Quick Ride

Quick Ride

YAMAHA TT-R110E Pump up the Fun

YAMAHA FEELS ITS

playbikes are so much fun that the company called its TT-R press launch “Family Fun Day.” The introduction was actually for the entire TT-R lineup that includes all the electricstart four-stroke machines from 50 to 230cc. Though I was able to sample each and every bike, the big deal for 2008 is the all-new $1849 TT-R110E. And since the 110 is intended for kids, I brought along a couple of youngsters-10-year-old Evan, son of CW photographer Jeff Allen, and 9-yearold Hunter, son of Two Brothers Racing’s Joel Albrecht-to help evaluate performance.

Power comes from an aircooled, ohc, two-valve 1 lOcc four-stroke; it is a completely different engine than that of the bike’s predecessor, the TT-R90E. This new powerplant has a larger bore for more juice and a long stroke for extra torque that gives the power a controllable feel. “I didn’t worry about the bike sliding out like my twostroke does. I could trust it,” said Evan. “I also liked that I didn’t have to yank on the throttle to make it go fast. It had good power when I was racing Hunter and had more there when I needed it.”

And for full-sized adults, power is ample-the bike is even able to pull second gear out of tight corners.

A four-speed transmission with an automatic clutch allows riders of all skill levels to start, stop and shift gears without using much brain power. When the kids are ready, Yamaha offers an accessory handclutch conversion kit.

The standard electricstart feature is a favorite for everyone. Yes, the battery and starter add their share to the bike’s 155-pound dry weight, but the convenience factor is well worth the small penalty. “It was heavy to pick up when I fell but I could do it,” remarked Evan. “And I liked that I could start it without waiting for my dad.”

Size-wise, our 4-foot-4 testers fit perfectly and my 5-foot-11 frame squeezed down effortlessly for hours of mini-riding fun. Seat height is 26.4 inches.

The new steel-backbone frame creates a straight line between the beefy swingarm and steering head. Suspension is by 31mm Showa fork with 4.5 inches of travel and a Yamahabrand SOQI shock that gives 4.3 inches of travel. Damping is quite good, and there are no sharp jolts when bottoming.

Overall handling is nearperfect. It is also forgiving, as I watched our young testers tackle tabletops and double-jumps. Evan said he felt very relaxed on the bike, a notion seconded by Hunter, who thought the bike was easier for him to ride than his 50.

A keyed ignition switch has been added at last, allowing parental control over when kids ride. Also, the added safety of a push/ pull throttle cable (for morepositive closure) helps to enhance mom and dad’s peace of mind.

So is this TT-R110E fun for the family? Evan seemed to think so: “I had so much fun riding it that my teeth were covered in dust because I was smiling the whole time.” Now that’s what riding motorcycles is about. Ryan Dudek