Every racer thinks they know where they are losing time.
“The engine feels flat off the corner,” they say. Or “I’m braking too early.”
90% of the time, the “butt dyno” is wrong.
In modern karting, even at the club level (Briggs LO206, ROK, Rotax), you cannot compete for wins consistently without data. A data logger isn’t just a fancy speedometer; it is a lie detector. It tells you exactly where you are slow, whether your gearing is wrong, and if your engine is about to expire.
If you are serious about moving up from the back of the pack, this is the first “performance part” you buy. Before the new axle. Before the ceramic bearings. Before the fresh sticker kit.
Here is the no-nonsense guide to the only two units that matter.
The King of the Paddock: AiM MyChron 5S
Go to any kart track in the world—from Goodwood to GoPro Motorplex. Walk down the grid. What is on 95% of the steering wheels? The AiM MyChron.
It is the gold standard for a reason.
Why It Dominates
• Robustness: It takes a beating. Rain, vibration, crashes—it survives.
• GPS Accuracy: The “S” model uses 25Hz GPS, meaning it updates position 25 times per second. This gives you incredibly precise lap times without needing trackside beacons.
• Battery Life: You can run an entire race weekend on a single charge.
The Real “Secret Weapon”: Social Data
The biggest advantage of the MyChron isn’t the hardware; it’s the ecosystem. Because everyone has one, everyone shares data.
If you are struggling in Turn 3, a fast driver can literally AirDrop their data file to your MyChron. You can then overlay their trace on yours in the Race Studio software. You will see exactly where they brake (and for how long) and exactly when they get back on the throttle. You can’t argue with the lines on the graph.
Which one to buy?
For Briggs LO206, get the MyChron 5S 2T (Two Temp) if your budget allows. This lets you run both a Cylinder Head Temp (CHT) sensor and an Exhaust Gas Temp (EGT) sensor simultaneously—critical for fine-tuning your carburetor.
The Challenger: Alfano 6
The Alfano 6 is the only real competitor to AiM. It features a massive, beautiful touchscreen interface that feels more like a smartphone than a piece of industrial equipment.
• The Good: The screen is arguably better to read in direct sunlight, and the on-device data analysis is superior if you don’t have a laptop handy. It’s often slightly cheaper than the MyChron.
• The Bad: You are on an island. If you need help with the menu or want to compare data with a buddy, you’ll likely be the only person in your tent with an Alfano.
• Verdict: Buy it if you are a tech geek who loves to tinker alone. Buy a MyChron if you want to use the community to get faster.
Essential Sensors for LO206
A logger is useless without the right sensors. Here is your shopping list:
1. RPM Lead: (Included) Wraps around your spark plug wire to read engine revs.
2. CHT (Cylinder Head Temp): Mandatory for LO206. This sensor goes under your spark plug. It tells you if you are overheating in the draft (tape too high) or running too cool (tape too low).
3. EGT (Exhaust Gas Temp): Optional for beginners, but essential for national-level tuning to get the fuel mixture perfect.
The “Data Trap” (Read This Before You Buy)
Buying the logger doesn’t make you faster. Looking at the data makes you faster.
Don’t just stare at the lap time. Look at the RPM Drop. Check your minimum RPM in the tightest hairpin.
• If it drops too low (bogging), add teeth to the rear sprocket.
• If you are hitting the rev limiter halfway down the straight, take teeth off.
Summary
You can spend $5,000 on engine blueprinting and still be slow because your gearing is wrong. A $600 data logger fixes the gearing, the driver, and the tuning all at once.
It is the single best investment in the sport.