It was a two seater cart with a Briggs and Stratton engine that would run about 20 mph. Now this was not fast enough for me as the other kids in the neighborhood that had them would run about 30 mph. So as most go karts have a governor on them mine did as well so I decided to rid my cart of the governor and allow it to open up which gave me another 15 mph. Not bad for being only 12 years old and terrorizing the neighborhood. I had street tires on mine which were slicks like you see on a Nascar style race car. My friends had knobby tires on their go carts which allowed them to go off road on the dirt trails we had behind out houses.

Go carting is a phenomenon that reaches all ages. It starts when you are young and can evolve into something greater than most realize. Go cart racing is a huge sport than many Nascar drivers started their brilliant careers in. Drivers like Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart started their distinguished professional careers racing go carts and naturally moved up the ranks from there. It is obvious it can be a lucrative sport if you decide to race professionally.

Go karting is something that many kids and young adults all over the world take part in. There are go cart tracks all over the world and go cart races take place in just about every part of the world you can imagine. Italy controls the World Karting Championships which is governed by the FIA. This is a huge organization which also controls the Formula One Racing. There are other various organizations in the United States which also control Go kart racing.

The economy often dictates how well go carting will do given they can be expensive and cost much to maintain. Even if you are buying a go cart for recreational use you want something that is going to be reliable but also not break the bank. Cheap go carts for sale can be found in many different places and that is a huge advantage to the karts of the past. Before the internet there were only a couple of places to find used go carts and that consisted of basically the classified ads of the newspaper and Pep Boys go carts. Pep Boys has long been a distributor of them and other 2 and 4 wheeled vehicles.

If buying a go cheap go kart is not an option for you and you have some mechanical skills then you can always build your own go cart. They have go cart kits for sale that come with a go kart manual to help you put it together which will save you money and give you some time with your kids if you they choose to want to help you. Go cart parts are sold at various cycle shops and several online stores stock just about every part you need to make your own go cart yourself. Homemade go carts are a great way to have what you want and take pride in knowing you built it yourself.

Go carts can be made from wood or various metals. Typically they are made from a strong metal or steel that will have a roll cage for safety. The off road go karts definitely have safety first as they are bigger and much more unstable being that they are higher off the ground. This means a chance for flipping over but with the roll cage you should be fine as long as you are seat belted in. Wooden go carts are a different story and are less safe as a means of fun.

In the modern Internet age, no window shopping can really be considered complete without at least a cursory glance through the web. Here you will have access to more dealers than anywhere else with cheap go carts for sale. And here also, you will have an unprecedented access to individuals who are trying to sell their used and very cheap go karts. They like to list them for sale on sites like Craigslist and other more sport vehicle friendly (and specific) websites. Remember also that these people will almost always be up for some bargaining and price negotiation. You are really looking at the price that they have their fingers crossed that someone will pay without any haggling. But they are usually already ready to come down at least 5% to 10%. (Especially if you are nice and can pay on the terms which they want, usually cash.)

The other thing that is good about the Internet is that you can browse online for different models. You can look at pictures of them and look up specs like motor type and height and width. You can also, of course, meet other enthusiasts who can then provide worthwhile information and wisdom on where to find the best cheap go kart no matter where you are looking. These sort of connections are really invaluable and will go way further than most any research that one can do on his or her own.

So there you have it: the basics of how to find cheap go karts that are bound to give back to you and your family a lot more than they required in the first place. It is truly one of those great all-American sports (even if you are not in America). Happy riding. And happy shopping as well; I hope these tips can help you to find a great deal on a go kart which will provide many years of speedy and fulfilling racing. That’s what it’s really all about!

Go karting has been around for decades and every year more and more go 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 reaking havoc on the rest of the neighborhood. But they are not just for street use many of them are off road go karts that have been setup for dirt trails and street as well. There are street go carts and off road go carts alike. Many of which are gas powered as well as some electric go carts. I have seen many of them on mountain ranges riding through trails like they were an all terrain vehicle and its impressive. Gas go carts are much more powerful than their electric counterparts. I have even seen pedal go carts for the much younger children who are looking at safety first.
When your a kid growing up The first thing to consider when buying a go kart is what age group your dealing with, obviously a 4 or 5 year old doesn’t need a 40 mph go kart. The beginner age which is typically 4 years old starts with a 4 or 5 horsepower go kart which usually runs about 15 mph. That’s pretty good at that age and dangerous as the same time if not properly watched out for.  The amateur age is usually 8-12 and with about a 6hp cart that does 20-25 mph which is not too shabby. Obviously the higher the age the faster you can go with these and as parents we need to make sure we are smart about what we choose for our children to get into.

Go karts are fun but also dangerous at the same time. Safety is the most important factor with anything motorized and these are no exception. They are setup from the factory with a 3 point harness or seat belt and padded roll cage so if you do flip it or wreck you drastically reduce your chances of being injured. Its just like a car and should be treated like one. Helmets are also a requirement at all times and can be accessorized to look like the cart itself if you so choose. There are half and full face helmets and as any parent would guess full face is definitely the way to go.

There are videos and manuals on go karting 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.

You can find cheap go carts at several local locations like pep boys and Walmart especially in the fall and winter months. There are used go carts all over the newspaper and internet. Brands such as Carter go carts and Manco go carts offer great dependability and safety. Your local Yamaha, Kawasaki or Honda dealers typically have go karts 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.