Pw 50's are great bikes. I have seen some wicked pw's. And $400 for an 01 is a good price and would make a great starter bike.I would get it myself for a starter bike. Good luck, and you and your son WILL have loads of fun.There isn't anything that compares to rideing and racing with the little guys. Just keeping up with my son in the woods is a natural high. I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world.

 

Bluetrick,

Where did you hear about having to tear the KTM down every 3 hrs.??? Who recommends it??? What is the clutch issue you are talking about??? I am thinking about getting my son 1(mini adventure) for xmas. So I want all the info I can get. I will not be using this bike for racing what so ever.


Tell me all you can...TY

 

ditto bluetick's last post.

I thot KTM was supposed to be a great kids motocrosser.

 

I'm not bashing KTM. Yes they are a nice bike also. What I'm trying to say is that the adjustable clutch is a nitemare. I get this Information at the tracks. Plus I set up my own adjustable clutch on his Polini.The clutch isn't an auto like what is in the pw 50. It's a centrifigul clutch . It doesn't have clutch spacers like the big bikes. It has 3 shoes. You have a stack of washers,which you stack in certain ways to get the hit of the clutch,how you like it. You don't have to replace the clutch but you have to change the oil every 3 hours and change the washers. If you don't rework the clutch after every race it will start to slip.Then once you glaze the shoes then that heats the clutch hub up and then they are both shot. And the clutch is $200 and the hub is $200.And believe me I watch them race just about every weekend. You can tell who keeps up with their clutch and who doesn't. For motocross you want the clutch to engage about 9000 rpm,for a holeshot. If it engages to soon It will create a bogg. Believe it or not you can set up a hot setup that will rip the knobbies right off a new tire.And Confusedbuyer, I didn't say they weren't a good bike.I like them. I just stated that they just don't rule the nationals and that the clutch requires alot of work. I Know because I own one which has an adjustable clutch. But the Polini has a better clutch. The top bikes for motocross are King Cobra,Polini,Lem,Ktm. The reason there are so many KTM's is there are more KTM dealers plus they are cheaper. A new ktm pro senior is $3000 a new Polini x3 works or a King Cobra is $3500. Also in the 2004 Lorrett Lynns amature nationals Results: 4-6 yr olds 3 Cobra's 2 Ktm's, 7-8 yr olds 3 Cobra's in the top 5,2 Ktm's, in the oil injection class: Yamaha pw50 swept the top 5 .And once again I'm just offering information to a question that was asked. And to let them know what they were getting into with this kind of clutch. It's for racing not so much for trail riding or rideing around the house. There is alot of maintenance in these clutches. I know because I spend alot of time on these clutches.My boy wants to switch to racing bikes on the motocross tracks. . He wants a new KtmPro senior,and his sponsor is a Ktm dealer so he will be riding a 05 Ktm pro senior in the 05 season.

 

Bluetrick,

The problems you stated w/the KTM50 are more of a racing issue or an all the time thing??? Is it the same for Recreational use??? You mentioned the pw50's. I like the Idea of no shifting for a first time rider to learn on...what has your experience been w/the PW50 if any??? I know everyone seems to like the CRF50/XR50...I just rather have him start out on an auto/no clutch.

Any info you can give would be greatly appreciated...TY

Justinsmom

 

Some kids ride like there in a race all the time anyways but probably aren 't as hard on the clutch because there really isn't a need for them to start off like they are trying to get the holeshot.

 

Go with the crf 50. I say this cause this is the only four stroke. It is also the one that can be made the fastest. And they arent hard to work on and also need little maintance.

 

thanks bluetick, the world of racing really exposes the difference in quality and engineering. lots of stuff will work for the trail or rec rider... but racing is another world. I only thot KTMs were the Caddy cuz that 's all we saw at our local track in the 50-65cc classes ( and 1 Kawi).

I found the xr50 very heavy. I love 4-stroke, but I sold my '82 PW50 and it still ran great and never had any major repairs. One thing I noticed is fata$$ adults luv to jump on the pw50 cuz they think it's cool, but their weight bends the front rim. our rule for junoir was before he could ride, he had to be able to pick it up from the ground. he was about 4, and he psyched himself up for the heave of his life. he was so happy he got it up so he could ride. he rode it a couple of times, but it was too early and it bounced him all over. it was several months later that he finally started to ride again, and comfortably (around 5).

I think the pw50 is great for confidence and first ride.

 

http://www.huskysport.co.uk/HUSKYBOY.HTM are the only ones I could recomend..the CH515 Basic Auto has taught both my boys how to ride and has never let us down a single time.....the power can be tweaked right up to racing levels or you can jump right in and buy the one designed for racing...seems strange to me that no-one has mentioned them yet? They are built superbly and are very fast and reliable...do they not have them in the U.S.? I am in U.K. and they are a VERY popular kids starter bike and a popular race bike with the faster engines...
Also they look SOOO much better than the PW50's my kids think the PeeWee's are toys and gave me a disapointing look when I suggested one over the Husqvarna.....my boy was 5 when he started and he's got knotted string for legs and he was fine picking the bike up, it's perfect for the younger kids my eldest is now 8 and the bikes maybe a tad small for him now but it still drags him along alright...hope that helps in some way.
Overall the husky is probably as fast as the PW and the same size..but it just looks like a "real" motocrosser and that counts for a lot with kids these days.

 

Terd,
I really don't know about the recreational use. I'm just around them at the track. I know I myself don't let him ride the Polini to much. He has a Husqvarna cr50jr also.He rides it alot. The Ktm is a very good bike. But I was wanting to let everyone know that there is alot of maintenance in them. I myself if I was just playing around I would get the yam or the Honda.And someone did say about the hop ups. They were correct.They can make these things fly,when the youngn is ready for them. I myself feel if one is just "joy riding" the 4 strokes are better. You don't have to re-ring the top end all the time. On a KTM forum they said to change the oil in the mini adventure every 45 minutes.


#838-O1 Polini x3works-Michael's
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#838-04 Arctic Cat 50-Michaels-Airsel head,Malossi reed,Malossi clutch, Malossi cdi, Acerbis handguards,Douglas wheels,Snowhog tires,Rebel gears,ProDesign tether,Twin air filter,moded air box,
04 Suzuki DRZ-125L-sons
02 Yamaha Big Bear 400 4x4-mine


2004 PKM Motorsports XC Champion-(4-6) 50cc open quad

"Don't ride faster than your Angel can fly"
"Keep it pinned to win"