I personally like the clutch and onboard starter of the X30, and the lower price and the fact you can also race x30 locally. The low stall clutch on x30 is pretty much always locked anyway, so it still punishes drivers for getting under the power band as was the intention with the OK. However, the clutch makes it easier for gridding up and starting the field and makes it easier for marshals to get a stalled/wrecked kart out of harms way in a yellow situation. The multiple manufacturers sounds good as long as there is parity between manufacturers and they all care about the same… which I just don’t think can be obtained and certainly not sustained. Worst case the dominant brand bounces around year to year causing people to spend even more money and sponsored guys on the beta equipment just getting discouraged or not racing the class or just paying out of pocket for the go fast engine brand that season. The idea of a common international platform that can be replicated nationally and then roll up to a world final is awesome… but unless we race under the FIA or have a national series recognized by the FIA and it’s winner or top finishers get a ticket to an OK-N world final, then I see it as all the downside without the upside. I can be convinced otherwise, I’m honestly not that plugged in, but today I just don’t see why we would change away from X30.
I say it does. Yes, OK-N will be a more expensive package initially, but as mentioned, you’ll have plenty of different engine manufacturers involved, whether it’s IAME, Vortex, TM, etc. it will change the parity of the field, why, because it will in a way eliminate the political biases there may be when building engines for certain drivers, and you’ll have guys that’ll specialize building engines for each particular engine brand and I think because of it, it’ll become more of a spec kart class than what X30 is without it technically being spec because you’ll have more drivers getting better engine opportunities. Xander, you mentioned that the parity has come back to X30 because of the Europeans that came over to run the class, and though I think it’s great that we see some of that talent come over, at the same time, I don’t think it’s good, because teams are basically saying that there aren’t any North American talents at the moment that can challenge Norberg in X30 and you need to find a way to promote your team and brand for drivers to invest into them. Not to say that drivers like Turney and Kremers shouldn’t come here, if they do, that’s great, but what I’m trying to say is, you want to create that parity, for the most part, with North American talent as this is in the North American karting scene. I personally think that going forward, the KZ and OK-N platform will be the best going forward for North American karting
I just don't see it happening. High buy in price is the reason that a lot of the local guys aren't getting into x30 anyway and the trickle down effect i don't see coming for a very long time. 5500 dollars is a little over $1000 USD brand new factory tuned KZ-R1 is costing and I just don't see the math adding up for such a little difference in driving style and not having a gearbox for that kind of money. Although I'm extremely bias toward shifter because I think it should be the top step of karting that people should strive for, not X30 or OK-N, As i see it taking more physical strength and more skill to drive.
I think that this season with lots of new rookies and more competitive drivers entering x30 it doesn't look like it's going anywhere. I think last year you could have argued this but the reason we love karting is because of the closeness and racing side by side and I think OKN while maybe has it's advantages doesn't keep karting core principles here in the states.
From where did you get this service interval of 4 hours? From an engine rebuilder? :D I really dont think that it is necessary to change the piston that often. Also everything else in the engine is sturdier than in X30. Additionally, there is no battery, switches, wirings, or clutch parts to break or wear down. I also think that you can easily start racing with the engine out of the box, and have it "tuned" later if you see it necessary. Is there any comparisons made with a standard engine vs. a tuned one?
@@ReactorFour i really dont think that the difference is that huge. I would first check that everything else is right, like carburetttor setup and ignition timing. Those are thigs that do not cost an arm and leg... Also the driving style and chassis setup is vastly different when you have 10+ hp extra compared to X30...
@@tommilehto9581 I wasn’t wrenching for him nor have anything to do with that team. I just know he was unable to keep up with the majority of racers, was on a box stock engine, and he and the team he was with has a history that would indicate, at the very least, they would be able to keep up with at least the rear mid pack, which they struggled to do. Of course it could have been anything…. but they felt pretty confident it was the box stock engine.
@@ReactorFour hopefully someone will do a test using a stock engine and a tuned engine. Then we will know what the difference is. Personally i think there is so much power in the stock engine already that a horsepower or two will not play a big role.
