One of the biggest factors to consider when deciding how to get started with Karting will be which engine to go with.
A number of factors will weigh heavily into what you decide to go with, your options might be limited by the age of the driver, with Jr Drivers racing smaller displacement lower-powered engines on Cadet Karts, or you might be looking for a certain balance of performance and maintenance.
Karting Engines will be grouped into categories,
A) Dedicated Jr Karting Engines and Restricted versions of Adult Kart Engines
B) 4 Cycle Kart Racing Engines
C) Air-Cooled Single Speed Kart Racing Engines
D) Water Cooled Single Speed Kart Racing Engines
E) Shifter Kart Engines
For a Rules Reference for Kart engines and kart chassis see the 2021 IKF Rulebook, which covers many styles and generations of kart engines and chassis types. 2021-IKF-Rulebook
The other major factor is if the engine is currently being raced, or has been raced in the past.
Oftentimes used karts can be found at very attractive prices, with engines no longer being widely raced, which might be fine if you simply plan to “track day” your kart.
JR Karting Engines
Examples of Jr Kart Engines being widely raced today in age groups 7-15 years old include:
IAME Mini Swift 60cc Two-Stroke 7-13 years old.
IAME KA100 Restricted 11-15 years old.
Mini Rok Engine 60cc Two-Stroke 7-13 years old.
ROK VLR 100CC Restricted 12-15 years old
Adult Karting Engines offer a variety of options across performance, cost, and required maintenance.
Briggs & Stratton Lo206 4 Cycle
The most user-friendly and best engine for beginners is the Briggs and Stratton Lo206 class Karts.
These are 4 Stroke Engines, running pump gas, are low maintenance, and have long service intervals. Perfect for low-cost track time and are well suited for those that need to start out with simple machinery while getting started.
This class of kart is widely raced across the country.
Two-Stroke Engines
Two-Stroke Engines are the most common kind of engine associated with Karting today due to their inherent simplicity and performance.
Two-Stroke Kart Racing engines offer very high performance in a small lightweight package. They do require more frequent maintenance than 4 stroke engines, but many people are willing to trade off the added cost and more frequent service intervals for the performance and driving dynamic they offer.
Kid & Cadet Kart Engines
These are Karting Engines dedicated to young karters and are basically scaled-down versions of larger adult karting engines.
The Comer 80 Service Manual
Comer 80 Install Guide
Mini Rok Service Manual
IAME Mini Swift Service Manual
100cc Air-Cooled Single Speed Engines
Of two-stroke Karting Engines, you will commonly see 100cc Air Cooled engines and 125cc water-cooled engines.
Air-cooled 100cc engines commonly raced today would be the IAME KA100, or the ROK VLR.
Both are purpose-built racing engines with very high performance, onboard starters, relatively low maintenance, and less cost than larger water-cooled engines.
The Yamaha KT100 and the IAME HPV/KPV Engine are still commonly spotted at SMKA and were widely raced until very recently, and are still raced in some race series.
Hortsman HPV/KPV IAME 100cc Karting Engine Technical Manual and Service Guide
Walbro WB-3A Carburetor Rebuild Instructions
KA100 Technical Manual
KA100 Engine Overhaul Guide
ROK VLR 100cc Engine Manual
125cc Water Cooled TAG Engines
Next is 125cc Water Cooled “TAG” or Touch & Go Kart engines.
This class of Kart Engine pioneered electric start Karting Engines, though, the current generation of 100cc Air Cooled engines also feature on-board starter motors.
125cc TAG Motors are widely raced, and many feel these engines are the sweet spot in Karting. Very high level of performance, with the simplicity and driveability similar to air-cooled options, but without the next step up in complexity and cost found in shifter karts.
The IAME X30 125cc Engine is a very common and raced engine, as is the ROK GP Engine.
Rotax, IAME Leopard, PRD Fireball, and others are older and not as widely Raced, but are commonly seen at the SMKA on any given weekend.
IAME MY09 Parilla Leopard Service Manual
IAME X30 Technical Manual
IAME X30 Full Overhaul Manual
ROK GP Service Manual
Rotax Max Service Manual
PRD Fireball Engine Manual
PRD Fireball Install and User Guide
SHIFTER KARTS
Shifter Karts are the fastest, most complex, and also most costly karting class to run.
Shifter Karts are an experience but are often a handful for those new to karting.
The widespread advice in karting circles is to not start with a shifter kart but to step into one after you’re well familiar with karting. It will take much longer to learn how to drive a shifter kart at its potential having no foundation in karting established.
The previously mentioned Kart Engine manufacturers, IAME and ROK are well represented in pro-level shifter kart racing, but Honda motorcycle engines were standard kart racing engines for quite some time, and many can be found used at a great price.
These Honda CR125 or CR80 Shifter Karts have the advantage of being produced in large numbers, as they were built for Motorcycles, BUT they were also adapted to Karting, and are not purpose-built for the job as other Shifter Kart Engines are, such as The IAME 175cc Super Shifter.