2023 Templar X review (awesome)

[vividpixel]

@ChopperCharles: Templar X is a 249cc, has 19 horsepower, and 6-speed transmission. It's more of what you'd consider a dirtbike. Adjustable suspension, knobbies, giant rear sprocket, and plastic that is way less likely to break off. Has sturdier foot pegs, shift lever, and handlebars compared to the Hawk.

My riding experience is split between the CSC TT250 and Templar X 250. Small stuff the TT250 (possibly Hawk) does better: the TT250 manages slightly better when transporting a passenger thanks to its firmer suspension. I would prefer the TT250's wildly imprecise fuel gauge to having nothing at all. Fuel door doesn't lock and you won't find hazard lights on the TempX, but the headlights are turned on or off with their own switch and are not tied to your ignition! TT250 has steering lock for antitheft as well as the ignition cover, but neither of these can be found on the X.

The Templar is significantly louder! And the choke is located on the clutch lever rather than down at the engine, which is good because the Templar needs the help more often. Templar X also has no kick start plus can only be started with a brake pressed.

If you're asking carburetor versus fuel injection, well I've gathered that comes down to whether you plan to do performance mods and whether you're comfortable with a few extra sensors that can go wrong.

[Thumper]

Originally Posted by vividpixel

@ChopperCharles:
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And the choke is located on the clutch lever rather than down at the engine, which is good because the Templar needs the help more often.

This just means you are jet too lean. If you already bumped the pilot jet one step and shimmed the needle, adjust the airmix screw as T-Pete suggests (open it up a bit more-counterclockwise).

If you are already two turns out, bump the pilot jet to the next size. You could shim the needle if you haven't done that yet, but it is more likely to be the pilot jet or airscrew setting.

My Templar needs choke in the Winter when it is cold but doesn't need it for more than 10 seconds, or less. In Summer, it doesn't need choke at all if I have been running it the same day (maybe just to start, then no choke). If it is cold, brief choke just to start, then not needed.

I like to run more rich. It runs cooler and it is easier on the piston and rod bearings.

[vividpixel]

Originally Posted by Thumper

This just means you are jet too lean.

I don't want to derail someone's thread with my non-issue, just figured it's a valid out of the box comparison (TT250 on stock carb vs TemplarX on stock carb). The spark plug was very sooty black in the Templar which everything I've read indicates too rich, so that's interesting that it could be the opposite, but it's not enough of an annoyance for me to worry about. The TT250 spark plug is less-dark-black with a hint of light gray, so I'm actually surprised TT250 is the one not needing choke.

[oouthere]

That normally means the pilot jet is a little lean (cold starting issue) and your main jet is fat (black plug).

Originally Posted by vividpixel

I don't want to derail someone's thread with my non-issue, just figured it's a valid out of the box comparison (TT250 on stock carb vs TemplarX on stock carb). The spark plug was very sooty black in the Templar which everything I've read indicates too rich, so that's interesting that it could be the opposite, but it's not enough of an annoyance for me to worry about. The TT250 spark plug is less-dark-black with a hint of light gray, so I'm actually surprised TT250 is the one not needing choke.