Best Used Bikes Yamahapw50
BEST USED BIKES YAMAHA PW50
YEARS SOLD: 1981-present MSRP NEW: $439 ('81) to $1,440 (’15) BLUE BOOK RETAIL VALUE: $520 (’91*) to $995 (’14) *First year of available pricing in Kelley Blue Book
BASIC SPECS: Simplicity is the name of the game. Nearly 35 years ago, Yamaha introduced the 1981 Y-Zinger, renaming it the PW50 in 1991. It’s been virtually unchanged (other than color) since. This nearly indestructible little dirt bike has an air-cooled 49cc two-stroke motor, a single-speed transmission with a centrifugal clutch, and maintenance-free shaft drive. An adjustable throttle stop gives parents the ability to manage power output. Handlebar levers operate front and rear brakes, and a seat height of only 19 inches makes the PW50 ideally suited for younger riders. With 10inch wheels and a feathery weight of only 82 pounds, this little Yamaha is dead-nuts reliable, with minimal maintenance needs.
WHY IT’S DESIRABLE: Who doesn’t love the ring-ring-a-ding sound of a two-stroke? It’s music to our ears, but the PW is still quiet enough for the campground. This smallscale MXer, one of the easiest bikes ever to ride, will bring dusty smiles to the faces of your little ones. Because the Pee-Dubya lacks a manual clutch, your kids can focus on improving their riding technique. Chad Reed, James Stewart, and Ricky Carmichael all spent time on PWs in their youth.
THE COMPETITION: There are some good alternatives. Basically, you must decide between the PW50 and four-stroke offerings such as the Honda CRF50 and Yamaha TTR50E. Although the four-strokes are heavier (more than 110 pounds) and have higher seats (21.9 inches), these models both have electric start, which makes it easy to fire up your bike after a tip-over. But what good is that if you can’t pick up your bike?
