Would you choose the CSC TT250 or the Hawk 250? Let me know below! 🏍 GEAR I USE AND RECOMMEND - bit.ly/ea-links 👕 STICKERS, SHIRTS & MERCH - bit.ly/ea-merch 🙌 HELP SUPPORT THE CHANNEL - bit.ly/ea-patreon
The 2017 RPS Hawk 250 owners manual lists the fuel capacity at 14 liters which converts to 3.69 gallons, I love my Hawk but I will agree the csc tt is better. Here in NY I have no issues registering the hawks and the price is unbeatable, I paid 1349 for my 2016 leftover this spring and ordered in four more 2017's for customer's at 1379 each, all shipped for free. I've managed to put 800 problem free miles on mine so far
Thank you for the info! That is a really good sized tank for a bike that is so small. I am very surprised that a state like NY will let you register the bike without a problem. I really wish I could get my hands on one here in CA just to really compare it to my TT250. You just can't beat that price and people really seem to be getting their monies worth and then some! Thanks for watching!
Tommy Tibble You could try craigslist or maybe CycleTrader to see if anyone nearby is selling one. They don’t operate like a regular dealer so you won’t find one at a dealer. When CSC gets used ones they will list them on their site too under pre-owned and they will ship it to you just like they do with the new models. I believe they are supposed to get the 2018 models in next month, so you could order directly from them as well. Even with the 150 dollar shipping charge it’s still a pretty good deal. Thanks for watching!
I have a Bashan raven and it has a 3.4gl. i thought it was pretty much just a better built hawk (assembled in Texas), but that's pretty cool if the hawk has a 3.7gl 😮 you can get all the way across the state without a gas stop. I love mine, i like that the sprocket ratio is 17/46, she doesn't get buzzy till over 50mph. Still considering a 42 in the rear, im a small guy so not worried about torque. Basically turn her onto an adventure bike 😅 planning on ordering a windscreen this week too. Awesome content, would love to see more Chinese bike comparisons 👍👍
That’s awesome! It’s cool to see all the options that have popped up since I made this video. I sold mine a few years ago, but I’m strongly considering getting another one. I love the simplicity of the bike, especially in a world that is increasingly complicated.
"Upgrade money goes really quick." Yeah, for the cost of the upgrades on my NC700X, I could have just about bought a CSC TT250! 😉 Speaking of... CSC adays they upgrade all of their bikes' stator/generator to a 300W unit, and add accessory power outlets under the seat. Those are pretty big "freebies" to me, as I would want to add aux lights, a charging feed for phone/GPS and one to charge my portable battery and/or tent light (also a protable battery). I wouldn't be shy to fit a heated vest/jacket plug and heated grips as well.
It was super nice to buy a phone holder with a USB and just plug it right in... and then being able to control it from the handlebar was just icing on the cake. If you actually use the upgrades CSC puts in... they are pretty awesome for a bike that is so cheap. Thanks for watching!
Hawk tank is 3.4 gallons. I love my Hawk, and honestly having experienced the counter balanced and non-counterbalanced CG250 engine, the difference in vibration is minimal except at lower RPM (chugging at 3k rpm). The money I have spent upgrading my Hawk - Digital Tachometer cluster, sprockets, chain, exhaust, carb, intake. and full LED lighting...I would still have to spend another $400 before I equal the MSRP of the TT, and the cost of my Hawk includes the shipping I paid, subtract that, and it would be a $700 difference. The adjustable suspension would be a nice feature, and would be worth the price difference alone though. That said, I have made my Hawks forks perform admirably with custom preload spacers and 15wt fork oil with a 110mm compressed air gap. The rear shock is the ONLY thing that I wish had at least some preload adjustment on it. Fun fact for you though, a Majority of the TT250 parts bolt on to a Hawk. In fact, the frames are close to the same, but the front downtube is angled more vertical on the TT250 to make room for the counter balancer on the front of the engine. Also, if you want a tachometer, the previously mentioned digital cluster with Tach, a damn good upgrade for the Hawks, also works on the TT250 from what I understand, and is dead on accurate. Honestly, my ideal bike would be a TT250 with a Hawk fuel tank, but with an OHC version of the CG motors - because both bikes could use just a tiny bit more power. The Hawk is still a great bike, but it is definitely more of a bike for people who like to tinker, experiment, and fabricate. It's more like a blank canvas that you alter into whatever type of bike you want out of it. Last little fact. Haosen is also known as Haosen-Hensim, and collectively they have been around quite a while.
Wow, thank you for all the information! One thing that I really have enjoyed about owning my TT250 is that the community around Chinese motorcycles is extremely passionate and helpful. I did know about the digital speedo, but I am holding off to see what CSC is doing with the 2017 models. Rumor has it that they will come with a digital speedo, so if that is the case and I can swap it then I am probably going to do that. They guy that makes them for the Hawk also makes a TT250 variant. A buddy of mine has one and it's really nice. The Hawk seems like a great bike and I really wish I could get one here in CA just to mess around with. Hopefully one day I will have the opportunity to get my hands on one so I can compare it with my TT250. I also wish we could get the OHC versions of the CG engines. I believe that is the same engine used in the NXR 150 Bros. Thanks again for the info and thanks for watching!
The 2017- TT250 has a digital gauge cluster but I have yet to see any pictures of it. They should have just bought the one everyone is using on the Hawk and called it a day. Also CSC is out of TT250's at the moment. Most of the same performance mods on the Hawk work for the TT such as airbox mod, same exhaust, jetting the carb(the TT has groves to move the e-clip no washers). Things such as LED lights, etc , etc. I was leaning towards the Hawk and doing the upgrades myself but I have been researching and it seems more and more states are catching on to the HAWK being EPA approved for off road but not on road and more and more are not allowing you to plate them. The TT250 comes ready to ride and can be plated in all 50 states and as you said the suspension alone is worth the money. I am still saving up my money and will be buying one as soon as they get them back in stock.
I have a couple of questions. How is the stock chain holding up? The one that comes with the Hawk is junk. Did you prefer the 45 or 47 tooth sprocket and did you have to cut your chain? CSC has a 49 sprocket the stock chain will work with. Also how often do you change your oil and do you run conventional or synthetic? Thanks for the help. Love your videos.
Todd Hayslett - It is partially true that more states aren't allowing the Hawk to be registered, but they are mostly the same states that it was already a problem to register them in the first place. Many states in the south, midwest, and the great plains will still register them without blinking. From the few TT250 owners I have talked to, the stock TT chain is only marginally better than the Hawk's stock unit. Most of them have already upgraded to a name brand aftermarket chain as well due to stretching. Rear sprocket upgrades with the TT250 can be done with the same JTR269 rear sprocket can be used by us Hawk owners, but requires spacers to move it away from the wheel hub a few mm to get the alignment right as the rear wheel hubs are slightly different, and CSC uses an offset sprocket that bolts to the hub while the Hawk uses a flat sprocket with cush drive pins and a snap ring.
+Todd Hayslett I have really enjoyed mine. It's not perfect but it has exceeded my expectations. A while back I asked CSC about the 2017's and they were originally supposed to come in around the same time as the RX3's. Not sure what happened because the blog recently said they finalized the order... so hopefully they will get them in soon or provide an update.
Thanks for the research you’ve done. I had no idea that they cloned an existing Honda engine as I’m very familiar with the overhead cam design of the old Honda XL250 and 350. No cam chain and no points running off the camshaft would be a plus for a more dependable but lower power engine. I’m thinking about buying one of these to putt-putt through the woods.
Just took delivery of a Hawk 250 and assembled it for my 49 yr old daughter who's ridden bikes all her life. It comes with a very aggressive and (to me) oversized rear tire - 4/125" across the carcass, not including the knobs - and one reason they put a chain guard on it that stops short of protecting the chain where the tire passes it. The features on the machine seem mostly well done. I'm only a bit leery of the support available for the present.
Yeah I’m not sure where you get the parts for the Hawk... but I’m assuming the dealers have a catalog or something? ChinaRiders.Net is a great resource for stuff like that and there are a lot of happy Hawk owners on those forums. Thanks for watching!
Hi there! Very nice review of the bike. I am from Ukraine,and i own almost the same bike as your hawks are. Here it's named Geon. You can see it on my picture. Engine is almost the same,but it's copied from honda xr250 engine. Your engine is CG,mine is CB version. The camshaft is located upper. And there are some more differences. Engine is 166fmm. I bought the bike,changed all the liquids,the chain,oil in the front fork,now i change oil every 700 miles or so,and ran on it almost 8000 miles without any issues. Pretty happy with the bike. Here we have a good exhaust already in stock version,so didn't have to deal with that. in general i didn't know that you guys have Chinese bikes over in USA. Last years they produce pretty good machinery though. By the way,in my bike stock sprockets are: front 13 teeth,back 42 teeth. Don't know, maybe someone will find the info useful. Cruising speed is about 55-57 miles per hour. The price of brand new here is 1685$. For every day use it's a perfect bike,but if you wanna travel long distances it's not enough and riding on highways is not a pleasure on this bike. My dream bike is Yamaha xt660z tenere,started to save up money for it. And want to travel through the whole Europe. But once more if maintenance is good for chinese bike it will last pretty long. Mine milage is almost 8000 and my friend's is more than 10.000 miles without any issues with the engine.
Yeah I think the Chinese bikes are a great value if you take care of them. What I found with mine is that it required a little more love and care than a Japanese bike but the maintenance was super easy. The CB version is a little more powerful too isn't it? I would LOVE to own one of those XT660 Tenere's... but unfortunately they don't sell them here in the US. The new 700 Tenere is looking pretty promising though... so we will see. Thinks for watching!
You know what? I totally forgot about that. You are 100% correct, along with the wiring underneath the seat and the AUX switches on the right handlebar controls. Good catch!
The Hawk does have stainless steel braided brake lines and discs at both ends. The chain doesn't last long. The spokes require tightening right out of the crate and continuous checking. Dealer support is non-existent. Knowing what I know now, I would have gone with the TT250 over the Hawk.
Thank you for the correction! I thought I had seen somewhere that they were just standard brake lines... but I did know about the disk brakes. I haven't had any issues with the spokes on my TT250 yet... I wonder if the TT250 rims would fit the Hawk?
If you check out MotoCheez latest video, he broke another spoke. Another CSC owner told me that the Hawk is like a Toyota and the TT250 is like a Lexus. It's all the little details. The forks are much nicer on the TT250. The gas cap on the Hawk has a key hole cover that vibrates and makes noise, whereas the TT250 has a nice looking cap. Even the rear foot peg mounts look better on the TT250. The Hawk's looks like a piece of tubing that was bent, flattened and drilled. The TT250's is a cast piece. The reason I bought the Hawk was the price tag and I could register it in the state of Florida. Keep the videos coming. How about a maintenance video on your TT250?
