[PeterV]

Great scoop Jason! --Pete

I'll start by saying that I truly love my job! When I laid eyes on the ARX540 I was shocked. We have all seen toy versions of a radio controlled dirtbike, but until now a hobby quality bike was not available. I was immediately drawn to the bike's realistic features and look. The forks feature internal springs and adjustable damping. The rear shock is connected to the middle of the swingarm, and if you look closely you'll see grips and levers on the handle bars. Check out those GRP dirtbike treads. Not only does it look realistic, but the ARX540 performs 10-times better than the aforementioned toy quality bikes! I know because I watched several minutes of home video and I actually ran the bike in a park outside the Nuremburg Toy Fair. Again, I love my job. --Jason Sams

Performance (with 3-cell lipo and brushless system)

With the lipo/brushless power the ARX540 had mad torque and would wheelie on demand. I estimate that the top speed was in the 30-35mph range. According to AR Racing, the bike can top speeds in excess of 40mph on smooth asphalt and I believe them. Since I ran in a park on uneven grass I really got a sense of its handling capabilites. The bike goes through bumps, over branches, and through varying heights of grass with ease. The suspension really works and the gyro does an excellent job of keeping the bike upright. It took a little time to get used to the space and speed at which to turn and corner, but the ARX540 was surprisingly easy to drive. I could only imagine what an off-road track, set-up and more time behind the wheel would be like. The grass was wet and less than optimal for traction, so the bike looped out on occasion. Nail the throttle, and the bike would stand up and be back on its way (if the rear wheel was in contact with the ground). Robert Itoh of Yokomo, his collegues and myself ran the bike for about 15-minutes before we called it quits. I don't know how much runtime you would get on a full charge, but I would guess its nearly 20-minutes. So, how does it jump? I didn't get a chance to hit any big kickers or doubles, but the video AR Racing showed me had the bike clearing doubles at an 1/8-scale off-road track. The bike landed smoothly every time and it cornered on the track really well too. Here are some bullet points highlighting its features.


-1/4-scale to a full-size four-stroke 450
- Retail price should be between $500-$600
- Lexan body or plastics for dirtbike buffs
- Rider included
- Kit only (includes gyro, pre-built forks, rear shock and tires)
- Aluminum forks, swingarm and miscelaneous components.
- A limited edition version simulating the look of one of the major motorcycle brands will also be available
- Front forks are fully adjustable (springs, and hex screw rotates pistons)
- Aluminum sprocket

Check back in with our site, we'll be posting video of the bike in action!
You'll see an exclusive first look of the AR Racing ARX540 in a future issue of Car Action!

[tallyrc]

i only need 3 words... how much, when? that is so sweet....

[awnelson]

Looks very similar to the upgraded Radio Shack Ricky that Jason Sams posted earlier. Any word on price or a possible website?

[PeterV]

It's the same bike, and this is the same thread. I had to do a new thread to make some fixes.

[Jason Sams]

Retail price should be between $500-$600. The bike performs nothing like the "Ricky" bike. The video and what I witnessed when driving it would impress any off-road enthusiast. I can see the RC Pro Series going back to gate starts, that is, for this class.

[awnelson]

Could you get to this with all the upgrades available for the RS Ricky? I have one and was always wondering what it would run like setup correctly.

Peter, do you always have to fix other people's problems and mistakes? Is that why you never post "I love my job!"? jk to both of you.

[Akura2]

Hey Jason and Pete... I'm so jealous.. we've been talking to the designer of the bike on the RC motorcycle forum and looking at progress pics and videos for about three months now... but YOU get to see it in person and drive it... you suck...

-Jimmy (Record holder for world's fastest RC motorcycle)

[PeterV]

I'll make sure Jason, that BUM, lets you take it for a spin. I think we should even get some comments from the Worlds Fastest RC Motorcyclist for the review!

[Jason Sams]

Jimmy, how have you been? We'll have to hook up like Pete said, and get your thoughts on the bike, since you're the motorcycle man.

[tallyrc]

they can keep it for that price

[Akura2]

No problem... I'm in NYC taking care of my mom (terminal cancer... been here almost three months) but when I get back we'll have to hook up... I'll let you know.. maybe we'll do dinner or something

How've you guys been?


ok back on topic...LOL

[Akura2]

Originally Posted by tallyrc

they can keep it for that price

well once you spend the $100 for the ricky bike from Radio Shack (before the clearance price drop) to get the bike to this standard you'll have to spend more than what THIS bike costs to get it to this level... updated gyro, aluminum swingarm, USD forks, Chassis plates, updated steering, chain conversion (including chain, and sprockets)... believe me.. as an avid RC Biker.... this bike is more than worth it.... my race bike is worth more than $1500 as it stands right now......

also think of it in terms of size... its two wheels less than a 1/4 scale car which retails for Approx $1000... so half that... $500...lol


it's not for everyone... but I want one... BADLY!

[awnelson]

What he said; they can keep it for that price. No-one will ever make a series out of this bike, mark my words.

[Akura2]

maybe... maybe not... but how many other RC vehicles out there never get a series... or ones coming out that might not (serpent F1, Schumacher stunt truck, etc.) and are for pure enjoyment


here's the video of the prototype...wearing ricky carmichael bodywork and rider

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OL9u5NmFak4


and here it is racing with some trucks...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSYUK...elated&search=

[Kuldeep]

OMG that thing is fast.

[awnelson]

It looks just as clumsy as the RS version, only a heck of a lot faster. Thanks for the videos.

[tallyrc]

it's not like i don't think it's cool or anything, but with half the number of moving parts as a full option touring car and costing twice as much, i'll pass.. heck i can get a nitro TTR street bike for less.. i'm sure its just a function of the economy of scale.. niche market, means high prices...

[Kmot]

The nitro version makes perfect sense and sounds the part of a dirt bike. I like it!

[1822]

wow, this thing is very nice! If it were up to some of you boobs RC cars would have never got off the ground. Even though I'm not sure that I would personally be into the motorcycle thing, I have to say they did a great job on this machine.

[Akura2]

Originally Posted by awnelson

It looks just as clumsy as the RS version, only a heck of a lot faster. Thanks for the videos.

actually the steering is 100% more accurate.. and the ricky bike can NOT get up from being completely flat on it's side if you get caught like that...

but... it's not for everyone


even the nitro TT bike needs about $200 worth of upgrades to be competitive

Originally Posted by tallyrc

but with half the number of moving parts as a full option touring car and costing twice as much, i'll pass..

hve you seen the inside of the gyro? J/K

like I said... not for everbody


BTW.. using your philosophy... then why does a 1/5 scale touring car, with the same amount of moving parts (or less) as a full option 1/10 scale touring car, cost four times as much?


(just playing devil's advocate... like I said.. it's not for everyone... and those that it IS for will buy it... the others will just beg for wheel time)

[cnroman]

It is for just fine me. I like.

[Team DP]

Awesome work, its refreshing to see companies pushing the envelope and offering variety and fun to the hobby.

team DP

[birdy233]

Originally Posted by Kmot

The nitro version makes perfect sense and sounds the part of a dirt bike. I like it!

I don't think that was a Nitro version, the trucks running around it was giving the illusion that it was Nitro, late in the video clip when the bike is running alone it is not making noise.

[Akura2]

the first video has a nitro at the end at the 2:30 mark

[rcrcman]

so who is importing/distributing these? ETA on kits? website?