How to Turn a Motorcycle Engine into a Go Kart Engine

One way to maximize speed and reliability to your Go Kart engine is to simply utilize a motorcycle engine. Go Kart riding and racing are a fun activity for adults and children. A Go Kart is a small vehicle, with a typical design consisting of a small, automatic engine; four wheels, a steering wheel, and brakes. The Go Kart can be faster, or slower, depending on the age range of the riders and your desired speed. And not only do motorcycle engines make fast, reliable Go Kart engines, they also tend to be affordable and easy to find.

Step 1 - Determine the Motor Type Needed

First, you need to determine what size and type of motorcycle engine you’ll need. Motorcycle engines come in many different sizes and types, and will typically be either a 2-stroke or a 4-stroke engine. These are issues of performance, however. Most motorcycle engines will fit comfortably on any reasonable Go Kart frame you can come up with. Remember, though, that air-cooled engines may be smaller, but they’re not able to run for a long period of time; water-cooled engines are heavier and larger, but they’re less likely to overheat.

Step 2 - Draw up a Blueprint

Once you have the desired motorcycle engine, you’ll need to take measurements of it and construct a frame with that specific engine in mind. This can be tricky as you will need to mount the engine to the Go Kart, including the carburetor and gas tank, as well as the seating, and the brakeing and steering systems. Just remember to keep your measurements accurate and consistent, and keep your pre-conceived frame design in mind. It is just as true here as it usually is in all aspects of life: an extra hour of planning can save days in completing a task. With the right mixture of all of these things, and by taking your time in correctly following each step, you’ll be able to build your own customized Go Kart from a motorcycle engine.

Step 3 - Mount the Engine

Decide on the type of frame you will build, and carefully begin preparing and securing each piece in place. Remember this is where your seating will be placed, and it will also have to support the size and the weight of your motorcycle engine. Then you’ll want to put into place your steering and driving system. After that, you’ll want to focus on the drive axle assembly.

For most of us, it is sad to say, the tools and equipment required to safely and efficiently design and construct our own Go Karts will be difficult to come by. However, this does not mean it is impossible. All it takes is some patience, time, money, and a safe garage to store the materials and build the Go Kart.