This was 2.5 years ago. As far as you know, have any other Chinese companies came out with 50 state legal dual sports? I was told the fuel injected Hawk is legal but can't find that info on the sales websites.
To my knowledge there aren't any companies making street legal dual sports that are 50 state legal. The exception would maybe be SSR, but they only have like one model and they are quite a bit more expensive. I wish that would change, but the fact that CSC does that to all their bikes as well as offers support for them all really speaks to how great of a company they are.
Yeah, I think that would be a good way around. I think the DMV might have some issues with the brand and their systems... but I'm not too sure. I have thought about going that route for my TTR230 though!
I ordered a Tao Tao TBR7 and I believe it will be a good dual sport. I currently ride a Magician (RPS ) which is a streetier version of the Hawk, but has a 1.7 gallon gas tank. TBR7's are getting good reviews and Tao Tao seems to make good stuff. The bike is supposed to have a 3.6 gallon tank and a working gas gauge which the Magician doesn't have. Motocheeze did a review and he seemed impressed with it. I think it's comparable to the Hawk and a little more stylish.
Congrats! The Tao Tao looks pretty cool. It looks more similar to what the TT250 from CSC has in terms of components, but I know Tao Tao makes scooters and stuff too so they already have a bit of a reputation which is a plus. I wish we could register bikes like the Hawk or the Tao Tao in California... I'd love to put some miles on one!
@@EachAdventure I think the TBR7 is lecal in CA. They said all 50 states, that's why you need a new carb ready when it arrives. One vlogger pointed out there is a large removable plug in the air filter system to remove, too.
I copied this from Killermotorsports, probably the big Hawk dealer: "The RPS Hawk is perfect for moderate to experienced riders, looking for an upgrade from a bike in a smaller engine class. Its 250cc engine provides an enormous amount of acceleration and top speed, but a larger degree of control due to its large frame. Despite its bulky appearance, this is a bike with a surprising nimbleness-it can handle sharp turns with ease, thanks to its front and rear brake system, and has the acceleration you need to handle colossal jumps. Overall, if you’re looking to seriously enter the racing fray, or go for an extended offroad adventure, this a great bike to do those with. Not for the faint of heart or inexperienced, as the larger engine size offers a sizable learning curve to some, if used to a 125cc engine or smaller. Still, if you’re looking to take your bike game to the next level, this is the bike to do it with!" I "entered the racing fray" about twenty years ago and I would literally be laughed off the course on this bike. Even though I AM of "faint heart" I still see these wheels being taco'ed within the first few miles. Although with its "enormous amount of acceleration" I guess it must be able to handle those "colossal jumps with ease"! Sounds like I should just give away my Beta 300RR and step up to the Hawk!! I love these ads for their comedic value and picture them being written by an ancient Chinese woman in her hut, smoking a long- stemmed pipe.
+painmagnet1 Hahah! “Colossal jumps...”! From what I have heard the Hawk is a pretty solid bike, but it’s definitely not made for that kind of stuff. I’m sure it’s limitations are similar to the TT250 which is great for off road riding, but not so much when things start to get gnarly. You can’t beat the Hawk though if you want an extra bike to mess around with... 1300 bucks is a steal.
The Hawk has a super price no doubt but I'll be going the TT route if it comes to that and of course, taking it easy on the poor little guy. I think they are both priced very well for what you get. But whomever wrote that ad copy needs to be strung up in the town square lol. Or better yet, forced to ride their bike in a hare scramble. I just wish CSC would sell me one in the crate rather than paying a tweaker or high school kid to assemble, then re-crate it. One thing I have learned about Chinese stuff is that it mostly works but is poorly assembled. Tear it down all the way and reassemble with quality fasteners and Loctite, and you'll have a decent machine. Even top quality bikes are like this though to a lesser degree, have yet to see anything no matter how expensive with enough grease in the chassis bearings or every bolt treated and torqued. My dad showed up a few years ago to see my brand new Triumph Street Triple and couldn't believe I had it in a thousand pieces spread across the garage floor. But yep, it needed it.
Yeah non of that applies to the Hawk at all! haha It lacks in every area as a dual-sport motorcycle, trust me I own one. I wouldn't dare to jump mine, it's just not designed for that kind of abuse. It's designed for on/off road use, with the off road portion being aimed towards trail riding, not motocross madness.
the honda cg125 was sold over here in England and had a push rod engine not chain driven camshaft, and a gauze tea strainer type oil cleaner,not filter..
That's awesome! Some of the variants you guys have in Columbia are really cool. I have seen pictures of them with digital gauges and crash bars, both of which would be nice upgrades for the CSC model. I am not surprised at the mileage either, those little engines are designed to run forever. Thanks for watching!
Bikes here are comically small. People here ride two up on 110 cc bikes long distance haha. I'm from the US and grew up riding bikes too big for me. Living here has really changed my perspective on what my motorcycle needs are. I can defiantly see myself getting one of these whenever I get back.
Yes 3.7g tank, rear shock is adjustable, I lowered it all the way but still kinda high, stock carb sucks, I bought makuni clone with gaskets & open air filter for $26, I can started with choke off, I'm loving it so far
I drive my Hawk 100 miles round trip to work, Shinko dual sports, intake, exhaust, changed the gearing. I do hare scrambles with it, I put quick releases for the lights and plate bracket and when I’m done I put them on and ride it back home! $1399 for a street legal dirtbike? Probably my 2nd best bike besides the 899, but that’s apples to oranges.
Wow! Now that is impressive! I have heard really good things about the Hawk... I just wish I could register one here in California to ride on the street. For 1400 bucks it's hard to go wrong considering how capable my CSC TT250 was. Ride safe!
Most bikes here are between 150-250cc here in south america. With all the traffic and crappy roads. you will never get over 40mph. Thats why you will rarely see any bikes here over 300ccand they dont sell many bikes over 300cc. the market here is mostly 200-250cc and if you do see a bike over 300cc its like seeing a bugatti or rolls royce
Most of the time here in SoCal you can’t get over 40 in peak traffic either. When it does open up though people feel the need to go 90mph. 250 and under really seems to dominate in the rest of the world though, I really wish we had more secondary roads to take advantage of bikes like that. Thanks for watching!
For the price of a TT250 I could almost get a half decent used Japanese bike. For the price of a Hawk 250 I could barely get a clapped out moped, plus I do my own mechanic work and like to tinker, mostly ride vintage bikes, so I went with a Hawk. That being said I fully admit the TT250 looks to be a better bike, or at least a similar bike built from higher quality parts, hence the higher price point which I feel is fully justified. If nothing else the inverted fork front end makes me a little jealous but for 500 bucks it's not worth it to me to swap it onto my Hawk, yes I totally priced it out on CSC's website, LOL. Waiting on my Hawk to show up, my first Chinese bike that I hopefully won't regret, but for 1300 bucks I don't figure it owes me much, LOL.
I do agree that the Hawk is a terrific value, especially considering the amount of positive reviews all over the internet. The major things that set the TT250 apart aside from the higher quality specs is the support and customer service from CSC, as well as the 50 state certification. Ride safe!
@@EachAdventure Well, it's cheap, whether or not it's a good value? Ask me in a few months, LOL. I think it's just one more thing that people need to be realistic about. The ones expecting a Honda for 1300 bucks are gonna be disappointed. I've never had the pleasure of riding one but I would imagine they would be less disappointed in the TT250. I'm also lucky enough to live in MT so 50 state legality doesn't mean all that much to me. We can put a V8 engine on a skateboard and as long as it has a headlight, taillight, brake light, horn, and mirrors the DMV won't even bat an eye, LOL.
I have the 2020 Hawk DLX, that bike came upgraded my bike got fuel injector Brake lines & front forks everything is DOT Approve. Check it out they did a very nice job with the new Hawk DLX. And I register my bike in Nevada with no problem. I did paid $2380.00 for her but she's is beautiful after all the work I have done to her.
Yeah, the new fuel injected Hawks look pretty nice and are pretty much inline pricing wise with the TT250 (minus the fuel injection). You still can't register the Hawk DLX in California though, which is a bummer.
@@EachAdventure Yeah to be honest I would rather got the TT250 only because they have a better customer services plus they look like there operations is more professional. The dealership that I order my bike from their customer services is terrible! 👎🏻 When I receive my motorcycle there was a lots of damage. But I got a said the Hawk DLX is very nice that fuel injector makes a big differences 👍🏻
I grew up in San Bernardino. You should ride to Bear creek on up to the back of Snow Valley. check out Gold creek north of Big bear. There is a fire road that starts at the top of Palm ave that will take to Silverwood lake. Tons of really good fire roads in that are to ride.
I have been up Palm over to Silverwood before, but I have never gone up the back side of Big Bear (Clarks Grade). I am going to have to try and hit those before they close for the winter! I agree though, lots of nice scenic forest riding in that area.
@@EachAdventure. Roughly 10 miles up hwy 330 there is a fire road, 1n09, ( aka old city creek road) it will take to you bear creek. From there you can go to Angeles Oaks and down into Redlands or up to Big Bear. It's a beautiful road and many places to camp if you want to do a overnight trip. One of my favorite places to ride
@@EachAdventure also check ot Daley canyon road. Found near the Top of Del Rosa Ave in San Bernardino you can take it to hwy 330 or back to Hwy 18. Comes out at the Former Campus Christi. I spent most of child hood riding this trail and it's a great ride into the back country of the San Bernardino mountains. I love to see some footage on this road. Lots of memories
Gas tank size for the Hawk? correct. That its not "approved" for Ca. use I find odd given the smogged-out nature of the Hawk. I hate to imagine worse the CSC must have for Ca. BUT those guys out there would rather drill 1000ft for fresh water when the ocean is in their face for desalinization. Oh, yeah! Really smart crowd out there!
With the counter balanced engine you just have more stuff to wear with the oil pump instead of being mechanical gear driven it uses a chain which are more prone to wear then gears
That is true. Those engines are workhorses though. Even with the counter balancer, it is one of the most reliable engine designs ever made. It's not a performance engine and it holds a decent amount of oil, so I wouldn't be too worried about the extra wear and tear. I would like to feel the difference though between the counter balanced engine vs the regular one though.
If you rode on roads like this all the time you'd want 20 pounds of pressure in your tires for a smooth ride plus it has better traction. You won't believe the difference it makes it's easier on your motorcycle too
+Darin S It would probably be a little closer but from what I can gather, the Brozz is based off a different bike than the Hawk and TT250. Maybe a newer model Honda? It looks really nice though! I really like the beefed up swing arm!
