Choosing right frame for your go-kart can largely depend on surface you are riding on. Whether it is asphalt, concrete, or dirt – different types of frames behave differently according to surface. For example, dirt track frames should consist of a short front rail and a longer back rail. Dirt tracks place a lot of stress and challenge on front rail and stiff back rails zipping through dirt can cut power to engine while cutting a turn. The best frame for riding dirt tracks are ones with narrow fronts and longer backs, vice versa to asphalt and concrete.

The A-1 performance of a frame largely depends on tire traction as well. Low traction tires (tires that do not “stick” well to ground) are not grooved enough to withstand rigors of surface, rattling stiff frame to oblivion. It also causes uneven weight transfer throughout go-kart, and that is a no-no for maintaining optimum control of your money maker. Consider this scenario: you have two pairs of roller skates. One has wheels half-an-inch in width and other has 3-inch-wide wheels. Which pair would provide better balance as you roller skate? If you love mathematics, treat traction as a formula with equation: traction = stability. Go ahead, transform yourself into a karting aficionado with this valuable piece of knowledge!

A major issue among karting enthusiasts is durability and longevity of flexible frames. Exposure to punishing breaks and turns, along with gruelling hits to track walls every now and then, can distort frame which cannot be “popped” back to its original condition. Experts recommend replacing frames every year. There are many maintenance techniques you could practice on your kart to keep flexibility intact like running your kart through a course backwards. Racing a kart using finish line as your starting point and your starting point as finish line will have a “reverse effect” on frame, shaping it opposite of what it would be shaped if you were racing course normally. It’s like turning back hands of time on your speedster!

The question over choosing right go-kart chassis boils down to flexibility. High traction tires and a stiff frame is a recipe for disaster, causing your machine to turn stiffly and generate strenuous effort on curves. Low traction tires will cause uneven weight transfer and break apart your frame like bread crumbs. Options for frames mainly depend on what type of go-kart you’re riding, as each go-kart and their engine work best under certain scenarios. Stiff frames are a staple of 2-cycle and 4-cycle engines and flexible frames are found with higher horsepower engines. Remember, more rigorous circuit, more flexible a chassis should be!

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Copyright 2005 Steve Danielson. All rights reserved.