How to Build a Go Kart - Questions You Should Ask Before Designing, Building or Buying a Go-Kart

By Robert Gamble

Where do I start? That is a great question. I get asked that question every day. People ask "I want to build a go kart, but I just don't know where to start."

I have people every day who look at the web page and they are asking the same question but differently "How do I build a go kart?"

Well I am glad you pursued that question, because in this ten part series (Go Kart Building 101 ) is about asking the right questions. I know that sounds silly or too simple, but it really does come down to asking the right questions.

Asking the right questions will believe it or not make the difference between 4 crying boys and 4 happy boys. Asking the right questions will make the difference between $200 and over thousands of dollars in your go karting experience.

Contained in these articles is 10 of the most essential things or questions that you need to ask yourself before you commit to building, buying or fabricating a go kart. Each one of these items needs to be addressed to really have a fulfilling go karting experience. Go karts are about having fun. Why not maximize your fun and look at these questions?

 One Seater or Two Seater? (Who is riding it?)

- The biggest question most people over look, is who is riding it?

- How Many People are riding it?

- Can an adult and a child ride it together?

- Will the go kart be any fun with just one rider?

- Is the go kart too big for even small riders, and will they actually be left out?

- Is the go kart going to be able to accommodate small riders and larger drivers?

These questions should be answered before you proceed further. Even before you discuss price.

There was this family that had three boys and a father who was enthusiastic about go karts. All the kids wanted to ride the go kart, but in reality only the father could ride the go kart by himself. Putting the kids on his lap was not very safe or realistic, so once they got the go kart, it sat. It sat because only the father could enjoy it, and that proved to be only so much fun before the go kart sat idle.

If the go kart choice had been made in the beginning to accommodate more than one rider, the go kart would have been used a lot more.

Another family having the same a similar dilemma had smaller boys who loved riding around in go karts, but the go kart was too big for them at that age. To get the go kart to be able to allow them to ride would have taken extensive modifications, and was never undertaken. Not until the kids became older was the go kart accessible to them. But by that time they had drivers licenses and were disinterested in the go kart.

As we go down the list you will see how each one of the 10 things correlates, or relates to "Who?" is going to ride this go kart. Make sure this question is answered and clear at the outset.

The remainder of the questions are:

- How Is the Go Kart Powered?
- What Kind of Material Am I Intending To Make This Go Kart Out of? Is It Practical?
- How Much Am I Going To Spend Over The Next 5 Years On This Go Kart?
- What Kind Of Drive System Does This Go Kart Have?
- Where Can I Drive This Go Kart?
- Accident Prevention? What Kind of Insurance?
- Safety: How Am I Going To Drive It?
- Where Am I Going To Store It?
- What Kind Of Tools and Equipment Do I Need?
- What Kind of Maintenance Is Going To Be Required On This Go Kart?
- Is The Go Kart Modifiable?