Razor Ground Force Drifter Kart Review

Full Price: $370

Top Speed: 12 mph

Age Range: 8 years+

Use Per Charge: 45 minutes

Charge Time: 4-6 hours

Why Am I Reviewing the Razor Ground Force Drifter Kart?

The Razor Ground Force Drifter Kart is a very popular battery powered racing machine for kids and this is my fully independent review of it. It is very similar to the Razor Ground Force Electric Go Kart, save for the fact that it drifts around corners with the help of its slick rear tires. It also costs about $40 more than the standard Go Kart.

It is suitable for kids aged 8 years and above, provided that they don’t weigh more than 140 lbs and both the battery life per charge and the charging time itself are excellent.

I have already expressed my love for Razor Electric Karts in my in-depth review of the standard Go Kart model. My kids love them and I am so jealous that, if I could shed enough weight to get below 140 lbs, I would definitely have a go on one myself.

Although the Drifter is an excellent Kart and your kids will have a great time if they are ever fortunate enough to own one, there is a common complaint about this Kart that you ought to be aware of.

The single drawback about the Razor Ground Force Drifter Kart is that the rear tires wear out quite quickly and need to be replaced. This is obviously an annoyance but I suppose it is only to be expected given the fact that your kids will be drifting around street corners on it – this is bound to take its toll on the tires.

Getting hold of replacement rear tires is not difficult, but it is an added expense that you will need to bear in mind before buying this Kart. You can buy spare tires here.

The Standard Go Kart Model has no such problems with the rear tires wearing out and so, if you cannot afford or are unwilling to pay for replacement tires every so often, I suggest that you take a closer look at the standard model here instead.

Overall, the Drifter Kart model adds an extra dimension to the experience of driving around the neighbourhood and you will have to decide for yourself if the Drifter is worth the extra money (and maintenance costs). If you decide that it is not, then I highly recommend the standard model instead.

The Best Features of the Razor Ground Force Drifter Kart

The Razor Ground Force Drifter Kart has many great features (check out the full specifications below), but I think that the best features are:

12 mph top speed
Variable Speed Throttle
Generous Use Between Charges
Battery charges quickly (4-6 hours)
Durable Steel Frame / Chassis
The Drifting – obviously!

#1 Top Speed of 12 mph & Variable Speed Throttle

The Drifter Kart comes with a high torque chain driven motor that can reach speeds of up to 12 mph using the variable speed throttle. Unlike a real Kart, the throttle is hand-operated as is the brake mechanism. In order to adjust the speed of the Drifter Kart, you simply use your right thumb to press the lever. Although simply releasing the throttle will cause the Kart to reduce speed, you can also use your left hand to operate the lever brake to slow it down more quickly or bring it to a complete stop.

10-12 mph is pretty standard for this age group when it comes to electric ride toys and I wouldn’t be too concerned about my kids reaching these speeds.

At this speed, you can be pretty comfortable that they will be able have a great deal of fun, but also be able to steer the Kart easily and safely, and bring it to a stop quickly if they need to.

I would always advise you to ensure that your child wears a safety helmet whilst using the Kart. The racing car style helmets are very cool, but a bike or scooter helmet will be perfectly adequate to protect your child’s head.

#2 Long Use Between Charges

Some electric ride toys come supplied with batteries that take a long time to charge and then don’t provide very much use when they finally do achieve a full charge. This is frustrating for your child and also annoying for parents when they get asked to buy extra batteries to use when the original ones are slowly charging.

At about 45 minutes use per full charge, the Ground Force Drifter Kart has a very good battery use duration.

#3 Short Battery Charging Time

I know many other electric ride toys that take about 8-10 hours to re-charge between uses.

Not only does the Ground Force Drifter Kart go for 45 minutes between charges, but when you do need to recharge the batteries it only takes about 4-6 hours. This means that your child can have a go in the morning, then put the battery onto charge, have lunch, and then get back out onto the Drifter Kart for an afternoon session too.

#4 Durable Steel Frame

When you are spending $250+ on a Go Kart you want it to last a long time.

The Ground Force Drifter Kart is manufactured with a durable steel frame and Razor boasts that it will last a long time and be suitable to be handed down to younger brothers and sisters when the original lucky owner gets too big to use it.

#5 The Drifting!

There isn’t much point in me trying to explain the drifting feature of this Kart. Instead, just watch the videos below and see it in action for yourself.

Watch the Razor Ground Force Drifter Kart Promo Video

Watch the Ground Force Drifter Kart in Action!

It doesn’t matter how much you read about the Razor Ground Force Drifter Kart, the best way to get an accurate impression of its performance is to see it in action.

So here goes: