Hawk vs Templar X

[Megadan]

My own opinion about the Hawk vs. Brozz and the whole inverted forks things. I find them over rated. Functionally the only real advantage they have is rigidity. Something easily offset with a cheap fork brace.

I do like the Brozz though just for the improved overall quality of Bashan bikes out of the box. My one caveat to picking the Brozz - make sure it is a 2022 Recon. They now come with 21" front and 18" rear wheels. Don't get the 19/17 wheel combo as it greatly limits tire selection.

The Brozz and Hawk also come with 15hp. Don't cheat them out of that 1 hp lol. They are also fairly choked off and not too hard to bump the power up to around 17hp without major engine work. Their strength isn't hp though but torque. For a small air cooled 1cyl they chug along pretty good.

The Engine on the Hawk is not Zongshen made btw. Not sure about the Brozz. AFAIK the only true Zongshen made engine sold on a Hawk-like bike in the US is the CSC TT250 which is a Zongshen produced bike. The Hawk comes with a generic 167FMM (No ZS markings).

No matter what Hawk-like bike you would pick it is important to understand that these bikes are not dirt bikes. They are utilitarian bikes meant to fill the role of unpaved roads and dual track mixed with romps on pavement. They have a full frame with big seats to carry people and cargo. They don't have the suspension travel of a proper dirt bike - aka not really meant for people with MX dreams.

[Huck369]

The Tank shrouds and side plate/rear fender are copies of the 2007 RMZ250, so easy to come by in yellow, or black

[Thumper]

I forgot about the full sized wheels on the Recon. But you can find knobbies including DOT approved knobbies in the 19"/17" sizes.
I do like the out of the box stiffness of the inverted forks (Bashan models and the Templars). Templar M is an outstanding value, but it doesn't come with a luggage rack. If this is no problem, this bike comes with the 5 speed ZS172FMM. It is a really nice engine.

MegaDan has a thread describing a front fork upgrade for the Hawk that makes them perform well with mild bumps, then engages a smaller port with harder bumps that controls dive better and improves damping and rebound.

Powersportsmax has lots of parts for the Templars in stock, and they can order most other parts from Zuumav supplier. I haven't needed much, but they got me a front wheel and a starter both under warranty, no questions asked (they just wanted photos showing issues).

Templar X is well equipped upon arrival and it is all DOT approved, street legal...and it gets the 19hp engine, 6 speed, grippy light/tough bear claw footpegs, folding short shifter, nice luggage rack with mounts for side racks coming soon, fully adjustable suspension (separate compression and rebound settings on both ends, plus preload rear spring adjustment), adjustable brake and clutch levers, full sized wheels with decent tires mounted, rim locks, and an amazingly stiff and tough enduro scaled frame that still comes in at under 270lbs ($10k - 15k KTM Husq, etc come in at about 260lbs). That is an accomplishment! On the seat... I have never been uncomfortable on the seat, but my rides are 2 hours max. There is more foam under there than it appears. I am about 190lbs, and I fit well on the bike. At 5'10", it feels like a cadillac once I am rolling. I won't ever push it beyond it's limits, even though I am pretty aggressive. I just wish my should would allow me to jump higher. It is the landings that threaten my shoulder!

These are all crate bikes, and you have to put them together. You will have to rejet, presumably, but the rest is adjusting and positioning controls to suit your preferences.

[DSAdventures]

Originally Posted by Thumper

I forgot about the full sized wheels on the Recon. But you can find knobbies including DOT approved knobbies in the 19"/17" sizes.
I do like the out of the box stiffness of the inverted forks (Bashan models and the Templars). Templar M is an outstanding value, but it doesn't come with a luggage rack. If this is no problem, this bike comes with the 5 speed ZS172FMM. It is a really nice engine.

MegaDan has a thread describing a front fork upgrade for the Hawk that makes them perform well with mild bumps, then engages a smaller port with harder bumps that controls dive better and improves damping and rebound.

Powersportsmax has lots of parts for the Templars in stock, and they can order most other parts from Zuumav supplier. I haven't needed much, but they got me a front wheel and a starter both under warranty, no questions asked (they just wanted photos showing issues).

Templar X is well equipped upon arrival and it is all DOT approved, street legal...and it gets the 19hp engine, 6 speed, grippy light/tough bear claw footpegs, folding short shifter, nice luggage rack with mounts for side racks coming soon, fully adjustable suspension (separate compression and rebound settings on both ends, plus preload rear spring adjustment), adjustable brake and clutch levers, full sized wheels with decent tires mounted, rim locks, and an amazingly stiff and tough enduro scaled frame that still comes in at under 270lbs ($10k - 15k KTM Husq, etc come in at about 260lbs). That is an accomplishment! On the seat... I have never been uncomfortable on the seat, but my rides are 2 hours max. There is more foam under there than it appears. I am about 190lbs, and I fit well on the bike. At 5'10", it feels like a cadillac once I am rolling. I won't ever push it beyond it's limits, even though I am pretty aggressive. I just wish my should would allow me to jump higher. It is the landings that threaten my shoulder!

These are all crate bikes, and you have to put them together. You will have to rejet, presumably, but the rest is adjusting and positioning controls to suit your preferences.

The X just seems like a great value for what you get and that's why it bubbled up to the top of my list. Encouraging to hear you've had good luck getting parts and the MCO may come as Motorcycle or can be updated to Motorcycle. I'd like to catch a black friday special on which ever bike and get it plated before the rules change on me in Washington State.

[DSAdventures]

Originally Posted by Huck369

The Tank shrouds and side plate/rear fender are copies of the 2007 RMZ250, so easy to come by in yellow, or black

Huck, I saw this somewhere too that 07 RMZ plastic would fit but I never saw that someone actually did it and made it happen. Do you know of someone that actually tried it? Or have you seen in documented with pictures? From looking at pictures it looks like RMZ plastic would fit but looks can be deceiving. It would be awesome if this is the case.

[Huck369]

Originally Posted by DSAdventures

Huck, I saw this somewhere too that 07 RMZ plastic would fit but I never saw that someone actually did it and made it happen. Do you know of someone that actually tried it? Or have you seen in documented with pictures? From looking at pictures it looks like RMZ plastic would fit but looks can be deceiving. It would be awesome if this is the case.

No, I don't know of anyone that has done this, but I've been contemplating ordering a set of yellow for mine, if I do, I will post results....I have an AJP Dirt bike, and its rear fenders and side plate come from a 85 KTM SX, and I have bought and used the KTM parts on it.........

the Fuel Tank is definitely different than the Suzuki, but the frame is a KTM knock off, so might be able to use an aftermarket KTM tank

[DSAdventures]

Originally Posted by Megadan

...My own opinion about the Hawk vs. Brozz and the whole inverted forks things. I find them over rated....

...19/17 wheel combo as it greatly limits tire selection....


...No matter what Hawk-like bike you would pick it is important to understand that these bikes are not dirt bikes. They are utilitarian bikes meant to fill the role of unpaved roads and dual track mixed with romps on pavement. They have a full frame with big seats to carry people and cargo. They don't have the suspension travel of a proper dirt bike - aka not really meant for people with MX dreams....

I think of the Hawk as a wheels on the ground bike, meaning it's best to ride it in such a way that the wheels stay on the ground. I am sure the suspension and bike in general are way to soft too handle any jumping or ripping across the tops of whoops. I am not targeting any riding needing this bike to leave the ground, however my older nephew would probably like to get airborne. I actually see the conventional forks as reducing plastic that can get banged up on USD forks so one less thing for me to deal with.

Definitely only doing a 21/18 wheeled biked.