So I have a couple of lines on picking up a bike for my son....his fifth Birthday is on April 15th . I actually have three choices. Not even sure I'm getting one yet but what are your opinions JR50 Suzuki CRf 50 Honda Yamaha TT50 All are used. ( I have no interest in a new one...not like I could get one anyway) All run great. All are three to four years old Which would be the better bike? It's been years since I have been around kids bikes. Does anyone else out there have a 50 w/training wheels that they are willing to part with for a reasonable price? If so , PM me. T
Hon(4stk),Yam(4stk),Suz(2stk) in that order. IMHO just picked up a basket case (but assembled motor) 97 XR100 for my teens. another project!! so far it looks fairly good, trying to go cheeep cheeep cheeep!! best of luck T! nice gift for the lad!
I second that the Honda would be the best choice. I think it's probably the perfect learner bike. At first, you don't have to tell them there's a second or third gear.... plus TONS of aftermarket. And it's bulletproof, not to mention fun for you to play on too. paul
I've heard the the Suzuki is closest to riding a bigger bike in the fact that the front brake is on the right hand and the rear brake is on the right foot... Does the Honda and Yamaha have the rear brake on the left hand?
The 2005 crf50 I just sold had rear brake on right side as well as front brake on throttle side since new. They're a great bullet proof little bike and are EASY to kick start.
Jr has ridden a TTR 90 with E start for 2 seasons and logged a conservative 800 miles. The thing has been wrung out, jumped , crashed hard, reved out a couple thousand times and it runs perfect, starts effortlessly and hasn't burned a drop of oil. The E start is a dad's blessing when he would fall on an uphill and manage to pick it up himself. Trouble is the e-start adds some serious weight. Even the TTr 50E is in the 120+lb range. Honda or Yammi will do the trick.
I've tentatively lined up a 2004 CRf 50 ( supposedly with only 6 rides on it) with two sets of kids riding pants, a helmet, boots and a chest protector...... 5 bills.
One small, yet big thing to check on it is the plastic dipstick. If it's been run really hot, it'll either deform or even melt off to a nub. Hope it works out for ya as it sounds to be a great bargain!
I'm going to check it out in the next week or so.... the guy is holding it for me , putting in a new front tube and replacing the seat cover on it....says he leaned something on it in his garage and ripped the seat.... one of my wife's friends from PTA has it. Will check out the plastic dipstick and see what it looks like.... Anything else to look for or at??? Thanks, T
Not a whole lot else that can hide on them if you get to start it and putt around a little bit. There's a throttle limiter screw on the throttle housing that may or may not be adjusted to limit throttle travel. I had ours turned down to about 1/2 throttle available. No oil filter to change on these. Should start very easy even if gas is a little old. Our 50 was the one bike that would start when none of the others would if I forgot to treat the gas with Stabil. HTH
It has arrived! Picked this up tonight after my little guy went to bed. Sitting in the garage waiting for him tommorrow morning along with some tickets to Legoland. Daddy and Mommy are playing Hooky from work !!! Five bills including two pairs of boots ( Thor and O'Neil) , two Shift riding pants that are way to big for him and an HJC Helmet with goggles. Chest protector will arrive in a few days... T
p.s.-screw the throttle limiter ALL THE WAY IN. That thing is waaaay too fast. My son's would do 30+ with me on it on the road.
