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keen on. Besides, a well maintained PW 80 or TTR-90 can be had for somewhere in the vicinity of 500 to 800 dollars and will oen resell for about what you pay for them. These two bikes have also changed lile over the years so the model year was largely irrelevant; we just wanted something in good condion. As it turned out, a friend had a PW 80 that we were able to try beforehand. Sll, we ended up buying a 2004 TTR-90 with an e-start. Our purchase of the TTR 90 was based mostly on geography as there was one available a short ride away. With these two bikes now available to us, we figured we'd have a lile shootout and see how they com- pared head to head. Our test was conducted at a riding area comprised of some pee-wee friendly single and double track along with a few minor elevaon changes. There was also a token mud hole and a short rock garden. Our two test riders were nine year old girls that recently moved up from up PW 50s. Head to Head The Yamaha PW 80 and TTR 90 share many similaries. Both have 3-speed manual transmissions and a semi-auto clutch that allows a young rider to master shiing without the added stress of the manual clutch. Seat heights are about the same at 24.5 inches with the base of the TTR frame sing an inch closer to the ground. Both come with 14 inch front and 12 inch rear wheels that are slowed by drum brakes. The suspension systems are the same and provide 4.3 and 3.7 inches of front and rear travel, respec- vely. The PW weighs in at 124 pounds while the TTR is a bit heavier at 139 (dry weights). Both bikes have a kick starter but our TTR came with a perfectly funconing elec- tric start. While both motors are air cooled, the PW is powered by an oil injected, 79cc two-stroke engine. A four-stroke SOHC 89cc engine powers the TTR. Both motors have outstand- ing reputaons for being "bomb proof" and are also whis- per quiet, allowing them to be ridden in most suburban sengs with minimal annoyance. In stock trim, the PW runs a lile rich and produces some smoke. However, you can lean out the jeng and make the smoke go away. Both engines also accelerate ex- tremely smoothly with the two stroke PW 80 just a bit quicker to spin the wheel over loose terrain, as two strokes tend to do. The PW is by no means a handful – quite the opposite as each bike is extremely easy to ride. The TTR by contrast almost resists wheel spin but the extra 10cc allow it to keep pace with the two stroke. The TTR is also 20 Trail Rider www.TrailRider.com The TTR-90 is beer at finding tracon than the PW- 80. Olivia Novello demonstrates. The PW-80 was slightly more agile than the TTR- 90 and easier to turn.