Off Road Karting
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Unlike racing karts, which are designed to be used on a paved circuit, off road karting uses a vehicle specially designed for rougher terrain. Off road karting is becoming increasingly popular and the number 
of karts manufactured for this use has increased in the last few years. Off road karts are intended for adult use and are not to be thought of as toys, which is a mistake often made when the phrase ‘go kart’ is mentioned. Most adults, whether using a racing kart or an off road kart prefer the term ‘kart’ to ‘go kart’ to avoid the implication that it is a toy!
History
The first ‘off road’ kart is usually accredited to Honda who produced the Odyssey in 1977. A kart with a 250 cc two stroke engine and CVT transmission it had larger tires than the racing karts to give better traction and ground clearance and a roll cage. proving popular Honda released two more karts in 1985 and 1989 with substantial improvements, including electric start engines and full front and back suspension. Disappointedly sales were low as the price was high and Honda ceased production in 1990. Since that time the lead has been taken by Chinese manufacturers who produce much cheaper machines but they have a reputation for poor reliability.
Features
Karts are intended for off road use only, not for registration on roads, so they are distinct from a buggy or a dune buggy in this respect. They are also distinguished from buggies by the lack of a differential and are purpose built specifically for off road use. In the US however the names kart and buggy is often used interchangeably.
Off road karts are designed to be light and have larger tires than racing karts for better traction. Some have top speeds around 50 MPH and full suspension to give a more comfortable ride. Engines are usually four stroke, either water or air cooled and dual wheel brake systems allow fast stopping.
As more and more off road karts are produced they are rapidly growing in popularity as they offer safety advantages and better pricing than many ATV’s. We expect that in the near future competition will drive the prices down further and karts with even more features will be produced.
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