Customers are impressed with the Formula Electric GoKart's easy assembly and convenience of arriving pre-charged. However, concerns have been raised regarding the poor build quality and inadequate braking system, which has resulted in safety incidents. Some customers have reported brake line breakage and insufficient stopping force, posing potential hazards to riders.
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Pros mentioned:
Max speed
Cons mentioned:
Brakes
Rated 3 out of 5 stars
I had fun but.....
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
The Hover-1 Formula is a neat kart but really meant for someone that is younger and smaller in stature. The box in comes in is quite large because the kart comes 100% assembled, there is nothing you really need to do but charge it. When I opened the box, the kart had about 50% charge left which is nice because then you can get started right away to make sure everything is in working order. The only thing you need to do really is first, adjust the steering wheel column then adjust the length of the kart itself. That was pretty tricky because you have to pull 2 tabs and pull the kart apart. Definitely a 2 person job at first because the kart was new and it stuck. Then inflate the tires and you're good to go. The display on the steering column is straight forward, it shows battery and speed level and mph. There is a white button for reverse, red button for power and blue button is the horn. There is also a button on the side of the steering column that turns the headlights on and off.
The performance is quite good. Max speed is 15mph but the heavier you are the more drain you will put on the battery. There is 6 speed levels which is really great, keeps the younger ones from getting out of control. The kart itself is quite responsive and a lot of fun to drive around but because it is small and so low to the ground, I don't think it's a good idea to drive on streets. Much better to find an open space like a parking lot. The things I would have like to see on this kart, which is why i gave it 3 stars, is a rearview mirror, real tail lights instead of red stickers in the back and a high flexible flag so other vehicle can see you coming. And the horn needs to be louder. That horn is really just for pedestrians or anyone riding a bike, no way anyone in a car would hear you. I'm also worried about the soft rubber tires, if you get a flat, it does not look like it's gonna be easy to change. It is definitely a fun toy but the price needs to be better.
This review is from Hover-1 - Formula Electric GoKart 15.5 mi Max Operating Range & 15 mph Max Speed - Black
No, I would not recommend this to a friend
Cons mentioned:
Brakes, Build quality
Rated 3 out of 5 stars
A fun ride-for both kids and adults alike
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Overall
It’s definitely a fun ride, arrives ready to go in the box. No assembly, nor any real setup except making sure your tires are properly inflated. But I will add that making adjustments to its ride-ability is a bit of a hassle. Adjusting it’s length is more difficult that it should be. It’s easily a 2 person task. In the absence of knowledge and lack of a 2nd person, my initial attempt resulted in pinching myself inside of the telescoping pipes. I never realized it until I went to wipe what had appeared to be water on the seat, only to realize I made a streak on the seat with blood. I later learned that if it’s adjusted to your height, it’s a simpler process to further adjust from the seat rather than from the outside, unless a 2nd person is available. The locking mechanism is a hit and miss. I’ve had it shift during a ride, even if the pins appear seated. The right side seems more prone to this than the left. Steering column stays somewhat loose where the height shifts at most opportunities. I assume using tools to tighten it each time should be the way to go about it, but having to adjust between various driver heights seems like a hassle. According to the manual, the kart has no serviceable parts, going with pneumatic tires seems to me like it’ll be a hassle to service it down the road. I’ve attached a photograph of the tail to give an idea.
Brakes on this unit are in my opinion terrible, be prepared for the unexpected, the brakes have little stopping force. This comes back what I said about the manual, if you need to service or change them, it’ll be a hassle.
Ride height is rather low, but as it is, it should include at the bare minimum a flag holding bracket welded onto the frame. At it’s current height, this kart isn’t easily visible to other vehicles. Placement of lights Is also very low and the lack of anything in the rear other than stickers is troubling. To add to that, this grinds in most uneven surfaces. The minimal change in surface from sidewalk to grass is enough. To make matters worse, I’ve had it grind going over the lines in sidewalk or joint lines.
The horn could also be improved. As is, this is good for a bicyclist or pedestrian. Something like a bikes trumpet style squeeze horn is louder than this. In terms of visibility and safety, this kart is really lacking.
When it comes to material quality, there could be a few improvements. For starters, the chassis flexes when I press down on the brake. But this could also be attributed to having poor brakes. Steering wheel has a cheap look, and feels like it may snap with some force on it, such as crashing head on.
