I took the plunge and orderd a Black 150DX Blade today with Stu from www.bladepowersports.com

He sounded like a really good guy, and I got the impression from finally talking to him by voice that he is very interested in feedback on
his products.

I just have to see directly how these things are comparing to the other carts out there. The top end definately seems
faster. I want to see if the lower end is suffering or if they did something to help all around performance like the XTV seems
to accomplish. Definately a damn good looking cart, and I love the seats, bar covers and roof liner in the pictures.

 

Double chain... Not sure if it was mentioned here before or not but that double chain could actually help at times. If you are deep in the woods on a trail and you do throw a link, at least you should be able to limp back to home base on the remaining chain. On our carts that we have now, if we ever throw a link, we're screwed and towing.

 

steve

did you get that good deal from stu? if you did, that's a great price. if i had the money last night when i talked with hiim, i would have gotten it. hopefully, i can get a similiar deal in the near future.

ben

 

Yeah, I couldn't pass the opportunity up. The blades look to be rockin' and I'm curious as all heck to compare.

 

I'll check on that engine number later today.

I looked closely at the chain again. It's what I said before, a double chain ... but one. I mean, the sprocket seems like one piece, but double and the chain is one chain, but doubled. I have no idea what the advantage is, but it sure seems killer strong. I remember the other double chain setup being on opposite side and positively apart from one another. Obviously, a photo would clarify what I'm talking about. Don't have time, but will get to it.

Steve, I thrilled I won't be the only Blade owner around. I am new to the fun kart world, plus I'm not exactly Einstein when it comes to the mechanics. I'm eager to read your reports. I have nothing to compare with mine. At this point, I'm happy. Like I've said, there will always be a faster kart. I'm more impressed with wheel spinning low end torque, than 50mph. If my kart was a 35 mph kart, but could rooster tail it's way there, that excites me. My last bike was a GSXR 750. 0-60 in about 3 seconds was a much bigger rush than 140mph. Now that I have children, 0-60 in a car is about all I'm interested in.

Okay, so if the carbs seem to be the same size, though different makers, and the engines are all 150cc, what is it about the Blade that seems to be getting an extra 5-10mph (not confirmed via me)? The only thing I can see is that maybe the weight makes the difference (also not confirmed via me).

By the way, what is the engine number going to signify?

Ben, you're sitting chilly. Steve will be an excellent critic. I guess the price is not stable, but you can deal with that later.

Joe

 

Well, supposidly the CDIs in most of the carts this year were updated... gain a little more power there. Also, it's possible blade useses a freer breathing head (bigger valves, etc) and is able to gain power that way to allow taller gearing. Hopefully I'll know a little more by the end of the month or so. Next shipment is due 1/20 or thereabouts at Blade and that is the one that has my kart on it. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

I'm pretty excited about the black. I know that it will show dirt a lot more, but major paint scrapes will be easier to match along the way. I'm always hitting rocks, etc. Where I ride the most, there is some pretty rough terrain as it's an old abandoned quarry system.

The best part is that the entire family could now squeeze onto our carts for a trek. Still haven't convinced the little lady to do it though. Hell, my mom has even had a ride and she doesn't live anywhere around here. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

 

So much for the weather and photos. Snow and rain all day. I live on the south coast of New England where we tend to get that ugly slushy mix a lot. Tends to save us from the big accumulations though, so that's nice.


Kell, I have to tell you, I sill had a lot of fun in the snow on both my karts. YEah, they were doggy, and you couldn't go up much of a hill... but it was still a lot of fun. Endless donuts and huge power slides spraying snow EVERYWHERE... it was really cool [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img] I have a large hill on my property and I was climbing the plowed driveway and shooting down the hill from the top. What a blast! One of my dark pictures shows the driveway and hill. The kids loved it.

 

The engine code should tell us if it is the same engine as ours. ( 157FM )

So far the KPX, Twister, Carter Talon all have the same code, the carter XTV did not.
If we can match your code up to say a Dazon, then we would know it had the same engine at a better price! Larger valves and higher compression can make more power even though bore and stroke and carbs are the same. Exhaust port, carb, electronics etc. where exactly the same on the 125cc I had. I know the 150cc is just a bored out 125 so I guess they just left the head etc. the same (except for dazon and yerf dog). Imagine the aftermarket potential for someone who sells hi-performance parts for these. I still think someone somewhere will start racing them, there are just so many now. It performs much more like an atv than a go-cart, and to me its more fun than my bros rhino.

I sure wish someone with a Dazon would look up their code for us! this would also tell you which exhaust would fit (highly recommend if you want improved acceleration). Has anyone actually seen the 175 Dazon? I saw one for sale on ebay but pictures never show the engine.

I doubt there is more than 20lb difference in these carts, they are all basically the same components. Claimed top speed doesn't mean too much to me, the blade does look like the tires are actual 22" tires which would make top speed higher with the same gearing as the rest of us. Ground clearance definetly looks higher on the blade with the taller tires (front and rear).

Still think the red and the black look awesome! I even like the bright yellow one on the team dazon website, really like the look when you put real atv size tires on there. Blade has fenders which is a big improvement over Dazon, didn't think they were necessary until I went on some real trails and got real muddy, now I am convinced I need larger ones!

I am still not convinced double chains are necessary, in all my years of riding I have never broken a chain, the one on the cart is a pretty massive O-ring and compares to 4-wheelers and motorcycles, I think it says KMC on it. I believe I heard somwhere before that the double chains are actually smaller than comes on the KPX's. 2 chains seems like it would rob power. About the only stress there is on the chain is when adjustment of the chain takes the center of the sprocket on the reverse assemble out of the center of the swingarm pivot. It is designed to have little to no effect on chain length with suspension travel. When it goes beyond this pivot point it can tighten the chain too much, or loosen causing it to slip. Check it out next time you are looking at the back of your cart. So I guess its possible for someone to come down off a big jump and have the chain bind too much because of suspension compression? Maybe this is why there used to be some talk of chains breaking, I think they just went to the larger chain to fix this.

As for the cdi, I have no experience if this would make a difference in power. I have a really cheap spark plug in mine I am going to replace, been thinking of getting one of those hi-performance ones to see if that makes any difference. (every little bit helps)

Way too wet and muddy to ride here right now!

 

My understanding is that the engines are litterally put together on site. The 157FM may be the crank case code, but who knows what is going on in the head. Most of the carts are using the same frames, but engines and electrics will have different flavors to them. Take a look at the factory tour page for Kinroad:

Kinroad Factory Tour

Engine workshop is shown on top there.


KPX is using New Era for their carts, from my understanding.

Blade is using Kinroad.

 

i was out the other day to this used car lot that sells carter's. the guy told me that all carters were built in taiwan. i questioned it and he almost got mad. do all or most of these, twisters,kpx,blade, carter, are they made in the same origin, china? or could it be possible that some are made in taiwan. you mentioned that the engines could come from about anywhere. so i dont know.....