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Edited Date/Time
2/1/2020 12:50pm
Hey all,
I have a soon to be 4 year old and naturally I had planned to get him into motocross on a 50cc just like i did. Initially I had thought that the PW50 would be the best bet but with these Stacyc bikes I'm wondering if its a better move to start him on that and then get him a TTR or CRF50 once hes a bit bigger (and skip the PW all together). Reason being, I am a bit concerned that he will outgrow the PW in less than a year,
I don't live in the US and cannot find any decent used ones so I'll have to import one, by the time I'm done I would have spent about US$2K on a bike that he may outgrow (or will he?). To be honest I grew up on the Honda 50s and that lasted me about 2 years before I jumped to a KX60, but I started just before I turned 7. I am not familiar enough with the PWs other than I know they are fully automatic and are smaller and lighter than the TTR and CRF 50.
For what it's worth, I started him on a Strider balance bike at 1 1/2, which he mastered, and hes been riding a bicycle without training wheels just after he turned 3 and he's excellent (yes I am proud). He tries to back pedal and skid the rear wheel and do other little things, needless to say he is confident and he loves his bikes. Funny enough, I bought him a Razr quad when he turned 3 and he doesnt seem to like it, I think he just wants a real motorcycle like dad already!
But enough of the rant, what do you guys think of the Stacyc vs PW50 dilemma I am facing? And If i went the PW route, how long do you think it will last him? 1 year, 2 years?
Thanks in advance!
Adam
I have a soon to be 4 year old and naturally I had planned to get him into motocross on a 50cc just like i did. Initially I had thought that the PW50 would be the best bet but with these Stacyc bikes I'm wondering if its a better move to start him on that and then get him a TTR or CRF50 once hes a bit bigger (and skip the PW all together). Reason being, I am a bit concerned that he will outgrow the PW in less than a year,
I don't live in the US and cannot find any decent used ones so I'll have to import one, by the time I'm done I would have spent about US$2K on a bike that he may outgrow (or will he?). To be honest I grew up on the Honda 50s and that lasted me about 2 years before I jumped to a KX60, but I started just before I turned 7. I am not familiar enough with the PWs other than I know they are fully automatic and are smaller and lighter than the TTR and CRF 50.
For what it's worth, I started him on a Strider balance bike at 1 1/2, which he mastered, and hes been riding a bicycle without training wheels just after he turned 3 and he's excellent (yes I am proud). He tries to back pedal and skid the rear wheel and do other little things, needless to say he is confident and he loves his bikes. Funny enough, I bought him a Razr quad when he turned 3 and he doesnt seem to like it, I think he just wants a real motorcycle like dad already!
But enough of the rant, what do you guys think of the Stacyc vs PW50 dilemma I am facing? And If i went the PW route, how long do you think it will last him? 1 year, 2 years?
Thanks in advance!
Adam
At 4 years + the stacyc is just a fun toy for the pump track or riding round the neighborhood. It’s no match for a PW on a MX track.
If you can only have one I would opt for the PW since they hold up better and I think you could get at least 2 years out of it. My son is tall for his age, and he already has 2 seasons on the PW and he can probably keep riding it although I'm probably going to move him up to a KTM 50 senior next year.
He rides the stacyc more often due to convenience, but he prefers the PW whenever he is given the choice.
I would also consider parts availability as we've had to replace a handful of parts on the stacyc that typically leave the bike sitting for a week while waiting for the parts to come in stateside. The PW we bought new and haven't had to replace anything on yet.
Also, even with the added expense of importing the PW, they hold their value really well so I wouldn't be surprised if you could get most your money back when you decide to sell.
The Shop
I agree on the convenience though, unless you can ride your dirt bike right in your own backyard it's a great choice (can't wait for the new KTM electric bikes to come out next year)
Someone posted this cool little electric dirt bike a little while ago as an alternative to a PW50.
I would say between the JR50 I also have and pw50 I like that the JR50 has a rear brake pedal vs hand control but the pw50 doesn’t have a chain or sharp foot pegs so if I did it again I would go with pw50 if you are going for a gas bike.
Less restrictive on where you can go, smaller, more tunable for learning and cheaper.
Used a strider bike and took the training wheels off his bicycle at 3.5. training wheels came off the Pw50 2 months after his 4th birthday. In a couple months he moved to a Honda 50. I did the same for my nephew and my friends kid. Looking into a GasGas electric bike for next year over a fast 50.
