New found interest...with few questions...

Posts: 5

First, Hi everyone...i have read these forums for quite some time..and am thinking of getting into these buggys. I recently sold my streetbike, my dirtbike and my daughters dirtbike, she really wasn't liking the clutch all that much. Her KLX 110 was stolen so I got her a crf 80 but she started getting all girly girl on me and really complained about the clutch, she got too used to the klx...Well, I sold everything since some court issues with the ex came up and well, after going home to virginia and visiting the family, my daughter really liked her cousins 4 wheelers and go karts. She is almost 15 and was thinking something like a Twister 250 or Blade 250 would be something we both could enjoy together. My questions..not many....
1. Shaft better than Chain ?
2. Blade xt vs Blade xtx: Does the hi/lo make that much of a difference if your not planning on doing tons of hill climbing?
2b. Having the radiator up higher on the xtx vs xt make a big difference?
3. Anyone ride these in oklahoma?

Price wise the xtx and HH are about the same...I dunno, just in betwixed and between here. The only Karts i have seen at dealers around her are BMS, Roketa, GK-06 and something called a supersport 150. I really didnt like any of these or the hefty price tags considering you can get them online alot cheaper than at these dealers it seems. And after reading through here, it really seems the blade, carter, joyner, HH are at the top of the 250's.

I am 5'10 175, daughter is 5'8 125 if that helps.

Sorry to even have to ask more questions...even after reading through these forums....still feel like a noob about these karts.

Posts: 5

I saw here in the forums where someone did alot of modding to a blade 250 and the owner/dealer responded and input that idea into their karts, to me that is kick rear end right there. Stuff like that makes you know they really care about their Karts and the people that ride them. Just wanted to throw that in there.

Posts: 1229

The hi/low range is a plus. If you can find a machine with this feature, you won't regret it....especially in the tough hill climb.

The Joyner, Blade, and Hammerhead all have the hi/low and they are all about the same price range. Each has its own pro/cons, but they are good machines.

Since they all incorporate much the same technology, modding them to your specs is relatively simple.

Glade

Posts: 4277

I agree, the above mentioned 250's are the best of the bunch.

the high/low is a nice feature and you can still do alot of mods to them. I have a Blade 250 xt, and have done cvt mods, air filter, rejet and exhaust.

it runs about 48mph ( in front of an atv with a correct speedo ) and it will go up almost any hill I want.

there is really no advantage to having the rad. up high

Posts: 896

cool avatar...great list of buggy's to choose from. The XTX also comes with a factory installed winch.

Posts: 5

Yeah, just new to all this. And it seems like modding these is just as much fun as running them. I just don't want a cheap a frame that will bend, I have seen some of the chinese dirbikes and the metal is soft, my nephew's is bent all the heck. The sahara 250 is like 2100 vs a blade or HH at 3400+. ARe the sahara's built very weak to be priced like this? Seems like for the price they are a bargain and you can mod the bejesus out of em...anyone have experience with these?

My final thoughts are probably leaning towards the blade xtx, you just can't beat a owner that cares about their equipment..but i am inticed to look at that sahara for the price and knowing you could prolly mod heck out of it and not be put out alot money wise.

Posts: 411

Well i bought the hammerhead ss because they advertised the chromoly frame (stronger/lighter) and thats where i believe the weight savings comes in. Its all power to weight ratio in my opninion. Net weight 617 pounds. All the power plants are basically the same or very simular. My experience.....if you roll it it will bend...the roll cage is more of a protection then a ticket that you should be attempting to roll them.

If you get stuck in the mud without a winch a lighter machine sure is nice;-) But of course a winch is the best if you have one.

Hammerhead is the smallest as well easiest to transport in a truck bed as far as i know 87 inches long 53.5 inches wide 8.5 inches of ground clearance...it fits in my dads 1/4 ton extended cab with the tail gate down. Fits in narrower trails as well.

All of the more popular machines are good choices myself i just find a dealer with a popular machine close to me so parts dont take six weeks to get them. I just stop by his shop and he grabs me the parts. No mailing costs no waiting with machine in pieces. And warranty can be covered locally if needed.

Posts: 323

Be carefull buying a cheap 250!!! I've seen some 250 have a str axle not ind!Independent is a much better suspension!

Posts: 5

No Blade, Joyner, HH, dealers around here in oklahoma city that I have found...only saw some Roketa, BMS buggies around here. So whatever i get will have to be ordered...i really didnt like the roketa from lookin at it..the front aluminum rectangle piece they bolted on the front just looked cheezy to me..and if your willing to do that..then what other parts of it are like that...hell, i culd have cut out a piece of scrap and done that, so it made me weary about the roketa after seeing it in person.

Posts: 941

Just my .02. The Joyners are the best of the bunch as far as quality of construction. They are also a little heavier than the rest. Dont believe the chromoly none of the chinese buggies are chromoly. As far as the 2 speed tranny is concerned unless you live somewhere there are alot of hills you wont like it. In low it has no top end and in high it has no bottom end. You have to come to a complete stop to shift them. A single speed is much better all around for flat driving. Try looking on craiglist for used ones, you would be surprised how many are purchased and then sit in the garage after one or two rides nearly new and in great shape and cost half or less than a new one. There is a 650 sand spider Joyner on craiglist in phx with a turbo and less than 500 km for 3750 or best offer that could be had for around 3200. That is the buggy my 12 year old daughter has and she absolutly loves it. Good luck Van