Go Kart for My Boys

Looking for recommendations...

My boys are clamoring for a go kart. I had one as a kid and had a blast, so they've hit me in a soft spot to shell out some cash!

I'm not an engine tinker-er like dad was, so I need something reliable and doesn't need a bunch of fussing with. I can change spark plugs and oil, but when it comes to rebuilding carbs and having to pull out a screwdriver and fuss with it just to get an afternoon ride in, I lose PATIENCE (caps for @BigWaylon ). I'm also not looking to train my boys to be future baja drivers. Just something that has enough power to move their large frame bodies through the woods on a semi-improved trail.

I'd like to stay under $1,000 and I'm not afraid of buying used. I'd be willing to pay more for something good quality. When I Google go karts, I see a bunch of no-name stuff from China--surprise surprise.

Before anyone suggests it, my property isn't quite large enough to warrant a SxS or other UTV--as much as I'd like one. I've got 2 acres mostly wooded that I can cut some paths through.

I'm looking at sites like this one: https://gokartsusa.com/Mid-Sized-Go-Karts.aspx

Any suggestions?

Others may have more positive info, however my experience with go karts is they are a PIA.

Stay torn up more than they run.

If an option I would go for a Little Honda 4 stroke dirt bike......they seem to live darn near forever and almost never have to work on them.
(Resell is great too, when the boys out grow them or move up)

Just my thoughts on it.....enjoy em while they are kids!

I’m more worried about how many patients you’ve lost...

You better get 2 dirt bikes if you have 2 boys. Much less arguing about who's turn it is to ride.

BigWaylon said:

I’m more worried about how many patients you’ve lost...

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We had a gocart when I was a kid too. Had a real blast with it. I barrel rolled ours once and only got a little scraped up.


If your kids are pretty big, a gocart will not be very fast. This is an advantage when they are young but the fun dies down as they get older. I was already really too big for ours when we got it, but I was a pretty big kid. As a minimum it bounces a lot more when you weigh 100 pounds not 160.


Find one with a Honda engine and a split axle. Roll cage optional, only recommed that if they will also wear a seatbelt. Helmets every time when they are young. I knew one young boy who lost his life on a side by side when he rolled it over and his head got crushed between the roll cage and the ground. He came out of his seat because he wasn't wearing a seatbelt. I think he was 17.

Don't mean to end on a downer, your kids will be fine and you should get them a gocart.

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GoWolfpack said:

We had a gocart when I was a kid too. Had a real blast with it. I barrel rolled ours once and only got a little scraped up.


If your kids are pretty big, a gocart will not be very fast. This is an advantage when they are young but the fun dies down as they get older. I was already really too big for ours when we got it, but I was a pretty big kid. As a minimum it bounces a lot more when you weigh 100 pounds not 160.


Find one with a Honda engine and a split axle. Roll cage optional, only recommed that if they will also wear a seatbelt. Helmets every time when they are young. I knew one young boy who lost his life on a side by side when he rolled it over and his head got crushed between the roll cage and the ground. He came out of his seat because he wasn't wearing a seatbelt. I think he was 17.

Don't mean to end on a downer, your kids will be fine and you should get them a gocart.

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My boys will be the ones made fun of for doing all the safety gear--no option. Just like with guns.

They're not fat/heavy "big", they're just tall. I don't care if the kart only does 15-20 MPH through the woods...it'll be fun for them.

There's a guy in town that has a kart out front of his shop, so sign. I topped and asked him about it. Says he got it in a trade and it has issues running. They put a Honda Predator engine on what looks like a homemade frame. Wants $500 for it. Just looks a little too crude for my liking.

As far as dirt bikes...
I'll admit: I'm a weenie. I never had one as a kid and all I know of are kids getting really hurt, acting like A-holes with them, or dying on them (just had a kid die on 51 July 4th here in Mint Hill--no headlight and T-boned a driver getting off of 485 who never saw him). Makes me a bit apprehensive about getting one for my boys. Especially after I got done telling them that you shouldn't ride them on the street...only on land that you own or have permission to be on.

If it were me I'd look for an old honda odyssey cant kill those things

I have had a lot of fun on go arts. They are a rough ride with little clearance. I like the used motorcycle idea more. Motorcycles are softer than a cart in many ways. They also allow making trails simpler. I bought two Yamaha PW50 motorcycles for my three year old grandsons. They are not ready for them of course but when they are age 5 they will have a blast as I did. Also minibikes are fun. How old are the boys? Height?

BlackGun said:

I have had a lot of fun on go arts. They are a rough ride with little clearance. I like the used motorcycle idea more. Motorcycles are softer than a cart in many ways. They also allow making trails simpler. I bought two Yamaha PW50 motorcycles for my three year old grandsons. They are not ready for them of course but when they are age 5 they will have a blast as I did. Also minibikes are fun. How old are the boys? Height?

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9 and 11. Height...ohhhh, about up to here on me.
(sorry...don’t have a recent height measurement...I’d guess 4.5-5’.

9outof10mms said:

My boys will be the ones made fun of for doing all the safety gear--no option. Just like with guns.

They're not fat/heavy "big", they're just tall. I don't care if the kart only does 15-20 MPH through the woods...it'll be fun for them.

There's a guy in town that has a kart out front of his shop, so sign. I topped and asked him about it. Says he got it in a trade and it has issues running. They put a Honda Predator engine on what looks like a homemade frame. Wants $500 for it. Just looks a little too crude for my liking.

As far as dirt bikes...
I'll admit: I'm a weenie. I never had one as a kid and all I know of are kids getting really hurt, acting like A-holes with them, or dying on them (just had a kid die on 51 July 4th here in Mint Hill--no headlight and T-boned a driver getting off of 485 who never saw him). Makes me a bit apprehensive about getting one for my boys. Especially after I got done telling them that you shouldn't ride them on the street...only on land that you own or have permission to be on.

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That same kid would have been crushed in a go kart if a car t-boned it.