Optima Mid which motor?

[Andreas W]

I got a 60th anniversary Optima Mid a while ago and am starting to think about which motor to put in it. I am debating back and forth about two alternatives, and am asking for your help to push me in the right direction. Out of estetics I want the Kyosho 13,5t Le Mans Gold. But seen from a sensible point of view I can get a Hobbywing Xerun G4 13,5t for a good price here in Norway. On the other hand after Tamico raised their minimum amount to 280€ the Le Mans is good, to get up to that amount.

 

It would mostly be used for postal racing on grass, dirt,  gravel or astro (ballfield) or free runningjust for fun on mentioned surfaces. When it would see a track it would only be thenodd club evening with free running, so if the motor/ESC combo is eliagble is of less importance. 

 

Thank you for your inputs. 

 

 

[Twinfan]

How does the Banzai Hobby price compare to your local price for the Le Mans Gold?  It's by far the cheapest way for me in the UK:

https://banzaihobby.com/products/37034-le-mans-240-gold-brushless-motor-13-5t?_pos=1&_sid=bc02834c0&_ss=r

Or, as a cheaper option if price is an issue, the Hobbywing Quicrun 3650 G2 13.5T is a good motor and it comes in other turn counts too.

[Ferruz]

I run a Surpass Rocket 13.5t on my Mid, paired with a Hobbywing 10bl120 ESC. I too wanted the Kyosho Le Mans Gold motor, but upon learning its price I was more than ok with settling for a decent alternative at a fraction of the price. 

This combo has been working great so far btw, and temps keep quite cool even on grass.

[Re-Bugged]

Although not a Mid, I put a 13.5t Justock (G2 I think?) combo in my Javelin with 2S LiPo. It’s been run hard on sand, dirt, grass etc with no problems. The fan isn’t even fitted as there no room for it and it just keeps going till the battery is flat. 

[Pylon80]

The LeMans motors are good looking but their price makes them more attractive to collectors than to people simply looking at running their cars. I probably insulted a few thousand Kyosho fans writing this.

The Justock motors are good and use extensively for spec racing. They have fixed timing, purposely as part of the spec.

An interesting option to consider, assuming you can get a good price in Norway is the Tamiya TBLM's. They are apparently rebadged Speed Passion. They have 2 features that I really like and that might be of interest to you: 1) the way the wires connect and swivel on the end bell and 2) they have absolutely no venting holes which makes them more resistant than most motors to dirt/sand/grit ingress. They also have adjustable timing. It's hard to resist not using them here in the US as they tend to go down to 50$ or a little less all the time on Amazon. One annoying thing is they do not have a 13.5 version. Only 10.5/15.5/17.5/21.5. Now of course you would not be popular fitting a Tamiya motor in a Kyosho chassis!

Whichever way you go, make sure you get a sensored system which is important for the "racing" you want to do... But you know that already I am sure.

 

[BuggyDad]

5 hours ago, Pylon80 said:

Now of course you would not be popular fitting a Tamiya motor in a Kyosho chassis!

Sticks hand up. Then ducks.... 

I have a handful of 10.5T TBLMs and they suit me for the same reasons but I guess with PJ's price increase I might have to look again next time.

I'm not so sure they're rebadged Speed Passion though. They share the bullet connectors but if they are the same underneath they've made quite a few aesthetic changes to hide it. 

[Wooders28]

5 hours ago, Pylon80 said:

apparently rebadged Speed Passion

Not a bad thing, just not as powerful as some (i just go a few turns lower) , but where fantastic value for £25.

Modelsport still have their 4.5t motors in, at £20 🙈

I'm running a 5.5t Speed Passion I'm my vintage mid, with a 10bl120 esc.

 

[Andreas W]

Thanks for the inputs. I think I would start falling a cart at Tamico and see how near I come to the 280€ limit.

 

Banzai is by far the cheapest source for Le Mans motors. I have checked that already (as well as Plaza). That would be a tick cheaper than the hefty price we pay for them here- if they would have been in stock. But tax, VAT and handling fee is killing it. I must order some of the few hopups I want for the Optima from Tamico. That's something I do primarily to get the stuff I want well aware that I can easily add 1 third of the original price in addition when I have the parcel in my hands. 

 

My heart says Kyosho Le Mans Gold. My sense says Hobbywing Xerun G4 or Surpass Hobby Rocket sourced here. I get two of them for the price of one imported Le Mans. The Surpass Hobby was already on my mind before the Optima Mid was launched. 

 

I have a Hobbywing Justock 13.5t combo in the XV-01. That is nice, has plenty of power and runs cool at now 5,9 FDR. But for the Optima Mid I want something more powerful and with more adjustments. I am gonna think hard about this for a while. Thank you for helping by in the loud thinking. 

[bsy2010]

9 hours ago, Andreas W said:

But for the Optima Mid I want something more powerful and with more adjustments.

If you're thinking about something more powerful, stop looking at the Kyosho. The latest generation 13.5 Hobbywing, Ruddog, Reedy, etc easily hit the 4000kv mark, and provide plenty of torque. The Kyosho 13.5 is on par with the current 17.5 Hobbywing