I have a unique go-kart project and a low budget: $500 max. We need to build something safe, low riding, and capable of speeds around 50mph. It *NEEDS to be a DOUBLE seat go kart*, and it needs, obviously, to have a sturdy frame, good brakes, etc... and again low riding! I do not want to buy all the parts and build completely from scratch and do welding. I would prefer to spend a little more and get a DIY kit, for the frame at least (pre-welded if possible) - and then maybe salvage parts for the other pieces, ie the brakes, tires, clutch, and ENGINE! We need a engine that can push the go kart and two 175-lbs people at 50 mph. The go-cart would NOT be an off-road go-cart or buggy. I have heard a multitude of engine ideas; from lawn-boy riding lawn mowers, to snow modible engines, etc... I was thinking a 250cc dirt bike engine might do it? Or not? In any case, thats my situation, and I've read a lot of different stuff, but everything seems very vague. I don't need step by step instructions or a manual; just a thorough explanation of the basics, the concepts, and what I will need to do and what my thing will proably look like and how it will function. Because really, I know the above but I'm lost as to how to make this thing work out! Also, it would be good to know any things to know / watch out for (ie safety considerations with steering, braking, stability, etc...)

Please help and thank you SO much!

Dan dsc106@yahoo.com

-- Dan Kuske (dsc106@yahoo.com), February 05, 2004

Answers

First of al i´m sorry for my bad english.

Me and my brother have a lot of experience of building things, 3 years ago we built an off road go-cart whith and old 220cc 2 stokes engine from a Gas-Gas motorcicle, it was very cheap only 80 Euros (i dont know how many dollars is 80 euros) and had a lot of power. When the go-cart was ready it wheigts 150 kg and have 2 seats, it could reach speeds of 80 mph (130 km/h) in the beach, and in tarmac it reached 95 mph (150 km/h), we use 4 Quad wheels and 3 disc brakes 2 in the front and 1 in the rear. Althoug this project dont match with your project it was very easy to built, and very cheap, the only problem is that if you dont know how to weld you dont go far. But you could also bolt the structure instead of weld. So good luck to your project

-- Daniel (Flyingtwins@portugalmail.com), February 08, 2004.

Where did you get the disks from for that cheap?

-- Tom (a_life_behind_bars2@hotmail.com), February 08, 2004.

80 Euros was just the price of the engine, the disc brakes come from an two old motorcicles that were in the junk yard, we know the owner and many parts were free, including: chain, final gear wheel (i dont know the tecnical name in english)all of the tube from the chassis, the seats, etc... And the parts that we could not get free we have to buy (New spark plug, lubricant oil, a gas tank, and other), but we have a lot of parts in our garage that were "handy" during the construction.

-- daniel (flyingtwins@portugalmail.com), February 08, 2004.

what horse power was your engine, how fast could a 5 or an 8 hp engine go?

-- Jesse Vanhouwe (mobo12345@shaw.ca), February 12, 2004.

I'm not too familiar with Gas Gas bikes(other than they are European and are known for trials bikes), but a 220cc 2-stroke was probably making no less than 25 or 30hp. Modern water cooled 250cc dirtbikes are in the 40+hp range.

You will be hard pressed to get this project finished from scratch with only $500 unless you can get alot of major stuff for free.

-- Jim (dirtrider218@hotmail.com), June 27, 2004.