Is the HPI Baja 5b Fast?
 

I know its not meant to be a street racer, but I have always like my RC cars to be quick thus I usually end up switching out engines adding 2 speeds etc, and so far from the videos that I have seen and the comments I have read, it appears that Baja is slow. Can anyone estimate about how fast the stock baja is? 35MPH? And if I wanted more speed is there anything currently available to do upgrade outside getting a bigger motor?

RE: Is the HPI Baja 5b Fast?
 

It's slow, and the gearing is too short.
I think it runs 17 pinion/ 57 spur....should be about a 20/22 to 48/46.
The CY 23cc is a pig, the best thing to do is stick a 26cc or 29cc Zenoah in it.
My FG Monster Truck does 90 KPH...about 55 MPH with a zenoah.

RE: Is the HPI Baja 5b Fast?
 

posted speeds are about 29mph out of the box, knock off the exhaust stinger and your at 39mph out of the box, beef up the engine/ stuffed crank, shaved head, oversized piston and 50s just around the corner. by pig do you mean weight wise or gas consumption wise, cuz im getting about an hr per tank. the thing is heavy, but my Bergonzoni is just as heavey if not a bit more.
Timmahh

RE: Is the HPI Baja 5b Fast?
 

Only 29mph out of the box. If you take the extension tube off, extreme RC says you get 10 more mph. Then there's the X-Can, there are also several tuned pipes in the works. That's it for the moment other then the fact there are endless options for the motor.

RE: Is the HPI Baja 5b Fast?
 

not sure removing the pipe off the baffle box adds 10mph,a top of the range tuned pipe wont even add that,,,and thats all the stock can is - a baffle box with a metal tube (not a stinger) to deflect the smoke/unburnt oil,,,,fg monster models have longer exit pipes on there stock cans (which are the same) and have yet to read a post about the increase or lack of peformance removing these give - it would be cheaper than spending £150 on a samba,,,i think its more to do with gearing

RE: Is the HPI Baja 5b Fast?
 

Well the info comes from somebody with a radar gun, so whatever. I also don't see why it's so hard to understand restricting exhaust flow slows it down? Why also does everything go back to FG?? Does the FG use the same size tube??

RE: Is the HPI Baja 5b Fast?
 

the speed increase by removing the stock stinger has been noted by many owners as viable already. not being contradictory here. this has been posted on and verified at the HPI BAJA forum buy current owners.
hth
Timmahh

RE: Is the HPI Baja 5b Fast?
 

when you remove the extension pipe it will make it louder which generaly gives you the impression your going fasters when your not,the stock can is all it is "stock can" there is no restriction to hold back the engine.it is not a stinger - stingers are used on top-end tuned pipes and run into the $$$hundreds,the can has a metal exit pipe not a stinger.if it was that simple to get a extra 10mph out any make of stock engine then it would be commen place...most if not all get there models from stock with the same baffle box and some with longer extension pipes

samba tuned pipe with "stinger" (stingers add to the engine not decrease it)

RE: Is the HPI Baja 5b Fast?
 

Trust me Timmahh, he knows way more then any radar gun & that'll never change. I'm sure extreme Rc & everybody else that checked it was going on sound alone & there's no way a long piece of small diameter tubing can restrict a motor!

RE: Is the HPI Baja 5b Fast?
 

yep totaly agree with rcm like a real exhaust remove a bit theres not alot of pressure sounds louder thats all - exhausts are normally made in a specific way even tuned pipes -remove bits and it would surely drop the performance

RE: Is the HPI Baja 5b Fast?
 

If you want more speed, have the engine modified (just like any other engine) or change out the gearing if and when optional gears become available. If you really want speed, then go electric. For that matter H.A.R.M. has a brushless 1/5th scale, but if you run some 8000mh 5-cell lipos, be prepared to spend some big bucks.

I'd say the gearing needed depends on the track, just like any other R/C. In my opinion, the Baja5B had plenty of speed for the track I ran it on. And yes, the pinion is a 17T and the spur a 57T.

http://image.rcuniverse.com/forum/up...16/Ki19579.jpg

I could probably hook up the tach on my Nomadio Sensor, but I figure that members would just then argue that my Sensor is off.

