50cc bikes for kids

Tarz483
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Tarz483
Edited Date/Time 4/28/2013 9:19am
what would u get for a 5 yr old beginner that has never rode a bike ?

betweet these 2 ?

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Highsider
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Highsider 4/26/2013 2:42pm
4/26/2013 2:42pm Edited Date/Time 4/26/2013 2:42pm
Easy to sell the PW when they outgrow it.
Pat327
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Pat327 4/26/2013 2:46pm
4/26/2013 2:46pm
I started on a PW50. I never forget the sound. I used to sit on mine when it was on the stand and rock it back and forth like I was going through the whoops. Fond memories.

It's a great bike to learn on.
mx5471
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mx5471 4/26/2013 2:48pm
4/26/2013 2:48pm
You have to go slow, to learn how to go fast. The KTM is way too much for a new 5 year old rider. The Yamaha is perfect. Easy to learn to ride, and he'll have a lot of fun, and no trouble, and he'll have much less chance of getting hurt. Please, stay away from the KTM. Great bikes, but for the experienced young rider. As Highsider said, you'll sell the Yamaha in a minute when you're done with it.
Racer_Twentynine 4/26/2013 2:49pm
4/26/2013 2:49pm
Pw from Craigslist for around $500 will do you good to start on.

Then depend on where you take it from there. Ride for fun stay on the pw if he is gonna race the ktm is good but the cobra is faster. Either one requires a lot of clutch maintenance.

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Tarz483
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Tarz483 4/26/2013 2:55pm
4/26/2013 2:55pm
thanks , i thought the jr ktm was mellow like the pw is that wrong ?
smoker
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smoker 4/26/2013 3:00pm
4/26/2013 3:00pm
from a wrenching standpoint, go pw.
DavidR
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DavidR 4/26/2013 3:01pm
4/26/2013 3:01pm
That KTM looks awesome but the PW would be the easier of the two to learn on. I started my 6 year old out on a CRF 50 a couple months ago and put training wheels on it and it worked out great for him. He rode it with the training wheels on it 5 or 6 times to get used to the throttle, brakes and shifting gears. Once he got that stuff down we took the training wheels off and he's doing great now!
smoker
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smoker 4/26/2013 3:03pm
4/26/2013 3:03pm
DavidR wrote:
That KTM looks awesome but the PW would be the easier of the two to learn on. I started my 6 year old out on a...
That KTM looks awesome but the PW would be the easier of the two to learn on. I started my 6 year old out on a CRF 50 a couple months ago and put training wheels on it and it worked out great for him. He rode it with the training wheels on it 5 or 6 times to get used to the throttle, brakes and shifting gears. Once he got that stuff down we took the training wheels off and he's doing great now!
ya, I think the crf50 would be better for a kid that is already 5 if he can reach the ground and all. The pw is a little light so that is somewhat helpful when they are not using training wheels.

the crf has the throttle limiter and you can leave them in 1 gear and they won't go too fast.
BIGRIGGIN
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BIGRIGGIN 4/26/2013 3:34pm
4/26/2013 3:34pm
We started kids on OSET electric trials bikes at 3 yrs old then E-Start TTR-50 at 5. Put it in 2nd or 3rd gear for them, sit back, crack a beer and enjoy.

Tracktor
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Tracktor 4/26/2013 9:28pm
4/26/2013 9:28pm
Depends on the kid but probably the pw. If he is big or aggressive the ktm. I also second the motion of buying a used one. They are bulletproof and havent been updated since the beginning.....
Rizzo
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Rizzo 4/26/2013 11:20pm
4/26/2013 11:20pm
Trust me on this, that KTM mini is a rocket ship!!!!! My good friend, his son is almost 6 and was ripping pretty good already on a CRF 50 and a Suzuki 50 Quad. He rolled out this KTM 50 mini thinking his son was gonna do work.....well, he went 20 ft, looped it out and it scared the shit out of him. If you can find the KTM Jr Adventure, its the older 50 model before the water cooled mini and smaller than the SX 50, those things are way more mellow, they have less power bands (hahaha).

