Razor GF Drifter Kart Razor Dune Buggy
Razor Ground Force Drifter Kart and Razor Dune Buggy Compared
This is my fully independent review of the Razor Ground Force Drifter Kart and Razor Dune Buggy.
Although there are a few similarities between these vehicles, there are also some very important differences that you need to consider when choosing which one to buy for your child.
Let’s first have a quick look at some of the great features shared by both of these fun products.
4 Similarities Between the Razor Drifter Kart and Razor Dune Buggy
The 4 most obvious similarities are:
#1 Age Suitability
Both vehicles have a recommended minimum user age of 8 years+.
#2 Variable Speed Throttle & Hand Brake
Both of these vehicles come with variable speed throttles instead of the more basic “full on / full off” type throttle commonly found on cheaper models.
The throttle is hand-operated, as is the brake mechanism. You simply use your right hand to adjust speed and your left hand to operate the lever brake to slow it down more quickly or bring it to a complete stop.
#3 Usage Time Per Charge
Both Karts have a similar usage time of about 40 – 45 minutes per charge (40 minutes for the Dune Buggy and 45 minutes for Drifter Kart).
This battery life ought to be long enough for your child to get about 7-8 miles out of either vehicle before needing to recharge the battery.
#4 Steel Frame
When you are spending more than $200 on a kids electric vehicle, you will want it to last.
Fortunately, both of these products come with durable steel frames to help them survive the sort of vibrations, bumps and scrapes that you would expect with normal usage.
The Dune Buggy comes with a fuller side roll cage, which makes sense given that it is designed for off-road use.
7 Big Differences Between the Razor Drifter Kart and Dune Buggy
The 7 biggest differences are:
#1 Price
At the time of writing this post, the Razor Ground Force Drifter Kart costs about $264.
The Razor Dune Buggy costs about $330.
So, the ability to go off-road in the Dune Buggy will cost you an extra $70 or so.
#2 Maximum User Weight
There is a 20 lb difference in the maximum user weight limits on these vehicles.
The Drifter Kart can be used up to 140 lbs, but the Dune Buggy is only suitable for use up to 120 lbs.
This is something to bear in mind if your child is on the heavy side, as it will obviously have an impact on how long they will be able to use the vehicle for.
#3 Off-Road Vs On-Road
The Drifter Kart is designed for use on flat surfaces, whereas the Dune Buggy is adapted to go off-road.
In order to make the Dune Buggy suitable for off-road conditions, it comes fitted with 8 inch pneumatic knobby tires on the front and rear, and also a reduction drive mechanism that allows for low torque climbing as well as high torque gearing on level ground.
The Drifter Kart is fitted with a high torque motor for greater speed on the flat that the Dune Buggy.
#4 Top Speed
The Razor Drifter Kart has a top speed that is about 3 miles per hour faster than that of the Dune Buggy.
The Drifter Kart can reach speeds of 12 miles per hour, but the Dune Buggy is limited to about 9 miles per hour.
Despite the relatively slow top speeds of these vehicles, I would always advise you to ensure that your child wears a safety helmet. It doesn’t have to be a racing-car style helmet – a bike or scooter helmet will be sufficient to protect the most vulnerable parts of their head.
#5 Tires
The tires on the 2 vehicles are very different. This is hardly surprising when you consider that the Drifter Kart is designed solely for use on flat surfaces, whereas the Dune Buggy is primarily designed for driving off-road (on grass and dirt).
The Drifter Kart is fitted with solid rubber slick tires and the Dune Buggy is fitted with pneumatic knobby tires for extra grip in off-road conditions.
It is worth pointing out that the Dune Buggy can be used on-road as well, but this will obviously have a negative effect on the lifespan of its tires.
The one drawback with the Drifter Kart’s rear tires is that they tend to wear out quite quickly and need to be replaced. This is a bit annoying, but I suppose it is only to be expected given the fact that your kids will be drifting around street corners on it. The friction generated by this activity is bound to take its toll on the tires.
So, you need to think carefully about whether or not you can afford to replace the rear tires every few months before buying a Drifter Kart for your child.
Finding replacement rear tires is not difficult, but it is an added expense that you will need to bear in mind. You can buy spare tires here.
The Dune Buggy Model has no such problems with the rear tires wearing out and so, if you don’t want to pay for replacement tires every so often, it might be the better option. If you want an on-road machine without the drifting rear tires, you can consider the Razor Ground Force Go Kart instead.
#6 Battery Charging Times
There is a very significant difference between the charging times of these vehicles.
The Dune Buggy takes about 12 hours to recharge its batteries, whereas the Drifter Kart can be ready to go again in just 4-6 hours.
This means that, unless you buy an extra set of batteries, the Drifter Kart can be used more than once per day, whereas the Dune Buggy can probably only be used once.
Be sure to check the manufacturers full charging instructions that are contained within the User Manual – the first charge, for example, needs to be longer than normal.
#7 Drifting!
You don’t have to be a genius to work out that the Drifter Kart is designed to “drift” around corners.
This is one of the main differences in the way in which these vehicles operate and you need to decide whether this is something that your child desperately wants or not.
Rather than try to explain how the drifting function works, you can watch the videos for yourself towards the bottom of this page.
Videos of the Razor Drifter Kart & Dune Buggy in Action!
Here are some videos of these 2 machines in action.
The Razor Ground Force Drifter Kart Videos:
The Razor Dune Buggy Videos:
Where to Buy Razor Drifter Kart / Razor Dune Buggy
Razor Drifter Kart
Check Price of the Ground Force Drifter Kart
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Razor Dune Buggy
Check Price of Razor Dune Buggy.
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