One of the most popular shifter kart classes is the Stock Honda. The stock or spec
honda is the most popular shifter kart moto engine. The CR125 is currently being widely supported
not only by Honda, but racers and shifter kart engine builders around the world.
When shifter karts first started out a 125cc motocross engine was the engine of choice, with Honda
being the predominant brand. There were and still are many other moto engines being used for shifter
karts. But Honda is certainly the most popular, the stock honda has gained great popularity over most
other moto shifter kart engines.
This is partially due to the fact that Honda actively supports the karting market supplying parts as
well as complete engine kits, to build a spec engine.
The stock honda gained more popularity as shifter kart racing became a very expensive
motosport to be competitve in. Modified Honda CR125's were very expensive after hig
performance mods and frequent maintance. ICC shifter kart engines made there way over
from Italy to american shifter kart racing. What started out as as an affortable entry level sport
soon became imposible to get into as fewer and fewer people could afford to get into the expensive
ICC and mod shifter kart engines. The Stock Honda is still the most cost effective engine in
shifter kart racing.
Due to the expense of the Italian kart engines, Spec Honda's, consisit most of shifter kart racing
today. A Spec Honda, is a stock CR125 using certain years of engine parts, with some allowable
modifications. Most Stock Honda engines begin with an engine kit from Honda, consisiting of all
parts to assemble a stock honda with 99 cases, cylinder and head, as well as a six speed
transmision out of an earlier year CR125.
Mod Moto
A different type of Honda Cr125 was popular when shifter karts first came to the karting scene.
These where blueprinted, mod motos, these worked engines featured various high performance
modifications. Supported by many engine builders with extensive work put into development.
Including port work as well as a high compression piston, O-ringed head and many other
modifications, which gains substantial horsepower.
These engines are still common but have been phased out as more drivers are going with the stock
Honda. Due to the lack of drivers in the mod moto group, they are in the open moto class which
includes any moto shifter kart engine, as well as often some ICC's.
CR 80/85
Another engine supported by many racers and builders alike is the CR80 as well as the CR85. The
CR80 and CR85 is supported in many different forms. Most choose to blueprint and port the engine as
well as do cylinder and head work to increase compression and gain horse power similar to the mod
cr125 moto shifter kart engine.
The CR 80/85 have gained great popularity but still share with the mod moto ICC crowd. These
engines are a great way to get into shifter karts.
