Ken-Bar Fun Karts

[Hellion]

A Ken-Bar Recreation Equipment Fun Karts info-dump. The following is a 1986 full color Ken-Bar tri-fold brochure I found on Fleabay that I have scanned and then another 1992 brochure whose images were stolen off the web. Some later product images follow.

The cover kart seems to be a KB-750-5 H.P. "A-Bone Frame" without the motor cage. The gold nylon wheels front and rear appear to be 5" Azusalite wheels. Wonder if they are painted or molded in color?

 

[Hellion]

The 1992 catalog brochure with Gulf War - Desert Storm models.

 

[Hellion]

Various other karts gleaned from the web...

 

[Hellion]

Same but in red...........




A few with brush guards "roll cages" which are often missing on used karts:






A Ken-Bar S-465 Streaker "Predator" with a bird of prey floor pan decal, but in white.


Nice hot rod kart:

 

[panchothedog]

Amazing, how much of this stuff we used to make and sell in this country.

 

[Functional Artist]

Amazing, how much of this stuff we used to make and sell in this country.

Regulations & lawsuits slowly "killed" the American Go Kart (& mini bike) manufacturing industry
...kind of a DEATH by 1,000 cuts

Since then, foreign manufacturers (mostly China) have been shipping their junk (go karts, buggies, minibikes, scooters etc.) here

Is this stuff (go karts, buggies, minibikes, scooters etc.) any better...NO

Is it any safer...NO

Is it higher quality...HAIL NO
&
Yea...try-n-sue a foreign company (in China)
...for...anything (medical bills, wrongful death etc.) Good Luck with that

But/now

Hopefully with this "new" administration

...& the admirable goals of repatriating manufacturing, here in America
...the "environment" is "ripe" for ambitious entrepreneurs to "Spread their Wings"

So, maybe...just maybe

 

[panchothedog]

Regulations & lawsuits slowly "killed" the American Go Kart (& mini bike) manufacturing industry
...kind of a DEATH by 1,000 cuts

Since then, foreign manufacturers (mostly China) have been shipping their junk (go karts, buggies, minibikes, scooters etc.) here

Is this stuff (go karts, buggies, minibikes, scooters etc.) any better...NO

Is it any safer...NO

Is it higher quality...HAIL NO
&
Yea...try-n-sue a foreign company (in China)
...for...anything (medical bills, wrongful death etc.) Good Luck with that

But/now

Hopefully with this "new" administration

...& the admirable goals of repatriating manufacturing, here in America
...the "environment" is "ripe" for ambitious entrepreneurs to "Spread their Wings"

So, maybe...just maybe

I like your train of thought. Especially the part about the new administration. The part that worries me is that we have " too many bottom feeding lawyers " just waiting to sue anybody for just about anything. Total disregard to the damage they do to businesses in particular, and society in general. All that they care about is getting their 40% of the judgment.

 

[Hellion]

I like looking at the price lists. Don't have one for 1992 but the 1986 one is c r a z y. That's a lot of money for 1986 isn't it? That's some spoiled kids who got a go kart for Christmas.

I'm going to use that price list to price similar go karts I "flip" for profit. A basic live axle single-seat kart MSRP $479.95 sounds fair enough.

 

[Hellion]

A Ken-Bar XL-60 found in the wild (Failbook).

Pity the owner cut away the body to fit the worthless cone filter. They're best for street use, not dirt. There appear to be pedal extensions installed (boxes). Sold for $700.

Ken-bar yard kart, has predator 212 motor. We did the stage 1 upgrades, it’s jetted bigger to run nitrous (whippet canisters) but the button on the canister trigger messed up. Solid axle, torque converter, oil catch can. Have extra belts and brass bushings to go with it. 700 or interested in trades. Really looking for a 110 or 125 dirt bike, no Chinese crap. Can add cash on top. The crazier the better!

 

[Hellion]

Ken-Bar JP-7 Dirt Dog go-kart​

It's a copy of a Jeep Wrangler YJ. Interesting that the fiberglass body is asymmetrical, having one open "door" but only on the left. Probably a structural rigidity problem with both doors "off" or with the U shaped cutaway on both sides.

 

[Hellion]

Continued...

 

[Whitetrashrocker]

Fun fact.
Jeep went to square headlights.
Every one said whYJeep.
Easy way to remember....

 

[Hellion]

Some more Ken-Bar karts found around the web:

A Rupp/American Express style frame. I think it is the KB-750 A-Bone from the 1986 brochure. Note the "angle iron" pedals with the circular pedal pads.


Ken-Bar S-465 "Rebel" with original parts, seat cushion, safety flag, engine

 

[Hellion]

An unknown Ken-Bar kart, sort of a classic style single seater.








An earlier kart with the fabricated pedals as seen in post #13