Few presents make a child as happy as a pedal go-kart of their own. It is waiting by the fireplace on St Nicholas morning or under the Christmas tree, and from that moment every lap around the house becomes a race. But which go-kart should you buy? A two-year-old needs something completely different from a seven-year-old, and a go-kart that is too big is just as awkward as one that is too small. In this guide you will find out which go-kart suits which age and height, the difference between solid tyres and air tyres, what BFR and gears do, which accessories fit and how to get such a big present into the house unseen. With a choice quiz, a size table and eight go-karts from BERG and EXIT.
In short: choose by height, not just by age. For toddlers from 2 years, a small go-kart with solid tyres is enough. From 3 years you move on to go-karts with air tyres and a pedal brake. From 4 to 6 years it is about speed, gears or unusual steering, and an XL frame grows with your child up to adult height. Always ride under supervision and away from traffic.
Which pedal go-kart suits which age?
On the pedal go-karts page you will find models for toddlers right up to adults. They differ in size, tyres, brake and steering. This overview gets you started quickly; the ages and heights come from the product information of the models in this article.
| Age | Type of go-kart | Tyres | What to look for |
|---|---|---|---|
| From 2 years | Small starter go-kart, sometimes with push bar | Solid EVA tyres | Low seat, light weight, pedals that do not turn with the steering |
| From 3 years | Full children's go-kart | Air tyres | Pedal brake, freewheel, reversing |
| From 4 to 6 years | Sporty go-kart or one with unusual steering | Air tyres | Gears, lights, reflectors |
| From 5 years to adult | Go-kart with XL or XXL frame | Air tyres | Wide adjustment range, high maximum weight, storage space |
Choice quiz: which go-kart suits your child?
Answer four questions and see which type of go-kart suits your child best.
Which go-kart suits your child?
How old is your child?
- 2 or 3 years
- 3 to 5 years
- 4 to 8 years
- 5 years or older, and growing fast
Where will your child mostly ride?
- On the patio and indoors
- On the pavement outside the house and in the garden
- Over grass, sandy paths and at the campsite
- Everywhere, including long laps around the neighbourhood
What matters most to you?
- Light and easy to start with
- A pedal brake and reversing
- Speed and gears
- That it lasts for years
A small starter go-kart suits your child: light, low and with solid tyres that cannot puncture.
A children's go-kart with a pedal brake suits your child: air tyres, freewheel and reversing.
A sporty go-kart suits your child: air tyres for rougher ground and gears for more speed.
A go-kart with an XL frame suits your child: it grows with them up to adult height.
Age or height: what should you look at?
The age on the box is a guideline. Children of the same age can differ in height by ten centimetres or more. That is why the product information for many go-karts also gives a user height: the height at which a child can comfortably reach the pedals and steering wheel. According to the product information it is 85 to 115 cm for the BERG Buzzy, 100 to 130 cm for the BERG Buddy and 125 to 190 cm for the XL frame.
Torn between two sizes?
If your child is right on the border, choose the larger size if they already ride a bike or scooter well, and the smaller size if they still need to learn to steer. A go-kart that is too big is hard to get moving.
Go-kart for a two-year-old: what to look for
For a toddler, it is all about learning to pedal on their own. A small go-kart is light, sits low to the ground and has solid tyres that cannot puncture. On the BERG Buzzy, the pedals work separately from the steering: according to the product information, feet therefore do not slip off the pedals when your child steers. That makes the first laps a lot easier.
Can your child not pedal yet? Then look at a 2-in-1 go-kart with a push bar. With the BERG Buzzy 2-in-1 you walk alongside using the push bar, and according to the product information you can disengage the pedals and lock the steering. Remove the bar and your child rides on their own. An alternative is the EXIT Foxy: a small go-kart with a metal frame, swing axle and puncture-proof EVA tyres which, according to the product information, rides forwards and backwards and has an upright parking position.
BERG Buzzy Nitro: starter go-kart from 2 years
EXIT Foxy: small go-kart with parking position
Foxy go-kart Espresso Black
Go-kart from 3 years: Reppy, Buddy or Choppy?
Around the age of 3, most children can pedal and steer well and want to go further than the patio. A go-kart with a sturdy frame, a swing axle and a pedal brake is then the logical next step. The BERG Reppy sits just below that: according to the product information it is suitable from 2.5 years and for 95 to 125 cm, with solid EVA tyres and a swing axle. A handy in-between size when your child outgrows the Buzzy but is not ready for air tyres yet.