A 4 stroke CRF/TTR 50 is decent because you can put them in 2nd gear and govern the throttle and your kid is putting around the camp. The downside is they are 30 lbs or more heavier than a PW 50. The PW has awesome resale so you can't lose going that route, but just to be clear, that KTM is not a beginner bike, no way no how. If I'm wrong and your kid can rip that thing right out the gate, I'll sign him to a contract right now and sponsor him till we're both rich and he's the next MC/RC. Those OSET bikes are legit as well, my friend NYK got one for his younger son and he does well on it , they just cost a bit more $$$. At your kids age, get the 16 in vs the 12.5, it will be easier to ride and he will have room to grow into it.
TerryK
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TerryK 4/27/2013 5:58am
4/27/2013 5:58am
I think some of you guys are mistaking that KTM 50 Mini for the 50 SX. Big difference.
ToolMaker
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ToolMaker 4/27/2013 6:22am
4/27/2013 6:22am
why does nobody recommend the honda crf50? Then they can also learn the concept of changing gears?
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MotoMalyDad 4/27/2013 7:59am
4/27/2013 7:59am
TerryK wrote:
I think some of you guys are mistaking that KTM 50 Mini for the 50 SX. Big difference.
+1 The adventure model uses springs for a clutch and so it is so mellow vs the SX uses "washers" to tune the hit. The one problem with the Honda is the suspension and weight. Watching my son's first MX race and he was bouncing around while the mini KTM's were smooth. Next race he and an Adventure with the springs, and when he was ready to move up, we put in the washers. Then he was ready for the SX ... If you go KTM, join KTM talk , very helpful folks.
kxf king
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kxf king 4/27/2013 8:02am
4/27/2013 8:02am
personally I started on a pw with training wheels when I was 3 and it was great, and I completely recommend that pw for a beginner, but if he enjoys it and wants to keep riding and eventually race, then get him the ktm soon because I went from a pw and then I stayed on that for like 3 years until I got a suzuki jr80 and it had a clutch which I didn't like and I had just started learning how to use it then I crashed. I scared the crap out of myself, sold it and went to a drz 110 four stroke, and now that I'm 16 I really wish that I had stick with that jr because I would be so much faster now. plus, when I got my 110,.I started to get into quads and I really regret not staying on that 2 stroke. and I think if that jr 80 was an sx50, then I would have liked it more because I wouldn't have scared my self silly.
project racer 4/27/2013 8:11am
4/27/2013 8:11am
PW's are OK for about the first few rides. Once a few skills are acquired,the suspension can not keep up. One thing that always bothered me on the PW, you get the throttle screw turned in far enough to keep the kid from getting a handful, and they will barely pull themselves with an average weight rider. And even then ,when the clutch finally locks up and begins to pull well, the limiter screw does not keep the speed in check, as the bike will eventually gain a fair amount of speed,even at partial throttle openings.

Buy something he will grow into, rather than out of.

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Tarz483
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Tarz483 4/27/2013 10:42am
4/27/2013 10:42am Edited Date/Time 4/27/2013 10:44am
TerryK wrote:
I think some of you guys are mistaking that KTM 50 Mini for the 50 SX. Big difference.
MotoMalyDad wrote:
+1 The adventure model uses springs for a clutch and so it is so mellow vs the SX uses "washers" to tune the hit. The one...
+1 The adventure model uses springs for a clutch and so it is so mellow vs the SX uses "washers" to tune the hit. The one problem with the Honda is the suspension and weight. Watching my son's first MX race and he was bouncing around while the mini KTM's were smooth. Next race he and an Adventure with the springs, and when he was ready to move up, we put in the washers. Then he was ready for the SX ... If you go KTM, join KTM talk , very helpful folks.
thanks , i thought the mini adventure seamed more mellow but i wasnt sure how mellow , like if it has a powerband that hits like a 60 or 80 ? , my thought was to get a used pw , for this summer , and move him to a ktm next summer , but i guess i was wondering how mellow the mini adventure was , so maybe i could skip the pw , but i think im just gonna go pw , i found a nice used 1

its 1998 asking .. $700 , i saw some others cheaper but this one looks nice
RACERX69
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RACERX69 4/27/2013 12:00pm
4/27/2013 12:00pm Edited Date/Time 4/27/2013 12:07pm
Tarz483 wrote:
what would u get for a 5 yr old beginner that has never rode a bike ? betweet these 2 ?[img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2013/04/26/vp3067185_3_large_491432.jpg[/img] [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2013/04/26/vp2825365_1_large_682104.jpg[/img]
what would u get for a 5 yr old beginner that has never rode a bike ?

betweet these 2 ?

