Every go-kart, mini bike and youth dirt bike gets a score from 0 to 100% built from five factors, which maps onto the 5-point rating shown on the site (a 0% score would be 1.5 stars; a perfect score, 5). Each factor is scored against fixed reference points, not against the other products in the list, so adding a new model never moves another model’s rating. Models are grouped into go-karts, mini bikes, and electric dirt bikes and quads, and price, top speed and rider weight have their own reference points in each group.
| Factor | Measures | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Price | current price against fixed points for its group | 25% |
| Top speed | maker's top speed in the fastest mode | 20% |
| Rider weight | maximum rider weight or max load | 20% |
| Ride and safety | suspension, brakes, speed control and reverse | 25% |
| Warranty | warranty length | 10% |
Where the numbers come from
Engine size, motor power, battery, top speed, run time, rider weight and age, brakes, suspension and warranty come from the maker’s product page or spec sheet, or the maker’s own copy on a retail listing. Where the maker’s figures conflict (for example a listing title that gives one top speed and the spec sheet another), the maker’s spec page is used and the other figure is noted; where two of the maker’s own pages disagree with no way to tell which is right, the figure is left out. Prices are checked at Amazon and the maker’s own store, and the lowest price at a store the page links to is used.
The factors
Price is the current price on a log scale, so halving the price always counts the same. Go-karts: $3,000 scores zero and $300 full marks. Mini bikes: $1,500 scores zero and $400 full marks. Electric dirt bikes and quads: $900 scores zero and $200 full marks.
Top speed is the maker’s top speed in the fastest mode. Go-karts: 8 mph scores zero and 35 mph full marks. Mini bikes: 15 mph scores zero and 30 mph full marks. Electric dirt bikes and quads: 8 mph scores zero and 20 mph full marks.
Rider weight is the maximum rider weight, or the maximum load on a two-seater, which decides who can ride and for how many years. Go-karts: 120 lb scores zero and 400 lb full marks. Mini bikes: 150 lb scores zero and 250 lb full marks. Electric dirt bikes and quads: 100 lb scores zero and 220 lb full marks.
Ride and safety is 35% for suspension (full marks for front and rear, half for one end), 35% for brakes, 15% for speed control (a speed switch, ride modes or a governor) and 15% for reverse. Reverse counts only on four-wheelers (go-karts and quads); on a two-wheeler the other three share the factor. Brakes score full marks for hydraulic disc, 75% for a mechanical disc, 50% for a drum, and 35% for an electronic brake or a hand brake whose type isn’t given. On a two-wheeler the brake type is 60% of the brake score and brakes on both wheels the other 40%.
Warranty is the maker’s warranty: 3 months scores zero and 2 years full marks.
What isn’t scored
Engine size, horsepower, motor power, battery capacity, range and run time, minimum age, seat count, seat height, weight, electric start and release date are listed but not scored. Range and run time are left out because makers measure them in different units and conditions.
Missing data
If a top speed or price isn’t published, that factor gets the neutral middle score (50) and the product page marks it as estimated. Ride and safety scores neutral only when none of its features is published; a feature the maker doesn’t mention otherwise counts as absent. Two factors score zero instead when unpublished, and are marked estimated. A model whose maker gives no maximum rider weight scores zero on rider weight, because that rating separates these models more than any other figure and a missing one shouldn’t lift a thinly documented listing. A maker that doesn’t publish a warranty gets no warranty counted, so that factor scores zero, the same as a 3-month warranty. Many of these are sold through dealers that set their own warranty terms, so their warranty scores zero here.
Ties and discontinued models
Products are ranked by score within each group. Discontinued models stay listed but rank below every current model and can be hidden with the “Hide discontinued” filter.