I'm not sure if they have the same gearing, but the sprockets are super cheap so it can easily be changed. I'm sure they could both could run head to head as a dirt bike, but last time I checked the Hawk came with better stock tires for off-road. Suspension would be the limiting factor on both, as they both have about 6-7 inches of travel. I would probably give the edge to the TT250 because of the upgraded forks.
For the TT250 it is about the same. I believe mine was geared 17/47 and I could hit about 65 (up to 70-75 going down hill). I don't think it gets much faster than that, but some people gear it higher to keep the revs down.
I actually sold the TT250 a little over a year ago to make room for the DRZ I have been riding in my recent videos. My opinion of it now is the same that I had back when I owned it; and that is that it is a great bike if you have the right expectations and appreciate it for what it is rather than what it is not. If I had a need for a second bike that wouldn't see much highway use, I wouldn't hesitate to buy another one.
Yeah they do look pretty similar now. The Hawk is still not 50 state legal though, and the motor doesn't look like it is counterbalanced. EFI is pretty cool though!
Just found your channel I wouldn't mind trying one of these. Ive always been interested in an enduro or dual sport bike. Is this saddleback mountain your riding on? I live in Riverside county. I have a 2018 yz250 2 stroke which has alot of power but one of these or even a klx250 would be cool to cruz up in the wildomar area or through la cresta.
This video was actually up near Lytle Creek, but I also ride the Saddleback range quite often. Something like the TT250 or a KLX250 (or even the new KLX230S) is perfect for exploring the hills over in that area. Thanks for watching!
I do like the looks of the CSC better also, but to me the Hawk looks super similar with the main visual difference being the traditional forks and different plastics. Thanks for watching!
I think there are different models of the Hawk now as compared to when I made this video. I hope CSC will do something similar with the TT250, perhaps something with a bit better performance and fuel injection.
It does pretty well off road, but if you are expecting dirt bike performance when it comes to power and suspension... this is probably not the bike for you. It will handle most easy to moderate trails though as long as you don't push it too hard. Check out this playlist I put together to see the type of riding that I did with it. ruclips.net/p/PLzPoHJCMHjtTJ1rf_-J2kCBmn83s-OkTs
That seems like a pretty good price for a 2019 TT250. I would personally choose the TT250 over the Hawk mainly because I have experience with it and I know how great CSC's customer service is. That said, there are a lot of happy Hawk owners out there too.
i think the hawk is no longer street legal in nj or pa as of just the last few months. sadly its exatly the bike i wanted, ill have to get the Storm 250 which i believe is still nj pa street legal. I didnt want the counter balanced engine or usd forks.
Aww thats a bummer. Yeah most of those small importers won't go through the hassle of getting a bike 50 state certified. That is one of the things I like the most about CSC is that you don't have to worry about all that stuff. Is the storm pretty similar to the TT250 then?
I received a lot of questions asking how the CSC TT250 was different than the Hawk 250 on a lot of my other videos, so I decided to make this video to help answer those questions. They are very similar in terms of performance and capability, but I disagree that I need to own and ride both to point out and explain the differences between the two. If this was an in-depth review, that would be a different story... but unfortunately I can't legally register the Hawk here in California for use on the road (something I also pointed out in the video).
With the 47 tooth sprocket on the rear cruising at 55 was a lot more comfortable. That said, if you plan on doing a lot of highway, the RX3 would probably be the better bike.
I have a RX3 it has almost 25hp and a six speed gearbox, also it almost weights 380lbs. Not really a close call, RX3 can ride 70 mph all day long, TT250 16HP and a 5 speed gearbox ,seen a reviewer that just hit 60 mph on it....not sure about it's highway ability but the bike is lighter and a gust of wind or big trucks may greatly affect the bike stability, it affects my RX3 but nothing to serious but I have been riding for over 40 years.
I think you can register it as an OHV vehicle, but I don't know about street. The only workaround might be the 7500 mile loophole... where it was previously registered in another state... but it depends on who you get at the DMV.
From what I have seen they look pretty similar component wise now... except for the newer TT250's are still carburated. I never had an issue with my TT250 carb though... but fuel injection would be pretty nice 😊
Ive thought about jumping on a KLR 650. My buddy has one and told me to start off with a 250 before jumping on a 650. On the TT 250 is there a doohickey ? Can I put a bigger gas tank on?
The gas tank on the TT250 is pretty large for its class. You won't find another small bike that has almost a 3 gallon tank unless you go with a DR200 which has just over 3 gallons. The KLR is a great bike, but it all depends on what type of riding you want to do. The TT250 is great at dirt roads and mellow trails, but really lacks on the highway. The KLR is great if you have longer stretches of highway, but it is pretty heavy in the dirt. I know guys that ride them better than I can ride a 250 though, so its really all a matter of rider skill. Check out this video for some really good info on the KLR: ruclips.net/video/zYaoxATJ4z8/видео.html
I got a C 50 Boulevard 800 cc , and it is boring to ride. My concerns are about the KLR is the weight at 400 lbs, the pros are alote of mods that you can do. Is this 250 has mods, such as a bigger pistons? I'm a cruiser on the HWY at 70 to 75 mph and never been off road, but Im not looking into jumping the bike and being careless.
As far as I know the engine can't be bored out any higher. The Honda CG engine started life as a 125 and has been bored out to a 230 (the TT250 is really 229cc). With a sprocket change you can hit 70, but it is really screaming. It's pretty comfortable between 60-65 though. There are a few other mods like the exhaust and airbox, but even then it wont make it much more powerful.
@@realmanontheland4811 I had a Honda Nighthawk 250cc with larger jets and off road exhaust. I am 300 lbs but 70 mph was the cruising limit with stock gearing and 6 speed trans. I doubt anything smaller than a 350cc will cruise at 70 long term without hurting the motor. My Vulcan 500cc would cruise all day at 85mph with a top end over 110 mph.( also 6 speed ) The 250cc was around 300 lbs, the 500cc was 430 lbs I think.
So after having a few bikes over the years,the vstrom 650cc an the 1000cc the 650 being a bit more nimble,did mostly on road rideing the biggest thing i hear about the hawk is the upgrade to 30mm carb an the sprokets so on what seems like mabey 3 to $400.00 in parts ? would be does this need the carb upgrade,i like playing with my toys ,but when it comes to a carb well i want one that works,an would pay more to have the right one ,so how has the carb been one thing i dont think you touched on,great video though,my plan is to ride on road more then off road with one of the 2 thanks,now since the video seem the tt250 is about 400 to $600.00 more ,oh an on the hawk they seem to say the upgrades are a must for the hawk ,might i put the louder exhuast on mine about it better metal type pegs too i hear to new hawk or hawk 3 has more upgrades like remote start like my old roketa 250 had
I am not sure what carb the Hawk has, but the TT250 Kiehin carburetor was pretty flawless for me. Considering the engine is almost identical, the TT250 carb might fit the Hawk but I am not sure. $400 in parts sounds pretty steep for Chinese bike parts, I got the front and rear sprockets as well as the chain for like $40 bucks on Amazon. If it were me and I was trying to decide between the two... the TT250 I think is a better value because of the support you get from CSC. It also comes with the digital speedo as well. Good luck and have fun!
yes i think it has to do with where one lives with stock carbs,but we are trying the hawk i will only upgrade if i need to ,buy things like allowing more air to engine seems to be good for any engine
Haha! Yeah, I meant to touch on that a bit more towards the end of the video when I was talking about how you could easily spend a thousand dollars on upgrades. I lost my train of thought during the ride though and it totally slipped my mind :) How do you like your Hawk?
I totally agree. I wish I could get one here in CA, but I am happy with my TT250. Glad that you are enjoying the Hawk as well! I am only hoping that the quality continues to improve over the years to come!
+Charlie Saliba I never said it wasn't. Towards the end of the video I actually said that if you can register one in your state, why not get one? I do feel that the extra 1000 for the TT250 is worth it for all the upgrades and support you get, but I know there are a lot of happy Hawk 250 owners out there as well. Thanks for watching!
I really like both bikes but I think the upgrades and support from CSC are definitely worth it. That said, I know the Hawk has a newer version out with a lot of the same upgrades that the TT250 has, but it also has fuel injection which is pretty sweet. It costs almost the same as the TT250 does though...
The Hawk wins on price, but the TT250 wins on additional features, excellent customer service and dealer support. You can't register the Hawk in all 50 states which is the biggest overall drawback in my opinion.
I keep thinking a mountain lion is going to appear any minute and eat him up. That or he happened to come upon some devil worshippers and they start chasing him. Anyway, have you ridden those Chinese sport bikes before? Do they seem to be of decent quality, and which one is good?
Yeah I'm more worried about weirdos out there than wildlife... lol. Unfortunately, I don't have much experience with sport bikes in general. CSC used to sell one but I don't think it sold very well because they don't offer it anymore. People seemed to like it though, and they sponsor an older guy that races one.
Hey buddy I got a 250 storm and I need to buy parts for it so it's kind of hard or what website I can go to so I can get those parts can you let me know what website I can find those parts thank you
I'm not sure which parts are interchangeable, but if you check over on chinariders.net you should be able to find some more information regarding parts. Good luck!
For somebody just wanting to buy a stock bike and ride it I would say the TT250 is worth it because of the customer support and warranty. Female riders, city commuters, older folks would be better served with the TT250. NOW, all these chinese bikes use an engine that was designed by honda for the 3rd world market. They're simple. Even the novice can learn to fully service it if so inclined. For the money you're spending, if you wanna go over the bike yourself and do some of the work yourself the Hawk250 is a better bike. You're looking at around $2,300 shipped for the TT250. Around $1,500 shipped for the Hawk250. If you turn around and put the $800-1,000 difference into modding the Hawk250 yourself, by the time you've got the same amount of money in each bike the Hawk250 has the potential to be the superior bike, dollar for dollar. Again, that comes at the cost of working on the bike yourself. Some people can't or don't want to, other people wouldn't buy a chinese bike without working on it. It all depends on your own plans, requirements, and intended use for the bike.
They both are great bikes, but I do feel like the TT250 is a much better value in the long run. 50 state legal, customer service, lots of upgrades... it really is an awesome little bike for the price.
Three years out and I am looking at used bikes ... so.. how have these bikes fai9red in the long run? Were parts available when they broke? Were they dependable? Were there warranty issues? How did those go? cheers
The TT250 comes with a 1 year, unlimited mileage warranty and they are a great company to work with. The biggest thing that sets CSC apart from most of the other Chinese motorcycle distributors is that they stock all the parts so you can order from CSC directly. I'm not sure how you go about getting parts for the others. I owned mine for a little over a year (6000 miles or so) and it was a great bike. Not perfect, but tons of fun. Check out the CSC TT250 Owners group on Facebook or the threads on ChinaRiders.net if you haven't already. Lot's of info in there!
