Karts Archives | GoKartLife

Go-karting is awesome, but not everyone has the ability, space, or the means to buy a go-kart or paying $80 for 20 minutes of fun at the local track. However, there is something that you can do about that, and it's called drift kart. A drift kart is a scaled-down go-kart specifically built for neighborhoods; it produces much less power, lower speeds, and is quiet due to its electric battery-powered motor. Drift karts are perfect for younger kids as an introduction to real go-karts. Drift karts are perfectly suitable for both kids and adults and can be bought for a reasonable price. To help you decide on the best drift karts and what you can expect from them, I've selected the following five drift karts. I will tell you which drift kart is the best based on what I think is important when comparing age range, weight capacity, battery life, and other aspects. I will also provide you with a simple drift kart buying guide and distance calculator at the end of this article, so make sure you read it all. So without further ado, let's start with what I think is the best drift kart for your child. Razor Crazy Cart Shift Razor Crazy Cart Shift - Red $470.00 Buy on Amazon Specifications: Age Group: 6+Weight Limit: 120lbsBattery: 2 X 12V batteriesBattery Life: Up to 40 minutesCharge Time: 2.5 hoursMax Speed: 8 mphDimensions: 35" x 12.4" x 24.6"Kart Weight: 29.4lbs Razor Crazy Cart Shift is the best drift kart on this list because of its versatility and the fact that anyone can ride it. Even kids as young as 6 years old can ride this kart with confidence. A simplified drift system allows even first-time drivers to take control and have fun without safety concerns, even though this kart does not have breaks. Parents might be wary of that fact; however, this kart can only go up to 2.5 mph when set to low-speed power. For more experienced kids, you can power it up to a high-speed setting or 8 mph. Karts frame is built from high-impact polymer, making the kart lightweight and durable. It is by far the smallest drift kart on the list and weighs less than 30 pounds. This makes Razor Crazy Cart Shift easy to transport, even in the trunk of a sedan car. Pros Great for beginnersEasy to assembleBest value Cons Slow speedLesser weight limitNo brakes Razor Crazy Cart XL Razor Crazy Cart XL - 36V Electric Drifting Go... $799.99 Buy on Amazon Specifications: Age Group: AdultWeight Limit: 240lbsBattery: 3 X 12V sealed lead acid batteriesBattery Life: Up to 40 minutesCharge Time: Up to 12 hoursMax Speed: 14 mphDimensions: 42.9" x 30.1" x 26.2"Kart Weight: 112.2lbs I chose Cart XL as my second best drift kart because it is adult-friendly. You may disagree with that choice, but I like to be that cool dad who plays with his kid and doesn't mind drift racing a six-year-old. Easy win every time :) Jokes to the side, Cart XL is the most powerful drift kart on the list. The top speed is around 14mph, even though it weighs a whopping 112 pounds. That is quite heavy for a drift kart, but it is made for adults and can hold up to 240 pounds of weight. Very impressive. Due to its 3 12V batteries, you can expect to get about 40 minutes of a ride with this kart. Three batteries have a huge negative, though; it can take up to 12 hours for the batteries to fully charge. Are 12 hours of charging worth 40 minutes of fun with your kid? I personally don't see a problem with that if you have a garage, but I'll let you decide. Pros Adult FriendlyFast and nimble240lbs weight capacityYou'll beat your kid every time Cons No brakesLong charge timeVery heavy for a drift kartThe price Razor Force Drifter Kart Razor Force Drifter Kart Buy on Amazon Specifications: Age Group: 8+Weight Limit: 140lbsBattery: 2 X 12V sealed lead acid batteriesBattery Life: Up to 40 minutesCharge Time: 3 hoursMax Speed: 12 mphDimensions: 38.2" x 26.4" x 15.3"Kart Weight: 57.6lbs Next on the list of the best drift karts is Razor Force Drifter. I have to admit; I am not a big fan of these handlebars. I would much rather have a steering wheel. It just feels more natural to drive with a wheel. However, you will not find on some other models presented here is the brake on those handlebars. Those brakes are a big plus for some helicopter parents. Those parents will also appreciate the seatbelt that comes standard. Buy a go-kart helmet if you are so concerned :) The wheels on this kart are larger than on other drift karts, and I really like that; I think they create a smoother ride. On the opposite side of the brake is the acceleration button. Unlike other drift karts where you use your food to accelerate, you instead use the thumb. I guess this is another aspect of this drift kart that I am not fond of, but I don't mind it; I think it helps kids develop their motor skills. Pros Three hours of charge timeHas brakes and a seatbeltLarger wheels that create sparks when you pull the lever Cons Handlebars instead of the wheelAcceleration button on the handlebarNot beginner friendly Razor Crazy Cart Razor Crazy Cart - 24V Electric Drifting Go Kart -... $499.99 Buy on Amazon Specifications: Age Group: 9+Weight Limit: 140lbsBattery: 2 X 12V sealed lead acid batteriesBattery Life: Up to 40 minutesCharge Time: 4.5 hoursMax Speed: 12 mphDimensions: 37" x 24" x 19"Kart Weight: 55.2lbs Let's move on