Don’t you wish you could get out and enjoy some go-kart racing on the weekend but the tracks are currently closed? Not to worry because ScooterzMalaysia.com has announced that it is bringing in the Segway-Ninebot Gokart Pro which is now available for pre-order in Malaysia. Its retail price is RM6,688.
If the name Segway-Ninebot sounds familiar, you may have heard of the two-wheeled self-balancing electric devices known as Segways. The American company that made the devices, also known as Segway, was bought by the Xiaomi-backed robotics company Ninebot back in 2015.
With that little bit of history out of the way, the company Segway-Ninebot has since diversified its product offerings to include electric scooters, electric unicycles and even go-karts. In 2018, it introduced the Gokart Kit accessory that transforms a normal self-balancing Segway into a fully-functional go-kart.
Similarly, the new GoKart Pro transform a Segway-Ninebot Hoverboard into a go-kart. Despite its small size, the go-kart has an adjustable frame length and steering wheel, allowing both adults and children to drive around in it.
The new Gokart Pro is a true upgrade over the original, offering an improved design, faster top speed, longer driving range and enhanced safety features. Though the Gokart Pro looks similar to the Gokart kit, the gunmetal grey design and green accents make it look like a serious racing machine.
The Gokart Pro features a steel frame that can support up to 100kg. It also uses a quick dismantle tyre system that allows users to change the tyres easily. This is a definite welcome option as the non-inflatable hollow rubber tyres are likely to wear out from the racing and drifting you will be doing with the go-kart.
The steering wheel is made of soft polyurethane which provides a firm and comfortable grip. The accelerator and brake pedals are made of stainless steel. There is also a green LED headlight in front. But judging from the demonstration videos, the light isn’t bright enough to light the way if you intend to race at night. Which you shouldn’t.
According to the specs on ScooterzMalaysia.com, the GokartPro’s electric motor is claimed to offer the speed and power of a 150cc go-kart. Internally, it has a 432W four-channel battery with four air vents to help cool the battery. It is claimed to have a top speed of 37km/h, which is significantly faster than the Gokart kit’s top speed of 24km/, offers 1.02g acceleration, 96Nm of torque and has a driving range of 25km.
As the Gokart Pro is also meant to be driven by children, users have the option to choose between four different speed modes: Safety, Novice, Sports and Track. The speed limit varies between different modes with Safety mode set at 8km/h, Novice mode at 18km/h, Sports mode at 28km/h and Track mode at 37km/h.
Since this is an electrically powered vehicle, it emits no sound. But race fans who want to simulate the sound of engines roaring as they zip around the race track have the option to do so with the kart’s four 8W speakers. There are four distinct engine sounds to choose from the single-cylinder engine, dual-cylinder engine, V8 engine or V12 engine. Of course, you can link the go-kart with your smartphone via Bluetooth to play your favourite music as you race.
You can also connect your smartphone with the Gokart Pro through the Segway-Ninebot app which offers information on the vehicle, the ability to customise ambient lighting of chassis as well as perform firmware upgrades.
The Gokart Pro comes with several built-in safety features that include a reinforced front bumper with TPE soft anti-collision front lip as well as TPE side skirts. The extra grip front tyres that provide better control when taking challenging corners at high speeds.
It also has dual connectivity between the hoverboard and Gokart Pro kit, with both cable and Bluetooth connectivity options. This reduces the risk of losing the connection between the pedals in front and the hoverboard in the rear.
According to Segway-Ninebot, the Gokart Pro can be easily folded and placed inside the boot of your car. Of course, you can detach the hoverboard from the Gokart Pro kit and use it on its own.
For more information on the Segway-Ninebot Gokart Pro or to place your pre-order, go to ScooterzMalaysia.com’s website. The pre-ordered units are expected to arrive in Malaysia on the third week of July.