The BERG Buddy and the BERG Choppy Neo are both suitable from 3 years according to the product information, for 100 to 130 cm and up to 50 kg. They have air tyres and the BFR system, which lets your child brake by pedalling backwards and reverse straight away. The difference is mainly style: the Buddy has a classic steering wheel, the Choppy Neo a motorbike handlebar and off-road tyres.
BERG Buddy Blue: the all-rounder from 3 years
BERG Reppy Blue: in-between size from 2.5 years
Go-kart from 4 to 6 years: Rally or Street-X?
From about 4, many children want to go faster and further. According to the product information, the BERG Rally is made for children aged 4 to 12 and 110 to 150 cm tall, with air tyres, a swing axle, freewheel and gears. That makes it easier for your child to ride up a slope or go faster on the flat.
The BERG Street-X is the odd one out. According to the product information, your child does not steer with their hands but by moving their whole body, as on a motorbike. It is intended for children from 6 years and 125 to 170 cm tall, with air tyres and BFR. Great for a child who has been riding go-karts for years and wants something new.
BERG Rally NRG Orange: with gears
BERG Street-X Vibes: steering with your body
A go-kart that grows with your child: XL and XXL frames
If you want a go-kart that lasts for years, look at a large frame. According to the product information, the BERG XL Frame B.Pure Blue BFR has a user height of 125 to 190 cm and a maximum weight of 100 kg. So a parent or grandparent can take a lap too. The XXL frame is 10 cm longer than the XL frame and has eight seat positions, according to the product information.
Do bear the size in mind. The XL go-kart in this article is 156 cm long and weighs 39 kg according to the product information; the XXL model weighs over 46 kg. You will need a roomy spot in the shed or garage. For a five-year-old who is only just tall enough, such a large go-kart can feel heavy at first. If in doubt, start with a Buddy or Rally and move to an XL frame later.
The age on the box is a guideline. Measure your child, check the user height and choose a go-kart that fits now and leaves a little room to grow.
BERG XL Frame B.Pure Blue BFR: up to adult height
Quick choice
- Two-year-old still learning to pedal: a Buzzy, Buzzy 2-in-1 or Foxy
- In-between size around 2.5 years: a Reppy
- From 3 years, for pavement and garden: a Buddy or Choppy Neo
- From 4 years, further and faster: a Rally with gears
- A child who wants something different: a Street-X
- One go-kart for years, adults included: an XL or XXL frame
BERG Buzzy 2-in-1 with push bar
View go-kart →
BERG Choppy Neo
View go-kart →
BERG XXL Frame Super Red
View go-kart →
EXIT Foxy trailer
View trailer →Solid tyres or air tyres: which is better?
Small go-karts usually have solid EVA tyres. They are light, cannot puncture and you never need to check the pressure. For the Buzzy, the product information says you can use it indoors and outdoors. The downside: they absorb less, so on a bumpy path you feel every stone.
| Solid EVA tyres | Air tyres | |
|---|---|---|
| Punctures | Not possible | Possible |
| Maintenance | None | Pump up now and then |
| Comfort on rough ground | Less | Better |
| Riding indoors | Often suitable | Less suitable |
| Found on | Buzzy, Reppy, Foxy | Buddy, Choppy, Rally, Street-X, XL and XXL |
What is BFR and do you need gears?
On many larger BERG go-karts you will see the letters BFR. According to the product information, this system combines three things: you brake by pedalling backwards, the go-kart freewheels when you stop pedalling, and as soon as it has stopped you can pedal in reverse. It all happens automatically, with no button or lever. That is handy for young children: they do not need to learn to switch between forwards and reverse.
Gears are mainly for older children who ride further, for example in a hilly neighbourhood or at a campsite with sandy paths. For a small patio or a lap around the house, you do not need them. Of the go-karts in this article, the product information mentions gears for the Rally.
Trailer, passenger seat or cover: which accessories fit?
A go-kart becomes even more fun with a trailer for toys, leaves or a cuddly toy. Note that trailers and seats usually only fit a specific series. So always check which go-kart an accessory is made for. You will find everything under play equipment accessories.
