Newby - Project -Kinroad Shark XT150G-9 to Yamaha XJ750cc

[KTpidlin]

KT here. First post.
At 46 obtained my first go kart. Have a Yamaha 750cc engine I plan to install as soon as my son gets bored with the GY6 engine or it gives up the ghost. Probably a winter project.
It has the swing arm type rear suspension. Motor is unsprung weight. Steering seems okay. Rack and pnion type with hydraulic disc brakes. Thinking of doing indepent rear suspension and rigid mounting the engine.
Tools at my disposal - Stick / TIG welder, torches, bandsaw, milling machine, lathe.
Lots of hobby fabrication over the years. I used to do cars; Chevelles, Cameros etc. As I got older I did a couple of old tractor restorations. I've always been a dirtbike fanatic. Currently have a YZ250. Past bikes 06 YZ450F, 05 KTM EXC250.
Great site for trading knowledge.

 

[OzFab]

Great site for trading knowledge.

That it is...

That's a nice lookin' beast you have there but, I can't help wondering how you're gonna shoe horn a 750 into it, not to mention how you're gonna control that much power... Ok, you obviously have the engine at your disposal but, is there any way you can downsize it a bit?

Welcome to the forum

 

[landuse]

Welcome

 

[Doc Sprocket]

Welcome to the forum! I must wonder if that buggy (cool as it is) is up the the task of enduring that much power? That 750 is likely rated 70-100hp. That's a he// of a lot compared the the little GY6 in there now...

 

[firemanjim]

Welcome. .... Without beefing up everything, you will never really get to use all that power, at least not real hard. Youre gonna need a lot of support on your axle,how ever you do it, to hold the grunt torque of the 750...

 

[KTpidlin]

Point taken from all. I tend to be a bit over zealous when it comes to adrenaline producing projects. Just got back to the forum today after working on the cart a bit. I like the cart but the 750 is quite the overkill at 82hp and around 180 lbs. Only originally intended to be an experiment. My 13 yr old son has taken such a liking to it I don't think it will ever sit still long enough to convert. I've got an offer of a free 250cc Chinese ATV (Apache). I'm thinking that will be a better upgrade.
All this has definitely got my awareness and interest up regarding adult mini-biggies / karts. For now I'm going to do my research and start collecting parts and plans for a 50-100hp off-road set up. There are plenty of examples out there that will make old motocrosser back off the throttle quickly.
Thanks for the feedback.

 

[firemanjim]

I put a 200 cc Honda atc engine in my sons crossfire kart. It has 5hi/5low gear box...... PERFECT for a mini buggy..... Cant wait till our build is done.
O yeah, that is a NICE looking kart.