I agree with a few of the others...get him something he can grow into...the KTM!

I just went through what you're experiencing. I started my son on a CRF 50 when he turned 5. It was great for the first few rides, but it quickly became apparent the suspension and weight were hindering him big time. I dumped the CRF(for more than I paid for it). and bought a KTM Adventure, which is what I should've done from the beginning. The Adventure IS NOT the same thing as the SX. It's a much more mellower version and perfect for a beginner. It has great suspension and also a motor that delivers strong, but manageable power. They made 2 sizes of the Adventure..the Mini Adventure and the Senior Adventure. Looks like the one in your photo is a Mini. I 'd be all over it if the price was right. You can also find them used, but it's difficult to find one that's priced right and is not beat to he##!
Tarz483
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Tarz483 4/27/2013 12:30pm
4/27/2013 12:30pm
thanks for all the advice , both seem like good choices , and it seems like u can pretty much use a pw 50 free , just buy 1 and get yer money back when yer done , preety cool Smile
Bytor
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Bytor 4/27/2013 12:33pm
4/27/2013 12:33pm
700 is way to much for a 98. I sold my 02 with training wheels for 500.00 that was a 100 more than I paid.
TripleFive 4/27/2013 12:38pm
4/27/2013 12:38pm Edited Date/Time 4/27/2013 12:40pm
Tarz483 wrote:
thanks for all the advice , both seem like good choices , and it seems like u can pretty much use a pw 50 free...
thanks for all the advice , both seem like good choices , and it seems like u can pretty much use a pw 50 free , just buy 1 and get yer money back when yer done , preety cool Smile
Yep!

Same with a CRF50.

On the scale of beginner bikes on up, I would put the CRF in between the PW and KTM.

If your kid is a motor head I could see him, like others have mentioned, reaching the limits of the PW pretty quickly. Whereas I believe the ceiling of the CRF is much higher.


Also, there's usually no problem buying these things used, unless they were used by an adult as a pit bike. It's very hard for a young rider to clap-out one of these bikes. CRF50s in particular are VERY solid. If they look worn out, it will likely be only superficial damage.
Tarz483
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Tarz483 4/27/2013 12:42pm
4/27/2013 12:42pm
Bytor wrote:
700 is way to much for a 98. I sold my 02 with training wheels for 500.00 that was a 100 more than I paid.
yeah ive seen some others , as low as $450

and some for $500
this one looks nice tho , and had some recent freshening up , seat cover graphics and a few other things , that im sure costed something ..
jndmx
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jndmx 4/27/2013 2:13pm
4/27/2013 2:13pm Edited Date/Time 4/27/2013 2:13pm
CRF50 or PW50......lotta fun for the buck.

XR70 is a fun little bike too if your kid's a little taller.
TW770
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TW770 4/27/2013 6:47pm
4/27/2013 6:47pm
I bought a PW50 for my son off Craigslist in Dallas TX. The bike was literally like new. My son was riding it without training wheels before he turned four. Every time out he shows considerable improvement. I hope to make it through the summer with the PW. Which KTM model do I buy next? Which model KTM 50 can he begin racing on? Any advice would be appreciated.
Tarz483
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Tarz483 4/28/2013 9:19am
4/28/2013 9:19am
TW770 wrote:
I bought a PW50 for my son off Craigslist in Dallas TX. The bike was literally like new. My son was riding it without training wheels...
I bought a PW50 for my son off Craigslist in Dallas TX. The bike was literally like new. My son was riding it without training wheels before he turned four. Every time out he shows considerable improvement. I hope to make it through the summer with the PW. Which KTM model do I buy next? Which model KTM 50 can he begin racing on? Any advice would be appreciated.
i think he can race the pw against other pw and shaft bikes , and a seperate class for 50cc bikes with a chain , and quite a bit faster bikes

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