My little girl is about to turn 2 in 8 days. I think I will get her a Staycyc, but still run with the PW50 for her. One more girl who's 6months old to run through the bikes after her.
Looking like I will get 5 kids into Moto along with a friend of a friend's 3 boys who started this year. Maybe more when I sell or give away the little bikes. In a way I wouldn't mind starting a public track just for peewee's and parents on pitbikes, but
I don't have time for it, or the right location.
We live out of town where I can ride a 450 with no complaints, a PW50 wouldn't even be heard by our neighbors. Does the answer change for country folk like us?
1. No hot engine or engine to start so he'll be more likely to ride under the wife's supervision when I'm at work.
2. More customizable power delivery to his ability.
3. Easier to throw in the vehicle to take to the grandparents house (or anywhere else) and not have to worry about gasoline fumes.
I'm excited to see what kind of offerings there are the summer of 2021 in regards to electric bikes for 3 year olds. Even if I have to get another gas bike after a year I think it would still get some use until he's about 5 due to points 1 and 3.
For my oldest (5) he was on Strider just about soon as he could walk and pretty much mastered that by 2.5. At 3 YO he was able to ride a pedal bike without training wheels so I purchased a PW for him so it would be ready when he was. Bike was still a little tall and heavy for him so I got him the STACYC bike to aid in the adjustment to the mechanics of riding a powered bike and to learn throttle control. He literally hopped on that thing and blasted off. Obviously, his skill level progressed with more seat time but I must say there was very little learning curve.
IMO if you’re gonna moto, the PW is essential. It’s the ideal training MOTORCYCLE. I wouldn’t be too concerned about him outgrowing it too quick. From my experience, this bike can provide years of enjoyment even for advanced riders. In a perfect world you’d have both as the STACYC really bridges the gap from balance bike to dirt bike perfectly. Also, unless you have a track in your backyard, you’ll got more hours on that STACYC. We run that thing ragged around our property and also take it everywhere; to the track(booting around the pits) sibling stick and ball practices, the park…it’s really a great little machine.
My youngest is following the same path/timeline. Here he is on the STACYC after just turning 3.
My next daughter got a stacyc12 for Christmas at 3.5 years old. She got a PW at 4 and rode it within 5 minutes.
Both girls have stacyc 16in now and the 12 was passed to my son when he was 26 months, at 2.5 he rides it with feet up on green mode pinned everywhere. Although he can’t reach brake so he wears a pair of tennis shoes out a week (most expensive maintenance on either PW or stacyc so far)
He’ll get a PW hand me down for his 3rd birthday. That’s the ideal scenario.
I just took my 6 year old an a 2.5 hour trail ride, sand track, hill jump sesh after the rain in SoCal after school. She handled it like a champ on a PW50.
Pit Row
My 4 year old rides a 16 but looks small on it. I bumped her up so I could give the 12 to the 2 year old.
• Low/Training mode ~ 5mph
• Med/Transitional mode ~ 7.5mph
• High/Advanced mode ~ 11mph
My boys mainly ride theirs on short grass or firm soil and nearly always on the advanced mode. We’re getting about 40 minutes or so under those conditions. Upgrading from the stock 4 Ah battery to the 5 Ah has helped in this regard.
If your boy is 4, I'd say pdub. I ride mine till I was 7 years old. Little big, but still had a blast.
My main concern was out growing the PW but he's an average height 3.5 year old so based on your responses if I got him the PW on his 4th birthday he should at least get about 2 years out of it.
For those of you saying the OSET is cheaper, how so? The basic 12.5 retails for $1350, that's about the same price of a PW. However I would have to say that the OSET is more of a real motorcycle Vs the Stacyc and the fact that you could use it in the backyard is pretty cool.
I bought a 2006 PW50 for $600 and it’ll be worth $600 after all 3 of my kids have ridden it.
I bought a 2014 PW for $800 and at worst it’ll be worth $600 after all 3 kids have ridden.
They are bullet proof bikes that will go forever (as long as you top up the oil).
They are always in demand so resale is good. Cheapest bike you’ll ever own. No idea what resale would be like on stacyc or oset - I’d assume nowhere near as good as a PW.
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