2006 Yamaha TTR50 Photo Gallery

The TT-R50 represents Yamaha's challenge to Honda's supremacy of the mini market and its popular CRF50. We get a chance to ride some TTR50s at the press introduction. Check out what we thought during our 2006 Yamaha TT-R50E First Ride.

Remember kids ride these things too. The TTR50 is designed to be the perfect match for the 7-8 year old off-roader.

The biggest difference between the TTR50 and its Honda rival is the electric start, meant to make the learning curve a little easier for the beginning youngster.

The TTR50 has a couple of features to help parents supervise the riding experience, including a key-type ignition to control when the bike is ridden and a throttle-stop screw to limit how fast.

The TTR50 comes equipped with an automatic cam-chain tensioner to reduce maintenance.

In spite of having an electric start the TTR50 retails for $1,149; a full $150 less than the Honda CRF50 which rings in at $1,299.

For $899.95 you can pick up an 84cc big-bore kit, which will add a little more pop for the adults and faster kids to enjoy.

Larger handlebars, controls, seat, shift and brake levers, and footpegs make the bike more durable and accommodating for adults.

Yamaha understands that many of the adults buying minis aren't giving them to junior, that's why it releases the TTR50 with a full array of components to deck it out for pit racing.

The standard TTR50's inverted fork with 22mm sliders provides 3.8 inches travel, but you can beef it up with accessory suspension springs that give the front fork about twice the stiffness.

If the big boys want to ride in more comfort, the TTR50 can be accessorized with oversized billet foot pegs for $109.95.

Beefing up the TTR50 allows the big boys to be more aggressive when facing obstacles on the track.

An air-cooled, 49cc, SOHC, 4-stroke gives the TTR50 is junior-sized oompf, while a 3-speed gearbox coupled with an automatic centrifugal clutch take the shifting decisions out of the hands of a younger rider.