The PW 50 is dead. Long live the SX E2

dadofagun
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Satan's Hollow, OK US
Fantasy
10/13/2023 4:16pm

Not knocking the electric power by any stretch.....  But rolling chassis wise, this is what the YZinger should have morphed into 25 years ago.  I get that Yamaha milked the little sucker for generations making God knows how much, but that chassis with the PW engine would be cool.  Even still, hopefully one day, I'll have a grandkid I can spoil.....

2
mikelawlor
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Location
Johnsonville, NY US
10/13/2023 4:17pm
early wrote:
Get your boy a 12" electric balance bike before a pw, they are lighter and shorter until the kid get tall and strong enough for a...

Get your boy a 12" electric balance bike before a pw, they are lighter and shorter until the kid get tall and strong enough for a pw. Either the Stacyc or any other one, there's alot of Chinese hub motor bikes you can buy cheap. The hubmotor is almost completely silent and theres no chain sound so it doesn't draw attention if you take it to a park or anywhere. The lack of chain is safer for when kids tip over (like the shaft drive on pw) and theres no chain grease so you can throw it in the back of an suv no problem, thats an advantage of these ktm bikes. 

Go electric balance bike at 2-3 then pw or e2 at 3-4.

AH387 wrote:
For sure! Going to get a Stacyc first, for him. Those things seem like they are the perfect next step from a Strider (which he has...

For sure! Going to get a Stacyc first, for him. Those things seem like they are the perfect next step from a Strider (which he has but not quite ready for.) But I had that plan/timeline that you said, in my head lol. I appreciate the input, thank you.

We started out first b day with a Strider with the sea saw attached to it. Got her to like sitting on it and used to it. Then at like 18 months she was scooting around with our help so for her second b day I got the stacyc and she’s been back and forth between both bikes. Her third b day is next month and I’m either gonna find a used PW or get this ktm/husky. She zips on the Strider with her feet up and can ride the stacyc on the lowest power mode. She’s not ready for the pw/E2 yet but she will be by this summer. I’m a little over ambitious but she loves riding on my bike with me and riding hers now. The gas doesn’t scare her or the noise only thing I worry about is her burning herself on the pw but we’ve been over not to touch hot things haha. 

1
10/13/2023 4:22pm
Deja New wrote:
Only one I could find a price on is $2399 British pounds that’s $4600 and a PW is and $2090…. Why the phuque are these Ee...

Only one I could find a price on is $2399 British pounds that’s $4600 and a PW is and $2090….

Why the phuque are these Ee huskies so expensive the ee3 and 5 are so over priced it’s not funny. @ $6500 and $9300. These prices will kill the sport no grow it and with batteries being so expensive who will replace it every 3 years or so when they die…..

love to so in 30 years how many of these are still around like the PW that just goes and goes and goes…..

They both look very cool and a most likely seriously fun to ride. Just way to many down sides 

In the US, an E5 is only about 1,000 more than a 50sx and that cost is easily covered in the first year of gas maintenance 

4
Deja New
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AU
10/13/2023 4:31pm
Deja New wrote:
Only one I could find a price on is $2399 British pounds that’s $4600 and a PW is and $2090…. Why the phuque are these Ee...

Only one I could find a price on is $2399 British pounds that’s $4600 and a PW is and $2090….

Why the phuque are these Ee huskies so expensive the ee3 and 5 are so over priced it’s not funny. @ $6500 and $9300. These prices will kill the sport no grow it and with batteries being so expensive who will replace it every 3 years or so when they die…..

love to so in 30 years how many of these are still around like the PW that just goes and goes and goes…..

They both look very cool and a most likely seriously fun to ride. Just way to many down sides 

In the US, an E5 is only about 1,000 more than a 50sx and that cost is easily covered in the first year of gas maintenance 

That’s awesome and I could do all day but like the stark varg here in Australia at between $18 & $19.5 k these electric bikes are seriously expensive compared to the old ICE bikes.

