Introducing Myself & Spec Carts

[thedecider33]

Hi everyone,

Love the forum, been on for about 7 months now.

For about a year & a half now I've been creating a start up that builds go karts or what I call Spec Carts & want to get the forum's thoughts & input.


A Spec Cart is a long wheel base go kart designed to deliver the visceral experience of a track car. An experience more like that of an Ariel Atom or an e36 M3 track car.

Specs:
 Cast Aluminum Chassis
 Dirt Bike Motor
 Foot Clutch Pedal
 4 Speed hand Gear Box (Right Hand)
 E-Brake Lever to Hydraulic Brakes
 Hydraulic Brakes
One of the key features about Spec Carts is they are designed to be dynamic platforms, easily modifiable & customizable.

Right now I am finalizing the Spec Cart prototype 1 in preparation for video promotions.

So what do you guys like or dislike? What do you think?

*Sidenote, looking for some testers to recommend improvements. Anyone interested. (North Atlanta)

 

[chancer]

I think that looks bad azz.
and Yes We got a couple of test dummies in Georgia hangin around. LOL

 

[itsid]

Not a fan of the rims ...

And I wouldn't call tubes "cast aluminium" especially since the tube you're using there isn't cast but drawn as it appears.
but that's a terminology issue not a design issue

Also those front end quarter circle spindle brakcet pieces..
they look a bit bulky IMHO.. and do not fit the esthetics of the caged frame too well
And although being bulky looking .. I'm not sure that it holds any impact with a curb or pothole..
A pyramidal construction (three or four sided) from tubing would look much nicer IMHO,
and would be much sturdier (connecting to the frame in at least three times as many points)

But, seeing the finished kart on the left...
it looks nice.. kinda reminds me of Desertduler's Karts... might just be the seat though
It's overall appearance is great..

'sid

 

[mckutzy]

Cast aluminum chassis.... How does that work....
A piece that big and intricate... Please explain more on this..

 

[chancer]

Looks like a steel tube frame not cast? or aluminum?

 

[thedecider33]

Looks like a steel tube frame not cast? or aluminum?

Yes, the prototype is steel tubes. We are using the design to create a cast mold. Although we have some designs mocked up in CAD, we haven't allocated the funds to make some Aluminum examples.

 

[DirtyDamage]

That thing is awesome! Where can I get one?

 

[thedecider33]

Not a fan of the rims ...

And I wouldn't call tubes "cast aluminium" especially since the tube you're using there isn't cast but drawn as it appears.
but that's a terminology issue not a design issue

Also those front end quarter circle spindle brakcet pieces..
they look a bit bulky IMHO.. and do not fit the esthetics of the caged frame too well
And although being bulky looking .. I'm not sure that it holds any impact with a curb or pothole..
A pyramidal construction (three or four sided) from tubing would look much nicer IMHO,
and would be much sturdier (connecting to the frame in at least three times as many points)

But, seeing the finished kart on the left...
it looks nice.. kinda reminds me of Desertduler's Karts... might just be the seat though
It's overall appearance is great..

'sid

Thanks for the feedback Sid. I agree with the Desertduler comment, it probably is the seat that gives it that similar appearance .

They are quite bulky. Heavy too but as a stress point they have held up to some gnarly jumps.

All points we will definitely address as we improve the original design.

---------- Post added at 09:18 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:16 PM ----------

That thing is awesome! Where can I get one?

Haha thank you and hopefully you will be able to get one very soon. The golden question is how much would you pay?!?!?

 

[DirtyDamage]

Counter question, whats the cheapest you'd sell a prototype for?

 

[Poboy kartman]

Thanks for the feedback Sid. I agree with the Desertduler comment, it probably is the seat that gives it that similar appearance .

They are quite bulky. Heavy too but as a stress point they have held up to some gnarly jumps.

All points we will definitely address as we improve the original design.

---------- Post added at 09:18 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:16 PM ----------



Haha thank you and hopefully you will be able to get one very soon. The golden question is how much would you pay?!?!?

$25 delivered to White Settlement Texas! Sorry...you walked right into that one!

Welcome to the forum and best of luck on your endeavor.....HOWEVER...How does a welded steel tube frame really equate to a cast aluminum one?

 

[chancer]

.HOWEVER...How does a welded steel tube frame really equate to a cast aluminum one?

And how well will Cast aluminum hold up to "jumps" Cast Al. sounds brittle to me. but I am no metalurgist.
That Kart does not look designed to Jump.
What are you jumping?
[edit]
Oh you were testing! sorry lol

 

[landuse]

Welcome. The kart looks cool to me. I am not too sure if it is suited to jumping though with such a low profile. It is probably not being manufactured with jumping in mind though

 

[itsid]

Yes, the prototype is steel tubes. We are using the design to create a cast mold. Although we have some designs mocked up in CAD, we haven't allocated the funds to make some Aluminum examples.

