The Rotax Max 125 Engine is a
two-stroke
A two-stroke (or two-stroke cycle) engine is a type of internal combustion engine that completes a Thermodynamic power cycle, power cycle with two strokes (up and down movements) of the piston during one power cycle, this power cycle being comple ...
engine designed by
Rotax
Rotax is the brand name for a range of internal combustion engines developed and manufactured by the Austrian company BRP-Rotax GmbH & Co KG (until 2016 BRP-Powertrain GmbH & Co. KG), in turn owned by the Canadian Bombardier Recreational Product ...
, part of
Bombardier Recreational Products
BRP Inc. is the holding company for Bombardier Recreational Products Inc., operating as BRP, a Canadian manufacturer of snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles, side by sides, motorcycles, and personal watercraft. It was founded in 2003, when the Recr ...
(BRP), to provide cost-effective but high speed
kart racing
Kart racing or karting is a road racing variant of motorsport with open-wheel, four-wheeled vehicles known as go-karts or shifter karts. They are usually raced on kart circuit, scaled-down circuits, although some professional kart races are als ...
. Built in Austria, the engine is liquid cooled, equipped with a balance shaft, integrated water pump, electric starter and centrifugal clutch. Its combination of onboard electric starter and centrifugal clutch simplifies its operation. This concept is called
TaG (Touch-and-go).
The Rotax Max was introduced to karting in 1998, easy to use and very reliable, it almost immediately began to gain market share from other slower or more expensive classes. The engine is offered in different performance configurations.
Engine versions
There are several different versions of the engine. The original has a
power valve and produces around , and is used by racers aged 15 or older. The DD2 is another fully powered version which has two gears and is direct drive in that the axle goes through the engine without need for a chain.
125 MAX "base" configuration:
* at 11,500 rpm
*Maximum rpm 14,000 rpm.
* recommended as of 16 years
* has a cylinder with exhaust valve
125 Junior MAX configuration:
* at 8,500 rpm
*Maxiumum rpm 14,000 rpm
* recommended for juniors from 13 to 16 years
* has a cylinder without exhaust valve
125 Mini MAX engine configuration:
* at 8,500 rpm
*Maximum rpm 12,500 rpm
* recommended for children from 10 to 13 years
* has a cylinder without exhaust valve, and intake and exhaust restrictors
125 Micro MAX engine configuration:
* at 6,500 rpm
*Maxiumum rpm 12,000 rpm
* recommended for kids from 8 to 10 years
* same as previous with a different exhaust and radiator, No inlet restrictor, and acceleration stop sleeve, fitting smaller chassis adapted to kids size
Based on an evolution concept, each of the above configurations can be upgraded or downgraded to any of the other configurations by replacing various accessories and components.
Evolution concept
- BRP Rotax
125 MAX DD2 engine configuration:
* at 11,750 rpm
*Maxium rpm 14,000 rpm
* recommended as of 16 years
* has a two-speed gearbox operated by shift paddle from the steering wheel, and a chainless drive system
Rotax Max Challenge
BRP-Powertrain has introduced a single (engine) brand race series for the MAX engine concept - called Rotax Max Challenge
The Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals (RMC) is a kart racing series owned and organized worldwide by BRP-Powertrain and its distributors, approved and in compliance with CIK-FIA. Competition takes place on a club, national and international ...
. This race series is organized in various classes (125 Micro MAX, 125 Mini MAX, 125 Junior MAX, 125 MAX and 125 MAX DD2) in around 60 countries. Competitors from the national Rotax Max Challenges in the 125 Junior MAX, 125 MAX and 125 MAX DD2 class can qualify to participate at the annual Grand Finals of the Rotax Max Challenge, where most of the costs are covered by BRP-Powertrain.
To assure the equal performance of the engines, BRP-Powertrain has established a very strict technical regulation and a sealing system for the engines. Only official service centers are authorized to check engines for their conformity and to seal them.
References
External links
*
Rotax DD2 Tested with Video
Helpful Rotax Max how to videos
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Kart models
Rotax engines