I personally like the clutch and onboard starter of the X30, and the lower price and the fact you can also race x30 locally. The low stall clutch on x30 is pretty much always locked anyway, so it still punishes drivers for getting under the power band as was the intention with the OK. However, the clutch makes it easier for gridding up and starting the field and makes it easier for marshals to get a stalled/wrecked kart out of harms way in a yellow situation. The multiple manufacturers sounds good as long as there is parity between manufacturers and they all care about the same… which I just don’t think can be obtained and certainly not sustained. Worst case the dominant brand bounces around year to year causing people to spend even more money and sponsored guys on the beta equipment just getting discouraged or not racing the class or just paying out of pocket for the go fast engine brand that season.
The idea of a common international platform that can be replicated nationally and then roll up to a world final is awesome… but unless we race under the FIA or have a national series recognized by the FIA and it’s winner or top finishers get a ticket to an OK-N world final, then I see it as all the downside without the upside. I can be convinced otherwise, I’m honestly not that plugged in, but today I just don’t see why we would change away from X30.
I say it does. Yes, OK-N will be a more expensive package initially, but as mentioned, you’ll have plenty of different engine manufacturers involved, whether it’s IAME, Vortex, TM, etc. it will change the parity of the field, why, because it will in a way eliminate the political biases there may be when building engines for certain drivers, and you’ll have guys that’ll specialize building engines for each particular engine brand and I think because of it, it’ll become more of a spec kart class than what X30 is without it technically being spec because you’ll have more drivers getting better engine opportunities. Xander, you mentioned that the parity has come back to X30 because of the Europeans that came over to run the class, and though I think it’s great that we see some of that talent come over, at the same time, I don’t think it’s good, because teams are basically saying that there aren’t any North American talents at the moment that can challenge Norberg in X30 and you need to find a way to promote your team and brand for drivers to invest into them. Not to say that drivers like Turney and Kremers shouldn’t come here, if they do, that’s great, but what I’m trying to say is, you want to create that parity, for the most part, with North American talent as this is in the North American karting scene. I personally think that going forward, the KZ and OK-N platform will be the best going forward for North American karting
*Parity
@@ReactorFour yes, thank you lol
I just don't see it happening. High buy in price is the reason that a lot of the local guys aren't getting into x30 anyway and the trickle down effect i don't see coming for a very long time. 5500 dollars is a little over $1000 USD brand new factory tuned KZ-R1 is costing and I just don't see the math adding up for such a little difference in driving style and not having a gearbox for that kind of money. Although I'm extremely bias toward shifter because I think it should be the top step of karting that people should strive for, not X30 or OK-N, As i see it taking more physical strength and more skill to drive.
Max Taylor #33 hopes OK-N IS the future. LOVES IT. STARS was the first time he ever drove OK-N (and KA100 Sr)
I think that this season with lots of new rookies and more competitive drivers entering x30 it doesn't look like it's going anywhere. I think last year you could have argued this but the reason we love karting is because of the closeness and racing side by side and I think OKN while maybe has it's advantages doesn't keep karting core principles here in the states.
From where did you get this service interval of 4 hours? From an engine rebuilder? :D I really dont think that it is necessary to change the piston that often. Also everything else in the engine is sturdier than in X30. Additionally, there is no battery, switches, wirings, or clutch parts to break or wear down. I also think that you can easily start racing with the engine out of the box, and have it "tuned" later if you see it necessary. Is there any comparisons made with a standard engine vs. a tuned one?
Eli Fox was on a box stock OK-N at Stars and it was clearly down on power. It would not compete, at least not with the talent in that field.
@@ReactorFour i really dont think that the difference is that huge. I would first check that everything else is right, like carburetttor setup and ignition timing. Those are thigs that do not cost an arm and leg... Also the driving style and chassis setup is vastly different when you have 10+ hp extra compared to X30...
@@tommilehto9581 I wasn’t wrenching for him nor have anything to do with that team. I just know he was unable to keep up with the majority of racers, was on a box stock engine, and he and the team he was with has a history that would indicate, at the very least, they would be able to keep up with at least the rear mid pack, which they struggled to do. Of course it could have been anything…. but they felt pretty confident it was the box stock engine.
@@ReactorFour hopefully someone will do a test using a stock engine and a tuned engine. Then we will know what the difference is. Personally i think there is so much power in the stock engine already that a horsepower or two will not play a big role.
If you raced X30 in STARS....