Tips for buying a second hand go-kart.
Let’s keep this one short and sweet, shall we? Buying a second-hand kart is definitely a cheaper option than buying something new and there are some really good karts out there. Here are my tips to make sure you get a good one!
1) Make sure the kart is suitable for your class
There is no point getting all excited about a kart when it won’t suit the class you want to eventually race in, or something so old and obscure that you cannot find parts for it, so before you buy something do your research on the class tyre, engine, and category you want to race.
2) Buy something with affordable and available second-hand parts
In Queensland, there are plenty of kart shops but make sure you buy a “well-known” brand to make sure they stock your kart parts and spares if required. You will see that many kart manufacturers make the same kart under different brands so I have listed those below for reference. These are not all the manufacturers, but the most popular brands in the Australian karting scene.
Drew Price Engineering - Arrow, Sera, Monaco.
OTK Kart Group - TonyKart, EOS, Kosmic Kart, Redspeed, Gillard, Exprit.
BirelART - Birel, Ricciardo, Charles Leclerc, Kubica, CompKart, Swiss Hutless
SodiKart - Sodi, Alpha
Tinini Group - CRG, GP, DR Kart, LH Kart, Evokart.
IPK - Praga, Formula K, OK1, RS Kart, ItalKart.
Parolin - Parolin, Merlin, Vemme, Energy, TopKart
Breda - Kart Republic, Alonso, Will Power
3) Inspect the kart before handing over your hard, earned cash.
This might sound strange for someone new or new-ish to the karting world, but make sure you check the bottom of the kart. What you are looking for is the condition of the chassis. If the tubing has “bottomed out” or is flat instead of round, make sure you check out some other options.
On the topic of checking the condition of the kart - look at the chassis (the tubing) for any obvious cracks. This is a big no-no.
Spin the rear axle - make sure that it doesn’t visibly wobble. This means that the axle or rear end of the kart is bent and that can set you back a few hundred dollars straight out of the gate.
Turn the steering wheel. Does it creek? Is it hard to turn or is it smooth? It should be smooth.
Stickers can be easily replaced so just make sure everything else looks tidy and well looked after.
NB: The kart on the left has been run with chassis protectors (still visible on the kart) and is in very good condition underneath. The kart on the right is in very poor condition and doesn’t look like it has been run with chassis protectors.
4) Ask LOTS of questions
When researching what kart you want to buy, make sure you ask lots of questions. Ask things like “what category and tyre does this kart suit?”, “has the kart been run with chassis protectors?”, “When did you buy it, and from whom?” It is important to understand the history of the kart (i.e. how old it is) and its condition.
Handy tip:
If you are really keen on buying a second-hand kart and know the brand you want to buy, contact kart racing teams. Lots of those guys (and girls) buy a new kart every year, and you can get a modern, very well looked after kart for a very reasonable price.
Last but not least, for those interested - I race in a category called TaG Light. My kart is an S12 CL kart (a BirelART chassis). I purchased it brand new from Holden Kart Racing who is the official Charles LeClerc dealer in QLD. The engine I use is an IAME X30 and that was purchased brand new.
If you are interested in purchasing a Charles LeClerc Kart like mine, contact Barclay Holden from Holden Kart Racing on
0422 303 125.
