Opinions: RM1

Don Kraper · Posted: Thu Aug 01, 2002 11:05 am Post subject: Opinions: RM1

Hey guys...looking at NKN last night I noticed the ad for the RM1. here's the link... www.rm1-kart.com

What does everyone think of this kart? I am new to Karting and have been interested in Rotax Max, but this looks good. I am in the mid-atlantic area WKA, Woodbridge Kart Club, and I wonder if this would be consdered a kart that a novice could run?

John Desouza · Joined: 18 Jul 2001 Posts: 220 Location: Afghanistan,

Kart looks great except for the fact that SSC is the distributor. See other thread. They will control the parts and that basically means we'll all suffer in the end.

Don Kraper · Posted: Fri Aug 02, 2002 5:39 am Post subject: Opinions: RM1

I was just checking that out...and for now, it looks like Rotax Max is the way to go...thanks for the input...

John Desouza · Joined: 18 Jul 2001 Posts: 220 Location: Afghanistan,

I've been running the RotaxMax package for 2 yrs now and wouldn't go any other way.

Charles Pou · Posted: Fri Aug 02, 2002 2:10 pm Post subject: Opinions: RM1

Don, thanks for the post. Very interesting!

Having run chains and 1 gear forever, it doesn't attract me. The chain drive RMax is good enough! However, I can see how a newcomer to karts would like the RM1.

Looks expensive, I wonder what it costs compared to a turnkey chain drive RMax kart?

And, John's comment about SSC, that would be a concern for me too. :-)

Chuck Skowron · Joined: 19 Jul 2001 Posts: 1151

Obviously the RM-1 wouldn't be running with the current chain driven Rotax karts would it?

Is this really a good idea? It looks like the new kart would just fragment a very successful and popular class in karting.

And since the engine is an integral part of the chassis, you couldn't run another class with the chassis if one wanted to (maybe that's their objective).

Why ruin a good thing? "If it ain't broke, don't fix it".

Vernon Head · Posted: Wed Aug 07, 2002 8:05 pm Post subject: Opinions: RM1

What happens when you bend the axle?

Chad Stapleton · Joined: 19 Jul 2001 Posts: 4403

quote:
Originally posted by Vernon Head:
What happens when you bend the axle?

Your wheel wobbles !!
Seriously, as few of us have had the oportunity to fondle this thing yet, a detailed answer is unlikely. BUT if you seriously think rotax have not considered that situation during the design considerations of the DD2, then you are under-estimating one of the worlds leading (and most successful) kart engine manufacturing companies.

Richard Haight · Joined: 18 Apr 2002 Posts: 270

The new Rotax is designed to be a class of it's own, It is a 2 speed, shifter, and it comes as a complete kart, engine-chassis, etc. It also has a sort of "Bumper-car" shock absorbtion system concealed under the front fairing, and an anti climb-over system as part of the rear design.

I don't think that it is going to appeal to too many American karters, as independent as we all are.

Rotax has done a good job with the concept of a spec-engine class, but now they want to start a whole new "Spec-Kart" class?

I could be wrong, but I don't think so....

Nick Weil · Posted: Thu Aug 08, 2002 6:18 pm Post subject: Opinions: RM1

I think Rotax is right on the money with this new kart (at least until we get our hands on it and find whatever bad points we can). I think they intend to fill the void, if there is one, between the FR125 performance and the 125cc shifter karts. I might be off base here, but a lot of people (mostly Americans) seem to have this opinion that if it doesn't have gears to shift, it isn't a high performance vehicle. And because of that look down on karts like the Rotax, Leopard, Biland, etc.

If Rotax markets it properly, and it holds up to the paces we put it through during it's initial release, I don't see how they can go wrong. Now, all of this of course assumes that the price is fair. We shall see...

Nick