California Scooter RX-3 SE - Specifications & Review

Company History

The California Scooter Company (CSC) launched with a charming idea: revive the look and attitude of 1950s Mustang-style mini-motorcycles using modern components, California flair, and approachable pricing. Under Steve Seidner, CSC produced small four-stroke singles that channeled Americana—chrome touches, candy paint, and compact proportions—while being practical for short hops and beach-town commutes. As the market evolved, CSC broadened into value-driven adventure and dual-sport singles sourced from reputable Asian manufacturing partners and thoroughly supported from its Azusa, California base. The company leaned heavily into transparency: publishing ride reports, detailed service guides, and mail-order parts catalogs that empowered owners to wrench confidently. Group rides—Baja loops, cross-country challenges—became rolling proofs of concept that low-cost motorcycles, properly prepared, could handle serious miles. In an era when many brands chase premium niches, CSC’s contrarian proposition resonated with riders who wanted simplicity and community more than spec-sheet warfare. Historically, California Scooter/CSC illustrates a distinctly American retail story: curate global production, add stateside QC and documentation, and win loyalty by answering the phone. The retro minis preserved a slice of SoCal culture; the adventure singles opened the world to riders on realistic budgets. In both cases, the company’s personality—friendly, unpretentious, and road-tested—became part of the product itself.