The Yamaha PW80 has been around for many years and has taught many a young rider the ropes. Over the years the Yamaha PW80 has remained the same apart from the colour. They been available in red and white, purple and white, even pink and white but now just like all other Yamaha dirtbikes they are blue. Here’s what to look out for when buying a 2006-2010 Yamaha PW80
They have a low seat height to make it easy for beginners to learn while feeling close to the ground which is confidence inspiring for learners as they don’t have as far to fall in any learning crashes. The engine is an oil-injected, air-cooled two-stroke engine. The engine has gearbox oil in the motor that lubricates the automatic clutch and three speed gearbox. The engine is automatically fed engine oil from an oil reservoir situated under the seat by an oil pump driven off the engine.
The PW80 is a slower revving two-stroke with a very mellow powerband to make it easy for beginners to manage. The suspension is minimum as these bikes were not intended to be jumping any great heights. If the bike is kept on the ground then the frames are durable but if any larger kids start jumping the bike then you can expect the frame to start spreading and you will end up with a bike shaped like a chopper.
The air filter is situated at the front of the engine and the air filter can be removed with a phillips head screw driver. If a PW80 spends a lot of time sitting around then you can expect the airfilter to have disintegrated and been sucked down and chewed up by the engine. The front and rear drum brakes are relatively maintenance free apart from having to occasionally adjust the free play in the brake cables as the brake shoes wear. Unlike the shaft driven PW50 the 80 has a chain and sprockets which require regular lubricating and adjusting and eventually replacing as they wear out.
If these parts aren’t kept in good shape then it will cause the chain to jump off the sprockets and potentially cause damage to other components. PW80’s usually run for ever and rarely ever need major repairs unless they have been abused. They are the perfect learners bike but once the rider has out grown the PW80 or out skilled it then it is time to move them up before they start causing the bike harm.
I often get asked what to look out for when buying a 2006-2010 Yamaha PW80 second hand, and I say make sure they start within the first few kicks and idle on the spot. You should also ride them to make sure the auto clutch is engaging correctly and not slipping and make sure to ask if the autolube system is still connected as these were often removed and converted over to premix. If this is the case and you don’t premix the gas with oil then you will burn out and seize the engine.
The PW80 often sat around between rides so if you get one that won’t go as its been sitting then it’s likely the carby is filled with rotten fuel and needs a good clean out. There are Chinese copies available on the market as well that are worth much less so if you are buying one make sure you are buying the genuine product as it will have Yamaha imprinted in the sides of the engine. Don’t be sold a Chinese copy at a genuine Yamaha price.