@@EachAdventure Thanks for the pointers.. my challenge is I am 6'4".. my use is to load my bike on a tow hitch rack on the RV I am aiming for, as my run to town for milk and, more important, checking out roads I might want to go down in the FV, that I need to check out first... so less than 300#'s and doesn't make me look like a circus clown and can be ridden standing up.... oh and more than a slightly padded 2x4 for a seat.. :)
@@MrJJSimonds CSC has a seat comparison video with a guy that was 6’0” he didn’t even flat foot the bike so I believe that you wouldn’t be to hunched over while riding it. They also have seats that you can interchange for shorter and taller riders. CSC imports the bikes and sets them up in California. They are way better then any other Chinese bike retailer. Lifan is another good brand, if you going for cheap options the best one would probably be the bashan Brozz 250
The Hawk is sold through a lot more retailers than TT250 is. CSC runs their operation quite a bit different than your average Chinese importer. They pretty much control the entire process and have the bikes built to their spec. They handle all the assembly and shipping, and have certified the bikes in all 50 states. For me, the 50 state thing is huge because in CA you can't register a vehicle unless it has CARB approval. A lot of people really like the Hawk and there is a lot of information and support throughout the community for it.
It is the stock Keima carburetor and I have never had an issue starting it. I am actually amazed at how well it works compared to other bikes that have been more cold blooded.
With my current gearing (17 tooth front sprocket, 47 tooth rear sprocket) I have been able to get it up to a little over 70 mph. It cruises pretty nicely around 60-65, but my elevation is only around 500 feet. Up in the high desert around 3000 feet it tops out around 65, so about 55-60 for cruising speed. Thanks for watching!
Would you or have you taken your tt250 on long distance adventure rides? Coming spring I'm looking for a second bike with one purpose, to travel around and have the capability of going off road. I've been looking at both the bikes you listed and the CSC RXR if I feel like spending a bit more.
I never took mine on a "long distance" ride, but I definitely would have. As long as you stay off major highways where traffic is moving over 80, it definitely has the capability to travel longer distances. A buddy of mine went on the CSC ride down to Baja, a little over 750 miles if I remember correctly. For a bike that has better traveling ability I would look at the RXR or the RX3 (RXR is basically the same bike as the RX3 without the luggage and crash bars). With those you get better highway ability, wind protection, a larger fuel tank, 6 gears, etc... That would be my choice for the scenario you are describing. Thanks for watching!
Absolutely thanks for the helpful review and quick response. I've seen other people trash the bike specifically the RXR but they thrash the hell out of it. I would just cruise and do some kick back dirt roads.. what turns me on is the 2 year unlimited mile warranty. Tough choice.. thanks again!
Yeah that warranty is really hard to beat, and the RX3 seems to have a pretty solid reputation after 3 years. I am going to test ride one pretty soon so I'll be able to share some of my thoughts on it then. Good luck with whatever you decide to get!
+An Adventure This is Lytle Creek. I love riding up there... super mellow and great views! This was on a Wednesday when the ride with Jesse and the rest of the guys was cancelled.
I don't know much about them but I have heard good things. Very similar to both the Hawk and the TT250... but of course not street legal in California :(
The XF250 has smaller wheels but more suspension travel, so it is really hard to say. I don't know much about the XF250 but people seem to like it. I would take the larger wheels personally as it makes it easier to tackle larger obstetrical. Thanks for watching!
Most bikes are rounded up or down to a more common number. Beta 500 is really a 480, KTM 500 is really a 510... it's more about marketing than anything. It definitely is not a 250cc performance engine, but the power differences between it and my Honda CRF250L weren't that noticeable until you got up into the higher speeds. On the low end, it was actually more fun than the Honda.
I looked and the hawk is only 8 HP equalling a 125cc. even thought it was labeled as a 250 bike. So i would not even consider buying a 125 when its labeled 250. Look at the green ones spec sheet. It is called the New Magician Dual Sports enduro dirt bike street legal dirt bike 250cc
I think there might be different engine sizes for the Hawk. The one I am referring to in this video is nearly identical to the TT250 engine but without the counter balancer. There’s quite a bit of information on the ChinaRiders forums about them. The CG engine is derived from a 125 originally though. Thanks for watching!
@@EachAdventure The cg 250 is a chinese clone of the cg 125 originally made by honda. It is in fact a 125 bored over to 229 cc. Many OEM Honda cg 125 parts are compatible with the chinese clone. The biggest difference between the Hawk and the TT250 is the engine manufacturer. They are both almost identical in all internal parts which are outsourced by zongshen and other manufacturers. Almost every part on the two is compatible with the other. CSC has contracted their manufacturer to deliver higher end parts where possible. The CG 250 is rated for a maximum brake hp output of 17.4 hp. No matter who manufactures it. The biggest difference and reason for the any and all hp output differences between the hawk and the csc variants derive from different emissions systems, carburetor jetting, cdi quality and type, and the type of inlet vs. outlet between air cleaner box and exhaust designs.
culcune I didn’t. I got the question more than a few times asking if the TT250 was the same as the Hawk, and I had already done my research on the TT250 and Chinese motorcycles including the Hawk and the Honda NXR 150 Bros that it is based on. I figured that I would make a video thAt I could point people to if they wanted to know the differences. I would love to get my hands on a Hawk, but to my knowledge they still can’t be registered in CA :(
I had been watching several videos of yours, and now that I think of it, I did not watch this one all the way through, and thought you had borrowed a Hawk from someone out of state to compare. I am not sure if the loophole still exists, but if one owns a bike for 6 months or more, and it is registered and plated, if one moves to California, they can bring the bike with them and get a California plate. There was a guy from Indiana with a TMEC 200 enduro a few years back who moved to California and brought it along even though they were never CARB certified. BTW, about 10 years ago, we had a company in the US, based out of City of Industry, California, called Hensim. They had basic Chinese bikes and quads. They got into trouble in the US for dumping a whole slew of bikes that were not EPA certified. That is where Haosen comes from--from the Hensim company. In other words, they are older than they appear, but are no where near the manufacturing giant that Zongshen is.
+culcune I have heard of the loophole as well... for green sticker bikes at least. I am going to try plating my TTR230 using one of the loopholes... we will see how it goes! I didn’t know all that about Haosen, thanks for sharing! :)
I love riding through that area. Almost nobody on the trails and lots of different ways to explore. Almost all of it is open now, but they did put up a few gates that almost looked like they were permanent. Hopefully thats not the case though. Thanks for watching!
It does look real similar... but the ace bike does look a bit better. I wish we had more smaller bikes to choose from here in the US. It seems like there are some great bikes out there!
I have never had one sponsor since I started this channel, and I plan to keep it that way. I prefer independent thought over paid & sponsored influence, so this is just a video idea that I had because I started getting a lot of questions about how the TT250 compares to the Hawk.
Would you choose the CSC TT250 or the Hawk 250? Let me know below!
🏍 GEAR I USE AND RECOMMEND - bit.ly/ea-links
👕 STICKERS, SHIRTS & MERCH - bit.ly/ea-merch
🙌 HELP SUPPORT THE CHANNEL - bit.ly/ea-patreon
I think if the TT 250 had fuel injector it would be a better bike🤔
Thanks for the info I definitely need some gear 🤟🏼
The 2017 RPS Hawk 250 owners manual lists the fuel capacity at 14 liters which converts to 3.69 gallons, I love my Hawk but I will agree the csc tt is better. Here in NY I have no issues registering the hawks and the price is unbeatable, I paid 1349 for my 2016 leftover this spring and ordered in four more 2017's for customer's at 1379 each, all shipped for free. I've managed to put 800 problem free miles on mine so far
Thank you for the info! That is a really good sized tank for a bike that is so small. I am very surprised that a state like NY will let you register the bike without a problem. I really wish I could get my hands on one here in CA just to really compare it to my TT250. You just can't beat that price and people really seem to be getting their monies worth and then some! Thanks for watching!
Each Adventure Hey man, do you know where I could get a used/ left over model tt250? I live in GA and I dont think they have a store here
Tommy Tibble You could try craigslist or maybe CycleTrader to see if anyone nearby is selling one. They don’t operate like a regular dealer so you won’t find one at a dealer. When CSC gets used ones they will list them on their site too under pre-owned and they will ship it to you just like they do with the new models. I believe they are supposed to get the 2018 models in next month, so you could order directly from them as well. Even with the 150 dollar shipping charge it’s still a pretty good deal. Thanks for watching!
Chonda, how about registering in Jersey? Message me!
Chanda
Are you selling to people now, in 2020?
I have a Bashan raven and it has a 3.4gl. i thought it was pretty much just a better built hawk (assembled in Texas), but that's pretty cool if the hawk has a 3.7gl 😮 you can get all the way across the state without a gas stop. I love mine, i like that the sprocket ratio is 17/46, she doesn't get buzzy till over 50mph. Still considering a 42 in the rear, im a small guy so not worried about torque. Basically turn her onto an adventure bike 😅 planning on ordering a windscreen this week too. Awesome content, would love to see more Chinese bike comparisons 👍👍
That’s awesome! It’s cool to see all the options that have popped up since I made this video. I sold mine a few years ago, but I’m strongly considering getting another one. I love the simplicity of the bike, especially in a world that is increasingly complicated.
"Upgrade money goes really quick." Yeah, for the cost of the upgrades on my NC700X, I could have just about bought a CSC TT250! 😉 Speaking of... CSC adays they upgrade all of their bikes' stator/generator to a 300W unit, and add accessory power outlets under the seat. Those are pretty big "freebies" to me, as I would want to add aux lights, a charging feed for phone/GPS and one to charge my portable battery and/or tent light (also a protable battery). I wouldn't be shy to fit a heated vest/jacket plug and heated grips as well.
It was super nice to buy a phone holder with a USB and just plug it right in... and then being able to control it from the handlebar was just icing on the cake. If you actually use the upgrades CSC puts in... they are pretty awesome for a bike that is so cheap. Thanks for watching!
Hawk tank is 3.4 gallons. I love my Hawk, and honestly having experienced the counter balanced and non-counterbalanced CG250 engine, the difference in vibration is minimal except at lower RPM (chugging at 3k rpm). The money I have spent upgrading my Hawk - Digital Tachometer cluster, sprockets, chain, exhaust, carb, intake. and full LED lighting...I would still have to spend another $400 before I equal the MSRP of the TT, and the cost of my Hawk includes the shipping I paid, subtract that, and it would be a $700 difference.
The adjustable suspension would be a nice feature, and would be worth the price difference alone though. That said, I have made my Hawks forks perform admirably with custom preload spacers and 15wt fork oil with a 110mm compressed air gap. The rear shock is the ONLY thing that I wish had at least some preload adjustment on it.