The documentation feels rather lacking. There’s also a portion in the manual that threw me off. In particular, the diagram showcasing the karts components. It highlights #14 in 2 areas but each pointing to component/legend item. One of them should have been labeled #13, which points to a fender. #14 is for the charging port in the bottom of the kart. This part stumped me for a sec as I ended up looking for the charging port under the fender rather than below the kart.
It’s an overall fun ride, and for it to be able to handle both teens and adults (in this case 5’9” 195lbs) is fantastic. But the lack of quality or more safety related features makes me walk away. This is for you if you can look past its flaws or if you live in a zone where these safety features aren’t such a deal breaker (ex low traffic rural areas or wide open flat surfaces).
This review is from Hover-1 - Formula Electric GoKart 15.5 mi Max Operating Range & 15 mph Max Speed - Black
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Max speed
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
A lot of fun!
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I used to love Karting—there just are not much tracks around to go to, and the ones that I have access to, have crappy karts—such as off-center steering, unresponsive pedals and most of all, smelly seats and exhaust.
But all hail this electric GoKart! It is a compact GoKart that I can haul (with the help of a buddy) into my vehicle. Yes, it can fit in my SUV trunk—it is compact, decently weighty but not difficult to lift, and CLEAN—no gas or oil spills. The casing though is a little flimsy—just by moving it around, the parts seem to already misalign so it makes it a little bit of a challenge to carry it without possibly folding the case. The GoKart itself has an adjustable length-- I am 5’8” and I can scoot in it easily even without extending the length. Fully extended I think it can fit someone tall, like 6’5”. Design is nice and I like that the major parts like steering and seats are adjustable to fit any height.
Charging is easy, although beware of the misleading manual—the port is at the center behind part, not at the rear left part as the manual shows. There is no indicator though if it has been fully charged so there is some manual checking if you want to know if it is full. For me, from one bar left, I leave it overnight to charge and it is full in the morning.
It’s fast but not fast enough to freak me out. 15MPH top as rated and acceleration is not a problem (I am 150lbs). Steering feel and response mimics that of the arcade karts and the road grip is decent. Although Karts are supposed to be on tracks, the wheels on this are comfortable enough to absorb the bumpiness of regular roads. I know it’s not safe to ride these on streets, but I wish it came with a tall flag so I can ride on it in the side streets. Luckily, we have an area where we can ride this freely.
Overall, this is very simple to operate. Do not expect real karting performance— it’s all about having a cute vehicle you can ride around for fun. You can’t use it to go to the supermarket (or maybe you can—lol), but for sure I’m asking my friends to get one too, so we can all have fun with it together.
This review is from Hover-1 - Formula Electric GoKart 15.5 mi Max Operating Range & 15 mph Max Speed - Black
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Max speed
Cons mentioned:
Brakes
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
Good to have for fun just wished it built better
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Review of Hover-1 - Formula Electric GoKart 15.5 mi Max Operating Range & 15 mph Max Speed - Black
The GoKart from Hoover-1 at first driving it is fun and addictive. Easy to maneuver, can speed and slow with gear from 1 to 3, steering wheel is bit sensitive but it is matter of getting used to which process is effortless.
As getting it out of the box, it doesn’t require any assembly, and ready to charge It then start the excitement.
Features/parts (extract from its manual)
1.Seat
2. Steering Wheel
3. Headlight Switch
5. Brake Pedal
6.Accelerator Pedal
7. Headlights
8. Front Fender
9. LCD Display
10. Adjustable Frame
11. Adjustable Steering Wheel
12. Tire
13.Charge Port (located underneath)
14. Read Fender.
The package comes: the Go-Kart, Wall Charger and Operation Manual.
ITs net weight 70.54lbs(32kgs) and full charge time around 6 hours. Brake is dual disc brakes, and battery type lithium-ion, and has UL Certification just to list some of specification.
On speed:
-1. Up to 6MPH
-2. Up to 9 mph
-3 Up to 15 mph On this, it shows sometime going on 16mph the accelerate to full speed.
In overall it is easy to straight forward to start using. Not much of setting or so except of charging. Only few detail on wish it were better:
1. Charging Port is bit non practical as it is not visible and have to guess underneath to locate it and plug.
2. Can’t tell if it is charging or not as it doesn’t provide status of how much being charged or fully charged. The charger has a light that indicate it is plugged, but it is independent of the battery charging.