BERG Trailer S for the Buzzy
View trailer →
BERG Passenger Trailer
View trailer →
BERG Passenger Seat for XL
View seat →
BERG Go-kart Cover
View cover →A go-kart as a present for St Nicholas or Christmas
A go-kart is a big present, quite literally. According to the product information, the box of the XL go-kart is about 158 by 158 cm, and even a small go-kart will not fit in a cupboard. With a little planning, it can still be a surprise.
Measure your child without them noticing, for example when they lean against a door frame, and compare with the user height.
Delivery times can get longer around the holidays. Check the current delivery time at the shop and order well before St Nicholas (5 December in the Netherlands, 6 December in Belgium) or Christmas.
Have the parcel delivered to the neighbours, the grandparents or your work, or keep it in a locked shed.
If the go-kart needs assembling, do it while your child is asleep so they can ride straight away on the big day. Check the seat position and, with air tyres, the pressure.
Looking for more holiday ideas? Have a look at gifts for garden lovers or gifts for barbecue lovers. If your child is ready for something bigger in the garden, also read what size trampoline fits your garden.
Riding safely: supervision, place and helmet
A go-kart is an outdoor toy, not a means of transport in traffic. For many models the product information states that your child should ride under (direct) adult supervision. A few agreements keep things safe and relaxed:
- Ride away from traffic: in the garden, on a square, a quiet yard or at the campsite. Do not let your child ride between cars; a go-kart sits low and is hard for drivers to see.
- Consider a helmet: for example a well-fitting bike helmet, especially on fast go-karts and slopes.
- Check the maximum weight: every go-kart has a maximum weight in the product information. Do not let a second child ride along without a passenger seat or trailer made for that go-kart.
- Check before riding: are the seat and steering wheel secure, does the brake work and are the tyres in good condition?
Storing and maintaining a go-kart in winter
A go-kart can handle a shower, but would rather not spend the whole winter in the rain. Keep it in the shed, garage or storeroom. Some go-karts, such as the EXIT Foxy, can be parked upright according to the product information, which helps in a small shed. For smaller items such as a helmet or a trailer, a storage box is handy; also read buying a garden storage box. In spring, check the brake, the screws and the tyre pressure.
Common mistakes when choosing
Click each pitfall you already avoid.
Buying a size too big "to grow into"
If your child cannot reach the pedals properly, they cannot get the go-kart moving. Choose a size that fits now, with room to grow.
Buying an accessory that does not fit
Trailers and passenger seats often only fit a specific series. Check which go-kart they are made for.
No place to store it
An XL go-kart is over one and a half metres long. Know where it will go before it arrives.
Checklist before you order
Tick off what you have sorted; your browser remembers it.
- I have measured my child and know their height
- That height falls within the go-kart's user height
- I know whether I want solid tyres or air tyres
- The go-kart has a brake my child can operate
- There is space in the shed or garage
- I have checked the delivery time and arranged a hiding place
- There is a safe place to ride, away from traffic
Got a big garden and children who never sit still? Also take a look at trampolines, climbing frames and swings and sandpits and playhouses, or everything together on the garden play equipment page. How to set up play equipment safely is explained in garden play equipment: space, fall zone and anchoring, and you will find more ideas for a playful garden in 15 ideas for the back garden.
Frequently asked questions
From what age can a child ride a pedal go-kart?
The smallest go-karts, such as the BERG Buzzy and the EXIT Foxy, are suitable from 2 years according to the product information. More important than age is whether your child can reach the pedals with straight legs and hold the steering wheel properly.
What does BFR mean on a BERG go-kart?
At BERG, BFR stands for a system that combines braking, freewheeling and reversing. According to the product information, you brake by pedalling backwards, the go-kart freewheels when you stop pedalling and you can pedal backwards as soon as it has stopped, without switching anything. You will find it on the Buddy, the Choppy Neo, the Street-X and the XL and XXL frames, among others.
Can an adult ride a pedal go-kart?
On the large models, yes. According to the product information, the BERG XL Frame B.Pure Blue BFR has a user height of 125 to 190 cm and a maximum weight of 100 kg. The XXL frame is 10 cm longer than the XL frame and has eight seat positions, according to the product information. Smaller go-karts are made for children only; always check the maximum weight.
Can a go-kart stay outside in winter?
Preferably not. Store the go-kart in the shed, garage or storeroom over winter. If it has to stay outside, use a cover. For the BERG Go-kart Cover for XL go-karts, the product information itself says it protects against rain but is not fully waterproof.