Fun fact for you though, a Majority of the TT250 parts bolt on to a Hawk. In fact, the frames are close to the same, but the front downtube is angled more vertical on the TT250 to make room for the counter balancer on the front of the engine. Also, if you want a tachometer, the previously mentioned digital cluster with Tach, a damn good upgrade for the Hawks, also works on the TT250 from what I understand, and is dead on accurate.
Honestly, my ideal bike would be a TT250 with a Hawk fuel tank, but with an OHC version of the CG motors - because both bikes could use just a tiny bit more power. The Hawk is still a great bike, but it is definitely more of a bike for people who like to tinker, experiment, and fabricate. It's more like a blank canvas that you alter into whatever type of bike you want out of it.
Last little fact. Haosen is also known as Haosen-Hensim, and collectively they have been around quite a while.
Wow, thank you for all the information! One thing that I really have enjoyed about owning my TT250 is that the community around Chinese motorcycles is extremely passionate and helpful. I did know about the digital speedo, but I am holding off to see what CSC is doing with the 2017 models. Rumor has it that they will come with a digital speedo, so if that is the case and I can swap it then I am probably going to do that. They guy that makes them for the Hawk also makes a TT250 variant. A buddy of mine has one and it's really nice.
The Hawk seems like a great bike and I really wish I could get one here in CA just to mess around with. Hopefully one day I will have the opportunity to get my hands on one so I can compare it with my TT250. I also wish we could get the OHC versions of the CG engines. I believe that is the same engine used in the NXR 150 Bros.
Thanks again for the info and thanks for watching!
The 2017- TT250 has a digital gauge cluster but I have yet to see any pictures of it. They should have just bought the one everyone is using on the Hawk and called it a day. Also CSC is out of TT250's at the moment. Most of the same performance mods on the Hawk work for the TT such as airbox mod, same exhaust, jetting the carb(the TT has groves to move the e-clip no washers). Things such as LED lights, etc , etc. I was leaning towards the Hawk and doing the upgrades myself but I have been researching and it seems more and more states are catching on to the HAWK being EPA approved for off road but not on road and more and more are not allowing you to plate them. The TT250 comes ready to ride and can be plated in all 50 states and as you said the suspension alone is worth the money. I am still saving up my money and will be buying one as soon as they get them back in stock.
I have a couple of questions. How is the stock chain holding up? The one that comes with the Hawk is junk. Did you prefer the 45 or 47 tooth sprocket and did you have to cut your chain? CSC has a 49 sprocket the stock chain will work with. Also how often do you change your oil and do you run conventional or synthetic? Thanks for the help. Love your videos.
Todd Hayslett - It is partially true that more states aren't allowing the Hawk to be registered, but they are mostly the same states that it was already a problem to register them in the first place. Many states in the south, midwest, and the great plains will still register them without blinking.
From the few TT250 owners I have talked to, the stock TT chain is only marginally better than the Hawk's stock unit. Most of them have already upgraded to a name brand aftermarket chain as well due to stretching.
Rear sprocket upgrades with the TT250 can be done with the same JTR269 rear sprocket can be used by us Hawk owners, but requires spacers to move it away from the wheel hub a few mm to get the alignment right as the rear wheel hubs are slightly different, and CSC uses an offset sprocket that bolts to the hub while the Hawk uses a flat sprocket with cush drive pins and a snap ring.
+Todd Hayslett I have really enjoyed mine. It's not perfect but it has exceeded my expectations. A while back I asked CSC about the 2017's and they were originally supposed to come in around the same time as the RX3's. Not sure what happened because the blog recently said they finalized the order... so hopefully they will get them in soon or provide an update.
Thanks for the research you’ve done. I had no idea that they cloned an existing Honda engine as I’m very familiar with the overhead cam design of the old Honda XL250 and 350. No cam chain and no points running off the camshaft would be a plus for a more dependable but lower power engine. I’m thinking about buying one of these to putt-putt through the woods.
Glad you enjoyed the video! The TT250 is an awesome bike for the money and perfect for putting through the woods. Ride safe!
Just took delivery of a Hawk 250 and assembled it for my 49 yr old daughter who's ridden bikes all her life. It comes with a very aggressive and (to me) oversized rear tire - 4/125" across the carcass, not including the knobs - and one reason they put a chain guard on it that stops short of protecting the chain where the tire passes it. The features on the machine seem mostly well done. I'm only a bit leery of the support available for the present.
Yeah I’m not sure where you get the parts for the Hawk... but I’m assuming the dealers have a catalog or something? ChinaRiders.Net is a great resource for stuff like that and there are a lot of happy Hawk owners on those forums. Thanks for watching!
Hi there! Very nice review of the bike. I am from Ukraine,and i own almost the same bike as your hawks are. Here it's named Geon. You can see it on my picture. Engine is almost the same,but it's copied from honda xr250 engine. Your engine is CG,mine is CB version. The camshaft is located upper. And there are some more differences. Engine is 166fmm. I bought the bike,changed all the liquids,the chain,oil in the front fork,now i change oil every 700 miles or so,and ran on it almost 8000 miles without any issues. Pretty happy with the bike. Here we have a good exhaust already in stock version,so didn't have to deal with that. in general i didn't know that you guys have Chinese bikes over in USA. Last years they produce pretty good machinery though. By the way,in my bike stock sprockets are: front 13 teeth,back 42 teeth. Don't know, maybe someone will find the info useful. Cruising speed is about 55-57 miles per hour. The price of brand new here is 1685$. For every day use it's a perfect bike,but if you wanna travel long distances it's not enough and riding on highways is not a pleasure on this bike. My dream bike is Yamaha xt660z tenere,started to save up money for it. And want to travel through the whole Europe. But once more if maintenance is good for chinese bike it will last pretty long. Mine milage is almost 8000 and my friend's is more than 10.000 miles without any issues with the engine.
Yeah I think the Chinese bikes are a great value if you take care of them. What I found with mine is that it required a little more love and care than a Japanese bike but the maintenance was super easy. The CB version is a little more powerful too isn't it? I would LOVE to own one of those XT660 Tenere's... but unfortunately they don't sell them here in the US. The new 700 Tenere is looking pretty promising though... so we will see. Thinks for watching!
@@EachAdventure yeah,the cb version is a little more powerful,they say it has like abouy 18 horse power.
Good video. I think the TT250 has a 300 Watt alternator, which is a lot better if you have auxiliary lighting,heated grips, etc.
You know what? I totally forgot about that. You are 100% correct, along with the wiring underneath the seat and the AUX switches on the right handlebar controls. Good catch!
Do you know how many watts the Hawks puts out?
Need to add our Brozz 250 in a comparison with these two.
It looks like a sweet bike! I don't know much about it but it seems very similar to these two. Thanks for watching!
Brozz is more refined than a Hawk. A solid comparison would be vs the CSC
The Brozz is counter balanced
If the Brozz had normal size wheels instead the 19"/17". It would be just as good as the csc!
Where is this video^ !
The Hawk does have stainless steel braided brake lines and discs at both ends. The chain doesn't last long. The spokes require tightening right out of the crate and continuous checking. Dealer support is non-existent. Knowing what I know now, I would have gone with the TT250 over the Hawk.
Thank you for the correction! I thought I had seen somewhere that they were just standard brake lines... but I did know about the disk brakes. I haven't had any issues with the spokes on my TT250 yet... I wonder if the TT250 rims would fit the Hawk?
If you check out MotoCheez latest video, he broke another spoke. Another CSC owner told me that the Hawk is like a Toyota and the TT250 is like a Lexus. It's all the little details. The forks are much nicer on the TT250. The gas cap on the Hawk has a key hole cover that vibrates and makes noise, whereas the TT250 has a nice looking cap. Even the rear foot peg mounts look better on the TT250. The Hawk's looks like a piece of tubing that was bent, flattened and drilled. The TT250's is a cast piece. The reason I bought the Hawk was the price tag and I could register it in the state of Florida. Keep the videos coming. How about a maintenance video on your TT250?
Thanks
This was 2.5 years ago. As far as you know, have any other Chinese companies came out with 50 state legal dual sports? I was told the fuel injected Hawk is legal but can't find that info on the sales websites.
To my knowledge there aren't any companies making street legal dual sports that are 50 state legal. The exception would maybe be SSR, but they only have like one model and they are quite a bit more expensive. I wish that would change, but the fact that CSC does that to all their bikes as well as offers support for them all really speaks to how great of a company they are.
If you have a problem with registering a hawk 250 use the Vermont registration method.
Yeah, I think that would be a good way around. I think the DMV might have some issues with the brand and their systems... but I'm not too sure. I have thought about going that route for my TTR230 though!
I ordered a Tao Tao TBR7 and I believe it will be a good dual sport. I currently ride a Magician (RPS ) which is a streetier version of the Hawk, but has a 1.7 gallon gas tank. TBR7's are getting good reviews and Tao Tao seems to make good stuff. The bike is supposed to have a 3.6 gallon tank and a working gas gauge which the Magician doesn't have. Motocheeze did a review and he seemed impressed with it. I think it's comparable to the Hawk and a little more stylish.
Congrats! The Tao Tao looks pretty cool. It looks more similar to what the TT250 from CSC has in terms of components, but I know Tao Tao makes scooters and stuff too so they already have a bit of a reputation which is a plus. I wish we could register bikes like the Hawk or the Tao Tao in California... I'd love to put some miles on one!
@@EachAdventure
I think the TBR7 is lecal in CA. They said all 50 states, that's why you need a new carb ready when it arrives. One vlogger pointed out there is a large removable plug in the air filter system to remove, too.
@@EachAdventure
Tao Tao has made atv's and dirt bikes for a long time, too.
I copied this from Killermotorsports, probably the big Hawk dealer: "The RPS Hawk is perfect for moderate to experienced riders, looking for an upgrade from a bike in a smaller engine class. Its 250cc engine provides an enormous amount of acceleration and top speed, but a larger degree of control due to its large frame. Despite its bulky appearance, this is a bike with a surprising nimbleness-it can handle sharp turns with ease, thanks to its front and rear brake system, and has the acceleration you need to handle colossal jumps. Overall, if you’re looking to seriously enter the racing fray, or go for an extended offroad adventure, this a great bike to do those with. Not for the faint of heart or inexperienced, as the larger engine size offers a sizable learning curve to some, if used to a 125cc engine or smaller. Still, if you’re looking to take your bike game to the next level, this is the bike to do it with!" I "entered the racing fray" about twenty years ago and I would literally be laughed off the course on this bike. Even though I AM of "faint heart" I still see these wheels being taco'ed within the first few miles. Although with its "enormous amount of acceleration" I guess it must be able to handle those "colossal jumps with ease"! Sounds like I should just give away my Beta 300RR and step up to the Hawk!! I love these ads for their comedic value and picture them being written by an ancient Chinese woman in her hut, smoking a long- stemmed pipe.
