miss my shifter kart...

[ROUGHEDGES]

i had a worked out 125 emmick. i miss it so much. Problary going to pick another up. For anyone who has driven a 250, is the speed difference insane? thanks

[lookaught]

honestly if you are running a shifter on a kart track (as opposed to a RR track) there is NO NEED for a 250. My old 125 shifter could light the tires all over the kart track, it was plenty fast.

I miss my kart as well, the most fun you can have on four wheels for sure!

[ROUGHEDGES]

honestly if you are running a shifter on a kart track (as opposed to a RR track) there is NO NEED for a 250. My old 125 shifter could light the tires all over the kart track, it was plenty fast.

I miss my kart as well, the most fun you can have on four wheels for sure!

i know theres no need. my kart was fast as hell too. But why do we need a reason to be stupid

[lookaught]

why do we need a reason to be stupid

I guess we dont need a reason. I dont think I'd be comfortable on anything faster than a 125. The first time I drove a shifter was the moment that I realized that my F1 dreams were just dreams. I have immense respect for the drivers who can control those machines.

[ROUGHEDGES]

I guess we dont need a reason. I dont think I'd be comfortable on anything faster than a 125. The first time I drove a shifter was the moment that I realized that my F1 dreams were just dreams. I have immense respect for the drivers who can control those machines.

what were the specs on yours? i really didnt find it that hard to contol. I mean it was mostly about throttle/braking management

[lookaught]

TonyKart Extreme with a YZ125 motor (power valve removed). The motor had a ported/polished top and bottom end, it was FAST. Without the power valve the power came on very abruptly when it got in the powerband, and if you were out of the band in a sweeper and it then got into it, it would break the rear end out like mad, no matter the gear. I had a very scary spin coming onto the front strait of my local track and nearly flipped the damn thing at about 60mph. It would have been better suited for a faster track, BeaveRun has a very slow and technical infield where it just sucked.

It was fun, but if I buy another I think I may just get a tag kart and not a shifter to focus more on my technique rather than shifting and keeping it in the power all the time. Or perhaps I'll buy a motor with the power valve still attached (in my motor the entire assembly was removed when the split the case to do the port/polish work).

The TonyKart was fun but it was old and just kept breaking down. I did a frame up rebuild and replaced every single bearing, etc and then it ran pretty well, but if I get another kart it'll be a brand that is built in the USA for ease or finding parts. Getting parts for that thing was a headache! I sold it to focus on motorcycles, which are different but still very fun. Not quite as insane as the shifter b/c if you push a bike too far you end up on the ground, and don't just spin like the kart.

[SilverStr33k]

I actually have a BRM DK9 for sale, 600, lol its a roller MINUS wheels, and rear hubs

[lookaught]

check this out. Aprilia SXV550 v-twin w/ a garret turbo powered kart.

The fabrication skills are incredible.

70chp when NA, 90-130chp projected once its running.

http://www.apriliaforum.com/forums/s...d.php?t=159543

[LampyB]

^^holy crap thats intense! i'm looking to get a kart in the next year, i haven't ever driven one. i just want to have some fun on the track and maybe race a bit, but nothing too serious. i've done a bit of research on how to get into the sport, but do you guys have any suggestions?

what's a great starter kart for someone on a budget?

[sambrody44]

Subscribed. I have to show a friend of mine from work that Aprilia Shifter Kart!

[discontained]

I sold mine a few months ago, we custom built a tube frame and mounted my yamaha yzf600r engine on to that bad boy, talk about fun! That thing was intense.

that aprilia project is absolutely mad! I am loving it!

i have a friend who is building one and will be up for sale around Xmas time. Its going to have a gsx-r750 engine/trans on it .. ill get more details if you want

[covertS4driver]

I still have a 125 Birel chassis, and 125 Honda motor...

The thing is insane... literally one of the fastest things I have ever driven. Prob the most G's any of us will ever experience in our lifetimes...

TON's of fun!!

[VMRSport]

What are some prices for a starter shifter cart.

[Jahan]

Add me to the list . . .

I sold my Birel/Rotax earlier this year and I miss it a ton. I'll probably pick another one up before next season. I've driven 125cc shfiters, and they are a riot, but for actual racing and competition where I live, a TaG or Rotax is the better way to go.

2.5g around a WOT 90deg corner at 70mph . . . can't beat that rush in anything with fenders.

[Dday216]

my dad, 5 of his friends and i have intrepid MT01s with leopard motors. and those are alot of fun. but i drove a 125 shifter for the first time yesterday and shit, that was alot of fun. quite a bit faster.

[lookaught]

I've driven 125cc shfiters, and they are a riot, but for actual racing and competition where I live, a TaG or Rotax is the better way to go.