3. Adjust the steering wheel and frame could be better. For adjustment of steering wheel, it use a lock button a like a small tiny bal that fit into the locking hole as adjust. However pushing it to unlock doesn’t work simply with just a push, need a thin stick to push but when push bit harder it get stuck inside. On the other hand the frame as pull out or push, the spring that lock doesn’t lock easily, requiring to check multiple time.
From the above list, the quality of frame and the way the adjusting frame and wheel were better because while driving it feels flimsy as if it gonna dissemble.
Aside of above observation, at the end does feel fun while driving.
This review is from Hover-1 - Formula Electric GoKart 15.5 mi Max Operating Range & 15 mph Max Speed - Black
I would recommend this to a friend
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
Fun for the whole family
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
The new Hover-1 FM95 Formula Electric GoKart was a great option for entertainment around our neighborhood park bike trails for not only our kids but the parents as well. The GoKart was shipped to us in a huge box and, I’m not going to lie, it was quite heavy, about 90 pounds, to get out before I realized I should have just cut the cardboard out around the cart instead of lifting it out. There really was no set up other than reading the simple instructions for use, functionality and charging it before first use. After it was charged, I had to make a few changes to the seating and steering column height to try it out first, of course, before I let the kids have a turn. I struggled quite a bit with adjusting the frame itself to position the seat further back. To move the frame in and out, you disengage the two pins holding both ends of the frame together while pushing or pulling the frame apart or together. Doing this for the first time was actually very difficult and frustrating however after doing it a few times it did get easier.
Turning the Formula GoKart on is as simple as holding down the middle button on the steering wheel and the screen on the wheel with come on showing you your battery power, speed (MPH), and gear you are in. There is a horn button on the right-hand side of the steering wheel, the reverse button on the left had side, and the toggle button to turn the headlights on the side of the steering column. After getting to know where everything was on the cart, I was ready to roll with the push of the acceleration pedal on the right side. You can control the top speed of the cart but using the middle button on the steering wheel with has three settings that are visible on the steering wheel screen. It’s not the fastest go-cart I’ve been in topping out at about 15 MPH with its 700 W motor but it’s perfect for our little ones without being too crazy and having to worry too much about them getting hurt. Hover-1 claims this will get 15 miles to one charge however I wasn’t able to test that without having an odometer on the cart itself. Our family has taken it on several spins around the park and it’s barely made a dent in the 36V 7.5 Ah battery. The disc brakes work well to slow you down to a stop but don’t expect to stop on a dime. One thing it does really well is it turns on a dime using the staggered 10” wheels and tires. I found out myself driving it when I tried to hang a U-turn at full speed and both wheels came up on one side; don’t try that at home kids. Another thing I would like to add is the instruction manual states it has non-pneumatic solid tires however the front tires have tire nipples and I did need to add air (36 PSI) to them as they were flat upon delivery.
I wish there was an option to add a little more power to the go-cart for any larger folks that are riding it. Hover-1 claims that it can support up to around 330 pounds however the largest person we got on it was about 240 pounds and he rode in it just fine although it did affect the acceleration and top speed. Hover-1 also recommends a minimum age of 12, I assume for liability purposes, however, with a little instruction and no major obstacles around, our seven-year-old was able to ride in it and reach the pedals by herself with the GoKart frame completely collapsed. With our instruction, she was able to drive and control it with ease which was actually pretty cool to see at that age. However, at my age, and my neighbors age who also hopped in for a test spin, it was a little difficult to get in and out but that had nothing to do with the go-cart. We used some of the plastic fender parts surrounding the frame and wheels to assist us in getting out which clearly weren’t meant to support that kind of weight. Fortunately, nothing broke on the go-cart or our bodies.
I think this is a great starter go-cart for anyone in the market for the younger drivers to get used to and it is still fun for the adults as the Hover-1 Formula GoKart has the adjustable frame and steering column height. My only gripe was not having the option to increase the top speed considering my electric scooter goes twice as fast as this and the plastic material that was used to cover the frame feels pretty cheap although it may have been designed that way for a reason such as being able to flex with impact. Just make sure if the little ones are using it to ensure they follow all the rules and practice all safety guidelines including wearing a helmet and the seatbelt attached.