+painmagnet1 Hahah! “Colossal jumps...”! From what I have heard the Hawk is a pretty solid bike, but it’s definitely not made for that kind of stuff. I’m sure it’s limitations are similar to the TT250 which is great for off road riding, but not so much when things start to get gnarly. You can’t beat the Hawk though if you want an extra bike to mess around with... 1300 bucks is a steal.
The Hawk has a super price no doubt but I'll be going the TT route if it comes to that and of course, taking it easy on the poor little guy. I think they are both priced very well for what you get. But whomever wrote that ad copy needs to be strung up in the town square lol. Or better yet, forced to ride their bike in a hare scramble. I just wish CSC would sell me one in the crate rather than paying a tweaker or high school kid to assemble, then re-crate it. One thing I have learned about Chinese stuff is that it mostly works but is poorly assembled. Tear it down all the way and reassemble with quality fasteners and Loctite, and you'll have a decent machine. Even top quality bikes are like this though to a lesser degree, have yet to see anything no matter how expensive with enough grease in the chassis bearings or every bolt treated and torqued. My dad showed up a few years ago to see my brand new Triumph Street Triple and couldn't believe I had it in a thousand pieces spread across the garage floor. But yep, it needed it.
Yeah non of that applies to the Hawk at all! haha It lacks in every area as a dual-sport motorcycle, trust me I own one. I wouldn't dare to jump mine, it's just not designed for that kind of abuse. It's designed for on/off road use, with the off road portion being aimed towards trail riding, not motocross madness.
the honda cg125 was sold over here in England and had a push rod engine not chain driven camshaft, and a gauze tea strainer type oil cleaner,not filter..
The TT250 and Hawk are the same. Pushrod engine, no filter. Pretty neat engine with an interesting history.
A lot of people have tt 125 where I live in Colombia. Ive seen many for sale with over 20k miles.
That's awesome! Some of the variants you guys have in Columbia are really cool. I have seen pictures of them with digital gauges and crash bars, both of which would be nice upgrades for the CSC model. I am not surprised at the mileage either, those little engines are designed to run forever. Thanks for watching!
Bikes here are comically small. People here ride two up on 110 cc bikes long distance haha. I'm from the US and grew up riding bikes too big for me. Living here has really changed my perspective on what my motorcycle needs are. I can defiantly see myself getting one of these whenever I get back.
Yes 3.7g tank, rear shock is adjustable, I lowered it all the way but still kinda high, stock carb sucks, I bought makuni clone with gaskets & open air filter for $26, I can started with choke off, I'm loving it so far
Nice! They seem like great bikes. I wish I could get my hands on one here in California.
@@EachAdventure get a vitacci it's the same just a little more and it's 50 state legal
@@EachAdventure oh I guess the tt250 is also the same
I drive my Hawk 100 miles round trip to work, Shinko dual sports, intake, exhaust, changed the gearing. I do hare scrambles with it, I put quick releases for the lights and plate bracket and when I’m done I put them on and ride it back home! $1399 for a street legal dirtbike? Probably my 2nd best bike besides the 899, but that’s apples to oranges.
Well , the big difference is the registration issue and the csc looks better and more equipped
Wow! Now that is impressive! I have heard really good things about the Hawk... I just wish I could register one here in California to ride on the street. For 1400 bucks it's hard to go wrong considering how capable my CSC TT250 was. Ride safe!
Most bikes here are between 150-250cc here in south america. With all the traffic and crappy roads. you will never get over 40mph. Thats why you will rarely see any bikes here over 300ccand they dont sell many bikes over 300cc. the market here is mostly 200-250cc and if you do see a bike over 300cc its like seeing a bugatti or rolls royce
Most of the time here in SoCal you can’t get over 40 in peak traffic either. When it does open up though people feel the need to go 90mph. 250 and under really seems to dominate in the rest of the world though, I really wish we had more secondary roads to take advantage of bikes like that. Thanks for watching!
For the price of a TT250 I could almost get a half decent used Japanese bike. For the price of a Hawk 250 I could barely get a clapped out moped, plus I do my own mechanic work and like to tinker, mostly ride vintage bikes, so I went with a Hawk. That being said I fully admit the TT250 looks to be a better bike, or at least a similar bike built from higher quality parts, hence the higher price point which I feel is fully justified. If nothing else the inverted fork front end makes me a little jealous but for 500 bucks it's not worth it to me to swap it onto my Hawk, yes I totally priced it out on CSC's website, LOL. Waiting on my Hawk to show up, my first Chinese bike that I hopefully won't regret, but for 1300 bucks I don't figure it owes me much, LOL.
I do agree that the Hawk is a terrific value, especially considering the amount of positive reviews all over the internet. The major things that set the TT250 apart aside from the higher quality specs is the support and customer service from CSC, as well as the 50 state certification. Ride safe!
@@EachAdventure Well, it's cheap, whether or not it's a good value? Ask me in a few months, LOL. I think it's just one more thing that people need to be realistic about. The ones expecting a Honda for 1300 bucks are gonna be disappointed. I've never had the pleasure of riding one but I would imagine they would be less disappointed in the TT250. I'm also lucky enough to live in MT so 50 state legality doesn't mean all that much to me. We can put a V8 engine on a skateboard and as long as it has a headlight, taillight, brake light, horn, and mirrors the DMV won't even bat an eye, LOL.
Use loctite when you take anything apart, change the plug and jets and ride for dayssss! I was hesitant but it’s a hell of a bike.
Bert Longbottom I’ve got about 300 miles and several mods on mine so far and I am very impressed with it, especially for the money.
“That’s an awkward spot to be chillin”
The hills have eyes... lol
😆😆😆
I have a hawk in California, I registered it out of state
Nice! Registering out of state seems to be the way most people are getting around the restrictions these days.
I’m buying mine on Wednesday
Awesome! Its a great little bike for sure!
I have the 2020 Hawk DLX, that bike came upgraded my bike got fuel injector
Brake lines & front forks everything is DOT Approve. Check it out they did a very nice job with the new Hawk DLX. And I register my bike in Nevada with no problem. I did paid $2380.00 for her but she's is beautiful after all the work I have done to her.
Yeah, the new fuel injected Hawks look pretty nice and are pretty much inline pricing wise with the TT250 (minus the fuel injection). You still can't register the Hawk DLX in California though, which is a bummer.
@@EachAdventure
Yeah to be honest
I would rather got the TT250 only because they have a better customer services plus they look like there operations is more professional.
The dealership that I order my bike from their customer services is terrible! 👎🏻 When I receive my motorcycle there was a lots of damage.
But I got a said the Hawk DLX is very nice that fuel injector makes a big differences 👍🏻
I grew up in San Bernardino. You should ride to Bear creek on up to the back of Snow Valley. check out Gold creek north of Big bear. There is a fire road that starts at the top of Palm ave that will take to Silverwood lake.
Tons of really good fire roads in that are to ride.
I have been up Palm over to Silverwood before, but I have never gone up the back side of Big Bear (Clarks Grade). I am going to have to try and hit those before they close for the winter! I agree though, lots of nice scenic forest riding in that area.
@@EachAdventure. Roughly 10 miles up hwy 330 there is a fire road, 1n09, ( aka old city creek road) it will take to you bear creek. From there you can go to Angeles Oaks and down into Redlands or up to Big Bear. It's a beautiful road and many places to camp if you want to do a overnight trip. One of my favorite places to ride
@@EachAdventure also check ot Daley canyon road. Found near the Top of Del Rosa Ave in San Bernardino you can take it to hwy 330 or back to Hwy 18. Comes out at the Former Campus Christi. I spent most of child hood riding this trail and it's a great ride into the back country of the San Bernardino mountains. I love to see some footage on this road. Lots of memories
Gas tank size for the Hawk? correct. That its not "approved" for Ca. use I find odd given the smogged-out nature of the Hawk. I hate to imagine worse the CSC must have for Ca. BUT those guys out there would rather drill 1000ft for fresh water when the ocean is in their face for desalinization. Oh, yeah! Really smart crowd out there!
Nothing in California makes any sense, unfortunately. 😞
Good review with good information.
With the counter balanced engine you just have more stuff to wear with the oil pump instead of being mechanical gear driven it uses a chain which are more prone to wear then gears
That is true. Those engines are workhorses though. Even with the counter balancer, it is one of the most reliable engine designs ever made. It's not a performance engine and it holds a decent amount of oil, so I wouldn't be too worried about the extra wear and tear. I would like to feel the difference though between the counter balanced engine vs the regular one though.
@@EachAdventure counterbalance may be more parts. but the stress on everything and less vibration actually gives them more longer lasting service.
If you rode on roads like this all the time you'd want 20 pounds of pressure in your tires for a smooth ride plus it has better traction. You won't believe the difference it makes it's easier on your motorcycle too
Yep! 💯
a comparison between the brozz 250 and the csc tt250 would be much closer in terms of the extras.
+Darin S It would probably be a little closer but from what I can gather, the Brozz is based off a different bike than the Hawk and TT250. Maybe a newer model Honda? It looks really nice though! I really like the beefed up swing arm!
Hawk vs csc tt250 as a dirt bike 🤔
Do they have the same gearing?
I'm not sure if they have the same gearing, but the sprockets are super cheap so it can easily be changed. I'm sure they could both could run head to head as a dirt bike, but last time I checked the Hawk came with better stock tires for off-road. Suspension would be the limiting factor on both, as they both have about 6-7 inches of travel. I would probably give the edge to the TT250 because of the upgraded forks.
With a sprocket change I top out at 65 on my hawk 250 , 50-55 cruising down the road comfortably. What’s the top on the csc 250???
For the TT250 it is about the same. I believe mine was geared 17/47 and I could hit about 65 (up to 70-75 going down hill). I don't think it gets much faster than that, but some people gear it higher to keep the revs down.
The CSC suspension is worth the $1000 alone. it's actually a far better value.
I agree. Being street legal in all 50 states is a huge plus as well.
It's the end of March 2019. What do you think of your TT250 now that you've had it for awhile?
I actually sold the TT250 a little over a year ago to make room for the DRZ I have been riding in my recent videos. My opinion of it now is the same that I had back when I owned it; and that is that it is a great bike if you have the right expectations and appreciate it for what it is rather than what it is not. If I had a need for a second bike that wouldn't see much highway use, I wouldn't hesitate to buy another one.
Most informative video on these things
Glad you enjoyed it! 🙏
The haek 250 flx efi has all the same stuff as your csc
Yeah they do look pretty similar now. The Hawk is still not 50 state legal though, and the motor doesn't look like it is counterbalanced. EFI is pretty cool though!
Excellent break down. Helpful
No problem. Thanks for watching!
