Dockside Chat - Who here has a "shifter kart"

I need something to cause chaos in the streets of my town... I've always thought these things were bad ass. I found a rolling chassis complete with disc breaks online. Just needs motor and throttle cables. I think I may make it happen. Anyone out here play with these things?

Have you seen the Z-Kart?

Here you go. Check this guy out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apd1KBjLV8k&feature=related

I have one and they are not to be used to cause chaos in the streets....they are to be used on tracks and only tracks. Even if the streets were devoid of people or other cars and you had the blessing of the police, a shifter kart is still not suitable for most streets. The karts have no suspension and the seat is a 1/4 - 1/2" off the ground and most streets are not smooth enough to run one. Yes, there are a few street races, which are few and far between, and the roads are very carefully selected and then the hard objects ( telephone poles, curbs, etc are protected to make them a little less hard).

There is much more to a kart than just a chassis, brakes, engine and throttle cables. You have the engine mount, radiator, seat, tires, stand and exhaust just to name a few. I have built a few shifter karts, as well as superkarts (250 cc powered karts) and they are much more expensive than you would think. To build one properly, you are looking in the $5k range. You would be much better off buying a used one complete for around $2,500. For a new, competitive package your looking in the $10k range for a shifter. As with a boat, buying/building one often turns out to be less expensive than maintaining and running one. On top of the cost of track time, tires run about $200 a set and I can easily go through a set in a day.

You just can't pull the motor out of a motocross bike and throw it on a kart and have it work. You will need a different carb along with a kart specific radiator and exhaust. Take off the kick start mechanism and plug the hole. Most people also remove the power valves. I could go on and on, but that will give you a little to think about.

Tony Karts are bad ass also.

If you do it we need video. I say go for it.

I have one and they are not to be used to cause chaos in the streets....they are to be used on tracks and only tracks. Even if the streets were devoid of people or other cars and you had the blessing of the police, a shifter kart is still not suitable for most streets. The karts have no suspension and the seat is a 1/4 - 1/2" off the ground and most streets are not smooth enough to run one. Yes, there are a few street races, which are few and far between, and the roads are very carefully selected and then the hard objects ( telephone poles, curbs, etc are protected to make them a little less hard).

There is much more to a kart than just a chassis, brakes, engine and throttle cables. You have the engine mount, radiator, seat, tires, stand and exhaust just to name a few. I have built a few shifter karts, as well as superkarts (250 cc powered karts) and they are much more expensive than you would think. To build one properly, you are looking in the $5k range. You would be much better off buying a used one complete for around $2,500. For a new, competitive package your looking in the $10k range for a shifter. As with a boat, buying/building one often turns out to be less expensive than maintaining and running one. On top of the cost of track time, tires run about $200 a set and I can easily go through a set in a day.

You just can't pull the motor out of a motocross bike and throw it on a kart and have it work. You will need a different carb along with a kart specific radiator and exhaust. Take off the kick start mechanism and plug the hole. Most people also remove the power valves. I could go on and on, but that will give you a little to think about.

You bring some good points about the road and whatnot, you sound like you know your stuff. But I was thinking very simplicitly when it came to power, just to have some fun (I.e., 5hp briggs, clutch..etc). Wasn't thinking about going the water cooled route or these crazy 5/6 speed gearboxes... Just looking to keep myself entertained after I shrink wrap the boat in October

You bring some good points about the road and whatnot, you sound like you know your stuff. But I was thinking very simplicitly when it came to power, just to have some fun (I.e., 5hp briggs, clutch..etc). Wasn't thinking about going the water cooled route or these crazy 5/6 speed gearboxes... Just looking to keep myself entertained after I shrink wrap the boat in October

If that's the case, then your not actually talking about a shifter kart. If you go that route, you can get by on the cheap because you can pick up a new 9 hp clone motor for about $300. They are air cooled and come complete with exhaust and carb. Another huge advantage of that type motor is that with the lower horse power, you would use a harder compound tire that will last forever. I will still warn you about buying a used chassis online, if it is older or outdated, you could get burned and have it cause more headaches than it's worth. You can buy a newer, used complete clone kart that you can hop in and go for less than a $1,000.

If that's the case, then your not actually talking about a shifter kart. If you go that route, you can get by on the cheap because you can pick up a new 9 hp clone motor for about $300. They are air cooled and come complete with exhaust and carb. Another huge advantage of that type motor is that with the lower horse power, you would use a harder compound tire that will last forever. I will still warn you about buying a used chassis online, if it is older or outdated, you could get burned and have it cause more headaches than it's worth. You can buy a newer, used complete clone kart that you can hop in and go for less than a $1,000.

Good point about it not being a true shifter kart - I guess I just called it that because the Frame looks like one. I will post some pics of the frame tonight, was a project but he lost interested, has new tires and sprocket.

You may want to visit this site, ekartingnews.com When on the page, go to "forums" and look at the bottom for the classifieds. There are sections for complete karts, chassis and engines. If you have any questions, you can always send me a PM.

