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gixxer kart?

RedKawi

I crash a lot
Joined
Nov 10, 2008
Location
Nor Nev
Moto(s)
Binned 2007 zx6r
Name
Nick
has anybody here build a go kart with a I4 streetbike engine? i'm thinking of building one and was looking for overall photos, shifter linkage, radiator and gas tank placement and most importantly, engine mounts. pictures of any other parts of the go kart are welcome too. thanks!
 
I and a few buddies built one back in 2003. We took a JB kart frame and widened it to fit the engine on the side. This kept the length short and the well base wide, giving better traction than the long frame conversions
 
RD-350 KART

has anybody here build a go kart with a I4 streetbike engine? i'm thinking of building one and was looking for overall photos, shifter linkage, radiator and gas tank placement and most importantly, engine mounts. pictures of any other parts of the go kart are welcome too. thanks!
HERE MY KART
 

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the common theme in the I4 kart videos is that they're way overpowered and way tail happy (a la 930 Porsches). The oil/air-cooled ones look much less complicated, but just as fun. The RD350 one (above) looks perfect. The craigslist R1-in-a-5hp-chassis one looks like a disaster.

If you're wanting to see a variety of motorcycle engines and final drives and such, go to a Formula SAE event.

[youtube]H8csytbEJ1A[/youtube]

good luck, Nick.
 
On my RD kart , too do it over I would go with LC350 or banshee motor < tons of parts . With a GSXR motor the WT is around 150 ish it's not small or huge . i started out with a GSXR 1100 built the header . and then change my mind and went with the RD . Alot more compact setup don't three people too get out of truck/van/trailer . Guy's are starting to use 450 four stroke dirt bike engines . Seb at NLR racing is building a RR kart with a turboed Aprila vtwin 500-600 < yes mega dollar fun wagon . the Yamie twin is going to be alot of bang for the buck . Dirt speedway track is were i want too run this . I used too race dirt karts back in the day . So if you check Egay you well see there's tons of stuff for go fast twin motors . Used karts check Ekartingnews or Racejunk.com . keep us informed on your build .Can you see your self now .
 

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If you're wanting to see a variety of motorcycle engines and final drives and such, go to a Formula SAE event.

good luck, Nick.

The one thing I loved about Formula SAE events was that it proved that a majority of engineers could come up with amazing concepts... but couldn't drive themselves out of a wet paper bag. :rofl

"But it worked great on paper..."
 
The one thing I loved about Formula SAE events was that it proved that a majority of engineers could come up with amazing concepts... but couldn't drive themselves out of a wet paper bag. :rofl

"But it worked great on paper..."

They don't provide professional drivers for the teams at those events? They should do something to eliminate the driver as a variable in the competitions, since they are primarily engineering competitions and the driving isn't what is being judged.

Even on the extreme other end of the scale on "engineering" competitions, Grassroots Motorsports magazine's yearly $200X challenge race provides talented drivers for the teams to use if they wish. That makes the race about the people making the car and not about the driver.

It's not surprising that the kids making these toys don't have driving experience...they are engineering students, after all, and don't have the money or time to learn it. As an engineering student, I certainly didn't. I didn't learn how to really drive until I was graduated and had a real income!
 
They don't provide professional drivers for the teams at those events? They should do something to eliminate the driver as a variable in the competitions, since they are primarily engineering competitions and the driving isn't what is being judged.

Even on the extreme other end of the scale on "engineering" competitions, Grassroots Motorsports magazine's yearly $200X challenge race provides talented drivers for the teams to use if they wish. That makes the race about the people making the car and not about the driver.

It's not surprising that the kids making these toys don't have driving experience...they are engineering students, after all, and don't have the money or time to learn it. As an engineering student, I certainly didn't. I didn't learn how to really drive until I was graduated and had a real income!

the funny thing is that the teams that do better usually spend way more time testing and working out kinks than in the lab working on design. the SAE team at my college went to quite a few autocross events to improve their driving skills. they also found quite a few gremlins just by running the car hard.

IIRC, most SAE teams found that under their rules package a bored, stroked, and supercharged 450 single was a better option than an I4. HP was limited by an inlet restrictor, which set the bar a little under modern 600cc HP numbers. but even in stock form, the weight savings outweigh the HP gain for such a small vehicle.

at the autocross event i attended, a semi-pro racer brought his 250cc 2-stroke kart out. by the end of the day after learning the course, the SAE (w/ the old I4 car) team had him beat by a few seconds. the blinding acceleration of the kart def helped out, but w/out more rubber on the ground, he couldnt corner nearly as hard as the SAE car.
 
man, I've been thinking about this project for about 3-4years now... good luck and keep us posted on the progress...
 
man, I've been thinking about this project for about 3-4years now... good luck and keep us posted on the progress...

+1

I made 3 sets of plans and have a CBX 750 motor in my garage....


i think im going to go with a larger then normalcart (think MINI sized)

then make it a 2 seater
 
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