Hello from Central VA

Sdmetzger · 10-23-2024, 07:02 AM

Hello from Kent’s Store, VA. I just received and assembled my new Templar X from Powersportsmax. I have owned many bikes in the past, but now as a “mature” gentleman, I just wanted something to putter around and explore the back roads and countryside of beautiful Virginia.

I had been looking for a lightly used TW200 since that seemed to be a bulletproof, simple toy, but owners ask ridiculous prices for decent examples. I figured I would try the whole China Bike thing for half to a third of what a TW would have cost. I don’t mind wrenching a bit.

Powersportsmax was very easy to deal with and has been very responsive. I received my crate about 8 days after ordering and it was very banged up. I almost refused acceptance, but against my initial judgement I took it. The shipping frame absorbed most of the punishment and the only meaningful damage was light cosmetic stuff and Powersportsmax has offered to replace any broken pieces.

On assembly, I tidied up the really cheesy things (like the amateurish wiring for lights and such), and loctited many bolts, but overall have been impressed by what you get for the money. The only real debug I had to do was to fix a fuel line that had been pinched in the bundle of wiring of stuff right near the carb. On initial startup it would run for about a minute before quitting, since the line was not fully blocked, but lightly pinched. Since then it has run fine and I am having fun with it.

I am very glad for this forum, since it gave me the confidence to leap into this project prior to purchasing this thing, and helped set expectations for what I would be getting, preparing me to do some cleanup and prep to get it right.

tknj99 · 10-23-2024, 08:11 AM

Welcome.. from Afton! We could always use another Templar in my group:
https://www.facebook.com/share/g/Mvrdc7ypAtjrtQ6E/

P.S.. we have an event scheduled for this Saturday if you're down to join, would be great to meet!

Sdmetzger · 10-23-2024, 08:26 AM

Thanks for the invite. You are very close by, and that sounds like it would be fun, but I am still waiting for my updated MSO that says just”motorcycle”, instead of “off-road motorcycle”, so I have not yet registered the bike. I will certainly take you up for future events.

tknj99 · 10-23-2024, 09:00 AM

Great.. also, for street-ability, I would suggest changing either the front or rear sprocket. there is a resource guide and alot of info on what works well..

**JerryHawk250** · 10-23-2024, 08:41 PM

Welcome aboard!

Sdmetzger · 10-24-2024, 12:34 AM

I took the machine out for a local (illegal) ride around some of the back roads in my local vicinity. There's now about 15 miles on the clock. The advice above about sprockets is well noted as I could tell quickly that keeping up with traffic, even on local state roads will require a bit more speed.

The tires will probably be changed as well since the delivered knobbies, which seem pretty good on trails, are not great for tooling about on pavement. When I ordered the bike, I also ordered a Nibbi PE30 carb from Amazon, which is still in a box on the bench, and I will force myself to install it soon. It's a hurdle to tear into something new, when it seems to be working OK now, though a bit cold-blooded.

**cheesy** · 10-24-2024, 09:09 AM

Welcome.

10-23-2024, 07:02 AM	#1
Sdmetzger Join Date: Oct 2024 Posts: 3	Hello from Central VA Hello from Kent’s Store, VA. I just received and assembled my new Templar X from Powersportsmax. I have owned many bikes in the past, but now as a “mature” gentleman, I just wanted something to putter around and explore the back roads and countryside of beautiful Virginia. I had been looking for a lightly used TW200 since that seemed to be a bulletproof, simple toy, but owners ask ridiculous prices for decent examples. I figured I would try the whole China Bike thing for half to a third of what a TW would have cost. I don’t mind wrenching a bit. Powersportsmax was very easy to deal with and has been very responsive. I received my crate about 8 days after ordering and it was very banged up. I almost refused acceptance, but against my initial judgement I took it. The shipping frame absorbed most of the punishment and the only meaningful damage was light cosmetic stuff and Powersportsmax has offered to replace any broken pieces. On assembly, I tidied up the really cheesy things (like the amateurish wiring for lights and such), and loctited many bolts, but overall have been impressed by what you get for the money. The only real debug I had to do was to fix a fuel line that had been pinched in the bundle of wiring of stuff right near the carb. On initial startup it would run for about a minute before quitting, since the line was not fully blocked, but lightly pinched. Since then it has run fine and I am having fun with it. I am very glad for this forum, since it gave me the confidence to leap into this project prior to purchasing this thing, and helped set expectations for what I would be getting, preparing me to do some cleanup and prep to get it right.
	4