Looks like a motorcycle engine/trans like they run on midget racers. Pretty cool.

damn that think was snakey.

You bring some good points about the road and whatnot, you sound like you know your stuff. But I was thinking very simplicitly when it came to power, just to have some fun (I.e., 5hp briggs, clutch..etc). Wasn't thinking about going the water cooled route or these crazy 5/6 speed gearboxes... Just looking to keep myself entertained after I shrink wrap the boat in October

Then you want a Chonda kart. Basically, a 6.5 hp clone Honda motor attached to a shifter kart chassis. Beware, you will want a shifter kart not too long after...I traded my 2 Chondas in for this CR125 shifter. :grin:

Then you want a Chonda kart. Basically, a 6.5 hp clone Honda motor attached to a shifter kart chassis. Beware, you will want a shifter kart not too long after...I traded my 2 Chondas in for this CR125 shifter. :grin:

Is that a remote control car? Where the hell do you sit in that mess of metal? I'm 6'2 225 and I think I just ruled out shifter kart racing as a hobby.

Is that a remote control car? Where the hell do you sit in that mess of metal? I'm 6'2 225 and I think I just ruled out shifter kart racing as a hobby.

It's not that bad and if you're over 6' you can get what they call an extended porch, which moves the pedals and bumpers about 4-5"s further out. I have seen guys as tall as 6'7" in one, but you definitely have to be fit just to get in it. Once in it, it will give you one of the hardest workouts you have ever had, pulling 3 g's through the corners and 0-60 in less than 3 seconds and with 4 wheel disk brakes, it will stop you even faster.. Here is a picture of me in my current kart and I'm 6'.

What type of track do you race on? Or maybe a better question is how would I find a track in my area that races these? That looks like a blast.

There are quite a few tracks in Florida and it depends upon what kind of kart you get as to which ones you'll prefer. I prefer the longer tracks so I can stretch the legs on my kart and hit 100+.........others like the shorter, tighter tracks with lower speed technical turns with shorts straights between them.

Here's a list of them and my take on them:

Anderson Race Park in Palmetto (south side of Tampa Bay): the normal kart track is shorter and tighter with one longer straight that I can hit 80+ on, not my favorite track and needs to be repaved, but the closest. They do have a longer course that they open 2-3 times a year that is fun. $50/day for shorter track and $100/day when long track is open

Orlando Kart Center: fun track that is tighter and not my favorite, but just repaved and smooth. Has alot of low speed, hairpin turns, $50/day

Ocala Kart Center: extremely fun track that is shorter, but smooth and fast....especially when they run the outer track configuration they call the "fast track", something like $25/day

103rd Street in Jacksonville: track is owned by the city and is free to use, recently repaved and has banked corners that are fun, I can hit 90+ on the back straight

Monticello, just outside of Tallahassee: One of my favorite tracks, 1.1 mile in length, fast and smooth, built on the side of a hill so there is elevation change. I can hit 100+ on, unfortunately only open for practice about once a month and I think it is $50/day

Ft Meyers Race Park: Recently opened and open on a limited basis. Medium distance, fun track with higher speed corners, I think it's $50/day

Palm Beach International Raceway (formerly Morosso): Also one of my favorite tracks, very fast with no low speed corners with a couple of straights that I can hit 100 on, getting to the point that it could use to be repaved, $50/day

Homestead Raceway: Never been there, but the track is supposed to be fun. They do open up the 2 mile road course once in awhile. Not sure of the price on either of those.

If you have any more questions, feel free to PM me

Thanks, there are a few around. Looks like a really cool hobby, but definitely not cheap!

I am getting my son into karting. I bought a Clone Kart to practice with him. It is a Chinese knockoff I got on ebay brand new for about $1400 called a Road Rat. It is literaly all you will ever need for bashing around the neighborhood. Mine will get up to about 50 so I'll be able to practice with him in his current class and next class. So the next 6 years or so. I have no plans to race it, if I did would have bought a better chassis and built one. For bashing around though, its cheap, will perform as good as a $4000 clone kart on the road, and is easy on the wallet.

Here is a pic of our karts, and a video of my kid. BTW, I am 6'4" and 240lbs. Even us big guys can have a blast on these.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xG98pxH7DRE&feature=g-upl

Oh man you guys are putting badddd ideas in my head lol. Well unfortunately, I'm having some tranny issues with my "real" car lol, and may have to start car shopping, so this fun new hobby may be on hold :(

Go figure.. If it's not one thing, it's another

Not to dash your dreams, but you will probably need somewhere between $1,500 - 2,0000 to get into lower level karting. It's not a cheap sport and there are alot of hidden cost. Unfortunately, I have seen it happen many times......someone buys a kart and finds out how expensive it is and then the kart sits unused because they can't afford to run it and they get a bad taste in their mouth for karting. You can find many karts that haven't been used in a year or two for sale very inexpensive. But I can tell you that it is very fun and addicting if you get into it. One word of caution though when buying a used kart, shipping is not as cheap or easy as you would think, it's not uncommon to be in the $500 range.