PW50 Questions?

[shelli1769]

I'm getting my son a pw50 for Christmas and I have some questions that I hope someone can help with.
1) How fast and slow will it go?
2) How much horsepower do these have?
3) Son will be turning 4 right after Christmas, is this age appropriate?
Thanks!!
Shelli :nod:

 

[FruDaddy]

1) It comes with a throttle stop and (unless the dealer or previous owner takes it out) a restrictor in the exhaust. It can be slowed down to the point that it can't be balanced, and the top speed is around 30mph. My recommendation it to remove the exhaust washer and set the just use the stop to control the speed.
2) If my memory serves me correctly, 2.5. I could be wrong, they'll pull 200 lb man, but barely.
3) There is no more appropriate age, as long as he can comfortably touch the ground with his feet, and is mentally able to understand what the control do, and where they are. The ability to ride a bicycle without training wheels is a huge plus, because it shows that he has the balance.

Also, remember, he will fall. Probably a lot at first. I recommend, at a minimum, helmet (MX style, not open face), elbow pads, gloves, knee pads, good boots that cover the ankle. Also make sure he wears long sleeves and pants when he rides. That will cover most of the impact areas, until he starts jumping it.

 

[shelli1769]

Thanks for the info!!

 

[wanaride]

The PW50 is a WONDERFUL bike for kids! My youngest started riding it before he turned 4. The training wheels are KEY. Get the center mounted ones from Wheels4Tots. The ability to ride the bike without tipping it over will help them focus on throttle control and braking.

The restrictor in the exhaust pipe looks just like a washer and the bike will not pull a canary if it is installed; my kids cried until I removed it.

The throttle limiting screw will let you adjust it as slow as you want it to go. I think your son will LOVE that bike!!! I know my kids did.

 

[shelli1769]

Thanks! We'll be getting the training wheels for him, I think he'll love it too!

 

[Patman]

You may want to hold off on the trainning wheels. My son started at the same age and couldn't get his bicycle trainning wheel issues worked out. I got him to where he would ride with 1 but couldn't keep his balance without them. I picked up a PW50 and he wanted to ride it BADLY but I told him not until he got the bicycle figured out. Well after a week I caved in and we tried the PW50 out. He duckwalked it for a few minutes and then started dragging his feet then started getting one foot on the pegs and finally both. He literally found his balance because he wasn't worried about peddling the bike and could focus on his balance. After about 1 hour of riding feet up we got the bicycle out and pulled the trainning wheel off. He took off riding no problems!

On the throttle stop BE SURE you place a jam nut on it. My son figured out really quickly how to adjust the stop himself but when it involved a screwdriver and a wrench it messed him up for a while.

Besides the above suggestions which are all very good take the time to explain to him NOT to touch the exhaust pipe and to keep his hands away from the wheels.

 

[FruDaddy]

I do feel that training wheels are too much of a crutch. When my son wanted his own motorcycle, taking the extra wheels off of the bicycle was a prerequisite. To be able to properly ride the motorcycle, he needs to learn to lean into the turns. Training wheels just get in the way. Sadly, I have even seen training wheels used on MX tracks.