Go kart Engine preference
 

Hey Guys,
I'm probably going to order a Go Kart for my little ones Christmas in the morning from Family Go Karts.com. I'm wondering what you guys think is the best choice as far as engines. Would you go with the 110 or 125cc Horizontal Honda Motorcycle type clone (which are good motors I have no doubt) Or would you go with the 196cc 6.5hp (again Honda Clone) type engine. I'm thinking I want to go with the later, as if the engine ever goes south a trip to harbor freight and 120 bucks later and I can have a Predator Replacement for it. Which I know my way around those, I used to race one on a dirt oval. We were getting right near 13hp at about 5800 rpm out of those suckers. :clap: But are there any advantages to the motorcyle type engine they have on them?
Thoughts?

I would go with the Honda go type clone over the horizontal one .

12.06 hp claimed on this 8.11ft lbs torque http://www.ebay.com/itm/LIFAN-150CC-...25.m3641.l6368


This is how I would go about it, compare claimed hp and torque numbers.

Above is a bit much power for your application I guess, but you get my point

I would go with the latter also. If you were looking at larger ones I would suggest the GY6 scooter style.

Something about sound the vertical utility motors (like the GC) make is perfect. They're cheap and reliable, and you already have experience with them. Feels like a good fit.

Besides the racing go karts (the kind with the racing slicks), are there vertical engine options for the off-road buggy type of go karts? I am asking about for 'little ones' as Letsride asked about. All of the common 150cc or 200cc (or smaller) engines found in the buggies are GY6 scooter style engines.

for a go kart I would go with a CR500 or KX500
let the fun start...
PS... yer may need good med insurance...



...

Pete, we tried to get a shifter kart class going but no one wanted to bite. As they are so expensive. The Little 6.5 Honda Clones were so cheap to play with and made good power and would carry the 350lb Kart (me included) around the track pretty darn quick. We even had a box stock class for the kids. You took the predator out of the box amd bolted it to the kart governor and all. Amd there was a fixed gear rule. It was a huge turn out for the kids and they had a ball. We would have 25 or 30 Karts on full green that looked like nascar on a pace lap. :) lots of fun while it lasted.

Any pics?

I do have pics on one of these mini SD cards around here somewhere. I'll try to find em.

I picked up this from APSCusa and my son loves it. http://www.apscusa.com/New-Magnum-12...art_p_568.html

It has 3 forward gears and reverse. goes like stink. I would not want my son ( he is 5) in a 13 hp kart. I replaced the belts that came with the kart with 6 point harnesses. Also I got him a HANS device. The kart is very fast. Kids necks are not very strong and the helmets they wear are very heavy in relation to their bodies. So neck / spine injuries are a concern, hence the HANS. LEATT makes a nice neck restraint and it isn't $500+ like a HANS. As speeds increase so to must safety.

(My Bro in law is an pediatric orthopedic surgeon at a children's hospital so we are very safety orientated)

Had my doubts till I looked at it. It does look safe with the roll bars and your harness amendments you described . Sure it could be easily throttle limited too if needed. Dad should keep the keys. Good to teach him on maintaining etc. And proper operation in your backyard for fun times.

me and my brothers built a buggy type thing years ago
with a Yamaha RD350 motor...
hours of fun on the sand flats...
one of my brothers were in it with me in my mazda ute had a race in a stright
line.. i was doing 80 /85 mph & david sliped the buggy in to top and pulled away from me
it really needed brakes.... one of those get round to it jobs we never got around to...



...

The gas pedal has a bolt and nut that can limit the throttle. My son has to earn full throttle still.

Thanks for the replies everyone. Pistolclass that is a nice looking kart. I like the idea of the 3 speed. Can YOU ride it? You know Daddy being able to ride it is in the back of my mind of course. :D Of course that may not be an option when getting one to fit the little guy.

i know he's young. until he learns to "fix it" :hehe:

I'm 6ft and 190 pounds and both he and I can fit in it together. Being that he I only 5 I hand to put blocks on the pedals. How old is your little one?

It is tight, though. But once in it is all good.

He is 5 also. I've got A Coleman Trail bike on the way. Couldn't pass it up on a black friday sale. Now I gotta decide on this go kart and SOON or it won't make it here on the Sleigh.

Coleman Link?

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Coleman-C...-Bike/40486686
It was free shipping too. So I thought that was a SMOKIN good deal. We didn't have plans to buy one. My wife was on wally worlds site Thursday afternoon and seen it was going on sale at midnight. So I checked out at 0001hrs LOL. This thing is showing to be delivered tomorrow. SO I guess I'm gonna give this to my daughter from the jolly ole fat guy. It will look cool sitting in the living room in front of the tree. SO now its on to figure out Kart or Quad for little man. Of course the quad is ALOT easier on my wallet :D. But I like the idea of the cheap motors, cheap performance parts, etc on the 6.5's. :hmm::hmm:

Wasn't aware Coleman branded such things. Looks fun

In a moment of weakness I bought this:

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Monster-M...80BR/206734879

The plan is have my son follow my bro in law around a track I'm building. My bro in law can drive the bigger kart and my son can drive the Monster Moto to learn the track lines. My Bro in law is a very good Porsche Club Driver. We go to the local Racing Kart track and I just try to learn by following him.

Then when my son can handle the Magnum 125 by himself he will graduate to it. Until then he will solo the Monster or have an adult as a passenger in the magnum. This is turning into a contagious disease. My neighbor just bought 2 karts for his 4 and 3 year old. The 3 year old is way to young but it is waiting for him when he is ready.:clap:

Interesting to see the big box retailers selling these again. I think last time (8 to 10 years ago), the Chinese part (lack of quality) and lack of parts doomed these kinds of 'toys' from big box stores. Now that the OEM manufacturers are more reputable, parts are easier to find, and people are able to wrench on these at home (thanks to youtube and forums like chinariders), the mainstream retailers are probably feeling a little more confidence offering these.

Pistolclass, That is a neat little cart. And 80cc's sounds great. And hey the price is awesome. Mama bear is worried to death about little man's first time out on a gas powered ride ride (as he says) I've let him have the helm on the little Kymco with me sitting behind him. He does ok, but is slow to find the brakes. We have 12 acres out here and I'm in the process of cutting trails around the whole thing. Post up some pics of the kart if you can. And as far as the big box stores selling this stuff again, I couldn't agree more. I'm sad to see the Baja Warriors no longer available. I always liked those bikes with the front suspension and all. And I always said when I saw them sitting out in front of TSC "I'll pick up one one day", well I think I waited one day too late. :doh:

Here is the magnum 125.i will take a pic of the monster tomorrow. Notice the upgraded harnesses.

It looks to be built really well. Where did you get the harnesses from?

It is a solid kart. I got the harnesses from amazon. They were $30 each. Great deal.

Thanks for all the replies and suggestions guys. But I decided to go with a quad. I ordered it today. All this info is not for nothing though. I see a Kart in the stable in the near future as well. Too much dirt out here to not have lots of toys.