3

The Shop

Indy mxer
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1822
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6/15/2010
Location
The Villages, FL US
10/14/2023 6:37am
early wrote:
Get your boy a 12" electric balance bike before a pw, they are lighter and shorter until the kid get tall and strong enough for a...

Get your boy a 12" electric balance bike before a pw, they are lighter and shorter until the kid get tall and strong enough for a pw. Either the Stacyc or any other one, there's alot of Chinese hub motor bikes you can buy cheap. The hubmotor is almost completely silent and theres no chain sound so it doesn't draw attention if you take it to a park or anywhere. The lack of chain is safer for when kids tip over (like the shaft drive on pw) and theres no chain grease so you can throw it in the back of an suv no problem, thats an advantage of these ktm bikes. 

Go electric balance bike at 2-3 then pw or e2 at 3-4.

AH387 wrote:
For sure! Going to get a Stacyc first, for him. Those things seem like they are the perfect next step from a Strider (which he has...

For sure! Going to get a Stacyc first, for him. Those things seem like they are the perfect next step from a Strider (which he has but not quite ready for.) But I had that plan/timeline that you said, in my head lol. I appreciate the input, thank you.

early wrote:
All good, I just went thru this sequence and it's great, you get to have 3 little moments when it clicks how to ride each one...

All good, I just went thru this sequence and it's great, you get to have 3 little moments when it clicks how to ride each one; balance, electric, gas. Some guys can get over zealous and go straight to the pw which would be a mistake imo with all the options there are now. By the time my boy got on the pw throttle and brakes were second nature and I wasn't at all worried about him target fixating straight into a tree or fence. 

Anyway I picked up a barely used pw for $900 a year and a half ago but if I was buying new today I might have gotten this bike so my wife could throw it in the van and take it to the grandparents house easier.

I had a Stacyc for my grandson, but when Kawasaki came out with the Electrode I got him one of those. Very cool bike. He loves it and can ride it in his neghborhood. This new KTM may be a perfect next step for him.

3
1
10/14/2023 10:59pm

I'll definitely get my son one when he's big enough (just turned 2). He can't even ride the Stacyc 12 yet. The PW is nostalgic but this is the ticket when you can ride anywhere anytime.  The different modes and tether are a nice touch as well. 

1
sumdood
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San Clemente, CA US
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10/15/2023 12:56am

KELLEY PW50.jpg?VersionId=em10CH9xQ7ZRdT8CKRISTY AT JACK MURPHY 0Both our kids started on a PW, Top -Son, bottom - Daughter.  I found a used one for $500' in the garage I'm getting ready for 3 grandkids. The electric bikes seem cool and obviously better if noise is a concern. But the P-dub's paid for and.... tradition lol. So we're rolling with it.  

9
WFO Dave
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Greenville, TX US
10/15/2023 2:22pm

My son started on the PW and now his daughter has one. Plenty of Pas at the GNC at Oak Hill this weekend.

2
dustmx
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Location
Sunrise, FL US
10/15/2023 4:11pm

Pw 50 is not dead! My 4 year old is having a blast on it. I’ve had my 2 previous kids learn and love it. I have the Pw 80 as well C3C2A031-293E-45B6-BADD-8CD241373119

14
burn1986
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bossier city, LA US
10/15/2023 4:37pm

A little pricey

avidchimp
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E.G.L., MN US
10/15/2023 4:56pm Edited Date/Time 10/15/2023 4:56pm

1982'ish me thinks. Indian Dunes Friday night practice. I am looking for one for my granddaughter to ride here soon...

IMG 4109

7
CG118
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Location
Kennesaw, GA US
10/15/2023 6:01pm

All 3 of my boys learned on a PW.  
I will not miss that fuggin float needle valve.  What a pain in the ass.  
if I had young ones again, they’d be on electric, no doubt. 
 

1
4
10/15/2023 6:52pm

honestly i give a Sh**!

