RC Motorcycles???

[R_C_hoodlum]

I've been checking out the Venom GPV-1 RC motorcycle a lot lately. The idea of having a motorcycle sounds pretty sweet but have heard that they are hard to drive. Anyone have any experience with RC bikes? Are they worth it or is just a neat novelty?

[Sorcerer001]

I've been messing around with bikes for a while, had the Thunder Tiger FM1-e a few years ago and loved it. They take a bit more practice and finesse to pilot with precision, and you'll need to think much further ahead than you would with a buggy or sedan.
If Venom has done their research, the GPV-1 LOOKS like it's going to be a sweet little bike, and it should be sized about right for racing on 1/10th scale onroad tracks. We've been running the 1/5th scale bikes on a track that caters to 1/5th scale sedans and 1/8th scale onroad, but they're a little large to run on tighter 1/10th scale tracks.
Bikes are more than just a novelty - they can be raced, they're fun to bash, and they're more challenging to drive than four-wheelers. I do believe motorcycles will remain a small niche, simply because most people don't have the patience to learn how to drive them, and refuse to push past the initial frustrations.

[cenracer1]

I have the 1/5 scale Thunder Tiger Ducatti and after the initial learning curve, its been one of my favorites to run... yes its more challenging than 4 wheels, but its anything but boring.. My friend has the same bike as well as the Nitro version of the Ducatti... I run a brushless Mamba 5700 for more speed.. The Venom bike looks like it will be a winner mainly due to the size.. 1/10th.. mine is fairly large and tight turns at speed are not going to happen... I've been to a motorcycle race while I was in Europe and it was amazing to watch these bikes run and how fast and well they handled... If you have the patience, go for it.. once you learn to steer and stop, its very addictive.. here is a pic of mine....
http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg169/cenracer1/SANY0742.jpg
http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg169/cenracer1/SANY0747.jpg

[Alhazred]

Personally I would go for one of the Kyosho HOR bikes.They're the older style bikes from the 2stroke GP era,but still really cool and there's tons of hop up pars for them even a single sided aluminum swingarm kit.Check them out on ebay for about $100 or so.I've been thinking of getting one myself.

[R_C_hoodlum]

How well...or bad do these things respond to bumps and little rocks and stuff? I'll never be racing, MN is an awful state for RC racing so I just bash and 4 wheeled stuff is starting to get a little bleh.

[pasan]

i once saw a kit on ebay for something like 800 bucks which had real working disc brakes on the wheels. does the ducati in the photo have the same?

[cenracer1]

Pasan.. the front brakes are fake, they make a real disc brake for it, its under $100.. I don't really need it because I don't race it, just ride around a large parking lot with other bikes.. Besides, its fun hanging out the rear of the bike during hard braking.. much more interesting.. The disc brakes are only for the front, the rear on this bike is slowed by the esc and brushless motor...
RC Hoodlum... the bike can take bumps and even small jumps ok if set up correctly.. Mine is set relatively soft so it soaks up bumps better than if set for racing which will just launch the bike in the air.. I give up a little in the turning department (not as crisp) but thats not a bad thing with the bike.. As for little pebbles and stick.. If you are going fast enough, they usually just get knocked out of the way or a little hop over them.. go slow and you are going down.. Remember, bikes are much more stable when going faster.. the wheels act like little Gyro's, too slow and its all over the place and not enough inertia to keep it upgright... With this motor and esc, I can get it to about 45MPH, which is plenty fast enough.. it gets a bit small when far away.

[cenracer1]

This is what happens when you are going full speed into a pothole that was hiding at the other end of the parking lot.. It looks worse than it was.. had to replace the shock tube and killed the rider.. I always walk the area before I run from now on.. I run a Nitro 4-tec and Brushless Rustler as well, so it makes sense...
http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg169/cenracer1/SANY1096.jpg

[Lito Reyes]

I've been racing 1:5-scale RC bikes here in SoCal for the past three years. The bigger bikes are definitely easier to drive and use standard 1:10-size electronics, but you need a big area to really get the most out of them. With race gearing, most of us can easily hit 55 on a 100 ft. straight before having to slam on the binders (and the Thunder Tiger front brake kit is only about $18 -- definitely a bargain!!). Now, the smaller 1:8-scalers like the Kyosho HOR, OTO Bike Studio T-258, and Venom's GPV-1 can be run on a 1:10 road course no problem. But, the surface has to be free of pebbles and debris for the same reasons as 1:18 touring cars. So, in general, a 1:8-scale car track or larger is good for racing the 1:5-scale bikes, and a 1:10-scale car track or larger is good for racing the 1:8-scale bikes.

I also do a podcast specifically on RC bikes -- do a search in the iTunes store for my name or "rc motorcycles" or do a Google search for "2wheelrcpodcast" and you'll be able to find the site on the first page.

[cenracer1]

Lito... I stand corrected on the front brake kit.. I must be thinking of something else... would you recommend it for just parking lot bashing or is it more of a race thing.. I have no trouble stopping the bike from speed, but panic stops are out of the question... Since you have much more experience with the bikes, you would know better than I would..

