Is there a market for simple go kart frames that will fit adults? Would people be interested in a diy welding frame kit vs a fully welded or bolt together frame? There are next to no frame kits available with the exception of the Gopowersport one and the another frame i see that is online but it looks a little to small for adults anyway. I can build frames, i just want to know if this market is worth getting into?
Adult go kart frames
- Thread starter vegasboy
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Denny
Canned Monster
I don’t really know. AZUSA makes a frame that is more for kids and needs to be stretched for adults. GoPower’s frame is expensive. Welded would be an easier sell to beginners.
panchothedog
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I don't think bolted together would hold up. Stretching an existing frame seems like the most popular way to get more legroom. Not to sound discouraging, but I don't think I would bet the family farm on the up and coming " large go kart frame" business.
Not betting the farm, just a side quest. They're plenty of people out there that don't want to spend a $1000 on a frame and really don't want to modify a Craigslist or marketplace beater. I was looking at that more than anything else. A simple square tubed frame that takes a live axle or a single drive wheel that fits adults. I can build a jig so I can repeat the frames. I'd give a list out with purchase that allows the buyer to finish the kart with existing parts.
anderkart
Moderator
You might consider the way that racekarts solved the 'adult-size' issue decades ago, by simply using an extended front porch type of design.
Compared to conventional stretched-frames: It retains a shorter wheelbase for a more nimble turning ability. The leverage factor of the drivers leg & feet weight resting so far ahead of the front axle transfers more weight away from the back tires, and to the front tires where it's truly needed to increase turning-grip ability. (legs & feet are heavier than you'd expect...) This weight being transferred away from the back tires further lowers the understeer issues that live-axle, rear-engine fun karts are typically plagued with.
Something like this funkart design:
(I think offering a dual-pedal option similar to this would be a good thing to consider too)
Compared to conventional stretched-frames: It retains a shorter wheelbase for a more nimble turning ability. The leverage factor of the drivers leg & feet weight resting so far ahead of the front axle transfers more weight away from the back tires, and to the front tires where it's truly needed to increase turning-grip ability. (legs & feet are heavier than you'd expect...) This weight being transferred away from the back tires further lowers the understeer issues that live-axle, rear-engine fun karts are typically plagued with.
Something like this funkart design:
(I think offering a dual-pedal option similar to this would be a good thing to consider too)
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Master Hack
Well-known member
There are adult go karts available everywhere. This is my fav.
Jacka$$withawrench
Active member
nah, they're miatas
Master Hack
Well-known member
We're talking Karts not skateboards!
pearl111
Well-known member
This is the way that I extended my go-karts so that I could fit it I'm 6 ft tall and it works pretty well
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Hellion
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They were ALL designed to fit adults. Never intended, from the beginning, for children or teens for that matter. That was a later thing and with (usually) a name change a la "fun kart" or "yard kart" which the latter is more a colloquial term. The first go karts were invented by speed-freak men what wanted a race car smaller, more compact and nimble than a quarter midget. You're not supposed to be "comfortable" with all the leg room of your mother's Oldsmobile station wagon. To have leg room on a kart, means it's a kart-limousine with a 30ft turning circle.
(very few kids)
Sure there's a market for them but none produced on a mass scale. Good luck on your endeavors in that area.
Bonus points if you can identify those three grown men.
Downadirtroad
New member
I'm sure there is a market, the question is how large is this segment and how does one access it. Gopowersports has a very basic frame for just north of $1k, as you mentioned. KJRacing has a kit for much more, but it's a full blown cross-kart frame. And there are others I've seen listed. But I haven't seen anything under the $1k mark. Maybe follow KJ's path and offer a builder kit that would mean the owner would have to have a welder or know one, but would greatly reduce your process time and ease transport costs. The tubing bender, notcher, etc. seem to be a bigger limitation for a lot of people than a basic MIG welder might be.
Like a lot of things, maybe a good idea would be to put together a kit, list it for sale and see if there's a buyer? Just a thought. Whatever direction you take, hope it works out for you.
Downadirtroad
New member
Easy bonus for the gray-hairs in the group. lol. But agreed, go-karts started out for adults. Maybe the average adult was just smaller back then? Joking, kindaThey were ALL designed to fit adults. Never intended, from the beginning, for children or teens for that matter. That was a later thing and with (usually) a name change a la "fun kart" or "yard kart" which the latter is more a colloquial term. The first go karts were invented by speed-freak men what wanted a race car smaller, more compact and nimble than a quarter midget. You're not supposed to be "comfortable" with all the leg room of your mother's Oldsmobile station wagon. To have leg room on a kart, means it's a kart-limousine with a 30ft turning circle.
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(very few kids)
Sure there's a market for them but none produced on a mass scale. Good luck on your endeavors in that area.
Bonus points if you can identify those three grown men.
Denny
Canned Monster
Elvis “The Pelvis” Presley
Steve McQueen
James “Jim Rockford” Garner
Steve McQueen
James “Jim Rockford” Garner
bullseye670
Active member
Cool pictures. Beat me to it, Denny.
Denny
Canned Monster
Elvis and Jim were 6’+.
ezcome-ezgo
G'me sumthin to write on
But that's all right.
Denny
Canned Monster
Don’t you mean. But that’s all right momma. That’s all right with me.
Whitetrashrocker
Inmate #952016
Just don't let your babies grow to be cowboys
Master Hack
Well-known member
WTF? We're gray hairs or no hairs, mostly. Watch watcha say unless ya want a bunch of cranky old geezers, throwin Geritol bottles at ya.
Denny
Canned Monster
I save my Geritol bottles and reuse them for storing small nuts, bolts, washers and screws. Handy for small nails and tacks too.