RE: Is the HPI Baja 5b Fast?
 

leaving the hpi v fg b/s aside...

removing the exit pipe on a stock can on say a fg monster which has the same engine,same can & same size exit pipe as the baja will not give a 10mph increase...thats all it is "a can",,,top end pipes only add 1bhp - porting adds 1bhp,removing a metal pipe does not add 1bhp

i think it has more to do with the hpi17/57 gearing compared with fg18/46 or 16/48 - could be wrong as im not sure how many teeth the hpi dif has.

RE: Is the HPI Baja 5b Fast?
 

Ok, the radar gun lies & so does the mag, I believe you!

RE: Is the HPI Baja 5b Fast?
 

Xtreme RC Magazine Clocked the Baja at 39.8 mph stock.

I like mine!

http://www.orcrc.com/outings/PDRM4747.JPG

RE: Is the HPI Baja 5b Fast?
 

i think what we need are some dyno results
as far as the pipe is concerned if that was the case we would be doing it with the fg stock pipe why spent 100 -150 on a performance pipe when all you have to do is remove the pipe of the stock and hey bisto its a fully tuned performance exhaust

RE: Is the HPI Baja 5b Fast?
 

well theres a great tip for all those guys with a stock cy or zen which has the same stock can and exist pipe (the make of car is irelivent) just remove the exit pipe,10mph increase without spending a fortune on modding the engine....instant 25% power increase

RE: Is the HPI Baja 5b Fast?
 

lol maybe if we remove the exhaust it might do 100mph

RE: Is the HPI Baja 5b Fast?
 

Well thanks for that tip. A little late though since I already did it.

I like it too though I would have waited for the clear body. I also like the looks of the HPI Baja 5B better than the FG Marder. Consequently, I don't even care if the Baja5B is slower, especially since I realize that the Baja5B is a RTR and many RTRs are a little slower out of the box. I also figure that if I wanted to drop in a Zenoah, I could do that as well if I wanted to and the price difference wouldn't be all that great between the two R/Cs. Of course, a gearing change would probably be cheaper and easier--depending on the track since it is also not all about speed, but control as well as someone mentioned.

RE: Is the HPI Baja 5b Fast?
 

That body is WAY nicer then the Purple and yellow one I have been seeing. IMO

RE: Is the HPI Baja 5b Fast?
 

The chassis may be purple, but not the body.

http://image.rcuniverse.com/forum/up...16/Da83179.jpg

RE: Is the HPI Baja 5b Fast?
 

Show me the video including the numbers on the gun and the calibration of the radar gun

Tell the person driving not to hold back on the trigger finger for either vehicle

FG extensions pipie is the same tube as the HPI......no way your getting 10 mph faster removing it.....I dont even think the jet pro gives you 10 mph more:)

RE: Is the HPI Baja 5b Fast?
 

LoL, did you not see the IMO....doesnt that wave the right of anyone to bash me??? :D
Haha, anyhow...you got what I meant didnt you..lol..

RE: Is the HPI Baja 5b Fast?
 

yep totaly agree if the gun is not calibrated it would be miles out - and belive me i used to work with many instruments that had to calibrated every time before we went out

RE: Is the HPI Baja 5b Fast?
 

Why don't you just try to find the magazines that have been mentioned? Myself, I haven't read them either but I'm also not arguing abut it either since if I want a fast R/C car, it is not going to be a large scale gasoline/oil mix R/C. Heck, I'm just trying to keep the peace in yet another petty disagreement.

RE: Is the HPI Baja 5b Fast?
 

I didn't bash you. I also only got what I think you may have meant. And on this forum of petty bickering, it appears that everyone must have a photo and a sworn affidavit to believe anything that anyone else writes or posts.

RE: Is the HPI Baja 5b Fast?
 

That magizine .....it wasnt trying to promote the Baja5 was it??? That might be a reason to bend the truth alittle....As with all magizines and newspapers. even the news on TV.....You cant beleive everything your being told;)


I think if removing the extension pipe made such a big improvement.... all the other 1/5 drivers would have removed that piece along time ago and that would be one of the recomended upgrades for all vehicles

Why spend the $$$$ on a tunepipe when removing the extension pipe gives you better top end than the tunepipe:D

Thats a good one!!!!

RE: Is the HPI Baja 5b Fast?
 

