a small scoop at the back. The Café, on the other hand, comes with a bikini fairing and a narrower solo seat with a seat cowl. Aimed at riders from their 20s to their 40s who are fixated on everything vintage and classically styled, the Buccaneer features retro cafe racer style, with a simple round headlight, isolated fuel tank, and a fairly upright riding position. SSR also hopes to reach the 55 and up riders who are ready to trade in their larger cruisers for something that reminds them of bikes from their youth: small, lightweight, simple, and affordable.
For buyers basing their purchasing decision on aesthetics, the closest competitor to the $3,499 Buccaneer is likely the Suzuki TU250X, which has an MSRP of $4,599. The Honda Rebel 300 has a different style and the Ducati Scrambler Sixty2 and the Triumph Street Twin are significantly more expensive and larger. So the Buccaneer has a bargain price, but what does that get you?
Aside from its charming looks, the Buccaneer feels like a good fit for the average-sized rider. Even my five-foot, five-inch frame felt at home aboard both the Classic and the Café, with a comfortable reach to the handle bars, allowing a slightly upright riding position. My legs reach the ground well enough, thanks in part to my 30-inch inseam being compatible with the Buccaneer's 31.1-inch seat height. The Classic's seat is a smidge wider than the Café's, making my stance a little less sure-footed at a standstill, but by a small margin. The midway position of the foot pegs offers a comfortable bend in my legs, though I would imagine anyone with a longer inseam might start feeling a bit cramped after a day's ride.
Looking at the cockpit of the Buccaneer reveals a simple array of features. A single, round-face gauge gives analog tachometer reading, with an inset screen showing a digital speed readout, odometer reading, and gear indication. Don't expect anything fancy like a clock or a trip meter on this little cafe racer. SSR has decided to give you just what you need, but nothing superfluous. After all, the point of this bike is to get back to the basics, as an "authentic" motorcycle, as SSR referred to it in their presentation. (Hard to think of any un-authentic bikes, but I digress.)
Riding the SSR Buccaneer
OK, enough setting the scene. How does this thing ride? The Buccaneer's fuel-injected 249 cc V-twin produces a lion cub's growl. Twist the throttle, and the bike moves forward, but not in any hurry. In town, this mild-mannered throttle response and 18.1-horsepower output is plenty to keep up with traffic and stay out of trouble. With a top speed of about 90 mph, the Buccaneer will get up to speed and keep up with traffic on the freeway, but not without effort. Achieving California highway speeds isn't exactly wringing its neck, but it's still working hard to get there.
Shifting through the Buccaneer's five speeds required pulling on a heavier clutch lever than I would have expected. There were a few times I was wishing for a sixth gear, but that's the nature of a small-displacement bike, apparently. I recalled that the Suzuki also has a five-speed.
The single shock is preload adjustable, but I made no changes to it during my test ride as it felt right for my 135-pound weight, soaking up L.A.'s rough-seamed concrete freeway slabs and partially patched potholes. As we made our way from the flat, fast, and straight roads onto the tighter twisties, the Buccaneer revealed its light steering. At only 283 pounds (claimed wet weight with a third of a tank of fuel), the little cafe racer was easy to flick back and forth through the twists and turns.
Grabbing a handful of brake lever revealed a wooden feel from the Buccaneer's single, four-piston caliper gripping the 278 mm disc. At one point, trying to bring the Buccaneer Café to a stop somewhat quickly, I was reminded that these bikes are not equipped with ABS or traction control, as the front brake locked up briefly. Vintage price means forgoing some modern conveniences. If you are one of those riders who, by way of tradition, are still opposed to ABS, the Buccaneer's classic simplicity will warm your vintage-loving heart.
So where does that leave us? With the slightly limited dash information and features, and basic brake setup, the Buccaneer makes some compromises to remain affordable. Overall, it's a heck of a bargain, compared to other bikes of similar displacement. The Classic retails for $3,499, and is available in either green or red. The Café adds an additional $100, which gets you the bikini fairing and a monopost seat, and the colors available are red with a black frame or white with a red frame. Both Buccaneers are available now at SSR dealerships.
If you're in the market for a new, but classic-looking ride, and have a budget under $5,000, the Buccaneer might just be your huckleberry.
| 2018 SSR Buccaneer | |
|---|---|
| Price (MSRP) | Classic: $3,499 Café: $3,599 |
| Engine Type | Air-cooled, 60-degree V-twin |
| Displacement | 250 cc |
| Power | 18.1 horsepower |
| Transmission | five-speed |
| Front Brake | Single 278 mm disc, four-piston caliper |
| Rear Brake | Single 240 mm disc |
| Tires front/rear | 100/80-17; 130/90-15 |
| Wheelbase | 56.7 inches |
| Seat height | 31.1 inches |
| Tank capacity | 4.5 gallons |
| Wet weight | 283 pounds |
Image Gallery
Source: https://www.revzilla.com/common-tread/2018-ssr-buccaneer-cafe-and-classic-first-ride-motorcycle-review
Tidak ada komentar: