Post by: Stand_watie on June 19, 2005, 05:49:12 PM
So I thought I'd get us a full size go cart, and was looking at a couple of these chinese jobbies - the yamaha dealer I was looking at one at claims it's a 'genuine dune buggy, not a go-cart' but I thought that might be a little pretentious. Still I thought it would maybe get around nearly as good as a four-wheeler for light off roading, with the major bonus of riding two people comfortably - anybody have any experience with these? What are the advantages of water cooled vs. air cooled motors? Do they come in any sizes larger than 250 cc (that's the biggest I've found on the web)?
Xintian 150 cc
Xingyue 150 cc
Post by: InfidelSerf on June 19, 2005, 06:06:42 PM
400cc single 2stroke. http://members.aol.com/dunepilot/ for more info.
The FL400 was only made one or two years. They sold new for about 5K
And if you can find someone to sell you one. You'll pay 5K or more.
One common modification was to stuff a CR500 motor in them. OOOooo doggy!
But what an awesome machine.
I used to work for a dealership back then and got to take several of them out during a Honda "Demo Days"
I ran across this link while trying to identify a gocart I saw at a local Yamaha dealer..which turned out to be a Dinli (?)brand trail cart
http://www.gokartsrus.com/go-karts-trail-c-78.html?osCsid=29bcda4f1bde1bc23577ef5a939c652c
Post by: garyk/nm on June 19, 2005, 06:43:03 PM
http://www.thebeast.azit.com/LairOfBEAST.htm
Post by: Harold Tuttle on June 19, 2005, 07:05:20 PM
http://www.bugxter.net/videos.php
it looks like the 150s are underpowered:
http://www.bugxter.net/links/out.php?id_lien=15
http://www.nan-buggy.com/catalog1.html
175:
http://extrememinirails.com/index.cgi?175double.html
250:
http://store.pocketbikewholesalers.com/kd250fs2.html
Post by: Sylvilagus Aquaticus on June 20, 2005, 12:23:26 AM
I had a nice little VW sandrail for a few years. Bought it with a T-trailer and a spare frame along with a footlocker ful of spares for about a grand. It'd climb vertical creekbanks, cover the pasture at 60+ mph, turn at 90 degree angles with the turning brakes applied. Street legal, too. Take your time and look around. I imagine there's one in the Thrifty Nickel or whatever little trader paper you have in front of Wallyworld or most rural C-stores in your neck of ETX.
Even a stock 1600 bug motor will make them fly- you're talking about (usually) less than 1000 pounds- mine was about 800 lbs, which isn't much more than these new generation quads. It's more durable than the Chinese junk, you can buy replacement and maintenance parts at any parts store, and if you want to really have fun with it, build up an 1835 cc motor, stick lights on it, and use it for your Saturday car. The little things are QUICK! You can sure surprise yourself and others, especially these little whippersnappers in their NissanHondaYotas witht he big wheels and mortar tube exhausts, especially when you take a hard right off into the boonies after showing them your tail lights.
A word of advice- consider putting wheelie bars on it.
There are a ton of manufacturers and parts available. VW's are, to me, easier to work on than a Briggs and Stratton.
for example-
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=sandrail+parts
Besides, they also hold up a LOT better than the Chinese jobbies when you jam a pine tree
Enjoy!
Regards,
Rabbit.
Post by: RevDisk on June 20, 2005, 04:10:37 AM
Try one of these if ya have the budget. http://www.chenowth.com/military.html
The FAV's are incredibly fun to drive.
Post by: Harold Tuttle on June 20, 2005, 01:00:18 PM
http://www.git.com.au/~theedge/buggies_ballistic.htm
good forum:
http://www.buggynews.com/forum-1.html
Post by: caseydog on June 20, 2005, 01:19:54 PM
http://www.ridgerunner.biz/home.html
Post by: Harold Tuttle on June 20, 2005, 07:20:23 PM
kinda pricey thou
http://www.funco-motorsports.com/big_5_turn-key_with_motor.htm
http://adcache.atvtraderonline.com/5/1/4/79438314.htm
Post by: Sylvilagus Aquaticus on June 20, 2005, 10:21:16 PM
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=VW+sandrail+frames
The $1000 range is for a well-used one that may, of course, need some work but hey, VW's are easy to work on.
If you're interested in getting into it in earnest, consider buying a frame kit or rolling chassis and add your choice of bug motor and transaxle. Harold is quite corect, the Funco models are very good. You can go all the way up to seriously high-end Chevy V-8 models, turnkey at upwards of 47k. http://www.sandrocket.com/index.html
Regards,
Rabbit.
Post by: Harold Tuttle on June 21, 2005, 03:27:40 PM
nice fuel tank
http://adcache.atvtraderonline.com/16/0/9/79596109.htm
Post by: Stand_watie on June 25, 2005, 06:58:54 PM
Now, I suppose it's a little late now that I've already bought the thing, but I wonder just how interchangeable motors are? Suppose I got a japanese 350 or 450, I wonder if it would fit to the frame of this dealie?
Post by: Sylvilagus Aquaticus on June 25, 2005, 10:49:02 PM
Harold, if you painter that thing orange and hung a set of snowplow headlamps, taller rear tires, and a sprung wheelie bar on it, it'd look just like my old one.
I'm gonna have to start looking for another one now
Regards,
Rabbit.
Post by: Harold Tuttle on June 30, 2005, 06:22:41 PM
