How I built a 100hp Crosskart on the Cheap (all of the details and lots of clips)

Check Description for links to plans, detailed video build series, FaceBook build group and more!
This is for answering a lot of question I still get; I cover components, cost, usability, history and have all of my favorite shots of the 100 hp VF-1 Crosskart. Thank you to all of the builders for sending your media and motivating other builders, this community is so awesome.
-Kyle
Plans Available Here: kj-raycing.dpdcart.com
100+hp Build Series Here: • 100+HP Crosskart Build...
Easy Affordable No Lathe Chain Driven Spool Here: • Making an IRS Center s...
Budget Build Series Here: • Inexpensive Crosskart ...
2 Seat Crosskart Build Series Here: • Two Seat Crosskart Bui...
Plans detail and Materials needed
• Crosskart Plans: KJ Ra...
Custom length chassis
• Inexpensive Crosskart ...
Preferred tubing bender and notcher
www.Roguefab.com
Facebook KJ Raycing
Once you have the plans come join the build discussion
Facebook Build Group (KJ Raycing VF-1 and VF-2 Kart Builders) / 905565813954510
Instagram @kjraycing
Storefront kj-raycing.dpdcart.com
DISCLAIMER
Videos are for entertainment only, work performed in the video should only be accomplished by a professional technician. KJ Raycing will not be held liable for ANY personal injuries.

[@shrugger1]

You certainly have a unique way of mowing your grass.

[@KJRaycing]

Heck yeah! Luckily I keep a very heathy lawn so I can “mow” it all I want and not have permanent damage.

[@chrismustry9302]

His lawn is healthy because of frequent aeration of the soil LOL

[@robertdeatrick3391]

Dude, you have super powers! And you’re using them to make cool stuff. 👍

[@4legdfishman]

I love this crosscart! You did amazing and are obviously very meticulous about getting it right even with a limited shop inventory. A Sierra is $50,000.00 so $4,000 to $6,000 puts this within dream limits. Thanks for sharing your talents and knowledge.

[@KJRaycing]

Thank you so much! This has been such a fun journey of problem solving and creation. Thank you for the kind words and support 🦾

[@neilt4617]

Great job, very professional. I can't believe you cut up you nice lawn, that's gonna be bumpy to mow.👍👍👍

[@KJRaycing]

Thank you and totally worth it 😁

[@atvtheory3151]

I've watched a good share of your videos. I have my own off-road buggy that is on revision 5, or so. Internet forums and KZbin videos weren't really a thing when I started, so a lot of trial-and-error in the first few years. You have a good instinct for how to design and build your buggies and I hope a ton of people take advantage of your plans.

[@KJRaycing]

Thank you so much, I’m going to do a little digging to try and find your work. I love all the builds so much, what an awesome hobby this is, right?

[@atvtheory3151]

@@KJRaycing I have a few KZbin videos on repairing Polaris ATV's. The minibuggy web forum where I described my buggy and went through an engine repower/rebuild to a 40 horsepower Predator 670 went defunct. A lot of good information was shared on that forum, but everybody moved on to Facebook and participation trickled down to just a few diehards, then . . . poof. Gone.

[@dwebb68]

What a wicked toy! Incredible job with the cart!!!

[@treydavis3551]

You the man! It looks fantastic!

[@timkeenan366]

This is awsome i already got a zx10r engine and harness sitting in my garage.

[@ULTIMITE_PODCAST]

Was just on vacation in North Carolina coast and saw 1 of these and I’m hooked, like my credit card about to be smoking, I already got nice shop and tools, gonna need to buy a bender tho 😂

[@KJRaycing]

Nice!!! Man that’s really cool. You will not regret having a bender in your arsenal, it unlocks sooo many things. I can’t wait to see your build 👍

[@bobmalik6757]

Ah that's nyst. I love that track!

[@nicnadu0515]

I enjoy buying bikes and parting them out on eBay. The other day I bought a 2003 yzf600r with full intentions to part the entire thing out but it has a good motor, set of carburetors, and wire harness. But your channel is going me better ideas 😂

[@marco21falcon]

How much you want for that?

