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I’m looking to get my boy on to a 2 stroke 50. He’s coming off of a pw and getting a little too big. Any advice on what 2 stroke and years are best? Cobra/ ktm etc. Came across a 24 ktm but heard the ktms have issues? Any advice?
cobra
They all have issues, just stock up on stators and spark plugs if you get the ktm
You can order OEM KTM parts any day of the week from Rocky.
You have to snuggle up to your local Cobra dealer and stroke them off online whenever you need a part.
Cobras are faster, better clutch design, and totally not reliable either
dont drop the soap
The Shop
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Looking back on our 50 career years ago, If I were to do it all over again, I'd buy a nice, clean, used KX 65 and bypass the whole 50 scene altogether. And I promise I am not the only Dad that has said this...... You can lower the 65, tame it down, I have even heard of Dads putting a Rekluse on them. Fast 50's are expensive, and constantly need attention...... We always had 2 of whatever 50's we had, because you constantly needed a spare part to keep one always healthy.
This exactly.
If he is between 6-7 get him a KTM Sr. If he is at the end of 7, closer to 8 get a 65. Don't buy into the Cobra hype.
We did the 50 racing with my oldest. Was exactly what everyone says it is.
For my youngest, we got her a GasGas E5.
What an amazing bike. 6 power modes. It’s light.
You didn’t say if you’re racing or not.
Not one of my neighbours complain when she is riding around the yard.
100% agree. Move right to the 65's.
That’s possibly the best of both worlds, get an e5, buy grab a cheap 65 and just dabble on it here and there till it clicks.
The jump from 50 to 65 can be tough on some kids. The ones I see with the most problems seems to be the ones that don’t get on a 65 until they age out of 50. I don’t know if it’s engrained habits, or just a lack of clutch time that can’t be hidden.
Beware of the rekluse. You can point out the kids running them offroad because they are always in the wrong gear it seems. Just gotta rip the scab off and learn it.
This. Skip doing a 50 2 stroke all together. It’s not a fun experience. We quickly switched off the 50 to an SX-e5 and my kid gained so much more so much faster and had so much fun immediately. Then he went from that to a 65SX and the 65 life has been awesome.
Best option to buy Yamaha yz65. Soon as i did that life got easier. Kid rode couple races still on ktm sx50 that was brand new so it survived couple 15min runs at races but many others werent so lucky. I would get KTM E-5 and jump to 65 with Yamaha or if KTM 65 just look anything done before 2024.
KTM/HUSKY/GAS GAS 50. The Cobra is faster, but takes more to maintain. I am in the middle of the 50 years and on the Austrian bikes, if you keep the oil fresh and jet the bike correctly they are good to go. Lots of stator failures that I see are from heat and poor oil quality. It is expensive, but the triple grip clutch and added oil capacity makes a huge difference in performance and reliability.
We didn't start until 65's and man am i grateful for that. Yz65s are bulletproof fyi
I understand going straight to A 60 but from a pw? I think that would be a struggle. The little 50 two strokes are over priced I feel but I think that would be the next step?
Cobras have great support, and are completely dominant for a reason. They are faster and from what I've seen hold up better than the Austrian 50s. The suspension is also way better.
We have an EE5 as well. It's great for younger, timid or uncoordinated riders. For a fast rider on a big MX track it doesn't hold a candle to a FWE Cobra, and you'd need a few of them to get a full day of riding in. My son will run through 3 tanks of fuel in the Cobra on a practice day. That's probably equivalent to 6 batteries on the ee5. My younger daughter rides the ee5. She is not a great rider and the 50 would be way too much for her right now. The ee5 can be turned down to be as mild as you like. I think it's a great step up from a p dub.
That’s where the sx-e5 comes in perfect. Plus once in mode 6 it runs well.
Agreed on the battery side. But not on the 2 stroke 50 thing. Once the kid has maxed out the capability of the sx-e5 the kid is ready for the 65 and it is a much better bike all around than any 50.
Pit Row
This is what I did for my son in 2020.
The only thing I'd do differently is skip the Rekluse. It taught him a bad habit of not using his clutch, which was tough to break. He was significantly handicapped in his first couple of years racing in tight, rutted corners compared to the other kids of his same pace until he figured out clutch modulation.
I completely agree, but 65s are a different class machine for a different rider age and size. If you are racing, 65s make no sense for a 5-7yr old. They are also much bigger and heavier so physically don't fit the same size human as a fiddy. The performance of a good cobra 50 is unreal. Massive power (hard to mana e though) and genuinely good suspension. If you aren't racing then yeah skip all the race 50s--they ar hardcore competition machines.
PW50 is the only decent one.
The rest all suck. Every last one of them. Terrible experience. Trust me. Everyone agrees.
Mannnn do I agree here. I wouldn’t let my kid have a Rekluse for this reason. After seeing so many kids with Rekluse clutch setups learn bad habits that are hard to break.
Wow no one’s said it yet?
clears throat
CR 500
Man are these 50s really that bad??? My son is 5 and has been on a pw for couple years now and I was thinking about getting him a ktm sx50 mini. Unfortunately ktm doesn’t make them anymore and they are difficult to find… a full-size 50 would be too big of a jump size wise, it would be awesome if you could lower a full size 50 to roughly the same height as the mini. I have heard there are kits you can buy to have the suspension lowered but can’t find any good information on it… is this actually a thing? The E bikes are cool and all, and we started him out on a Stacyc, but this kid loves his gas engine so I know he wouldn’t be thrilled on the electric 50.
I will tell you that a used KTM 50 mini was the worst experience I've ever had. And what makes it so bad is that the kids aren't fully hooked on moto yet. So you take them out there with expectations of fun, then they end up sitting in the dirt while you're sweating and cussing trying to get the damn thing ti run, it really ruins it for them.
Man that’s a bummer…. People want so much money for them too. I have noticed a couple listings for ktm 50s and they mention all the spare parts that come with the bike… I guess I know why now lol
My oldest is 6, he isn't quite there for the 65 yet. We have been through all the usual KTM 50 problems and are counting down the days.
They become a little bit more bearable once you become a master at diagnosing their issues.
When we do move him up, it won't be on orange.
https://www.ktm-parts.ca/ktm-motorcycle/assignment_spare_parts/45412955044S
Look up part number 45412955044S
Had one for a Ktm 50, worked great.
Also fits the E-5 models.
My son said the same thing how much he wanted an engine and make the noises then we went to the KTM 50sx. He quickly realized they aren’t that fun. Went to SX-e5 and 100’s of hours of care free fun. Then went 65 and 100’s of hours of care free fun going on now.
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