Just a question how come Briggs have never updated there H.P. on LO206 motor . Like Tillotson has done. 9 H.P. seems a little slow compared to 15 H.P. Tillotson on torque and speed.. Would like to see a big H.P. 4 cycle motor from Briggs.. LO206 seems more like a rental motor..
206 is an entry-level class. More power = less reliability.
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Arguably, Tillotson is trying to do to LO206 what IAME did to Rotax Max… I’m glad it hasn’t caught on.
Updating the motor for more power means everyone now has to go purchase a new motor to be competitive. This approach is part of how Rotax lost prominence in the US as a 2 stroke platform.
Briggs is about cost control, parity, and simplicity. It is targeted at new and recreational racers and has done better then ANY other engine category in the US. It is hands down the most widely used engine platform in US karting. It will stay that way until Briggs does something stupid to screw it all up, like invalidating old spec engine seals or release new higher HP designs. Once people have to start buying motors to replace perfectly good motors they have, Briggs could lose share to 2-stroke or Tilly racing.
Right now 2 stroke is so freaking expensive relative to Briggs that is poses no real threat. The recent push to reestablish Rotax could change that, but so many racers were burned previously its going to be a slow go to grow that back.
Tilly poses localized threat only. Briggs spent alot of time and effort to establish the motor package when they released it. Support is not the same post COVID, but it is established now. Tilly did not have a solid plan for controlling and supporting US racing when they rolled out, so it has only worked where local knowledge and support have been solid. When you are trying to knock of the incumbent you have a much steeper hill to climb.
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To be fair, depending who you ask, 15HP is a rental engine too.
Most drivers value competition and ease of use over outright speed. 206 has always been the slowest class by far, yet nearly 1000 drivers come from across the US on their own dime to run the CKNA nationals.
Drivers that want to go faster can basically choose ANY other class. Which is what I’ll be doing next time I hit the track. After running the Briggs for a while, I’d like to
Run something a little faster. But the reality is that I’m the minority. Come to think of it, I have a 225 but I’ll probably jump to my old school 100cc or a dust off shifter.
There’s been some attempts to bring in super 206’s, built animals etc. I think there were even tested at CKNA events, but they didn’t work out. Drivers don’t want to run them.
There was a Briggs engine called world formula, that was around 15HP. Over time, those drivers moved to 206 as well.
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The animals were pretty quick as well. On rock hard YDS tires they were only a couple seconds slower than the old Yamaha cans at Badger.
I think the reality is not enough people want a faster 4-stroke engine. You’re either happy with the 206 or move into a 2-stroke engine. Tillotson is trying to bridge the gap between them with the 225, but really the only series to pick it up has been SSKC and they struggle to pull double digit entries.
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Because they actually thought it through and realized what a dumb idea it would be to sabotage a successful nationwide program that has basically saved grassroots karting.
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Thanks for the great answers . Just wondered. I like the Tilly T4 platform alot . Since they will be running it at a local track. Lorain Ohio Kartplex in Lorain Ohio. Can always run a LO206 on it too. Or any other motor..
Do you want to go fast by yourself, or do you want to run in a big pack of karts? That currently the difference between the Tilly and the 206.
People migrated to the 206 for larger class sizes vs running the animal or the WF by themselves.
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Some great responses here. I think it would be fair to say that based on the number of people running LO206 throughout Canada and the U.S. that Briggs has been doing something right. I personally would rather have consistent class sizes to race in than a few more horsepower. Especially through the kid/ junior classes. Don’t get me wrong. I have never wanted less horsepower. Having a competitive field is more important. Definitely in the entry level class.
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2-stroke (100cc) guy’s perspective here: speed doesn’t matter as much as cost, parity, field size, and reliability. That’s why I’m not tempted to jump to TaG or shifter. Once I have enough time and money to run multiple classes, I plan to buy an LO206, not a Tillotson. 9 hp is just as good as 15 hp IMO.
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