This review is from Hover-1 - Formula Electric GoKart 15.5 mi Max Operating Range & 15 mph Max Speed - Black
I would recommend this to a friend
Cons mentioned:
Brakes
Rated 1 out of 5 stars
poor delivery and build quality , dont buy
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Posted . Owned for 1 year when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
it was a mess to get shipped, ordered in november, did not arrive in time for xmas. after i finally got it, the brakes line broke at a cheap weld job sending my child into a curb. the adjustment for the steering and the body length dont work well and often come loose while driving. i wouldnt sell this thing to my enemy
This review is from Hover-1 - Formula Electric GoKart 15.5 mi Max Operating Range & 15 mph Max Speed - Black
No, I would not recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Max speed
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Worth it
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Posted . Owned for 2 months when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
My son loves this thing! Came already assembled and already charged. He hopped on it Christmas Day and it’s literally the only thing he wanted to do after school.
I would recommend this to a friend
Cons mentioned:
Brakes
Rated 1 out of 5 stars
Poor quality and no support
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Posted . Owned for 1 month when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
The go carts tires popped after 4 uses. Cannot get ahold of anyone on hover1 or find replacement parts. Would not recommend for the price
No, I would not recommend this to a friend
Brand response from Hover-1 Team
Posted .
Hello, we are sorry to hear you are experiencing technical difficulties with your unit. Please reach out to our Hover-1 Support Team for further assistance. We would be happy to help! You can contact us by emailing [email protected] Thank You, -Sam
Pros mentioned:
Max speed
Cons mentioned:
Brakes, Build quality
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
Fun for all ages
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
From the kids to the adults everybody in the family was excited to take this Hover 1 Formula Electric GoKart out of the box. The go kart comes fully assembled out of the box but it does require you to charge it for a few hours to get the battery fully charged before your first use. The charging port is hard to locate if you look at the manual so it may be better to lift it up to locate the port the first time. It would have been better if the plug in point was located on top but this may be a cost savings decision. Initial impressions on build quality is that it does not seem very sturdy however it is understandable that the plastic parts are lightweight in order to maximize range. It also would have been nice if the rear brake lights were simple led brake lights for more visibility and safety.
The go kart is rated to go a max speed of 15mph with a total range of 15.5 miles. The max operator with is 330lb but rest assured you will not get to the max speed of 15mph and your total range and run-time will be reduced. The go kart is powered on by pressing a button on the steering wheel. The lcd display screen on the steering wheel show you the battery range speed and which mode your are on. There are 3 modes that limit speeds to 6,9 and 15 mph. The max speed of 15 mph is not too fast however I would start it on the lowest level for the younger kids so they can get used to it. Adjusting the length is fairly easy for taller riders however you have to make sure the notch is locked in properly so it does not adjust while driving. This go kart is not intended to ride in the street nor is it street legal so make sure the kids drive it in a wide open area that is clear of traffic. The 15.5 mile range does seem feasible if you are not maxing out the weight but I would say it will give you plenty of fun driving time between charges if you are doing short runs. Overall Hover 1 put together a great electric go kart that is fun for all ages. Hover 1 could have increased build quality a little but in all fairness it is great for the price you pay
This review is from Hover-1 - Formula Electric GoKart 15.5 mi Max Operating Range & 15 mph Max Speed - Black
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Max speed
Cons mentioned:
Build quality
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
Perma-grin while riding!
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I'm 6'4". You can get into this kart at that height but it's not comfortable. I will put that fact aside as those were the genetic cards I was dealt and not the fault of the kart but if you're 6 foot or taller you may be eating your knees once seated on this. Anyway, this is clearly for tweens and teens! Perfectly suited for both. Max weight capacity is 330lbs. I like that it's speed is proportionally "geared" by modes. (1) Slow mode up to 6MPH, (2) medium mode 9MPH, and (3) fast mode gets you to 15MPH if you're light enough. The fast mode seems fast at first but you quickly get used to it and wish for a little more speed. The kart comes fully assembled which is great. Its a heavy package and delivered on a wooden pallet. For assembly, all you need to do is adjust the riding size, tweak the steering wheel a little, and charge the battery. Our initial first charge took about 6 hours but you must charge up fully before you ride it to keep from damaging the battery cells. Once charged up, it runs for about 20 to 25 min before it's back to the charger for another 5-6 hours. I'm sure a lighter person with less of a lead foot could get better results but not that much better. Its rated for 15.5 mile range and we were getting around 6 to 7 miles range on flat ground while not going over 10MPH. Can this go off road?
