Choosing a Go-Kart for Your Kid

Go karts are a fun choice for any child, and watching your kid zip around at home or on the track is a lot of fun for parents, too. These great little vehicles are certainly a lot better than another afternoon spent indoors with their video games. However, you'll have to decide which type of go kart you want to buy for your child.

Go karts come in many different varieties and sizes, as well as prices. There are the powerful karts used by go kart racers, many of whom go on to become professional race car drivers. However, these gasoline powered karts might be a little much for children. There are also smaller gas-driven karts out there. These are inexpensive and light, but they do use up a lot of fuel and cause pollution. That means they're not the preferred choice for home use.

Electric Powered Go-Karts

Heavier and more expensive, battery powered go karts are quiet, don't produce any smelly fumes, and are less likely to roll over, providing a safer ride. They get their power from electricity, so they're relatively inexpensive to operate, which offsets the initially higher cost.

Remember that an electric kart can be more difficult to transport if you must lift and carry it. However, if you're only going to be using the kart at home and it'll be stored in the garage, this is less of a problem. Electric karts are a popular choice in neighborhood settings, since they are less likely to cause noise problems and disturb your neighbors.

Consider Terrain

Choose go karts for your child based on terrain, too. Most karts can only be driven on flat terrain, due to their low profile and lack of suspension. However, there are a few go karts that can be driven off road on a limited basis. If driving on uneven terrain is likely, choose a kart that's designed for this use. A standard child's go kart is dangerous if you take it off the pavement.

About Safety

You should also pay attention to safety considerations. Make sure that both you and your child are familiar with the safety requirements of the kart you choose, and that the kart offers minimal hazards. Possible dangers from a kart include flipping, hot motors, and danger in accidents. Electric karts tend to be safer than gasoline powered ones. However, you should still check the battery type in the kart before buying to make sure it's not a safety concern. Look for gel batteries that aren't a fire hazard.

When buying any go kart, remember to take maintenance costs and the price of insurance into account, too. Pay attention to local regulations as well - the laws about kids using a go kart will vary from place to place, and there could be trouble if you don't know them. However, if you do your homework, you and your kids will get a lot of fun out of karting, and a chance to check out the great outdoors.

If you're shopping for a Go Kart, take a look at the partial list of Go Karts for sale displayed below.

Tags: electric kart, gas kart, Go Karts, karting, kids go-karts