[@CasaMaryParadise]

Compliments on a nice build. I've been building bikes and cars for the past 53 years and still. Also have two thundercat (Yzf600r) engines lying around. 3 questions if possible : 1. Weight filled? 2. Top speed? 3. 0-100km?

[@Marlin7830]

Man I want to do this just awesome

[@RDCamperman]

Very Good video

[@davidwillis5016]

Thanks

[@StoryOfJames.]

Has anyone shared their XL build yet? I would love to see one of those. Thank you as always 🤘

[@sedrickwells8545]

Man I want one

[@jonuldrick]

Wonder if you added a few items if you could get one of these plated as a kit car???

[@JermaineLeeBlueprintAuto]

Hey man you seem very Knowledgeable I am very interested in the engine placement and also the rear and set up as am modifying an Existing frame to use independent instead of Swing arm

[@stevenmejia4982]

I’d like to make four for my family. Primarily for sand dunes. Thoughts?

[@jayknight139]

The real cost is in the tools you need to build it.

[@KJRaycing]

Yeah to build something that safely goes well over 100mph you may have to buy some tools that are not from harbor freight. $1600 for a bender and $900 in steel to make a chassis that is proven on dirt and on a race track not only by me but the other VF-1 builders is’t really such a bad deal in most peoples opinion. I truly wish you the best man.

[@zachhoyt92]

The real cost is the knowledge on how to properly use all those tools!

[@Nitro91]

Wow for under 5k this is awesome . A New canam is like 30k haha and there slow as shit

[@danny7897]

A friend of mine has a bike motor that is axel drive what rear end would you recomend

[@nuttyDesignAndFab]

consider moving the radiator inboard of your roll cage. Ditto for the muffler.

[@KJRaycing]

That’s why there are plans man, you can put them wherever you want on your build. This one has worked out really well as is 👍

[@michaelmendoza1818]

Are you going to make a drone one next?

[@johncarter3303]

👏

[@bee_money5977]

Think you can fit a h2r motor in one of these thinking of building one and rebuilding a motor

[@KJRaycing]

It’s been done 👍

[@justinsmith847]

This is sick inwant one lol

[@dandahermitseals5582]

What tubing are you using.

[@kingstonflores3040]

3rd question instead of buying a donor bike is there a link where i can buy just the motor alone and buy the parts from the manufacturer such as clusters cables etc etc? Tia

[@KJRaycing]

You’re going to have to do your own research into donor stuff. I can only tell you my experience and recommendations. There is an awesome human being in the Facebook group that can get you a transplant kit from a bike to save you money and time. Just ask the question in the group. 👍

[@chrismustry9302]

That 'buying a motor alone" route might wind up costing more, believe it or not. You are much better off buying a fully operational donor machine to ensure everything works; buying just an engine from an unknown source is way too much of a variable.

[@nicolaeconstantinescu9269]

De la ce sunt butucii la axa de față și ce diametru are discul de frână . Text România

[@Adam666...]

Side by sides are road legal in the county i live in.....look out

[@B_Well32]

Could you go more indepth on the sequential shifter

[@KJRaycing]

Crosskart Build: #16 Part 1: Right Hand Shift Linkage and Gas Tank kzbin.info/www/bejne/gmHQlI2XirJ5ZrM I show every step 👍

[@Nitro91]

Do you build these for customers or no ?

[@mokkamanmaxx2706]

How much does the entire buggy weigh?

[@ishada1]

Sport bike sounds way better than crotch rocket. Especially since.youve got it mounted aft behind you. In the rear.

[@27Zangle]

You can make your ATV, SXS, dirt bike, 3-wheeler street legal in my state. I wonder if there would be a way to do that with one of these. I will have to do some digging.

[@KJRaycing]

It’s all about the paperwork and requirements of your state. Insurance is the more difficult part.

[@Ratkill9000]

Only downside about doing the bike engine is, I don't have a motorcycle endorsement. For me, I'm looking at doing a Ninja 250R, or similar sized bike engine for one of these. I'm not looking to go for ludicrous speeds, but going 70+ or so would be plenty fast on the top end. Even 60 will be stupid fast being inches from the ground.

[@chrismustry9302]

Using a motorcycle engine doesn't require a motorcycle license or endorsement

[@Troymitchell95]

Where do you pick your shocks up from

[@KJRaycing]

From a donor atv or ebay.