Just found your channel I wouldn't mind trying one of these. Ive always been interested in an enduro or dual sport bike. Is this saddleback mountain your riding on? I live in Riverside county.
I have a 2018 yz250 2 stroke which has alot of power but one of these or even a klx250 would be cool to cruz up in the wildomar area or through la cresta.
This video was actually up near Lytle Creek, but I also ride the Saddleback range quite often. Something like the TT250 or a KLX250 (or even the new KLX230S) is perfect for exploring the hills over in that area. Thanks for watching!
Yz 2 strokes are the best
The hawk is ugly and not as equipped as the csc besides the registration issue so yeah I take the CSC anytime over the ugly Hawk
I do like the looks of the CSC better also, but to me the Hawk looks super similar with the main visual difference being the traditional forks and different plastics. Thanks for watching!
Hawk now has EFI. If CSC puts EFI on the 250 then im in.
I think there are different models of the Hawk now as compared to when I made this video. I hope CSC will do something similar with the TT250, perhaps something with a bit better performance and fuel injection.
How does the tt250 perform offroad? I am wanting to get one to mainly use as a dirtbike, would this bike be up to the task?
It does pretty well off road, but if you are expecting dirt bike performance when it comes to power and suspension... this is probably not the bike for you. It will handle most easy to moderate trails though as long as you don't push it too hard. Check out this playlist I put together to see the type of riding that I did with it. ruclips.net/p/PLzPoHJCMHjtTJ1rf_-J2kCBmn83s-OkTs
I have a tt 250. 5000 the first year. Not a single problem
Nice! I had about 6000 on mine when I sold it and really only had minor issues with it. It is an extremely good value!
I'm looking at getting a used 2019 CSC tt250 with 300 miles for $1800 do you think I should do it or buy a new hawk 250
That seems like a pretty good price for a 2019 TT250. I would personally choose the TT250 over the Hawk mainly because I have experience with it and I know how great CSC's customer service is. That said, there are a lot of happy Hawk owners out there too.
i think the hawk is no longer street legal in nj or pa as of just the last few months. sadly its exatly the bike i wanted, ill have to get the Storm 250 which i believe is still nj pa street legal. I didnt want the counter balanced engine or usd forks.
Aww thats a bummer. Yeah most of those small importers won't go through the hassle of getting a bike 50 state certified. That is one of the things I like the most about CSC is that you don't have to worry about all that stuff. Is the storm pretty similar to the TT250 then?
Where are the hills your in located?
These are the hills around the Lytle Creek area in Southern California. Thanks for watching!
orion apollo rx250 vs csc tt250....Please compare~!!!!
If I could register one in California I definitely would.
Informative but you really need to have both and drive both to compare them.
I received a lot of questions asking how the CSC TT250 was different than the Hawk 250 on a lot of my other videos, so I decided to make this video to help answer those questions. They are very similar in terms of performance and capability, but I disagree that I need to own and ride both to point out and explain the differences between the two. If this was an in-depth review, that would be a different story... but unfortunately I can't legally register the Hawk here in California for use on the road (something I also pointed out in the video).
I'm tossing around this or the rx3 . I don't have any experience riding . How would this handle an hour highway drive at around 55 mph?
With the 47 tooth sprocket on the rear cruising at 55 was a lot more comfortable. That said, if you plan on doing a lot of highway, the RX3 would probably be the better bike.
I have a RX3 it has almost 25hp and a six speed gearbox, also it almost weights 380lbs.
Not really a close call, RX3 can ride 70 mph all day long, TT250 16HP and a 5 speed gearbox ,seen a reviewer that just hit 60 mph on it....not sure about it's highway ability
but the bike is lighter and a gust of wind or big trucks may greatly affect the bike stability, it affects my RX3 but nothing to serious but I have been riding for over 40 years.
@@danbroers7133 went with the 3 . I've put 150 miles on it so far
It is 3.7 for mine 2019
For the TT250 or for the Hawk? CSC's site is showing 2.9 for the 2019 TT250's... 3.7 is pretty impressive.
Some guy did register it here it was on let go he said he just went to the DMV and got it registered in California the hawk250
I think you can register it as an OHV vehicle, but I don't know about street. The only workaround might be the 7500 mile loophole... where it was previously registered in another state... but it depends on who you get at the DMV.
@@EachAdventure he had plates and tags
I wonder how the csc tt250 holds up to the new pro hawk with efi? The price is the same.
From what I have seen they look pretty similar component wise now... except for the newer TT250's are still carburated. I never had an issue with my TT250 carb though... but fuel injection would be pretty nice 😊
@@EachAdventure ,
Thank you for the info.
Ive thought about jumping on a KLR 650. My buddy has one and told me to start off with a 250 before jumping on a 650.
On the TT 250 is there a doohickey ?
Can I put a bigger gas tank on?
The gas tank on the TT250 is pretty large for its class. You won't find another small bike that has almost a 3 gallon tank unless you go with a DR200 which has just over 3 gallons. The KLR is a great bike, but it all depends on what type of riding you want to do. The TT250 is great at dirt roads and mellow trails, but really lacks on the highway. The KLR is great if you have longer stretches of highway, but it is pretty heavy in the dirt. I know guys that ride them better than I can ride a 250 though, so its really all a matter of rider skill. Check out this video for some really good info on the KLR: ruclips.net/video/zYaoxATJ4z8/видео.html
I got a C 50 Boulevard 800 cc , and it is boring to ride. My concerns are about the KLR is the weight at 400 lbs, the pros are alote of mods that you can do.
Is this 250 has mods, such as a bigger pistons?
I'm a cruiser on the HWY at 70 to 75 mph and never been off road, but Im not looking into jumping the bike and being careless.
As far as I know the engine can't be bored out any higher. The Honda CG engine started life as a 125 and has been bored out to a 230 (the TT250 is really 229cc). With a sprocket change you can hit 70, but it is really screaming. It's pretty comfortable between 60-65 though. There are a few other mods like the exhaust and airbox, but even then it wont make it much more powerful.
Get Eagle Mike on that lol!
@@realmanontheland4811 I had a Honda Nighthawk 250cc with larger jets and off road exhaust. I am 300 lbs but 70 mph was the cruising limit with stock gearing and 6 speed trans. I doubt anything smaller than a 350cc will cruise at 70 long term without hurting the motor. My Vulcan 500cc would cruise all day at 85mph with a top end over 110 mph.( also 6 speed ) The 250cc was around 300 lbs, the 500cc was 430 lbs I think.
So after having a few bikes over the years,the vstrom 650cc an the 1000cc the 650 being a bit more nimble,did mostly on road rideing
the biggest thing i hear about the hawk is the upgrade to 30mm carb an the sprokets so on what seems like mabey 3 to $400.00 in parts ? would be does this need the carb upgrade,i like playing with my toys ,but when it comes to a carb well i want one that works,an would pay more to have the right one ,so how has the carb been one thing i dont think you touched on,great video though,my plan is to ride on road more then off road with one of the 2 thanks,now since the video seem the tt250 is about 400 to $600.00 more ,oh an on the hawk they seem to say the upgrades are a must for the hawk ,might i put the louder exhuast on mine about it better metal type pegs too i hear to new hawk or hawk 3 has more upgrades like remote start like my old roketa 250 had
I am not sure what carb the Hawk has, but the TT250 Kiehin carburetor was pretty flawless for me. Considering the engine is almost identical, the TT250 carb might fit the Hawk but I am not sure. $400 in parts sounds pretty steep for Chinese bike parts, I got the front and rear sprockets as well as the chain for like $40 bucks on Amazon. If it were me and I was trying to decide between the two... the TT250 I think is a better value because of the support you get from CSC. It also comes with the digital speedo as well. Good luck and have fun!
yes i think it has to do with where one lives with stock carbs,but we are trying the hawk i will only upgrade if i need to ,buy things like allowing more air to engine seems to be good for any engine
I own the hawk in Idaho and it seems with all the upgrades ive done i could have just bought the TT
Haha! Yeah, I meant to touch on that a bit more towards the end of the video when I was talking about how you could easily spend a thousand dollars on upgrades. I lost my train of thought during the ride though and it totally slipped my mind :) How do you like your Hawk?
I work on it often mostly on maintenance but i like for the money
I learn a bit from your videos
Thanks man! I'm glad they are helping someone :)
Each adventure,I'm sorry but I'm very protective of the the Hawk.The Hawk is the surprise of the Chinese bikes of the last few years.
I totally agree. I wish I could get one here in CA, but I am happy with my TT250. Glad that you are enjoying the Hawk as well! I am only hoping that the quality continues to improve over the years to come!
My hawk holds has forever!
Does that mean it's still holding up good? People seem to really enjoy them.
Yeah I went hard trail riding with mine and it’s running perfect
You need to get your facts straight about the Mighty Hawk,it is as durable as the tt250.
+Charlie Saliba I never said it wasn't. Towards the end of the video I actually said that if you can register one in your state, why not get one? I do feel that the extra 1000 for the TT250 is worth it for all the upgrades and support you get, but I know there are a lot of happy Hawk 250 owners out there as well. Thanks for watching!
I agree with you 100%....
How much for the dog bro?
Hawk it's nice. But that TT pretty sweet.
I really like both bikes but I think the upgrades and support from CSC are definitely worth it. That said, I know the Hawk has a newer version out with a lot of the same upgrades that the TT250 has, but it also has fuel injection which is pretty sweet. It costs almost the same as the TT250 does though...
so.........who win?.....tt? or hawk?
The Hawk wins on price, but the TT250 wins on additional features, excellent customer service and dealer support. You can't register the Hawk in all 50 states which is the biggest overall drawback in my opinion.
I keep thinking a mountain lion is going to appear any minute and eat him up. That or he happened to come upon some devil worshippers and they start chasing him. Anyway, have you ridden those Chinese sport bikes before? Do they seem to be of decent quality, and which one is good?
Yeah I'm more worried about weirdos out there than wildlife... lol. Unfortunately, I don't have much experience with sport bikes in general. CSC used to sell one but I don't think it sold very well because they don't offer it anymore. People seemed to like it though, and they sponsor an older guy that races one.
vby these bikes have goner way up since you bought these
I’m not sure about the Hawk, but the CSC TT250 is about $200 more than it was when I made this video. Still an excellent value!
Hey buddy I got a 250 storm and I need to buy parts for it so it's kind of hard or what website I can go to so I can get those parts can you let me know what website I can find those parts thank you
I'm not sure which parts are interchangeable, but if you check over on chinariders.net you should be able to find some more information regarding parts. Good luck!
I'm in Cali. Guess it's going to be the tt250 for me. Did I hear you say their facility is here in Cali?
Yes sir! They are headquartered in Azusa, CA. It's a pretty cool little shop and customer service is awesome. Hope you enjoy the bike!