The member mentioned magazines--plural. As mentioned, I haven't read them and apparently like you, I also don't believe everything I read in magazines. I also don't believe everything I read on a forum. However, that would mean that every member posting on this thread would probably need to purchase their own Baja 5B and time it with their own calibrated speed gun. And even if that happened, the opinions would probably be different unless everyone used the same fuel, had the RC tuned the same, and ran at the same time to make sure the track conditions were the same. Then again, there may be subtle differences in the engine. Consequently, if someone's only concern is about speed, I suggest that they purchase an electric. Then again, nobody has to believe that magazine or the people at Guinness World Records.

RE: Is the HPI Baja 5b Fast?
 

These CY and zenoah engines work the same way reguardless of which vehicle its on ..... it wont produce more HP just because its in the Baja5;)

RE: Is the HPI Baja 5b Fast?
 

it does if you take a 2 page full colour spread on the following page :)

RE: Is the HPI Baja 5b Fast?
 

So the bottom line is that they are both slow. Big deal. I could have wrote that a long time ago.

RE: Is the HPI Baja 5b Fast?
 

No.....they have the same HP engines......they are just geared differently... a stock MT or firehamer will hit 35-40 mph out of the box because they have a different gear set up.

If you change the gearing around on the Baja5 you will get more top speed than taking off the extension pipe!

RE: Is the HPI Baja 5b Fast?
 

I understand that is also about gearing! I could see some rational with the pipe, but not a large increase unless the pipe was very restrictive--the extension is a smaller pipe and has two sharp bends. I just keep thinking about how I used to run "headers" on a real automobile--some increase, but not a lot. As mentioned earlier, I also haven't read the magazine articles though it is plenty fast for the track I ran on. For that matter, even the 1/8th scales can't run wide open either so at times torque, is more important to me on a track with lots of turns since the gearing can be changed. It is my understanding that HPI is also supposed to be coming out with a tuned pipe though I don't know when or how much.

RE: Is the HPI Baja 5b Fast?
 

So far, I haven't seen proof it doesn't work!! Oh, other then it doesn't work on FG of course, that settles it!! Worst part is, I really don't care if it works or not, I just passed info along that was printed in a Mag.

RE: Is the HPI Baja 5b Fast?
 

When I looked at the Baja the extension pipe was smaller than the diameter of the extension pipe on my FG MT5.

They were not the same size in diameter at all.

RE: Is the HPI Baja 5b Fast?
 

The exhaust on these engines play a HUGE part to how they run. It differs from brand to brand. The smallest modification can make a noticable difference. A tuned pipe on one car may not work well at all on another. Tip extensions on the exhuast also plays a huge part. Anyone that has had any type of experience with these engines will agree that the pipe is only part of the story, the rest of the "fine" tuning is done with the tip and header. No exhaust performs to its max out of the box. Conditions will vary and dyno results have nothing to do with real world driving. I dont find it hard to believe a 10mph gain at all with removing the tip. It may just create the right back pressure for gearing that is installed in the car. I personally have seen much more dramatic results, good and bad while fine tuning myself.

RE: Is the HPI Baja 5b Fast?
 

Guys the removasl of the exhust extension does increase power significantly , maybe not 10mph, but R Drvier magazine also said that it gave a 7 mph increase. They got it to 30mph stock, and aftr removing the xtension 36.8 mph.

RE: Is the HPI Baja 5b Fast?
 

So in your opinion, would it be better to wait for the HPI tuned pipe or at least wait until some other company actually releases a tuned pipe specifically targeted toward the HPI Baja 5B instead of simply trying a tuned pipe that has already been released for another brand of R/C due to the actual physical configuration of the Baja5B, as well as the specific engine type and brand?

RE: Is the HPI Baja 5b Fast?
 

Tigger, I NEVER discourage experimenting. That is what founded this hobby. With these engines, its not as easy as just bolting on a fat pipe. Tire size, weight, elevation, gearing, etc, also play a large part on how a pipe will perform. A good example is I have a pipe at home that was built stricktly on a dyno on a engine running methane. It was created to maximize power throughout the power band and it yeilded some unbelievable results. This was built by a famous small engine pipe builder as a prototype. I still cant find a car or configuration that this thing will work on! It was not what it cracked up to be. On my monster trucks, the best pipe is just a header with an extension just the right length running out the body,

RE: Is the HPI Baja 5b Fast?
 

Thanks for your response. Perhaps, I'll wait for a few others to "test & tune".

RE: Is the HPI Baja 5b Fast?
 

juz get an fg with samba,, problem solved!
26 cy or zen :D