[David Goldman]

So next year i would like to race TAG. Im going to get an arrow chassis to go along with the TAG engine i end up getting, but which one is best? Is the vortex rok tt any better than lets say a Parilla leopard?

Thanks,
David

[mlange]

Hi David, the TaG engine comparison is definitely a can of worms, one that I'd shy away from commenting on.

Are both engines equally well supported at the tracks you frequent?

Nice to hear that you getting on an Arrow - the X1 model has been good to us since we began using them.

[Jules]

David,

It depends very much which one is allowed in your local races, and most of all - supported by your local kart suppliers.

From our local racing - the Parilla Leopard is a bit old nowadays, rare sight here BUT it has a very good top end at the expense of life span. Modded motors go 18000+ rpms. Australia seems to still race them actively now, so they will have specialist who deals with them.

I drive a Senior Rok, it goes to 13800rpm only and if not for the slight weight advantage, it would be difficult to keep up with even the Max or Leopard. Having said that, its a great motor to drive, easy to maintain and well made.

Of course, like the Max - the Vortex Rok has a series which gives you a chance to go to the International Finals....which is not available for Leopard.

Btw, you should consider the Rotax Max too....

Safe karting.

[David Goldman]

Well is the Vortex Rok TT faster than the standard rok? Ill call the shops around here but im not really sure what most people race, maybe the leopard but if the rok tt is faster i would rather go with that. Has anyone driven the rok TT? Does anybody know what engine david sera drives?

[TJ Koyen]

Sera runs Rotax, as do most of the national level Arrow guys.

I got out of TaG because the engines aren't equal enough and because it's a wreck-fest. Rotax wins on one track so they throw weight at it, Leopard wins at the next track because Rotaxes now have 15 extra pounds to carry. You'll never be able to get equality among them.

I'd go with either a Leopard or a Rotax. The Leopard has more top end and the Rotax is all about mid-range power. The Leopard will be good at some tracks and decent at other whereas our Rotax was great at some tracks and slow at others just because of how the powerbands are on the engines. Different tracks suit different engines so the "preferred" engine changes at every race. Also you have to keep in mind that the weights are different for each engine. For you I'd recommend the Leopard especially because the weight is 365 compared to the Rok which is 380 I believe.

Even after the help you get from Jamie you're still not getting a Merlin David?

[David Goldman]

Believe me TJ, I would LOVE to get a merlin, but the arrow is $1000 cheaper and as it is were trying to just stay in karting. I like the merlins more its just that everything is more expensive about them. So ill have to talk to jamie about the tag, but basing on what people on this forum have said, the leopard sounds best. Well see what jamie says, but TJ do you feel like the arrow is a good chassis? I know you love merlin but is there a significant advantage to a merlin rather than an arrow?

[TJ Koyen]

Well this new LM30 chassis that Merlin has that everyone is running now is amazing. I've got two and to be completely honest, it's the best feeling chassis I've ever driven. The tuning window is so big that it's super easy to set up and the kart is easy to drive. I love it. The only Arrow I ever drove was a junior kart for a day and it felt fine but it's hard to base anything off that. Obviously the Arrow is a quality kart. It's won a ton of races at a national level. I couldn't give you an honest comparison between the two though.

[David Goldman]

Do you think there would be any way Jamie would let me test drive one? Im not sure where i could test drive an arrow, but if the merlin feels fantastic than i wouldnt see the reason in trying to get an arrow. And do you know if they changed anything other than the brakes from the mr30cik?

[TJ Koyen]

Yeah the chassis is still a 30/32 design but it's softer than the old MR30s. I drove the MR30 when I first got Merlins and the LM30 is a much better design. All the components are much nicer and the thing just handles like a dream. The brakes a different yes, but to be honest they feel the same. The only difference is that they are self-adjusting so you don't have to shim them and the pedal feel remains constant. Ask Jamie if you can drive one. I know his kart is an LM30 and it's already set up for TaG from when he last drove it.

[David Goldman]

Sweet. Ill call him soon. Thanks so much for your help TJ!

[angelababy]

Australia seems to still race them actively now, so they will have specialist who deals with them.The Leopard has more top end and the Rotax is all about mid-range power. The Leopard will be good at some tracks and decent at other whereas our Rotax was great at some tracks and slow at others just because of how the powerbands are on the engines. Does anybody know what engine david sera drives?