Yes, but just flat dirt really. High grass is gonna stop you completely and trails are out as that is not what this is intended for anyway. The riding height of the cart makes it perfect for sidewalks, boardwalks, and parking lots. I would strongly advise not riding this on the streets at all as there are no lights on the kart and no way for cars to see you. A flag would be nice but I could see how including a flag may give the wrong impression to the buyer that its ok to shoot down the road real quick to access the parking lot to ride. The kart does stow away fairly nice in a car as the frame length can be adjusted to fit in most cars trunk space. I had no problem fitting it in my Wrangler. While it's heavy at about 70lbs its really more cumbersome than it is heavy. Although I was able to lift it in by myself, I would recommend getting help when lifting it into a vehicle.
The build quality is fine. Only a few issues with the fit and finish of the frame adjustment lock. I feel like it may break over time. Replacement tires may be hard to source and install down the road. All in all very fun little ride!
This review is from Hover-1 - Formula Electric GoKart 15.5 mi Max Operating Range & 15 mph Max Speed - Black
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Max speed
Cons mentioned:
Brakes
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Very fun Go-Kart
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
The Hover-1 - Formula Electric GoKart is a lot of fun as long as you have a good area to ride it at your home or wherever you plan on storing it. It is not designed to be ridden on the street and it is heavy and large (which I actually believe are good things because it seems to be well-built) so transporting it to where you want to ride it may be a challenge. Fortunately for me, I have the perfect area to ride at my home and me and my kids have all had a blast with it so far.
I really like the clean interface of the display and how overall, it feels like a quality machine. The tires have really good grip allowing for surprisingly good steering and maneuvering but I must admit that the max speed of 15mph felt slower than I had anticipated. In addition, the brakes aren’t quite as responsive as I had imagined they would be, but they still do a good enough job.
Overall, my kids and I have really enjoyed using the Hover-1 - Formula Electric GoKart and if you have a great area to ride it near wherever you store it, I think you and your kids won’t be disappointed!
This review is from Hover-1 - Formula Electric GoKart 15.5 mi Max Operating Range & 15 mph Max Speed - Black
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Max speed
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
Lots of fun!
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
The Hover-1 - Formula Electric GoKartis loads of fun for my son, and for me. With summer fast approaching, I didn't want my son sitting around the house and on the tablet. I showed him the GoKart, and he immediately fell in love.
The car comes pretty much ready to use (after charge). You can adjust the car length based on height. My son tried it out after the first charge and loved it. I decided to try it myself and it really is lots of fun. It's pretty quick, and the quick acceleration makes it even more fun.
The Hover-1 - Formula Electric GoKart is a much better alternative than a gas powered GoKart. No more having to tune carburetors, throttle linkage, etc. With the Hover-1 - Formula Electric GoKart, just charge, get in, and GO!
The only drawback of the Hover-1 - Formula Electric GoKart that I see is the charge port location. The charge port is located in the rear, and underneath the car. If not careful, I can definitely see there being damage to it if someone accidently moves the car around or something. It is definitely bad charge port placement. I really wish they would have placed it somewhere above.
Overall, we love the Hover-1 - Formula Electric GoKart. I would highly recommend it to anyone!
This review is from Hover-1 - Formula Electric GoKart 15.5 mi Max Operating Range & 15 mph Max Speed - Black
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Max speed
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Fun!
Posted .
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
My biggest concern about getting this go kart was transporting it to different locations. I was really pleased with how easy you could shorten or lengthen the chassis, making it an easy fit in the trunk of a car. Also, the kart is sturdy but it was light enough to pivot into the back of my vehicle without a lot of effort. Now for the fun part, it is extremely easy to operate, just turn it on by holding the red button down a few seconds, use the right pedal to go and the left to brake. Of course, once you take your foot of the “gas” pedal, the car will immediately slowing down rapidly. With a top speed of 15 mph, you can zip around but not worry about your kids wiping out or having a dangerous collision. The hefty weight limit allows everyone in the family to take a turn, but the heavier you are the sooner the battery will need recharging. One thing about the plug, the manual shows that it’s near the back left wheel, when it’s actually centered at the rear of the car. Just reach underneath from the back and it’s convenient to plug in. I would recommend this go kart if you are looking for some fun that won’t get too wild!
This review is from Hover-1 - Formula Electric GoKart 15.5 mi Max Operating Range & 15 mph Max Speed - Black
I would recommend this to a friend
Customer reviews from Hover-1
User rating, 3.5 out of 5 stars with 8 reviews on Hover-1.