| Karting enthusiasts emblazon the image of the | | | | rear rails can be effectively pictured using this |
| perfect chassis in their minds: lightweight, yet | | | | example: suppose you had two bottles - a |
| powerfully durable material capable of launching a | | | | two-gallon jug and a 16 oz. Water bottle. Giving it |
| kart forward without the slightest wear or tear. | | | | a swift, hard poke to its side - which container |
| Rare material that comes with the likes of | | | | has the best chance of tipping to its side? If you |
| professionally built popular race-cars like the | | | | guessed the water bottle, you guessed right! |
| illustrious McLaren. What about karts that could rip | | | | Wider rails provide stability and "foundation" while |
| through side turns at speeding bullet speeds | | | | turning, reducing the side bite overall. |
| without raising a wheel a centimeter above the | | | | Choosing the right frame for your go-kart can |
| ground, gliding swiftly like a falco such as the | | | | largely depend on the surface you are riding on. |
| futuristic cars in I, Robot? And along with perfect | | | | Whether it is asphalt, concrete, or dirt - different |
| frames comes perfect tires, tires "grooven" to | | | | types of frames behave differently according to |
| perfection providing the finest traction and | | | | surface. For example, dirt track frames should |
| downright freakish controls when running the | | | | consist of a short front rail and a longer back rail. |
| curve. | | | | Dirt tracks place a lot of stress and challenge on |
| Let's discuss the intricacies and place a | | | | the front rail and stiff back rails zipping through |
| perspective on frames for your go-kart. The | | | | dirt can cut power to the engine while cutting a |
| chassis as it is called in professional and enthusiast | | | | turn. The best frame for riding dirt tracks are |
| circles, is by far the most important piece of this | | | | ones with narrow fronts and longer backs, vice |
| machine. The construction is paramount in | | | | versa to asphalt and concrete. |
| maintaining a solid go-kart. What constitutes a | | | | The A-1 performance of a frame largely depends |
| frame? Think of a frame simply as parts holding a | | | | on tire traction as well. Low traction tires (tires |
| component together. In the case of these | | | | that do not "stick" well to the ground) are not |
| speedsters, the frame is welded together by | | | | grooved enough to withstand the rigors of the |
| torsion bars. Stiff frames are a result of shorter | | | | surface, rattling the stiff frame to oblivion. It also |
| bars crossed together, and more flexible frames | | | | causes uneven weight transfer throughout the |
| are associated with longer bars. | | | | go-kart, and that is a no-no for maintaining |
| Stiff frames that do not provide flexibility were | | | | optimum control of your money maker. Consider |
| the backbone of earlier go-karts and broke down | | | | this scenario: you have two pairs of roller skates. |
| easily. First off, simpler go-karts do not have the | | | | One has wheels half-an-inch in width and the other |
| specifications needed (most important, suspension | | | | has 3-inch-wide wheels. Which pair would provide |
| and tire traction) to ease the punishment frames | | | | better balance as you roller skate? If you love |
| go through while turning, accelerating, and | | | | mathematics, treat traction as a formula with the |
| stopping. Running on 2 or 4 cycle engines does | | | | equation: traction = stability. Go ahead, transform |
| not help compensate the health of a frame. A | | | | yourself into a karting aficionado with this valuable |
| lack of traction on your tires will cause uneven | | | | piece of knowledge! |
| weight transfer and stability on your frame, | | | | A major issue among karting enthusiasts is the |
| ripping one or both sides loose at the same time. | | | | durability and longevity of flexible frames. |
| In essence, the frame is responsible for | | | | Exposure to punishing breaks and turns, along with |
| determining how well your vehicle moves zipping | | | | the gruelling hits to track walls every now and |
| on asphalt, concrete, or dirt - dictating your | | | | then, can distort the frame which cannot be |
| performance on wide turns and shorter turns. | | | | "popped" back to its original condition. Experts |
| A sturdy, well-built frame is the key to | | | | recommend replacing frames every year. There |
| manoeuvring well on the track, especially when | | | | are many maintenance techniques you could |
| turning. Wait, isn't a frame supposed to be | | | | practice on your kart to keep flexibility intact like |
| resistant to the rigors and demands of punishing | | | | running your kart through a course backwards. |
| your go-kart as it explodes forward? Of course - | | | | Racing a kart using the finish line as your starting |
| but the most important criteria for an excellent | | | | point and your starting point as the finish line will |
| frame is to negotiate turns well. Frames are | | | | have a "reverse effect" on the frame, shaping it |
| directly responsible for how well go-karts turn left | | | | opposite of what it would be shaped if you were |
| and right. Weaker go-karts with cheap | | | | racing the course normally. It's like turning back |
| components are known to slide and drift along | | | | the hands of time on your speedster! |
| turns - in some instances, flipping to its side | | | | The question over choosing the right go-kart |
| entirely with careless driving. "Side bite" is referred | | | | chassis boils down to flexibility. High traction tires |
| to keeping a go-kart planted to the track without | | | | and a stiff frame is a recipe for disaster, causing |
| sliding. Without the proper frame, go-karts will | | | | your machine to turn stiffly and generate |
| manoeuvre out of control, even shutting off in | | | | strenuous effort on the curves. Low traction tires |
| some cases due to over pressure to the engine. | | | | will cause uneven weight transfer and break apart |
| The design of the go-kart chassis has everything | | | | your frame like bread crumbs. Options for frames |
| to do with how well it moves on turns and | | | | mainly depend on what type of go-kart you're |
| maintaining side bite. If the width of the rear rails | | | | riding, as each go-kart and their engine work best |
| (go-kart frames constitute front rails and rear | | | | under certain scenarios. Stiff frames are a staple |
| rails) is narrow, with measurements ranging from | | | | of 2-cycle and 4-cycle engines and flexible frames |
| 24¨ to 25¨ - from "kingpin" to "kingpin", | | | | are found with higher horsepower engines. |
| the ends of the rail - it will have less side bite. | | | | Remember, the more rigorous the circuit, the |
| Wider rails barely ever exceed 30¨ on | | | | more flexible a chassis should be! |
| standard go-karts. The dynamics of the front and | | | | |