[R_C_hoodlum]

Looks like I have some thinking to do. At least the winter will give me plenty of time to do that. At first I didn't realize that the GPV-1 uses smaller electronics and was concerned as to how it could handle a not perfectly smooth surface. I wouldn't have a problem finding a place to drive 1:5 scale. I've got three schools within walking distance from my house and all of which have brand new smooth tarred LARGE oarking lots. In fact, there's a local RC drag racing club that holds events there during the summer. I haven't looked into the 1:5 scale bikes really yet but I have a feeling it will cost quite a bit more to get it running than the GPV-1.

And Lito, thanks for the word on the podcast! I'll definately subscribe to that

[cenracer1]

RC hoodlum.. they are a little bit more expensive than the 1/8th bikes but they use standard off the shelf electronics.. you don't have to go brushless, I did because thats the only way I will do electric... The 1/8th bikes aren't that much less...:eek:

Lito.. I looked up the front brake kit, your right its $18.99.. I guess I would need a separate servo to control the brakes.. looks like thats going on my christmas list just because its so cheap.. thanks for the heads up...

[R_C_hoodlum]

Yea I found a website, 2wheelhobbies.com and they got the TG Ducati RTR for $300 so yea its not that much more. And the benefit of using standard electronics is a plus too. The Venom bike looks a little cooler in my opinion but the Ducati seems a better fit for what I'll be doing.

[BIGDADDYV]

i got my HOR Suzuki this June for Fathers day from my kids ... Its a blast to drive and the build was great too ... Its a great way to get into bikes .. The downfall was I wanted to build it soo fast i didnt paint it .. I then had to take it apart and paint it then put it back together .. on the plus side i got famiiliar with it and beat it up before i painted it .. Then while it was apart i got some hop ups for it and now when i drive it i dont lay it down and the parts and paint stay nice an purty .. :D

[cenracer1]

BigDaddyV.. what scale is that? 1/5 or 1/8...

RCHoodlum.. its a good choice.. not to expensive and pretty easy to work on.. just get a new front tire.. the stock one is crap and rear swing arms.. they bend easily in a crash.. mine are off the nitro bike.. the axle goes all the way thru and mounts from both sides, alot stronger...

[BIGDADDYV]

mine is the 1/8 scale ... Its a great size and the rider gives it some totally kick bootay realism ... A word of advice is get as creative as you can and remember to shop around because the hopups and other parts are really cheap when you do ..

[BIGDADDYV]

http://cgi.ebay.com/KYOSHO-1-8-HOR-SUZUKI-RGV-MOTORCYCLE-RC-MOTORCYCLE_W0QQitemZ120332075482QQcmdZViewItemQQpt ZRadio_Control_Vehicles?hash=item120332075482&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1199%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C 240%3A1318

thats exactly what I have and i think its from the same guy my wife and kids got mine from ..

[Lito Reyes]

The Kyosho HORs are a lot of fun also, and there are a whole bunch of hop-ups available for it. If you are upgrading to brushless, then Kyosho's steel gear train is a must have, as well as aluminum motor washers from Hot Racing or GPM. And there are some really nice aluminum wheels out there also. OTO Bike Studio tires and Venom tires both will work on the HOR. The Venom is a very nice bike -- look forward to my review in the February issue of RCCA.

As for front brakes on a 1:5 -- there are a few options out there, but for price, you can't beat the TT one for less than $20. KP Designs in the U.K. makes a very nice brake, as does Pat's in Australia and McLarney Racing (U.K. also). You can either get the dual-servo upper frame plates from a Nuova Faor kit to hold the steering and brake servos, or just do what I do for even my full-on race bikes -- use a mini servo (Futaba 9602 or Hitec 225MG) and Shoe-Goo it into place on the upper frame plates.

If any of you remember my Project Bike article from 2006, I'm still using that same red carbon fiber chassis as my main bike. I've raced it all up and down the West Coast, and it's still kicking tail.

[z-man280]

Lito?????????


you are alive!!!!!!!!!!!

[cenracer1]

Thanks Lito.. I have a few Mini Digital servos from my Helicopter spares that I could use... Looks like I have a new project to play with.. I was wondering what to do next for the bike..

[Lito Reyes]

cenracer1: Front brakes completely change the way the bike handles. With the brakes biased towards the front, like a real bike, you can stop shorter without fishtailing and having the rear end wash out. Like I said, the TT brake is cheap, but it needs a simple mod to get it to work as well and the exotic ones -- extend the brake lever and cable guide to match. I use to make the brake lever extension out of steel, but a scap piece of 2.5mm carbon fiber works just fine (and is much easier to work with). Just making the lever 8-10mm longer makes a huge, huge difference, and will have you don't endos from locking up the front wheel so hard. And if you are able to master doing a stoppie, videotape it so we can all see (I can't do one on purpose).

[Lito Reyes]

And yes, Ron, I am alive, and darnnit, still kicking!

[cenracer1]

Lito.. I talked to my friend who has the same bike and had the brake kit installed on his.. Obviously he didn't have the extended brake lever and was constantly locking the front wheel and doing endos, not successfully I might add.. I will probably get the kit from him and work with it.. If it works, I will let you know.. about the stoppie, I can do great stoppies with my T-maxx.. the bike... Hmmmmmm
He took off the kit because of the setup issues.. I will talk with him tonight and see if I can't "Borrow" it...