50 or e-5?

Little bike maintenance is a big deal…. I think I would have to choose the e-5 for the simpler maintenance and higher reliability.

Don't deprive the kid of the sound of an engine....and the joy of teaching him how ot work on it too.      My .02 cents

E5s are great for the neighborhood. Otherwise, if you want to actually ride some miles, gas is the way. We went from a crf50 to the pw80. That little bike rips. It makes for a great pit bike as well. 

I have a 4 year old that was on a PW. We bumped to an E-5 for Christmas and haven't looked back. I was always tinkering on the PW. With the E-5, just keep up with chain maintenance, air pressure, and make sure the thing is charged. He gets 1 1/2 hours on a charge right now on level 3. Works great for our woods riding and peewee track days

Had the same dilemma last year with my 5 year old after about 2 years on the PW. We ended up with an E3, which my son fell in love with immediately.  The suspension, riding positioning, and brakes are amazing in comparison.  He also immediately hated riding his PW, so that became a chore every practice and race day. 

The kids now have grown up on the Stacyc/e-bikes in their day to day lives, so the E3/E5 feels very natural to them and they excel riding them. 

Late last year we picked up a KTM mini. There was a pretty significant adjustment to the noise, and also the more abrupt acceleration and power band. We’re doing pretty good with it now, but I often wonder if we should have just skipped the E3.

I have 4 kids and I’ve had every bike up to an 85 for my 11 year old. The e5 is the way to go. You can buy 2 of them for what you will spend keeping a gas 50 going. I’ve never spent more money on a bike then a Ktm 50. Side note my 2 year old started riding a stacyc sunday! 4 kids that ride! It’s a dream

I guess it’s all about perspective! This is my nightmare haha. 4 kids, my two boys finally wore me down to let them race this year, 50 senior and junior 65. My 3 year old daughter cries every time because she won’t accept she can’t race her oset 12.5! My 18 month old cruises around the house making moto noises so I think I’m in for the long haul. 

Also for the op my kids were on oset electric bikes from 2.5 so while I don’t have experience with the e-50, for going to the track I would buy the gas 50. E bikes are a pain with battery going  flat at the worse possible times and kids have zero patience for charging. They seem to eat chains and sprockets and while initially he would find it easier, long term I think they are a negative for getting used to sound, vibration and riding in the meat of the power. I bought an MC50 with 10 hours on it and we are now at 70 with no issues apart from a couple of early fouled plugs which I leaned out the jetting a tad and has never happened since. Regular oil changes and avoiding the pressure washer as much as possible and it has been rock solid. 

I have 11 bikes. 10 of them get ignored because all of my time is spent keeping the TC50 running.  95 hours, 2 cylinders 4 piston/rings, 3 clutches, 2 stators, on top of the normal wear parts and every 2 hour oil changes. if it wasn't for off road where we need 45-60 minutes of aggressive range he'd ride an E50. One good note, they are pretty easy to tear down and rebuild, which is great because you do it alot.  

I can't wait until the kid is on a 65 so I can go back to riding. 

I like the sounds and smell of premix, but i like riding even more.  

I had both the gas 50 and the e5.  Gas 50 is a nightmare for maintence, the e5 we put hundreds of hours on w zero wrenching, just grips, chains and tires.  When my son got faster we sold the gas and had 2 e5's and there was zero downtime.  And they hold their value better then the gas models also.

Coming off the pw, I would 100% buy an E5. And if the kid excels to the point of needing a gas 50, you will have saved enough money on upkeep, you can buy a Cobra/Austrian race 50

Another E-5 vote. 50 Gas bikes are a headache and the e-5 is just so carefree.

I’m in the same boat of going back and forth for a four year old.  I like the idea of a 50 for unlimited ride time and keeping up with his dad.  The real con is the noise for us. I like the idea of a e3-5  for neighborhood rides, no problems with gas,  carbs, etc. I just terrified of the support on the battery side in 4-5 years. 

My experience as well!  Even a mega dollar full tilt boogie super mini was less work than those KTM 50's.  The 65 was a dream after the 50's!