10-23-2024, 08:11 AM	#2
tknj99 Join Date: Oct 2020 Location: Central VA Posts: 1,303	Welcome.. from Afton! We could always use another Templar in my group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/Mvrdc7ypAtjrtQ6E/ P.S.. we have an event scheduled for this Saturday if you're down to join, would be great to meet! __________________ 2024 Templar 250 2021 Beta 500 RRS 2018 VStrom 1000 XT Former China Bikes: Tao DBX1, Brozz 250, CSC RX4, Titan DLX, Templar X, Storm DLX 150
	0

10-23-2024, 09:00 AM	#4
tknj99 Join Date: Oct 2020 Location: Central VA Posts: 1,303	Great.. also, for street-ability, I would suggest changing either the front or rear sprocket. there is a resource guide and alot of info on what works well.. __________________ 2024 Templar 250 2021 Beta 500 RRS 2018 VStrom 1000 XT Former China Bikes: Tao DBX1, Brozz 250, CSC RX4, Titan DLX, Templar X, Storm DLX 150
	0

10-23-2024, 08:41 PM	#5
JerryHawk250 Moderator Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Houma, La. Posts: 11,737	Welcome aboard! __________________ 2024 Linhai 300 ATV 4x4 2023 Lifan Lycan 250 Chopper 2023 Venom Evader 2022 Lifan KPX250 2020 Kawasaki Vulcan S (Sold) 2004 Honda ST 1300 2016 Black Hawk 250 (sold) Keihin PE30 carb,125 main,38 slow.Pod filter,ported & decked head 10:1 CR,Direct Ignition Coil,15/40Sprockets,NGK DPR8EIX-9,De-Cat,Dual Oil Cooler,Digital Cluster 2016 Cazador180 XL 2014 Coolster150 JerryHawk250.com My YouTube Channel
	0

10-24-2024, 09:09 AM	#7
cheesy Moderator Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Elburn, IL Posts: 5,994	Welcome. __________________ Cheesy ______________________________________ 07 Hi Bird Enduro-Flown the Coop 07 Ural Gear Up 79 Honda CX500 77 VeloSolex 4600 V3 73 VeloSolex 3800 I'm making this up as I go.-Indiana Jones Telling me something 'is for my own good', is a fast way to a fat lip.-Me I don't even care about my own problems, why should I care about yours?-Quote on one of my favorite t-shirts
	0

10-23-2024, 08:26 AM	#3
Sdmetzger Join Date: Oct 2024 Posts: 3	Thanks for the invite. You are very close by, and that sounds like it would be fun, but I am still waiting for my updated MSO that says just”motorcycle”, instead of “off-road motorcycle”, so I have not yet registered the bike. I will certainly take you up for future events.
	1

10-24-2024, 12:34 AM	#6
Sdmetzger Join Date: Oct 2024 Posts: 3	I took the machine out for a local (illegal) ride around some of the back roads in my local vicinity. There's now about 15 miles on the clock. The advice above about sprockets is well noted as I could tell quickly that keeping up with traffic, even on local state roads will require a bit more speed. The tires will probably be changed as well since the delivered knobbies, which seem pretty good on trails, are not great for tooling about on pavement. When I ordered the bike, I also ordered a Nibbi PE30 carb from Amazon, which is still in a box on the bench, and I will force myself to install it soon. It's a hurdle to tear into something new, when it seems to be working OK now, though a bit cold-blooded.
	1