YES I could not agree more. When I got a kart I jumped strait to a 125 shifter and it was too fast (hurts the ego to say that...), combined with the shifting, keeping it in the powerband, etc.... = sensory overload at a very high speed and that meant quite a few very high speed spins, etc.

Better to just get a single speed and really focus on your lines and brake points, etc. You'll learn to be a better driver that way.


As for the question about pricing:

A tag kart can be had for under $2k used
A shifter is $2-3k used

New prices are quite high, well sorted shifter karts go for well over $10k. I dont know what a tag costs new.


Karts blow the doors off any car for sooo little money. I can't understand why more people don't have them. I know a guy who owns ferrari's, porsche cup cars, etc and he rocks out on a Trackmagic 125 shifter all the time. Its simply more fun and less expensive.

[AudiA4Style]

Found this: http://www.tonykart.com/ing/home.htm

That Ayrton Senna limited edition looks sick!!

[LampyB]

are there ever open track days for karts? i'm wondering where everyone usually gets a chance to drive them for fun....?

[covertS4driver]

When i was in West Palm Beach, I would go all the time. the track had open days 2 or 3 times a week.
It was awesome!!

[lookaught]

are there ever open track days for karts? i'm wondering where everyone usually gets a chance to drive them for fun....?

At the local track to Pittsburgh they have open lapping days on the kart track pretty much twice/week. Thursday afternoons (1pm-dark) and one day on the weekend if there is no racing. $22/driver, drive all you want. Its the deal of a lifetime compared to tracking cars or motorcycles on a full size circuit b/c there are no corner workers to pay... plus if the worst were to happen, the full size track has a mandatory ambulance on site pretty much every day so you have some peace of mind.

[Brian@AR]

I am surrounded by 7 kart tracks. The best one is about 10 minutes away and has open track time 6 days a week. When I cant make it there with my kart I go to the indoor track 5 minutes away. Karting, Karting and more karting.

To answer you question earlier, I would suggest starting with a world formula. Its a 4 stroke class thats big here on the west coast that is really inexpensive to run. Pretty much pull the cord and go. I can out lap most TAG karts but the fast guys have a couple of seconds on me. The World Formula just doesn't have the top end of a Tag.

Once you get one you will be hooked.

are there ever open track days for karts? i'm wondering where everyone usually gets a chance to drive them for fun....?

[bob12312357]

I can't imagine a 250. Drove a 125 shifter once all easy on the gas since i'm a bike guy, not a car guy.I thought the 125cc was gonna be like a 125cc pitbike or dirtbike. So i'm lollygagging in VIR'S parking lot at a bike track day on my boysand take it out on to a side road. Figured how fast is a bitch ass 125cc with my 250lb body including leathers andcrap. Going around a turn nailed it in 3rd WOT. The thing spun like a top and I nearly dropepd it like it was hot which woulda been hard 2 clean outta my leathers. I wouldn't ride a 250, a 125 is a handful enough. THing accelerates nearly as fast as my bikes.

[millerracer]

I still have a 125 Birel chassis, and 125 Honda motor...

The thing is insane... literally one of the fastest things I have ever driven. Prob the most G's any of us will ever experience in our lifetimes...

TON's of fun!!

Hey Covert and All really,

I have read through this thread a few times and can't believe I've never posted. lol. I have a ton of karting and shifterkarting experience and most recently Rotax. Shifters are a blast to drive, especially a 250 on road courses (140+ mph top speeds).

Here is a pic of one that I built from ground up and raced once before it was handed over to the new owner as part of a magazine article series.



I noticed you have a Birel and wanted to let you know - and anyone else, if they are interested in karting, I am Dir. of Brand Development for Birel for North America. There is a very good chance I know just about every possible person worth knowing to help you out in karting and have a good time. Be sure to check out www.GoBirel.com and their forum to learn more about your kart/maintenance, etc.

I haven't been around much since November until recently. I won the US Rotax National Championship and in Nov. went to Europe to compete on Team USA in an olympic style competition. It was crazy and I played catch-up for over a month with work, family and travel!

This is a great thread for shifterkart and karting questions in general. Feel free to post them up.

[millerracer]

Add me to the list . . .

I sold my Birel/Rotax earlier this year and I miss it a ton. I'll probably pick another one up before next season. I've driven 125cc shfiters, and they are a riot, but for actual racing and competition where I live, a TaG or Rotax is the better way to go.

2.5g around a WOT 90deg corner at 70mph . . . can't beat that rush in anything with fenders.

Jahan... come back soon. Did you race down in South Bend at all? If so, we have probably met once or twice.

[millerracer]

are there ever open track days for karts? i'm wondering where everyone usually gets a chance to drive them for fun....?

Lampy-

You have several in Denver area. Try "The Track @ Centennial" - they are a dealer of ours and support the rotax program (best taG program in my opinion). They have arrive and drive, track days, schools, etc. PM me if you need a direct contact person. I know the owner well.

