About the USA

[Nodroz]

Hello guys,

I've been reading and posting in these forums for quite a while now. I'm from Europe, Belgium. That small country nobody knows.

Well, most of this forum is from the USA as far as I know. Many of these people are building their own gokarts and driving around in the neighbourhood. I wonder if driving those gokarts are legal in the USA?

Also, on craigslist, there are 100's of gokarts being sold there. You should look to a site here in Belgium. I could only find a kart, for on the racetrack. Nobody in here is building gokarts, except me then.

So I was just wondered if driving gokarts is legal in the USA and in other countries?

Regards,
Nodroz

 

[landuse]

As far as I know, it is pretty much illegal everywhere on the roads. This is unless you have had it checked by the traffic police and conformed to all their standards. (Go karts just don't meet those standards). I think it is only in rare cases that they can get legalised to ride on the road.

Here in South Africa it is not legal, but the cops don't really seem to care.

 

[matman55]

As far as I know, it is pretty much illegal everywhere on the roads. This is unless you have had it checked by the traffic police and conformed to all their standards. (Go karts just don't meet those standards). I think it is only in rare cases that they can get legalised to ride on the road.

Here in South Africa it is not legal, but the cops don't really seem to care.

ABSOLUTLY NOT! any one one drives a go kart on the road is a fool,you've either got a death wish or want to have a little run in with the cops.there is a couple of exeptions though,back when i lived in colorada you could drive on a puplic road. This was so you could get to different trails. and my dad got his sand rail registered but that only because it had tail/head lights and front and back signals. i dont know if engine type was a factor in getin it regestered but he had a 750cc and the dmv was ok with it.


edit-newrider should know more than i do.being that he lives in colorada.

 

[fowler]

The rules do vary a fair bit

It seems they can get away with it easier in the US

If I was to get caught Here in Australia I'd be charged with driving a non regested vehicle and my buggy would be confiscated on the spot and scraped

 

[landuse]

ABSOLUTLY NOT! any one one drives a go kart on the road is a fool,you've either got a death wish or want to have a little run in with the cops.there is a couple of exeptions though,back when i lived in colorada you could drive on a puplic road. This was so you could get to different trails. and my dad got his sand rail registered but that only because it had tail/head lights and front and back signals. i dont know if engine type was a factor in getin it regestered but he had a 750cc and the dmv was ok with it.


edit-newrider should know more than i do.being that he lives in colorada.

I think you misread my post

 

[Nodroz]

If I was to get caught Here in Australia I'd be charged with driving a non regested vehicle and my buggy would be confiscated on the spot and scraped

I guess the same would happen here. I don't have any experience with that yet, though.

 

[r97]

In the USA roadway/vehicle legislation varies from state to state so what I'm saying is just generalized. Please look up your state's and county's specific laws on the subject before attempting to drive a non registered vehicle on a public way.

For the most part go karts are 100% legal on private property with the owners permission, just as long as you don't disturb the peace or something like that. Driving go karts on small dirt roads is unlikely to be legal, but it is usually not considered a problem. Small neighborhood streets are usually okay, but it varies a lot depending on the type of neighborhood and what mood the policeman is in. Usually if a neighbor calls the police you will get a warning and be told to go home, but you could also be fined. Riding on the large streets and or high ways is not only foolish but completely illegal and not tolerated unless you live somewhere with an extremely low population. If you get caught riding on major roadways in populated areas you would likely go to court and have your go-kart confiscated.

 

[bighead]

In The USA anything with an engine is loved and raced. Gokarts are just a gateway for the most part. Are economy allows for parents and kids to buy and make karts. The rich people will drive the kart until it breaks and just buy a new one or sell it rather than fix it. This is the case with Mowers,weed wackers,minibikes,saws you name it.

I see the gokart market in the USA slowly slipping away. Gokarts are cool and americans love cool stuff with an engine. Or will will buy it anyway. even the cool LOOKING china karts.

 

[matman55]

Or will will buy it anyway. even the cool LOOKING china karts.

my dad whent out and bout two cool lookin chiness karts/buggies.
list of problems

little 150cc one
1.throttle cable broke on a 45 degree hill,you dont know scary untill you've backed up downhill at over 40mph
2.manifold fell off
3. carb sucks,and not in the good way
4.parking break doesnt work,at all
5. the engine hates cold weither

the big 750cc
1.the cluct sticks,you have to SLAM the shifter to change gears.
2.flat tires,strait from the factory.
3. the buggie likes to roll,thank god for roll cages and 5 point seat belts.

 

[TripleT]

If your just doin gravel travel you'll be fine, but in town or on main roads you can't. Here i was told that it would be impounded, but they can't take it without a warning first. Then there's the rich people who can ride just about whatever they want up and down the roads.

 

[bighead]

my dad whent out and bout two cool lookin chiness karts/buggies.
list of problems

little 150cc one
1.throttle cable broke on a 45 degree hill,you dont know scary untill you've backed up downhill at over 40mph
2.manifold fell off
3. carb sucks,and not in the good way
4.parking break doesnt work,at all
5. the engine hates cold weither

the big 750cc
1.the cluct sticks,you have to SLAM the shifter to change gears.
2.flat tires,strait from the factory.
3. the buggie likes to roll,thank god for roll cages and 5 point seat belts.

Got any pics?

 

[newrider3]

here is a couple of exeptions though,back when i lived in colorada you could drive on a puplic road. This was so you could get to different trails.

edit-newrider should know more than i do.being that he lives in colorada.

Yep, it's definitely illegal, but as long as you act safe and follow the rules of the road no one is going to call the cops on you. I live in a pretty far out subdivision too so there just isn't that much police traffic through the neighborhood. Pretty much everyone in subdivisions around here that owns a kart, ATV, dirtbike, non-registered offroader/hot rod rides it around every so often, everyone is pretty OK with it.

Also, I like how you spell Colorado how we locals pronounce it lol.

 

[Nodroz]

This is interesting to know. Thanks for your answers everybody!
The cops didn't see my driving my kart on the local streets, luckily. I hope they will first give me a warning that I shouldn't be driving this on the public road. I think it really depends on the police agent, I guess. Some are in a good mood, others aren't.

 

[matman55]

Also, I like how you spell Colorado how we locals pronounce it lol.

I was a local about 4 years ago. I still miss the snow

 

[rachelleB]

Rules vary from every state.

 

[B man]

well ive had cops just drive right by. and if they do stop me. all they say is its dangerous and i shouldnt ride on the roads and the really strict ones tell me to get off the road.

The first time one stopped me i really thought i was screwed, but all he said was go put a helmet on.

But i do live kinda on the edge of the country region of TN

 

[matman55]

Rules vary from every state.

True, and rules also vary from police men to police men. Theres a guy in my town with no license(too many dui convictions) and all of the sheriffs have opted out of bothering this guy when he drives his lawnmower on the road. I guess they all feel sorry for him.

 

[Nodroz]

I wanted to know some more stuff about the USA.

How much does a liter normal gasoline cost there? (Or gallon)
What's the price for a loaf of normal bread?

 

[matman55]

right now in my town gas is 3.25 a gallon. last week it was 3.04
bread im not sure of though.

 

[matman55]

Got any pics?

after diging into the engine a bit i found out it was actually 650cc.
this one can probably do 70, according to the speedometer.

1500cc gy6 engine. tops out at about 45 on the "salt" flats



these arnt my buggies but they look exactly like the ones i have. my dad moded the lights on the 650 so that it looks like a cops lights