What is the term for a go-kart with a manual gearbox?

A go-kart with a manual gearbox is called a shifter kart. The name distinguishes it from direct-drive or clutch-only karts, in which the driver does not select multiple gears while racing.

Shifter karts use a multi-speed transmission, commonly operated by a hand lever beside the driver. Many competition versions also have a foot-operated clutch for launching and selecting gears, while gear changes are made through the shifter. The extra ratios let the engine stay closer to its useful power band as speed rises.

The phrase can cause confusion because “shifter” may describe the control itself, while “shifter kart” describes the entire vehicle category. A kart with an automatic or centrifugal-clutch system is not normally called a shifter kart simply because it has a transmission component.

Early karts were often direct-drive machines and had to be push-started. Centrifugal clutches later made recreational and club karts easier to operate, while gearbox classes developed into high-performance racing categories. Modern CIK-FIA gearbox classes include KZ and KZ2.