Beginner Shifter 80cc or 125cc????

Darren Swisher

A friend of mine (Scott Miller) Just finished college and is getting into karting after many years of 1/4 midgets. He is currently running a Yamaha Lt. Class and wishes to get into a shifter next year. He want to go directly to the 125. I am thinking the same. He is very smooth. Age 24 weight 150 lbs. about 5'10".

What has been some of the members experiences?

DArren

ronnie simpson · Joined: 20 Jul 2001 Posts: 4 Location: atlanta, ga, us of a

i think 80cc shifters are probably the way to start out. i am a beginner, and i race 80's, and i think that it is the way to go for a beginner. they are not quite as fast, and i believe that it makes you a smoother driver.

Kevin Wyman

I too am in the middle of that same decision. I raced 600cc sportbikes for about 6 years but its been 5 or 6 years now. Most of the advice I've been getting from racers is if you have any substantial racing experience (bikes count) then there is no problem going straight to 125s though they did warn of a slightly longer learning curve. A couple did make the point that due to the lack of braking power on the 80s you will tend to learn better smoothness to compensate. OTOH I havn't decided yet either so I guess I'll just have to give one a try. Hopefully I can get some time on a rental to get a feel for each one first.

Kevin

Darren Swisher

Kevin, Our thinking was similar. Scott has the smoothness down. We the limits the 80cc has we would rather start with the 125cc even if the curve is longer. Because in the end that is where he wants to be. We think he has the experience all ready. We just want to get alot of track time.

Darren

Bonnier Moulton · Joined: 18 Jul 2001 Posts: 202

Darren,
With your friend, size isn't an issue and he appears to have experience in reasonably fast karts. (I'm assuming KT pipe and not can?) So I'd say that jumping into a 125 shouldn't be a problem. Yes, the learning curve will be longer, but if that's not an issue, then I don't see a problem.

Braking on an 80 is definitely more difficult in terms of modulation, but a 125 is much more difficult in terms of the time you have to decide when is late and when is too late. What 125s do reward is throttle control. When he gets a 125, do him a favor and put a couple fo extra throttle return springs on, it'll help him a bunch.

Bonnier
Msquared Karting www.msquaredkarting.com

Darren Swisher

Bonnier, Thanks alot. I respect your opinion very much.

He is really looking at a used Jarnu truilli tony kart. A local racer used it for a year and is selling all he has like extra tires, parts, ect. It was built by Harry Elkire (sp) here locally.

I am not sure if thats a good decision or not. He plans on putting 1 year worth of regional skusa then hopes for some national stuff in 2 years.

Darren

Randolph Ferguson · Joined: 20 Jul 2001 Posts: 307

I agree with Bonnier 100%. I Especially like the idea of having multiple return springs (I ahve 3 pipe springs on mine).

Erik Frank

I went from a 100cc clutch kart (DAP T-80 reed engine) to a 125cc shifter. The interesting aspect of that transition was that I went from sprint racing the 100cc kart to road racing the 125cc shifter. That has worked out very well. Now, I'm working to transition the shifter back to the sprint track...completing the circle.

Whenever anyone asks me how they should start out, I *always* reccommend starting out in a 100cc kart. These new Rotax Max setups are very appealing as a starter kart, because there is less to worry about, esp. in term of clutch setup and maintainence. I think the 100cc stuff really teaches you to be smooth, and it teaches you good racecraft.

My $.02

-erik

-erik

Brant Williams

If your friend is placing on the regional (not club) level and a vartiety of tracks (not just a hometown hero) then make the jump straight to 125. Nothing says a driver is ready to move up like wins.

If he in not, then wait. I am not a big 80 cc fan, even though they draw good fields out here. You go shifter racing to learn to steer with your feet as well as your hands. 80's do not have enough juice to do that.

ddroger · Joined: 22 Jul 2001 Posts: 28

Having a shifter with no one, or a very small field to against ain't much fun. For adults, the 80cc classes vary in attendance in a regional/local way. In general, it seems that adult 80s are sparse in the east and more prevalent in the West. BEFORE you buy an 80 OR a 125, check the turn-outs at the places you're gonna race to make sure you will have folks to race with

PWeeks · Joined: 23 Jul 2001 Posts: 95

FWIW, we ran 100cc, junior sportsman for a couple years, then ran 100cc open pipe, then jumped straight into 125 and on the Pro-Moto tour. I think we may have missed some aspects by skipping the 80 class, but as some have pointed out, the learning curve is higher in the 125 and thats where you want to be, so maybe do like us and bite the bullet and hope your carb doesn't fall off!!!