[@c4ptiv3]

I want to build one of these but can't find a single shop in my area willing to do it. Do you know any shops in North Texas that would be wiling to do this?

[@KJRaycing]

You build it in your garage 👍. The build can be just as much fun as the driving. There is a video for every step and there has already been a lot of successful builds from the plans. Check the description and check out the channel 👍

[@chrisoquendo3419]

Highly interested Do I have to weld myself in my garage?

[@KJRaycing]

Yes. Check out the channel. I show you every step for building your own.

[@Environ-nl8fr]

How close are you to PA and would you be willing to build & sell one? Also can you add reverse? I just bought 80 acres and I've been looking for crosskarts for sale in the area for months with no luck. I'm actually considering buying I used racing one overseas.. but I don't want to compete I just want to have fun with my property. So if I can save $10,000 and not do that I would rather.. Although I'm a farmer so in extension I'm also mechanic I should be able to make this myself it's just taking care of several dozen horses excuse me no time to work on projects like this. If I have time I'm usually making breaking or upgrading something on the farm.

[@KJRaycing]

I’m a full time military Aviator. I don’t have the time or insurance to build these for anyone. I sympathize with you but if you really want an incredible machine you are going to have to find the time to build it. I built a running and driving kart in 5 days of work and with cars and cameras we built a fast one in 4 days. You can do this 👍, the hardest part is to start. I wish you the best. -Kyle

[@FreddyFunderbunz]

I wish you’d go through a company that cuts, bends, notches, and labels the tubes, so you could sell the frame as a weld it yourself kit. I’ve got all the tools to build it myself, but man I just don’t have time

[@KJRaycing]

I wished a company had done that when I started too, but I ended up just having to find time outside of my full time aviation career and family. It’s worth finding the time as you can see. The hardest part is to start, I wish you the best.

[@atvtheory3151]

I sourced buggy parts from a guy who sold plans and also sold a pre-cut frame kit. It was his full-time job and he had a well-stocked machine shop to back him up. That was before side-by-sides (SxS) were ubiquitous. Today, buggy building is a hobby, not a business, because it's no longer economical when you can pick up a SxS for a few thousand bucks. I couldn't cut, bend and ship the frame parts for a price that would satisfy either of us.

[@StoryOfJames.]

Hello Freddy, I live in a larger more established Metro with server steel yards. So I truly hope this help you as well. I've been calling around for pricing and while talking to them I've also been asking if the offer other services like the notching, bending and sheet breaking/ sheering. Many of the suppliers don't sell to the public but there are enough around there that it gives me a choice of where to go. anyways.. rambling on here, some places offer some or all of those services but an extreme premium, sometimes folks were asking several dollars per notch. not bad if you need one notch but definitely not economical for a chassis build. When it gets really expensive are the bends and ever more so when you get multi and compound bends. You can probably do it, but you still need to supply them with degree angles cuts length ect ect for each part. Anywho, sorry for the novel but sincerely hope this helps you.

[@SolitaryCanid]

@@atvtheory3151Please tell me where I can buy a SxS for what you can build one of these for... Please!

[@johnnym7904]

where are you getting a side by side for a few thousand bucks? other than some chineese garbage.

[@SpoiledBread24]

I'm building a VF-1 and its going to be electric because I love electrical engineering. Using an me1616 engine

[@exoticracecars5240]

How much already made, ready to run?

[@KJRaycing]

More than you or anyone wants to pay, that’s why there are hundreds of people building them. Check out the rest of the channel and see that you can build one too 👍

[@randyholland8816]

Does cart have a floor in it?

[@KJRaycing]

Crosskart Build: Final Assembly kzbin.info/www/bejne/d3iXoXaiesmVqc0

[@user-ng1yz9de7u]

Bro can you give me the lengths of the frame

[@KJRaycing]

Sure can 👍. Kj-raycing.dpdcart.com

[@I.C.A.A.]

I was the 666th like 😈 mwahaha. I love the designs man. Just wish i had the money and tools :) keep it up !!!

[@Systematicperformancecentre]

How can i get in touch

[@Marlin7830]

Is 350cc too small for this build.?

