Motorcycles

Most parents won’t even consider allowing their children to ride a motorcycle with someone else, but giving them their own bike seems like a crazy and dangerous idea to most. It is true that you should never let them ride certain bikes, but if you choose the right one it is possible to allow them to ride in safety.

Yamaha’s little PW50 is a one of those bikes that has been found safe for children. It first debuted in 1981 as a beginner bike. The bike is equipped with a 49cc 2-stroke machine with a mild and manageable power output. Its easy-to-handle diminutive size, the PW50 quickly became one of the most hottest selling motorcycles in the Yamaha lineup over the next 20 years.

Yamaha designed the pint-sized motocrosser for the sole purpose of learning how to ride. The mild-mannered air-cooled engine has an automatic transmission that allows kids the chance to learn balance and correct riding technique without having to simultaneously worry about shifting. Without a clutch, all that is needed to make the motorcycle go is a slight twist of the throttle. However, you don’t have to worry about your child going too fast. Yamaha thought ahead and installed a throttle limiter that allows parents to define the term “wide open.”

The limiter is a simple screw that is placed on the throttle to determine how far the rider can twist the throttle. If a child is quick with the wrist but isn’t as quick to find the brake you can simply turn the screw in. This will allow you to have an instant reduction in power and acceleration. As your child gets more comfortable on the PW, a turn of the screw is all that’s needed to open up the 49cc engine a bit. When you observe kids riding the PW you can admire the job that it does to deliver predictale power throughout the powerband. The PW doesn’t exhibit an abrupt jump in power in the upper echelon of the powerband the way a typical 2-stroke does, even when the throttle limiter was screwed all the way out. This kid-friendly power helps create confidence in young riders by allowing them to get familiar with two-wheel dynamics without being intimidated by too much power.

Once the kids learn to enjoy the smooth powerband, you will have to teach them how to stop. The front and rear 80mm drum brake at each end aren’t high-spec units, but they proved to have ample power for our group of test riders. A few of our kids were even surprised at the amount of stopping power available. Brakes are actuated by bicycle-style handlebar-mounted levers for both the front and rear. Most riders that are young and starting out don’t need the extra worry of finding a rear brake at their feet and a front brake up top. The simple design of the brakes on the handlebars makes learning very easy. However, one parent in our test group felt as though the brakes on the handlebars were problematic because it didn’t teach kids the proper controls of a motorcycle.

The rear brake perch is mounted directly to the handlebars, which means breaking a perch would require a brand new set of bars. In addition, the throttle apparatus is connected to the front brake in one piece. Falls and mishaps could potentially get expensive if a child has a habit of breaking the perch. The instinctual braking system they use first is not the hand brakes but rather the Fred Flintstone feet-to-the-ground method. With the lowest seat height available at 19.1″, the PW allows just about all kids to touch their feet to the ground when stopped and hold the feather-weight 82-pound bike upright with ease.

Yamaha never forgot the safety side of things. The case-reed engine is nestled well inside a tubular steel frame, so no extraneous parts get in the way of the rider’s legs. The exhaust pipe has been routed inside the tubular frame and exits low and along the side of the rear wheel to eliminate the possibility of accidental burns. Further enhancing the safety of the PW is the shaft drive, which not only requires much less maintenance than a chain, but is also less dangerous to little fingers and toes. Also making maintenance quick and easy are the mag wheels. Kids love them, and the 2.50×10-inch wheels are easy to clean and eliminate the possibility of bent or broken spokes.

The best feature that can be found o the PW50 is the utterly quiet motor that it has. Most motorcycle enthusiasts are aware that the noise level of a bike can not only limit where you ride, but it can also be a source of fear for young children. Luckily, the PW50 puts out so little noise you could run it in a suburban backyard and the neighbors wouldn’t even know.

Another cool but necessary feature is the PW 50’s centerstand. Because the bike is automatic, neutral is not an option. So when you first fire up the bike, use the stand to raise the rear wheel and you’re free to rev the little engine while it reaches operating temperature. At idle, the rear wheel doesn’t move at idle, so there’s little fear of an unwary kid wandering near a spinning knobbie.

So, what age is right for the PW? It all depends on your kid and their ability to ride. But as a general guideline, the PW50 is made for kids to start riding around the age of four, depending upon their strength. While it’s difficult to judge exactly when a kid is ready to begin riding, most of the kids in our group seemed to deal well with the size and power of the bike, with the use of the throttle limiter, of course. Once kids reach the age of six or seven it might be time to step up to a more performance-oriented bike like a Honda XR50 or a KTM50. However, for young first-time riders, there’s no question the PW50 is at the top of a short list for best beginner’s bike. With a suggested retail price of $1149, the PW is also the right price and might be the perfect way to introduce your son or daughter to the wonderful world of two wheels.