 

1
MudPup545
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Imlay City, MI US
10/16/2023 2:55am

Wasn’t Yamaha working on its own version of this sometime ago? 🤔

1
10/16/2023 5:53am

Bend Aug..jpg?VersionId=f6t037.60EK4 dLeGanSWIeA8I must have been 4 here. Probably around 1999. 

I wish we held onto this thing. I remember saving up all the pennies and nickels I had and whenever I would get a little more pocket change I would ask my parents if I had enough for one lol. 

10
10/16/2023 7:34am
MudPup545 wrote:

Wasn’t Yamaha working on its own version of this sometime ago? 🤔

Yes they released it in Antarctica only though.

10/16/2023 7:55am

Yeah my kid just turned 3, he'll definitely be on a PW50. What's more American than mixing gas/oil and riding a 2 stroke?

8
2
kxking
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Oakville, Ontario CA
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10/16/2023 8:12am

I see the benefits of the SX E2, but there is absolutely no way the PW is dead. Its just one of those bikes that will be around forever, like the Z50. Families and generations will ride them and pass them around. You can sell them for almost what you paid, low maintenance, and tough as nails.

4
1
MudPup545
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Imlay City, MI US
10/16/2023 10:18am
MudPup545 wrote:

Wasn’t Yamaha working on its own version of this sometime ago? 🤔

Yes they released it in Antarctica only though.

Piss poor business decision on their part. 

10/16/2023 8:31pm
kxking wrote:
I see the benefits of the SX E2, but there is absolutely no way the PW is dead. Its just one of those bikes that will...

I see the benefits of the SX E2, but there is absolutely no way the PW is dead. Its just one of those bikes that will be around forever, like the Z50. Families and generations will ride them and pass them around. You can sell them for almost what you paid, low maintenance, and tough as nails.

The Z50 is gone tho?

10/16/2023 8:44pm

I will buy my kids a PW50 any and every day!!

2
1
10/16/2023 9:08pm
kxking wrote:
I see the benefits of the SX E2, but there is absolutely no way the PW is dead. Its just one of those bikes that will...

I see the benefits of the SX E2, but there is absolutely no way the PW is dead. Its just one of those bikes that will be around forever, like the Z50. Families and generations will ride them and pass them around. You can sell them for almost what you paid, low maintenance, and tough as nails.

The Z50 is gone tho?

In name only.

2
10/17/2023 5:39am

The z50 engine lives on as a crf50.

i don’t wish the death of the pw50, but it’s choke hold on the 4yr old market is over. Prices need to come down both used and new. I’ve got a coworker that went into a local dealer to him and the out the door price they wanted was @2600. A-hole dealership, but the community lost a future family because of that. The guy bought his kids a used Zuki quad instead. 

kxking
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Oakville, Ontario CA
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10/17/2023 7:27am
The z50 engine lives on as a crf50. i don’t wish the death of the pw50, but it’s choke hold on the 4yr old market is...

The z50 engine lives on as a crf50.

i don’t wish the death of the pw50, but it’s choke hold on the 4yr old market is over. Prices need to come down both used and new. I’ve got a coworker that went into a local dealer to him and the out the door price they wanted was @2600. A-hole dealership, but the community lost a future family because of that. The guy bought his kids a used Zuki quad instead. 

Wow, I had a old-school joke typed out, but not sure of the temperature around here.....

 

Moving on.

vdrsnk04
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1992
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9/5/2018
Location
IL US
10/17/2023 8:05am

Once you’ve had a kid on a gas bike and then switched them to an electric bike. You will never want ICE bikes for them again. Dad/son life gets to focus on the fun parts of riding and building memories. Not dealing with all the mechanical and maintenance issues of riding ICE and losing time elsewhere because of it. My son did three seasons on his sx-e5 ktm and all we ever did was lube the chain, grease bearings, and tires. To me it’s about smiles per hour, similar to when people buy a cheap Chinese bike versus a nice jap or Austrian bike for their kid. The kid and dad just don’t have as much fun. 