Ah .. ohhhh..

an intricate design such as this requires a multi part mold;
I doubt you'd get along with a four part mold (looks more like seven)
or worse require a sand core... (more expensive runs)
That is really expensive to make, considering the size I'd say
it's going to be cost effective with an annual production of no less than 4000 units or so...
A goal that's likely hard to achieve especially in the first few years
and because that's not a kart that matches any Racing class
thus can only be considered "serious fun kart"
that's maybe only possible,
if you can get this thing street legal and the price is low enough
(which -considering the tooling costs- I don't see to be frank)

And then there's the structural difficulties with cast aluminium;
the bearing hangers are not going to hold for very long the way they are I presume;
so you'll need a prototyping mold to test cast and alloy first;
which does not sell a single kart.. it only adds to the costs.

And last but not least: cast aluminium adds unecessary weight (hollow tube is lighter than massive rod of course)
So in the end.. welded aluminium tubing is as strong or stronger,
much cheaper to produce,
doesn't require much more labour,
and can be iterated much quicker.
(cutting or welding you can do at the shop, whereas a new prototyping mold takes time to be made, delivered and set up)

So maybe you want to rethink the "cast" part;
since frankly, I don't see that happening tbh.
hard to estimate the cost of the mold as I'm no toolmaker;
but realistically that idea triples or even quadruples the retail price
(without adding benefit to the customer)

So tig welded aluminium tubing... looks nicer
and makes a lot more economical sense;
drops the retail price (and weight per kart!)
and being cheaper likely increases sales and revenue!


'sid

 

[thedecider33]

Wealth of information on the one piece chassis. Based on the stress testing and design of the frame on virtually, we believe that we can effectively produce the kart with a one piece chassis. The lead engineering developing the chassis comes from the automotive wheel industry and feels confident in his design. Perhaps it could be one of our key innovations. . .

Steel tubes ofcourse isn't a bad option but if we get the aluminum right we will be able to save weight as well as labor cost. Agree, molds are a higher upfront cost, no question. Aluminum is more expensive but can offer significant weight saving. I guess we'll know in the coming months once we mount a motor to a real aluminum chassis. Needless to say the thought of a failed aluminum chassis gives us a fair amount of anxiety but we will definitely test in real life before abandoning the idea.

This kart is not designed for jumping but we we're testing it on a golf kart path. Absolutely nuts. We probably got about 2 feet off the ground when cresting a hill.

25 shipped is a little on the low end haha. After we're done beating up on the prototype you probably won't want it. In all seriousness though I am really interested, how much would you guys pay for something like this?

 

[ezcome-ezgo]

I will volunteer to be a test driver! The thing is, this is a DIY forum, guys here (speaking mostly for myself) don't often want to lay down retail cash for finished karts. But there is a market I think. There's a group in Austin making spec built drift karts that are very cool. I think your target price is in line with what they are doing. Can't think of the name ATM.

 

[thedecider33]

I will volunteer to be a test driver! The thing is, this is a DIY forum, guys here (speaking mostly for myself) don't often want to lay down retail cash for finished karts. But there is a market I think. There's a group in Austin making spec built drift karts that are very cool. I think your target price is in line with what they are doing. Can't think of the name ATM.

Nice!! I'll pm you, I'm in Johns Creek. What was their target price?

 

[Poboy kartman]

To be honest, probably not much market here. Coleman makes a pretty good looking kart that Wal-Mart retails for $999. It has full suspension and they had two in the box at Christmas time that didn't sell, so they started reducing them. Not sure exactly how low they went but I think around $600. If I had the spare cash, I probably would have bought one.

But almost all of us either buy cheap used fixer-uppers or make them from scratch. This is DIY....(do it yourself) ....not buy it new. Sorry, but I probably wouldn't buy it if it was affordable anyway...because it's only useful on smooth paved surfaces and probably needs a football field to turn around.

Not trying to dis it...but it does kinda limit the field of whom it may appeal to.

 

[ezcome-ezgo]

Here's the link: http://www.khanakarts.com/

Complete Kart $1650

 

[thedecider33]

Indeed DIYers are looking for something much less expensive as well as something that they contributed some labor of love to. I would like to say I am still a DIYer myself haha.

A long term goal would to have a very customizable platform that people could truly make their own. Have the support and parts catalog to easily swap motors, gearing. . . etc.

I am working on the videos now. I'll tell you from experience this is no coleman kart. When your in the seat and you punch the clutch with your left foot while banging through the gears... .. ripping the e-brake through a hairpin. Its nothing like the Coleman kart haha.

 

[DirtyDamage]

I'd spend a grand, shipped to my door