You can register the hawk using the Vermont registration method. Screw California. You'll just have Vermont tags.
For somebody just wanting to buy a stock bike and ride it I would say the TT250 is worth it because of the customer support and warranty. Female riders, city commuters, older folks would be better served with the TT250. NOW, all these chinese bikes use an engine that was designed by honda for the 3rd world market. They're simple. Even the novice can learn to fully service it if so inclined. For the money you're spending, if you wanna go over the bike yourself and do some of the work yourself the Hawk250 is a better bike. You're looking at around $2,300 shipped for the TT250. Around $1,500 shipped for the Hawk250. If you turn around and put the $800-1,000 difference into modding the Hawk250 yourself, by the time you've got the same amount of money in each bike the Hawk250 has the potential to be the superior bike, dollar for dollar. Again, that comes at the cost of working on the bike yourself. Some people can't or don't want to, other people wouldn't buy a chinese bike without working on it. It all depends on your own plans, requirements, and intended use for the bike.
They both are great bikes, but I do feel like the TT250 is a much better value in the long run. 50 state legal, customer service, lots of upgrades... it really is an awesome little bike for the price.
Three years out and I am looking at used bikes ... so.. how have these bikes fai9red in the long run? Were parts available when they broke? Were they dependable? Were there warranty issues? How did those go? cheers
The TT250 comes with a 1 year, unlimited mileage warranty and they are a great company to work with. The biggest thing that sets CSC apart from most of the other Chinese motorcycle distributors is that they stock all the parts so you can order from CSC directly. I'm not sure how you go about getting parts for the others. I owned mine for a little over a year (6000 miles or so) and it was a great bike. Not perfect, but tons of fun. Check out the CSC TT250 Owners group on Facebook or the threads on ChinaRiders.net if you haven't already. Lot's of info in there!
@@EachAdventure Thanks for the pointers.. my challenge is I am 6'4".. my use is to load my bike on a tow hitch rack on the RV I am aiming for, as my run to town for milk and, more important, checking out roads I might want to go down in the FV, that I need to check out first... so less than 300#'s and doesn't make me look like a circus clown and can be ridden standing up.... oh and more than a slightly padded 2x4 for a seat.. :)
@@MrJJSimonds CSC has a seat comparison video with a guy that was 6’0” he didn’t even flat foot the bike so I believe that you wouldn’t be to hunched over while riding it. They also have seats that you can interchange for shorter and taller riders. CSC imports the bikes and sets them up in California. They are way better then any other Chinese bike retailer. Lifan is another good brand, if you going for cheap options the best one would probably be the bashan Brozz 250
The Bashan storm and Brozz are also have the counterbalanced engine
Good to know! This video is a few years old now so those bikes hadn't been released yet.
Search cse 250 on Google and get a calculator.Xd. but search Hawk 250 and a pureffella of content. I'll go with the Hawk.
The Hawk is sold through a lot more retailers than TT250 is. CSC runs their operation quite a bit different than your average Chinese importer. They pretty much control the entire process and have the bikes built to their spec. They handle all the assembly and shipping, and have certified the bikes in all 50 states. For me, the 50 state thing is huge because in CA you can't register a vehicle unless it has CARB approval. A lot of people really like the Hawk and there is a lot of information and support throughout the community for it.
Brozz 250 Recon is counter balanced. Also cheaper!
The Brozz 250 Recon didn't exist when I made this video. Looks like an awesome bike though!
keep em comeing. \M/
Thanks man! I really appreciate the support!
Each Adventure what carburetor is on your tt250 & how is cold starting?
It is the stock Keima carburetor and I have never had an issue starting it. I am actually amazed at how well it works compared to other bikes that have been more cold blooded.
What's the top speed of the tt250? Thanks
With my current gearing (17 tooth front sprocket, 47 tooth rear sprocket) I have been able to get it up to a little over 70 mph. It cruises pretty nicely around 60-65, but my elevation is only around 500 feet. Up in the high desert around 3000 feet it tops out around 65, so about 55-60 for cruising speed. Thanks for watching!
Each Adventure oh ok that's not bad at all thanks for the quick reply! Liking the videos so far! And no problem!
When you come to a fork in the road..... take it.
Always!! :)
@@EachAdventure One of many Yogi's many witticisms
Would you or have you taken your tt250 on long distance adventure rides? Coming spring I'm looking for a second bike with one purpose, to travel around and have the capability of going off road. I've been looking at both the bikes you listed and the CSC RXR if I feel like spending a bit more.
I never took mine on a "long distance" ride, but I definitely would have. As long as you stay off major highways where traffic is moving over 80, it definitely has the capability to travel longer distances. A buddy of mine went on the CSC ride down to Baja, a little over 750 miles if I remember correctly. For a bike that has better traveling ability I would look at the RXR or the RX3 (RXR is basically the same bike as the RX3 without the luggage and crash bars). With those you get better highway ability, wind protection, a larger fuel tank, 6 gears, etc... That would be my choice for the scenario you are describing. Thanks for watching!
Absolutely thanks for the helpful review and quick response. I've seen other people trash the bike specifically the RXR but they thrash the hell out of it. I would just cruise and do some kick back dirt roads.. what turns me on is the 2 year unlimited mile warranty. Tough choice.. thanks again!
Yeah that warranty is really hard to beat, and the RX3 seems to have a pretty solid reputation after 3 years. I am going to test ride one pretty soon so I'll be able to share some of my thoughts on it then. Good luck with whatever you decide to get!
They only have one 2017 left and its in blut which was my last color choice lol
Where was this filmed bro and where was my invite?
+An Adventure This is Lytle Creek. I love riding up there... super mellow and great views! This was on a Wednesday when the ride with Jesse and the rest of the guys was cancelled.
Can you switch the hawk back rim with the tt250 back rim?
I'm not sure. If you check out the forums over on chinariders.net they might have an answer for you.
@@EachAdventure 💯
brozz 250 enough said.
I don't know much about them but I have heard good things. Very similar to both the Hawk and the TT250... but of course not street legal in California :(
tt250 or ssr xf250?
The XF250 has smaller wheels but more suspension travel, so it is really hard to say. I don't know much about the XF250 but people seem to like it. I would take the larger wheels personally as it makes it easier to tackle larger obstetrical. Thanks for watching!
Let's face it; it is not a 250 it is 230 cc. Not the same. I'm looking at RedFox for mine.
Most bikes are rounded up or down to a more common number. Beta 500 is really a 480, KTM 500 is really a 510... it's more about marketing than anything. It definitely is not a 250cc performance engine, but the power differences between it and my Honda CRF250L weren't that noticeable until you got up into the higher speeds. On the low end, it was actually more fun than the Honda.
Damn. I own an XT249
I looked and the hawk is only 8 HP equalling a 125cc. even thought it was labeled as a 250 bike. So i would not even consider buying a 125 when its labeled 250. Look at the green ones spec sheet. It is called the New Magician Dual Sports enduro dirt bike street legal dirt bike 250cc
I think there might be different engine sizes for the Hawk. The one I am referring to in this video is nearly identical to the TT250 engine but without the counter balancer. There’s quite a bit of information on the ChinaRiders forums about them. The CG engine is derived from a 125 originally though. Thanks for watching!
Hawk is 14.1 hp the Csc250 is 16 hp
@@EachAdventure The cg 250 is a chinese clone of the cg 125 originally made by honda. It is in fact a 125 bored over to 229 cc. Many OEM Honda cg 125 parts are compatible with the chinese clone. The biggest difference between the Hawk and the TT250 is the engine manufacturer. They are both almost identical in all internal parts which are outsourced by zongshen and other manufacturers. Almost every part on the two is compatible with the other. CSC has contracted their manufacturer to deliver higher end parts where possible. The CG 250 is rated for a maximum brake hp output of 17.4 hp. No matter who manufactures it. The biggest difference and reason for the any and all hp output differences between the hawk and the csc variants derive from different emissions systems, carburetor jetting, cdi quality and type, and the type of inlet vs. outlet between air cleaner box and exhaust designs.
H A W K N A T I O N
🍻
Proud owner.
Hyosung is Korean:)
Different company. The Hawk is manufactured by Haosen in Chongqing, China :) Thanks for watching!
Each Adventure oh my bad,thank you for correcting me:)
Ummmmm...how did you manage to get a Hawk in California? Or is it not something you want to discuss?? ;)
culcune I didn’t. I got the question more than a few times asking if the TT250 was the same as the Hawk, and I had already done my research on the TT250 and Chinese motorcycles including the Hawk and the Honda NXR 150 Bros that it is based on. I figured that I would make a video thAt I could point people to if they wanted to know the differences. I would love to get my hands on a Hawk, but to my knowledge they still can’t be registered in CA :(
I had been watching several videos of yours, and now that I think of it, I did not watch this one all the way through, and thought you had borrowed a Hawk from someone out of state to compare. I am not sure if the loophole still exists, but if one owns a bike for 6 months or more, and it is registered and plated, if one moves to California, they can bring the bike with them and get a California plate. There was a guy from Indiana with a TMEC 200 enduro a few years back who moved to California and brought it along even though they were never CARB certified. BTW, about 10 years ago, we had a company in the US, based out of City of Industry, California, called Hensim. They had basic Chinese bikes and quads. They got into trouble in the US for dumping a whole slew of bikes that were not EPA certified. That is where Haosen comes from--from the Hensim company. In other words, they are older than they appear, but are no where near the manufacturing giant that Zongshen is.
+culcune I have heard of the loophole as well... for green sticker bikes at least. I am going to try plating my TTR230 using one of the loopholes... we will see how it goes! I didn’t know all that about Haosen, thanks for sharing! :)
Good riding area; I wonder if much of it is still closed due to the fire.
I love riding through that area. Almost nobody on the trails and lots of different ways to explore. Almost all of it is open now, but they did put up a few gates that almost looked like they were permanent. Hopefully thats not the case though. Thanks for watching!
Olha a Bros dos Estados Unidos hahahaha. Que legal, a Honda podia fazer uma Bros com cilindrada maior , ai seria perfeita.
I’m jealous you guys have models like the Bros... I wish we got more bikes like that here in the US. Thanks for watching!
Looks like its the same also as the newly released Ace Crossover 250 in the Philippines....I just bought one. Its a nice bike
www.acemotorcycles.ph/
It does look real similar... but the ace bike does look a bit better. I wish we had more smaller bikes to choose from here in the US. It seems like there are some great bikes out there!
Sponsored by csc????
I have never had one sponsor since I started this channel, and I plan to keep it that way. I prefer independent thought over paid & sponsored influence, so this is just a video idea that I had because I started getting a lot of questions about how the TT250 compares to the Hawk.
Seat is now $250 🤦♂️😡
Which seat? The seat concepts one?
150
150?
Boooorrinng
😴