RFN SX-E500 vs Yamaha PW50: The Future Is Electric

Powered balance bikes are a great way to help kids develop the balance and riding skills they need to transition smoothly into motocross. The Yamaha PW50 has long been a petrol-powered staple in the sport, but the new RFN Warrior SXE500, an advanced electric model from Future Riders, is redefining the ride with its modern design, safety features, and user-friendly simplicity.

Below, we compare both, not just the bikes, but also the brands behind them.

Yamaha PW50: A Classic Petrol Bike

About The Yamaha PW50

Priced at £1,995 it is more than twice as expensive as the RFN SX-E500. However the Yamaha PW50 is a long-time favourite for beginner riders. It’s fully automatic, low to the ground, and engineered to be as fuss-free as possible, at least by petrol standards. It's 50cc engine provides smooth power delivery, and features like a shaft drive and oil injection system make maintenance slightly easier than other petrol models. 

Key Features:

• 50cc air-cooled 2-stroke engine with automatic transmission
• Shaft drive system (no messy chain maintenance. 
• Wet weight of 41 kg - solid but heavy for smaller kids. 
• Drum brakes and a throttle limiter help control speed
• Seat height: 475mm. Fuel tank: 1.9 litres

The PW50 has been in continuous production since debuting in the USA in 1980, and many motocross pros started their riding journey on one. You may have heard it being referred to as the Peewee 50 or YZinger, as its often referred to in Germany and other parts of Europe. It’s a bike built on reputation, durability, and legacy. However, that legacy also means the design hasn’t changed much in over 40 years, which is both a strength and a drawback. Despite this, over 400,000 units have been sold, and clearly there is a reason for its lasting success.

One of the key reasons for this success is the fact the Peewee 50 was designed especially for beginners, with features designed to give parents control, and kids the chance to ride safely. The PW50 is also reliable, reasonably lightweight at roughly 39kg and not too difficult to maintain for a petrol option. These factors combined to give this bike a large cultural impact; many motocross pro riders started off on this bike and it has been considered a 'rite of passage'. To top it off, youth racing leagues have run races with PW50's since the 1980's.

About Yamaha

Yamaha is one of the biggest names in powersports worldwide, founded in 1955 with a key focus on making motorcycling accessible. The result are bikes that are approachable for beginners but also, offer high, thrilling performance. It's therefore not to hard to see why they branched into making bikes for children so successfully. James Stewart, Ricky Carmichael and Travis Pastrana, among other highly successful pro riders, started off racing on the PW50.

However, the PW50 now faces more competition than ever before, thanks to the invention, and widespread introduction of electric balance bikes for 3-6 year olds. Electric is cleaner and easier than petrol and we have picked out the RFN SX-E500, which our experts feel is the bike that provides the most direct competition to the PW50.

RFN Warrior SXE500 - The Electric Alternative

About The Bike

The RFN Warrior SXE500 is a lightweight, all-electric off-road bike designed specifically for young beginners. Priced at just £649, this RFN is an absolute bargain compared to the Yamaha PW50. It’s incredibly quiet, easy to control, and comes with modern safety tools like adjustable speed modes and a magnetic kill switch. Parents will appreciate the lack of engine maintenance and the charge-at-home experience, and kids will love the responsive power delivery.

Key Features

• 36v brushless motor, 500w peak power, with 3 speed modes.
• Lightweight at just 19 kg
• Hydraulic Disc Brakes for confident stopping.
• Up to 75 minutes of ride time; removable lithium battery. 
• Power-lock, kill switch, and LCD display included.

We've tested the RFN SX E-500 extensively with our families and riders who have used PW50's and other electric balance bikes. For a start, the kids loved the look of the RFN. The base models look the part, but with some pretty reasonable custom decal kits, you can really customise these; we recently delivered one to Ronnie Foden which is customised to look like his Dad, Phil Fodens, Man City Kit: https://www.facebook.com/ApolloRFN/photos/custom-officialronniefoden________-rfn-by-futureriders_co_-how-neat-/1151417617046311/?_rdr

The next thing that jumps out is how easy it is to charge these bikes. They don't need fuel mixing, oil changes and virtually no engine maintenance. You can simply plug the bike in, as if its an Ipad. The difference here though, is that an RFN SX E-500 will get your child outside, and built vital balance, coordination and steering skills. Within 4-6 hours, the bike is full charged and can be used for up to 15 miles on a single charge; that's up to 75 minutes of continuous use. In addition, the battery is removable and swappable, so you can keep a spare charged if you want a longer ride. It's undoubtedly more convenient than the petrol PW50, and we received the same unanimous feedback from other parents.

The Peewee 50 was always well known for how light it was; the RFN SX e-500 is less than half the weight. This is a phenomenal mark of progress and shows how far technology has come. As a parent, lifting bulky, heavy bikes in and out of car boots/garages has become second nature. The lighter bike is a literal weight off of your shoulders. 

 The point that is immediately noticeable on spec sheets is the difference in top speed, with the RFN only hitting a max of 18.5mph compared to 25mph on the Yamaha. Personally, by the time you get to around 25mph I would be looking at a bigger RFN Model or a Revvi 18" bike anyway. For me, it was great that the RFN has three speed modes, allowing me to set the appropriate limitations and allowing my child to grow with the bike. The final advantage was the lack of noise the RFN SXE500 produces, as the electric motor is so much quieter than a petrol engine.

About RFN

RFN is part of a new generation of off-road bike manufacturers focused on electric mobility. Designed with kids and families in mind, RFN models offer high-quality components, thoughtful safety features, and a smooth riding experience without the noise or emissions of petrol bikes. The Warrior SXE500 is available through Future Riders, a UK specialist in electric bikes for children, offering full customer support and fast UK delivery.

Shop The RFN SXE-500

Which One's Right For Your Child?

Both bikes have clear strengths. The Yamaha PW50 has heritage and durability, but it’s heavier, louder, and more maintenance-heavy. The RFN Warrior SXE500 offers simplicity, modern tech, and better safety features for first-time riders.

Final Thoughts

If you’re after something traditional and you don’t mind regular maintenance, the Yamaha PW50 remains a capable, time-tested option. But for most modern families, the RFN Warrior SXE500 offers a smarter, safer, and far more convenient way to introduce your child to riding.