Kids and mini · Two stroke
Yamaha PW50
The bike almost every Australian rider started on. Shaft drive, oil injection, a throttle limiter for mum and dad, and virtually unchanged since 1981. Sold in Australia from 1990 to 2026, 37 model years.
About the Yamaha PW50
The PW50 is the first dirt bike for more kids than any other. It is a 50cc two stroke with an automatic clutch, a shaft drive so there is no chain to catch fingers, and an oil injection system so there is no premix. The throttle can be limited with a screw so a three year old can start slow, and the seat height suits kids from about three to seven.
It has been basically the same bike for over forty years, which means parts are everywhere, every mechanic knows it, and a well kept one sells for close to what it cost. If you are buying a first bike for a small child, this is the safe choice.
What changed by year
- 1981 onwards
- Mechanically the same bike for its whole life. Graphics and small details change; the engine, shaft drive and oil injection do not. Buy on condition, not year.
Servicing a PW50
There is not much to do, which is the point. Keep the two stroke oil tank topped up (the bike mixes it for you), change the gearbox oil a couple of times a season, and clean the air filter after every few rides. Check the shaft drive oil once a year. Keep the throttle limiter set where it suits the child and back it off as they improve.
The most common reason a PW50 will not start is old fuel. Drain the carburettor if it is going to sit for more than a month.
Engine hours between jobs: the schedule the Digital Garage tracks for this bike, based on the manual. Racers and hard riders go sooner, as above. Ride in sand or mud and halve the engine ones.
| Job | Every |
|---|---|
| Air filter clean and re-oil | 5h |
| Rings only replace | 8h |
| Chain clean, lube and adjust | 8h |
| Transmission oil change | 10h |
| Top end rebuild (piston and rings) | 15h |
| Spoke tension check | 15h |
| Fastener torque check | 15h |
| Cables and throttle lube | 25h |
| Air boot and intake seal check | 30h |
| Spark plug replace | 30h |
| Power valve clean | 40h |
| Silencer repack | 40h |
| Linkage bearings grease | 50h |
| Tyres inspect / replace | 50h |
| Tubes and rim locks | 50h |
| Rear brake pads | 50h |
| Reed valve inspect | 60h |
| Clutch plates inspect | 60h |
| Chain slider, guide and roller | 60h |
| Fork service (oil and seals) | 60h |
| Front brake pads | 60h |
| Grips inspect / replace | 60h |
| Bottom end inspect / rebuild | 80h |
| Carburettor / throttle body clean | 80h |
| Chain and sprockets replace | 80h |
| Shock service | 80h |
| Swingarm bearings grease | 80h |
| Steering head bearings grease | 80h |
| Wheel bearings inspect | 80h |
| Radiator, hoses and clamps | 80h |
| Brake discs inspect | 100h |
| Wiring and connectors | 100h |
| Water pump seal and impeller | 120h |
Parts that fit a PW50
Motorex Gear Oil Sae 10W30 1L$29.95 · members $25.46
Motorex Hydraulic Fluid 75-200ml$29.95 · members $25.46
Motorex White Grease 100g$31.95 · members $27.16
Motul Gearbox 1L 80W90 Moly$42.90 · members $36.46
Motul 800 2T 4L$179.90 · members $152.92
Motul Chain Lube Factory Line$29.95 · members $25.46
Motul Parts Clean 840ml$21.99 · members $18.69
Muc-Off Motorcycle Snow Foam 1L$24.95 · members $21.21
Muc-Off Motorcycle Snow Foam 5L$99.95 · members $84.96
Muc-Off Motorcycle Chain Cleaner 400ml$19.95 · members $16.96
Maxima Cool-Aide Pre Mixed Note..$19.95 · members $16.96
Motorex Air Filter Cleaner 1L$29.95 · members $25.46
Buying a used Yamaha PW50
Check that the oil injection tank is full and the pump is working, because a PW50 run with an empty oil tank seizes. Look for a straight frame, wheels that spin true, a throttle that snaps shut and brakes that actually work. Make sure the throttle limiter screw is still there. Cosmetics do not matter on a bike this size; a working engine and safe brakes do.
Prices in Australia are strong for tidy bikes. See recent sold prices on the Marketplace page linked below.
Used Yamaha PW50s for sale
None listed right now. Selling one? List it free →
Yamaha PW50 known issues
Old fuel
The number one no start cause. Fresh fuel and a carburettor clean fixes most of them.
Oil injection run dry
If the oil tank has been run empty the engine may have seized or scored. Check it before buying.
Brakes
Small drum brakes that get neglected. Adjust them before every ride.
Yamaha PW50 questions
- What age is a PW50 for?
- Roughly three to seven years old, depending on the child. The throttle limiter lets it grow with them.
- Do you need to premix fuel for a PW50?
- No. It has oil injection. Run straight unleaded and keep the two stroke oil tank full.
- Does a PW50 have gears?
- No. It is a single speed automatic, so a child only needs to learn throttle and brakes.
- What comes after a PW50?
- A TT R50 or CRF50 for a child who wants gears, or a 65cc two stroke for one who wants to race.