3
3
crt32
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Location
Oklahoma City, OK US
10/17/2023 8:28am
vdrsnk04 wrote:
Once you’ve had a kid on a gas bike and then switched them to an electric bike. You will never want ICE bikes for them again...

Once you’ve had a kid on a gas bike and then switched them to an electric bike. You will never want ICE bikes for them again. Dad/son life gets to focus on the fun parts of riding and building memories. Not dealing with all the mechanical and maintenance issues of riding ICE and losing time elsewhere because of it. My son did three seasons on his sx-e5 ktm and all we ever did was lube the chain, grease bearings, and tires. To me it’s about smiles per hour, similar to when people buy a cheap Chinese bike versus a nice jap or Austrian bike for their kid. The kid and dad just don’t have as much fun. 

I don't get the argument of electric = no mechanical issues. We have a Stacyc and fuses blow, tires go flat, chain comes off, brake arm loses a bolt, plastic cover threads strip, and more. So guardians will still have to do maintenance on Jr's bike. Is electric a good choice for some sure, but it's not because no work is ever required. 

3
1
early
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2/13/2013
Location
University Heights, OH US
10/17/2023 8:38am
vdrsnk04 wrote:
Once you’ve had a kid on a gas bike and then switched them to an electric bike. You will never want ICE bikes for them again...

Once you’ve had a kid on a gas bike and then switched them to an electric bike. You will never want ICE bikes for them again. Dad/son life gets to focus on the fun parts of riding and building memories. Not dealing with all the mechanical and maintenance issues of riding ICE and losing time elsewhere because of it. My son did three seasons on his sx-e5 ktm and all we ever did was lube the chain, grease bearings, and tires. To me it’s about smiles per hour, similar to when people buy a cheap Chinese bike versus a nice jap or Austrian bike for their kid. The kid and dad just don’t have as much fun. 

crt32 wrote:
I don't get the argument of electric = no mechanical issues. We have a Stacyc and fuses blow, tires go flat, chain comes off, brake arm...

I don't get the argument of electric = no mechanical issues. We have a Stacyc and fuses blow, tires go flat, chain comes off, brake arm loses a bolt, plastic cover threads strip, and more. So guardians will still have to do maintenance on Jr's bike. Is electric a good choice for some sure, but it's not because no work is ever required. 

That's the beauty of these hub motor bikes, there's no chain and chain guard. Hydraulic brakes may require more maintenance than a cable drum or disc, or not. For a 4-6 year old kid a standard preride check of tire pressure, safe braking and suspension function and a visual inspection of fasteners is an appropriate mechanical introduction, taking chain adjustment out of that is fine, which is why the pw has a shaft drive.

2
kxking
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Oakville, Ontario CA
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10/17/2023 9:30am

My son loved tinkering with the tools and helping out with the maintenance on his bike, and fortunately kept it up and now can do most of the work on his own cars.  When it comes to brake jobs, oil changes, suspension work, plugs etc. he is definitely hands on.

2
djr
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147
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1/18/2015
Location
GB
10/17/2023 10:08am

The way some of these electric enthusiasts talk, you would think the PW50 had  a highly stressed racing engine that does 15000rpm and needs to be rebuilt regularly.

The reality is the most regular maintenance a PW50 will need is cleaning every time you ride, just like an electric bike (or are these electric bikes self cleaning?)

I know people who have had PW50s for 20 years, and the bike has been passed around to various friends & relatives for the kids to learn on.

These bikes have never had to have the engine touched, just the odd spark plug & filter.

Kids won't wait hours for a battery to charge, they want that 1 minute recharge you get from a fuel can

 

5
10/17/2023 10:29am

The venerable PDub will probably be around for some time to come, but it is long past time that somebody came up with a decent competitor. Honestly, this looks like a fantastic option.

1

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