to our next cool drifting kart, which has kind of a crazy name, Razor Crazy Cart. Why did the manufacturer name it this way? I have no idea, but I'm sure kids like it. This kart is pretty similar to the first two in the sense that it does not have brakes. It does have a seatbelt, however, for parents' peace of mind. By pressing on the acceleration paddle, you can get this kart up to 12 mph for about 40 minutes of fun. Like most models, this kart can handle about 140lbs of weight and is meant for kids at least 9 years of age. The kart itself is pretty compact and not too heavy; 55 pounds is a perfect weight to lift into the back of your car. You might need an SUV for transport as the wheel is placed pretty high on this kart. Pros Has a seatbeltCool name that your kids will likeHigher steering wheel placement for better handling Cons No brakesKids need to be at least 9 years old Razor Drift Rider Razor Drift Rider Buy on Amazon Specifications: Age Group: 9+Weight Limit: 143lbsBattery: 22V rechargeable lithium-ion batteryBattery Life: Up to 40 minutesCharge Time: 5 hoursMax Speed: 9 mphDimensions: 37.6” x 23.7” x 23.4”Kart Weight: 24.4lbs And the last kart on the list of best drift karts is not really a kart; it's a Razor Drift Rider. It is a tricycle. So why did I include it here, you ask? I did it because it's cool, and it offers a different perspective to you, the buyer, and a different experience to your child. This tricycle is made to allow your child to turn onto the corners while drifting. You do not need any fancy handlebars to do the drift, you move quickly to one side or the other, and this little vehicle will drift like there is no tomorrow. Even though it looks fragile compared to other karts listed here, it can still handle the same amount of weight while being the lightest of them all. Transporting this tricycle is a breeze; you can even put it on the back seat. One interesting thing to point out is that even though it says the battery life will be around 40 minutes, it will last much more than that. Kids will release the acceleration button while drifting, unlike the kart where they won't. Pros Its a tricycleHas brakesAbility to lean into cornersBest for transportCheaper that the rest Cons Its a tricycle5 hours to chargeSlower than most Best Drift Karts - Buying Guide Do you really need a buying guide for drift kart? Maybe not, but I figured since you are going to spend a few hundred dollars on it, you might as well have a good idea of how to buy the right drift kart the first time around. Comfort Kids don’t mind being uncomfortable, but as parents, we try to make them comfortable in any way we can. Therefore, choosing a comfortable padded seat, appropriate kart size with an adjustable seat should be a priority. You don’t want to have your kids complain about pain or bruising caused by things that did not have to happen. Speed Please pay attention to the kart speed I provided above because you don’t want to buy a kart that crawls along or buy a Crazy XL for a 6-year-old kid. It would help if you were comfortable with the kart you are buying for your child, making sure that they will not get hurt. They have to be able to control the kart fully when they hit that maximum speed. Portability Portability is not going to be an issue for most parents as we do not tend to drag drift karts around most of the time, but if you do, make sure you buy something that can fit in the back of your car. The regular sedan might not do it because of the trunk height, but every SUV should fit any drift kart in the back. Just be aware of the go-kart weight; you don’t want to buy something too heavy if you expect to make frequent trips. Distance Go-karts do not have odometers, but you should still have an idea of how far your kids can run away on one of them. In case they do, of course. How far can an electric go-kart travel on one battery charge? Take the max speed, multiply it by the time it is expected to run on one charge, and divide by 60 minutes. Distance = (speed * run time) / 60 minutes Or, if you are not a math person, just use this handy speed-to-distance calculator. Speed Distance Time Calculator Weight Capacity Chances are, your kid will not exceed the weight limit of a drift kart. But if they do, you should probably know about it. Buying a drift kart that can't handle the weight of a person using it will cause the kart to break. On the other hand, you don't need to buy Cart XL if your child is a twig. Save yourself some money and know the drift kart weight capacity before you buy one. Additional Features Most manufacturers always try to separate themselves from the crowd by introducing additional features. But additional features are just that, additional. It does not mean one kart is better than the other because it has a cup holder. Decide what is important to you and go with that, don't get caught up in the flashy advertising. Conclusion So there you go guys, that is my list of best drift karts you can buy on Amazon. I hope I was able to deliver on your expectation. I've tried to give you a different perspective, a bit of food for thought with that tricycle option at the end. If you think I've missed something or think there is a drift kart that deserves to be on the list, please let me know; I would love to include it here.