Girard vs desertkart?

[nutz4sand]

The last "mini" rail I had came with a steering wheel (I bought it like that) The only problem was the steering was not a rack or a gearbox but a wig-wag (Or what ever you want to call it) just like a typical quad has on its steering stem.

The machine was pure sand and nearly wide enough for two seats but only had one in the middle. I took an old quad steering stem I had lying around and cut it off and welded it over the steering shaft in the buggy (I got lucky in that it was a nice slip fit) This replaced the sporty little wheel with nice wide handlebars. (I never did move the controls off the floor (gas clutch and brake.) But meant too)

With the handle bars in it was night and day differance! Awesome control and steering that did not tire you out at all.

I had a Honda pilot (The pilot and this creation used to chase each other through the dunes) The Pilot was nice in that you did not have to shift. But this machine was far better to drive other than shifting (It had an older Kawasaki 750 twin four stroke torque monster in it) Even shifting it was not to bad as it was torquer and had a wide rpm range. You did not have to shift it often.

The best way I can sum it up is this. If you have ever been driving a car on the ice and loose control you cannot whip the steering wheel back and forth or steer fast enough if the car gets really screwy.

On a quad with handlebars on ice you whip it back and forth cause its FUN and super easy to control. The buggy was like that with the handle bars. Because they were farther out with the wider handle bars than the Pilots narrower setup it was a lot easier on the arms. More precise as well.

Now you DO need a wider cockpit to use handle bars. But eveyone who I let drive that machine agreed it was headed in the right direction for steering. And if your building it anyways... Making it wide enough is not to much.

The machines I am planning are set up just like a quad or sled. Except you sit IN them instead of on them. With a shifter motor the left foot clicks the gears and the right controls the rear brakes. Gas on the right handle bar. As are front brakes. Taking a hand off the wheel (or bars in this case) to shift is for the birds (IMO)

With the sled motor its all in/on the bars. Just like on a sled.

Because you are not trying to hang on to buggy for dear life like on a typical quad your arms get sooo much less fatigued. Even with steering wheel. But with the handle bars its even better.

Just think how fast you can rail around a track or trails on a quad or bike. Banging gears and working the gas. Now imagine doing that while not having to worry about hanging on.

Just letting you know my thoughts on this. You could leave it big enough to try this and if you did not like it change it over to a Pilot style wheel. But after driving it I bet you wouldn't. I do not force this on anyone. But I sure encourage them to realllly think about it before they proceed.

[mxdubbs]

Hmmm.

That might work out much better,I can see less fatigue,but not that much...

Anyways that does seem like a solid idea,i will try that out...

Dang... It's times like this that your realize that you should of brought that set of handle bars from your other house 150 miles away!!!

Me and my dad are thinking of "pattle shifting" I think that's what it is called,but ware the shifting is electric and there are 2 cilinoids housed in a box. You push a button and one cilinoid pushes up on the shifter,you push a different button and a diffrent cilinoid pushes down on the shifter...

yes I know i dont know how to spell "cilinoid"...

[nutz4sand]

Solenoid :]~

[mxdubbs]

That hurts!!!

[nutz4sand]

Don't feel tooooo bad. I was close (but not right) but I googled it before I posted it!

[mxdubbs]

hey has anybody been to this site Buggyinnovations Mini buggy plans parts and kit sets I like the tack welded frame it seems like its a more stable site unless anybody here has ordered a gararg frame without any problems.

[mxdubbs]

I was looking at them and for what they are there a little to pricey for my budget...

Any body got any picks of the g-maxx???