[@KJRaycing]

Depends on the 350cc. Is it geared? Air cooled? Water cooled? I would definitely put a 5 speed 350 in one 🦾

[@spiketeam3787]

its legal in streets?

[@KJRaycing]

Yes

[@zfullthrottled3015]

Where do you race these?

[@KJRaycing]

There’s a race this weekend… can you be there with your VF-1? But for real, I take them to trails, tracks and offroad parks. We need to build them before we can organize, and we are getting very close!

[@zfullthrottled3015]

@@KJRaycing I’m looking at possibly building one for my son and I (one for each of us). What state are you in? I’m in GA.

[@KJRaycing]

Check out Durhamtown. Amazing place for these!

[@zfullthrottled3015]

@@KJRaycing thank you.

[@dandahermitseals5582]

Do you share your plans.

[@KJRaycing]

Kj-raycing.dpdcart.com . Check the description for links to everything 👍

[@blackknight9235]

How much is it to actually build one?

[@KJRaycing]

Varies wildly as said in the first 30 seconds of the video… my personal experience is as low as $2000 and the most expensive being around $6800. The hayabusa two seater may top that but it’s not done yet for a build cost.

[@Marlin7830]

​@@KJRaycing well when you consider how much a Honda talon costs 24000 bucks new. And I can build one of your carts with a weapon system for 4k 😂

[@PortgasDAce-qi3rv]

Anyone thought about making one street legal?

[@stellingbanjodude]

I was thinking the same thing.

[@masonbarret4720]

Considering ive seen a Sprintcar on the street and quad bikes in the US surely it’s possible just not in Australia unless you build 2 as one has to be crash tested then the other registered as an individually constructed vehicle or simply make it un catchable which sounds like a much cheaper and fun option . R1 turbo bike engine should do the trick

[@RDCamperman]

send me one to my country

[@chrismustry9302]

The plans are downloaded digitally after you purchase, right to your country

[@FukTheGovernment465]

Wow you use some thin A-arm bolt tabs or i just went over kill on my trail buggy build ha ha, i made my A-arms/ trailing arms/ shock bolt tabs from 3/16 steel. Then again i tend to over kill everything i build ha ha so🤣

[@KJRaycing]

I know right! I just used the same thickness that was on the atv. You see how I drive these in the videos and they have never broken or torn or cracked or anything. I usually do a lot of testing with them just tacked in place as well to make sure I like the suspension setup! I did use 3/16 tabs on the two seater because of the extra weight and future plans for it.

[@FukTheGovernment465]

@@KJRaycing After watching you're videos and seeing you're like me a wild driver ha ha it's good to know a thinner metal gauge will hold up to the abuse cause i am a aggressive driver so i know my over kill builds will for sure hold up. I have always been a guy to over kill my stuff for peace of mind.

[@KJRaycing]

There is absolutely nothing wrong with that man! If mine breaks it will be waaaaaaay before yours 😁.

[@FukTheGovernment465]

@@KJRaycing Keep up the good work/progress man you are definitely helping to make Cross karts a popular thing!👍

[@FukTheGovernment465]

@@KJRaycing Yes sir rather it be a little heavier then leave me broke on a trail any day.

[@Matt-fb7uv]

Would you sell me one of your karts?

[@KJRaycing]

Everyone want one but no one wants pay for one… sierra cars sell them for $70k if you want to buy vs build. I wish you the best man.

[@Matt-fb7uv]

@@KJRaycing 70,000 us dollars?

[@Matt-fb7uv]

@KJRaycing looks like they stsrt at 34000. I don't 300hp either. I can build one if needed. Just looking for one built at the moment

[@SolitaryCanid]

You're poor lawn. 😂😂

[@suntzu6122]

I call mowing the lawn!

[@kingstonflores3040]

Have you ever thought of making one electrical or adding an ebay turbo to it? Im going to order the full kit plan as soon as im done building my garage 🫡 I can’t wait

[@KJRaycing]

I’ve looked a lot into electric, I’ve done rc planes and trucks for 20 years so I know a lot about it. It is just expensive to get the right stuff and I’ll always be a budget builder.

[@adamccathey]

​@@KJRaycingwhat would you think about getting a wrecked leaf or something similar?

[@Loadedgoods]

Should use a paint ball gun not a nerf. I want one