[millerracer]

As for the question about pricing:

A tag kart can be had for under $2k used
A shifter is $2-3k used

New prices are quite high, well sorted shifter karts go for well over $10k. I dont know what a tag costs new.

Rotax powered karts NEW are about $7500 complete, race ready and prepped. Your avg. kart price new is $4K as a roller ($4700 for shifter due to added front brakes and shift linkage), add the engine package (about $3400 complete with gear, chain, etc) then a set of tires and you are there. Added features include tach/data acq and you hit $8K. Expect to get 3-5 years out of a kart and be able to sell a roller for $2-$3K depending on usage.

Used kart prices given above are really low. It isn't often you will find a kart in that price range that won't need at LEAST $1500-$2000 in parts or work to make it safe, reliable, etc.

A good used TaG package can be found for $5K. A shifter for about the same really, they depreciate more because they will have more wear and tear.

For instance, I just took in 2 tonyKart / stock honda packages that need only minor work (only 45 minutes of run time since new on each) that are in GREAT shape. I will clean them up and still not be able to get more than about $5-5500 out of them. I could put a Rotax package on either and would still have to get that much. But those would be great buys due to lack of use and making sure they have been gone through and prepped to be ready to go. For $3-5K you might be able to find something similar, but guaranteed you will need to buy either brake pads, a m/c rebuild kit, caliper kit, possibly bearings, etc. A failure like that on a used kart could cost you even more in the long run (failed brakes, engine seizes because it sat for long time, etc) and it could be unsafe.

Good thread guys.

[SlipAngle]

Rotax FTMFW! Seriously though...you can't go wrong with a Rotax, great competition in that class, fairly cheap to run and they are nearly as fast as a 125 shifter...sort of.

I've got one on an older Fullerton chassis. I'd love to upgrade to an Arrow or maybe a Trackmagic, but I just can't justify it now since I haven't had much time to race it lately. The ol' Fullerton is still a great chassis..too soft but very forgiving and easy to set up.

I think I spent about $4k last year on it, and that was including a $2500 full rebuild when my bottem end seized. Motor had almost 3 seasons on it without every being opened up. Try that on a shifter!!

On the other end I know guys that prob spent 10k a season or more so its just how crazy you get into it.

But yea Rotax all the way.

Hey Millerracer...got any good deals on Birels?

[SlipAngle]

Millerracer I'm assuming you ran in the Seniors class?

[millerracer]

I won Masters. I'm 32 and 195. When I went to Europe to run on Team USA, I ran DD2 (2-speed rotax shifter).

[SlipAngle]

PM'ed you with a question...nice site!

[sambrody44]

You are my hero Milleracer...

[millerracer]

haha. wow. thanks? :P

I still think we should put a midwest AZ go-kart endurance race together. Near South Bend is where our track is... and we have 4 hour endurance races all the time. No experience necessary and we get guys coming from WI, Detroit, Ohio, Chicago, etc all the time. Would be cool to get 20-50 of us together for a day of fun.

[lookaught]

Rotax powered karts NEW are about $7500 complete, race ready and prepped. Your avg. kart price new is $4K as a roller ($4700 for shifter due to added front brakes and shift linkage), add the engine package (about $3400 complete with gear, chain, etc) then a set of tires and you are there. Added features include tach/data acq and you hit $8K. Expect to get 3-5 years out of a kart and be able to sell a roller for $2-$3K depending on usage.

Used kart prices given above are really low. It isn't often you will find a kart in that price range that won't need at LEAST $1500-$2000 in parts or work to make it safe, reliable, etc.

A good used TaG package can be found for $5K. A shifter for about the same really, they depreciate more because they will have more wear and tear.

For instance, I just took in 2 tonyKart / stock honda packages that need only minor work (only 45 minutes of run time since new on each) that are in GREAT shape. I will clean them up and still not be able to get more than about $5-5500 out of them. I could put a Rotax package on either and would still have to get that much. But those would be great buys due to lack of use and making sure they have been gone through and prepped to be ready to go. For $3-5K you might be able to find something similar, but guaranteed you will need to buy either brake pads, a m/c rebuild kit, caliper kit, possibly bearings, etc. A failure like that on a used kart could cost you even more in the long run (failed brakes, engine seizes because it sat for long time, etc) and it could be unsafe.

Good thread guys.

My Tonykart was $2,500 a few years ago... it was a few years old and wasn't the fastest, smoothest, or safest thing in the world but for someone who isnt racing and is just out having fun it was awesome! I saw a CRG shifter with a CR motor for sale at BeaveRun for $3,500 last month and it only had one season on it... so the deals are out there if you dont' get top of the line, race prepped, etc. mechanical knowledge is definitely a necessity to fix them when they break though!

[yamahar6blue]

is the brm dk9 still forsale?