Go karts are four wheeled vehicles or buggies that usually consist of a motor and braking system. They can reach very high speeds or can be built to pedal(pedal karts) at less than 5mph. Like anything else motorized they have an overwhelming appeal to young boys and girls. Its all about the thrill of being a race car driver. Horsepower is something that young boys naturally gravitate towards. Its an adrenaline rush and no matter what age bracket you reside, you feel the urge to want to go fast. Young boys love the pocket bike and 4 wheel ATV machines as well as go carts and motorbikes.
Street Karts
Go karting has been around for decades and every year more and more karts can be seen on neighborhood streets or in yards alike. Children can’t get enough and every Christmas new kids go carts show up on the street wreaking havoc. The street kart can be classified as a pedal or motorized kart run by a plethora of engine choices. Street go-karts sit low to the ground and have relatively small frames and tires. They are considered ride on toys for kids and start as pedal karts.
Off Road Go Karts
There are street and off road go carts often referred to as “buggies”. I have seen many of them on mountain ranges where I live riding through trails like they were an all terrain vehicle (ATV) and its impressive. The off road go kart is a much larger buggy that uses bigger tires and a bigger motor to power through rough terrain. It resembles that of a dune buggy with knobby tires.
It is built to withstand impact pressure from minor crashes and bumps. They can also be called rail buggies and can reach speeds of 60 mph and seat up to four people. They are recommended for experienced drivers not children and are usually referred to as Go carts for adults Popular brands include Hammerhead and Manco.
Racing Go Karts
Go kart racing is an open wheeled motorsport that uses go-karts also known as gearbox-shifter karts on tracks in a scaled down manner. Many kart drivers use karting as a benchmark for higher professional racing like Nascar and Indycar. The race go kart is setup to hit speeds of 160 mph and higher and they are referred to as Superkarts. The racing go cart chassis is made of steel tubing that is designed to flex as there is no suspension on a kart.
Go Kart Parts
Kart parts are readily available at ATV stores or local hardware stores. You can often use scrap parts from your garage to build a go cart if you so choose. Online markets are great for finding new and used go cart parts. Craigslist is ideal for such a task as well as ATV trader online. Ebay is another wealth of go cart parts and has a great inventory of used parts to thumb through.
Buying Tips
The first thing to consider when buying a gokart is what age group your dealing with. Obviously a 4 or 5 year old doesn’t need a 40 mph petrol go kart. The beginner age which is typically age 5 or 6 starts with a 4 or 5 horsepower go kart which usually runs about 10-15 mph. Go to your online dealers or classified sites like Craigslist and Ebay for new and used karts. Your local Pep Boys and ATV or motorcycle dealers will also have a decent selection of go karts. If you buy used (which I highly recommend) then try the local newspaper classifieds. Also go to yard sales and local flea markets.
Safety
Go-karts are fun but also dangerous at the same time. Safety is the most important factor with anything motorized and go karting is no exception. They are setup from the factory with a 3 point harness style seat belt and padded roll cage on off road models so if you do flip it or wreck you drastically reduce your chances of being injured. Helmets are also a requirement at all times and can be accessorized to match your cart.CAUTION: karts are just like a car and should be treated like one. Educate yourself through online manuals, Youtube videos and safety instructions before you get into any go kart.
Go Kart Manuals & Videos
There are videos and manuals on go carting and they should be studied before any child takes a ride. Its the parents job to make sure they properly educate themselves and their children before letting them loose on anything that has speed. Your first plan of action is taking your child out to an empty lot or field and teaching them the basics of throttle control and braking before letting them go wild.
Build Your Own Go Kart
You can also learn how to build your own go cart if you have the skills, knowledge base and access to go cart parts. This is something great to do with your kids and would serve as a huge bonding experience. You can find most of your parts at local stores or the internet.
Go Karts for Sale
You can find cheap gokarts at several local locations like Pep Boys and Walmart especially in the fall and winter months. There are used go karts all over the newspaper and internet. Brands like Carter, Razor, Hammerhead and Manco offer great dependability and safety. Your local Yamaha, Kawasaki or Honda dealers typically have go carts for sale as well but if that doesn’t suit you the internet is always a great place to find reviews on certain models and the best prices available.
