Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

PW50 PW50 "099 Motorcycles don't get much smaller than this. The Yamaha PW50 features a single-speed transmission and an automatic clutch, so Junior doesn't have to worry about shifting at alL AU he has to do is just twist the throttle and go. The bike ha a seat height of just under 20 inches and weighs slightly less than 100 pounds, so it's relatively unintimidating for the smallest member of the family. The PW (Pee Wee) also features front and rear suspension systems, shaft drive (which eliminates the chance of catching small fingers in the sprockets), and a bullet-proof, air-cooled, 49cc two-stroke engine. Since our editor, Paul Carruthers, finagled a PW50 for his then 4-year-old son, Kyle, two years ago, we used his machine for this evaluation; after all, the PW50 hasn't changed much over the years - it's been mostly cosmetics. Paul vouches for the PW's sturdiness and relatively maintenance-free design, but he does have one complaint about the PW50: "I wish it had a sidestand," he reports. Kyle, he says, doesn't even bother with the awkward centerstand and Simply "throws" the bike over on its side when tte's done riding. Dad has to put the bike on the centerstand every time. Kyle already knew how to ride a bicycle when he rode the PW50 for the first time in a neighborhood field at age 4 and immedlately took to his new powered bicycle, Shortly thereafter, Dad removed the restrictive washer in the exhaust pipe, giving the PW a bit more power. There's also a governor - okay, a screw - in the throttle that adjusts the degree to which the throttle can be turned. Now, at age 6, Kyle tides the PW without any horsepower-robbing devices, Kickstarting the PW is till a little tricky for Kyle, but in a pinch he can get the job done. Still, Dad doesn't let Kyle get out of sight in case he stalls the motor. Kyle's 9-year-old sister, Kady, also rides the PW, "They're pretty good about sharing," Paul says, "but after about a min ute or two, they think it's their turn to ride it." Perhaps another minibike is in the Carruthers family's future. , 1£ so, the PW isn't their only option, as both Suzuki and Honda offer-similar models. Suzuki has the JRSO, whicl, carries a price tag of $1169, and it also features a 49cc two-stroke motor, a singlespeed automatic-clutch transmission, a low seat height and nearly the same weight as tl,e PW50. The two main differences between the PW and the JR is that the JR is chain-driven and uses a sidestand. Honda offers the $1599 ZSOR - a somewhat different breed. It's unique in relation to the PW and JR in that it features a four-stroke motor, fatter and smaller (8- rather than 10-inch) tires, a three-speed automatic-clutch transmission, a slightly higher 22-inch seat height, and hauls around approximately 15 more pounds. The Z50 is fully suspended with approximately 2 ." inches of wheel travel at both ends. There's another manufacturer out there that offers a pee-wee machine of its own Action North America, Their tiddler is called the Action SmaIl Fry, a 49.93cc, twostroke, single-speed, auto-clutch bike that looks like a scaled-down motocrosser with false radiator shrouds, long (or at least long-looking) travel suspension, modern-looking number plates and fenders. It costs $1249. The Small Fry is chain-driven, has a 22-in,ch seat heig\1t, and is claimed to weigh just 70 pounds, Action N.A. offers other, more race-oriented 50cc models, as do manufacturers such as KTM, Lem, Cobra, [taljet and TM. Slx-year-old Kyle plays with his favorite toy, the Yamaha PW50. Dad monitors Brent's progress on the Suzu,ki 0580. Honda BlOB "5991 You'll never guess what 1o-year-old Nolan wants for his birthday after spending the whole day on the Honda XR70R. The Honda XR70R is a fairly new member of the Honda family. It was introduced two years ago to bridge the learning and growing gaps between the ZSOR and the XRBOR. Like the Z50, the XR70 features a three-speed automatic-clutch transmission but has a slightly larger nee four-stroke motor. The seat stands 25.6 inches above the ground, and the bike weighs in at a claimed 125.7 pounds. The XR70 boasts a single-shock rear-suspension system and telescopic forks. Wheel travel is nearly four inches at both ends. Ten-year-old Nolan, who had never ridden a motorcycle before, adapted quickly to the XR70 and fell in love with it. Like the PW50, Nolan liked the fact that he didn't have to mess with a clutch, and his already-honed bicycle skills took over. Within a few minutes, Nolan had the XR70R buzzing around camp like a pro. He got the shifting down, too, but was reluctant to 'grab top (third) gear - first and second were just fine with him. Another day in the saddle, no doubt, and third would not have been a problem. Nolan's just-under-5-foot frame fit the XR70 well, and he had no problems starting the bike. Overall, Nolan loved the XR70 and simply refused to get on another bike. Yamaha makes a bike comparable to the XR70: the PW80. It's powered by a 79cc, two-stroke motor with a three-speed automatic-clutch transmission. Like the XR70, the PW80's suspension is handled by a single-shock design in the rear with 3,7 inches of ,wheel travel, and a telescopic fork up front that offers 4.3 inches of travel. Both the XR70 and PW80 weigh about the same, and their seat heights are nearly equal, as well. The PW80 sells for $1249. 21

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