The Pipe Frame (originally known as the Go-Kart until Mario Kart 7) is every character's standard (and only) kart in the first three Mario Kart games: Super Mario Kart, Mario Kart 64, and Mario Kart: Super Circuit. It is the predecessor to the Standard Kart. Of all the games the Pipe Frame appeared in, its abilities and color depend on the character in question driving it, making sure the kart itself is balanced.
The Pipe Frame returns to the Mario Kart series after a 10-year absence, starting with Mario Kart 7. It also appears in Mario Kart 8 and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe as an unlockable body part. It also appears in Mario Kart Tour as the default kart.
Description[]
The Pipe Frame resembles a go-kart with a engine and exhaust pipes. The character logo is attached to the vehicle's steering wheel. The Pipe Frame draws some inspiration to micro karts.
Appearances[]
Super Mario Kart[]
The Pipe Frame kart makes its first appearance in Super Mario Kart where it is designed as a simplistic go-kart that comes in different colors and performance traits for all eight playable characters. It can also give the drivers a boost by drifting.
Some of the karts use four-stroke engines while a few use a two-stroke engine.
Mario Kart 64[]
The Pipe Frame appears in Mario Kart 64 as a redesigned kart, coming in different colors for every character, has realistic wheels, and a cube-shaped engine with two exhaust pipes. It also has different handling compared to its predecessor.
Every kart, except for Toad's kart, uses a two-stroke engine. Toad's kart uses a softer four-stroke engine.
Toad and Donkey Kong are the only characters to have unique engine sounds.
Mario Kart: Super Circuit[]
The Pipe Frame's design and colors are unchanged from its previous appearance in Mario Kart: Super Circuit, but the karts' handling has been adjusted to accommodate for the game's 2D environment.
Unlike Mario Kart 64, every kart uses a four-stroke engine.
Mario Kart 7[]
The Pipe Frame, as it appears in Mario Kart 7.
The Pipe Frame appears in Mario Kart 7 as a retro kart. It has the Mario Kart 64 and Mario Kart: Super Circuit design. The Pipe Frame is one of the three kart parts to have a different color for each character. Mario, Luigi, Peach, Yoshi, Donkey Kong, Bowser, Toad, and Wario retain the same colored karts from Mario Kart 64 and Mario Kart: Super Circuit.
It offers a good boost in Acceleration and Traction, but sacrifices Speed and Weight.
Mario Kart 8[]
The Pipe Frame returns in Mario Kart 8 as a retro kart, reverted to the Super Mario Kart design featuring a tubular engine with one exhaust pipe, rather than a cubic engine with two exhaust pipes used in Mario Kart 64 and Mario Kart: Super Circuit. Mario, Luigi, Peach, Toad, Yoshi, Bowser, Donkey Kong, and Wario once again retain their colored karts from Mario Kart 64, and Mario Kart: Super Circuit while Koopa Troopa retains his colored kart from Super Mario Kart.
All of the CPU-controlled characters will occasionally use it along with the Standard Tires, but a few may use the Monster tires instead.
It offers good Acceleration and Handling, but bad Weight and Traction. Its speed gives no effect. It's stats are identical to the Wild Wiggler, Standard Bike, Flame Rider, Varmint, W 25 Silver Arrow, and City Tripper.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe[]
When compared to Mario Kart 8, the Pipe Frame is the same in this game, except that the stats have been altered, now reducing Speed and increasing Traction.
Mario Kart Tour[]
The Pipe Frame returns in Mario Kart Tour. It is classified as a normal kart, which is also the only kart that is available at the start of the game. Unlike every other kart in the game, the Pipe Frame is available in multiple colors depending on the driver.
Statistics[]
Mario Kart 7[]
| Stat Name | Stat Value |
|---|---|
| Speed | -0.25 |
| Acceleration | +0.25 |
| Weight | -0.25 |
| Handling | 0 |
| Off-Road | +0.25 |
Mario Kart 8[]
| Stat Name | Stat Value |
|---|---|
| Speed | 0 |
| Acceleration | +0.25 |
| Weight | -0.25 |
| Handling | +0.5 |
| Traction | -0.5 |
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe[]
| Stat Name | Stat Value |
|---|---|
| Speed | -0.25 |
| Acceleration | +0.5 |
| Weight | -0.25 |
| Handling | +0.5 |
| Traction | +0.25 |
Color Schemes[]
Mario Kart 7[]
|
Red |
|
Green |
|
Pink |
|
Lime Green |
|
Orange |
|
Yellow |
|
Blue |
|
Green-Yellow |
|
Yellow Orange |
|
Purple |
|
Turquoise |
|
Gray Blue |
|
Black |
|
Magenta |
|
Brown |
|
Sky Blue |
Mario Kart 8 and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe[]
     (Red)
|
Red | Black |
     (Green)
|
Green | Black |
       (Pink)
|
Pink | Black |
      (Orange)
|
Orange | Black |
       (Light Blue)
|
Sky Blue | Black |
  (Light Green)
|
Lime Green | Black |
     (Yellow)
|
Yellow | Black |
     (Blue)
|
Blue | Black |
  (White)
|
White | Black |
     (Black)
|
Black | Black |
 
|
Metallic Gray | Black |
|
Metallic Pink | Black |
 (Purple)
|
Purple | Black |
|
Indigo | Black |
 
|
Dark Orange | Black |
| (Brown)
|
Brown | Black |
|
Deep Pink | Black |
|
Teal | Dark Orange |
|
Yellow | Royal Blue |
|
Hot Pink | Fuchsia |
|
Dark Blue | Blue |
|
Lime Green | Blue Violet |
|
Magenta | Hot Pink |
|
Dim Gray | Black |
Mario Kart Tour[]
Trivia![]
- In Mario Kart: Double Dash!!, both the Toad Kart and the Toadette Kart look similar to this kart.
- In Mario Kart 7, the Pipe Frame uses the design from Mario Kart 64 and 'Mario Kart: Super Circuit, while in Mario Kart 8, it has the original Super Mario Kart design.
- The white Pipe Frame in Mario Kart 7 is exclusive to Miis with white as their default color, as no other character uses that color.
- For the same reason, the brown Pipe Frame in Mario Kart 8 and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is also exclusive to Miis with brown as their default color.
- Originally used for Super Mario Kart, it is the standard and only kart for Super Mario Kart, Mario Kart 64, and Mario Kart: Super Circuit. Mario Kart 7', Mario Kart 8, and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe have it only as a kart part.
- Koopa Troopa's pipe frame is Yellow in Super Mario Kart, Mario Kart 8, and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, but it is Green Yellow in Mario Kart 7, similar to Yoshi's Lime Green pipe frame in Mario Kart 64, Mario Kart: Super Circuit, Mario Kart 8, and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.
- The Koopalings are the only characters to have unique colored Pipe Frames.
| Mario Kart 7 vehicle parts | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Karts | Nitro karts | Standard Kart • Gold Standard • Birthday Girl • Bumble V • Bruiser • Soda Jet • Tiny Tug • Cact-X • Koopa Clown • Cloud 9 • Zucchini • Blue Seven • Bolt Buggy | ||
| Retro karts | B Dasher • Egg 1 • Barrel Train • Pipe Frame | |||
| Wheels | Standard • Gold Tires • Roller • Slim • Slick • Sponge • Mushroom • Wood • Red Monster • Monster | |||
| Gliders | Super Glider • Gold Glider • Peach Parasol • Flower Glider • Beast Glider • Swooper • Parafoil | |||