Have
you ever been to a motocross race? The high flying jumps and tight,
dirt flinging corners are amazing. Watching the young men and women
race through the twists and turns of the track, and fight for that last
big jump across the finish line(along with a nice trophy) is amazing!
Going to an event like this really gets you excited- and you're just
sitting in the stands!
With
the new DX450, you can have your own heart-pounding motocross races!
DuraTrax has recently introduced the new DX450 ready-to-run 1/5 scale
brushless EP motorcycle. The first thing you'll notice is the size of
the bike. At just over 17 inches long it is bigger than the current 1/8
scale bikes on the market. The DX450 also comes in four different
eye-catching colors, so you and your friends can race without
confusion.
Well, I
think it's time to open the box, and see what we've got!
Battery:2200
mAH 7.4v LiPo or 6-Cell 3000mAh NiMH Battery
(not included) Channels
Used: Throttle and Steering
Items
Needed To Complete
Compatible
battery and charger
4
AA batteries for the transmitter
Thr
DX450 comes in an eye-catching colorful box that looks to be designed
for travel and storage when not in use. When I first took the contents
out of the box, I saw the large dirt bike, a 2.4 GHz transmitter, a
display/ starting stand, and a couple of tools for the DX450.
Some
of the really cool features that really caught my eye were the 2.4 GHz
radio system, The real chain drive system, and the brushless motor and
ESC. The best feature, and the one that makes it beginner- friendly, is
the gyro stabilizing system located inside the rear wheel!
There
is a little assembly involved with the DX450, but nothing even a novice
can't handle. At this point, I took a minute to read through the manual
to familiarize myself with the motorcycle and how to operate it
successfully. The manual is well laid out, and includes a lot of
illustrations along with easy to read written instructions.
Assembly
begins with inserting the four AA batteries into the transmitter. Once
installed, be sure to turn on the transmitter and check for the red LED
to glow. Now, we move on to installing the two stabilizer bars, which
consists of one on each side of the motorcycle.
Next,
we'll assemble the rider. When I first looked at the instructions, I
thought this would be a difficult task. However, after reading through
the instructions completely and then assembling the rider, it was no
problem at all. The included screws washers, and nuts hold the figure
together well!
Installation
of your battery pack is next, and involves removing the clips and
opening the door. Once your battery pack is installed, close the door
and install the two pins.
At
this point, you'll want to check the steering to make sure it is
correct. The steering is set up so that when you turn the transmitter
wheel to the right, the front wheel turns to the left. This
is correct and called counter steering. Here is how it works,
when you have a gyro system that is spinning, it wants to stay spinning
in a certain spot. If you apply a force to that gyro, for
instance you push on the left side of it, it will react by pushing back
at you. This method of steering is actually used in real motorcycle
riding in the circumstance of making a quick turn as if to avoid an
object laying in the road.
Applying
the rider decals and attaching the rider to the bike is the last step.
I
want to touch on one other aspect of the DX450 manual. DuraTrax
includes a whole section to maintaining your motorcycle. There are
several steps that walk you through disassembly, cleaning, and
reassembling the various parts of the DX450. I thought that this was a
great way to show the beginner how the different assemblies go
together, as well as letting them do the maintenance and repairs (if
necessary) on their machine. What a great idea!
This
is the first time I have ever driven an R/C motorcycle. I must admit
that up until now, I have reviewed mostly R/C airplanes. That being
said, I felt right at home driving the DX450 around, and I was having a
lot of FUN!
When
you are ready to start having fun with the DX450, make sure to pick up
the motorcycle, and with it and the transmitter turned on, advance the
throttle to wide open for three to four seconds to spool up the gyro.
Once the gyro is spinning, the bike can be put in the starting stand or
just give it a gentle forward toss similar to releasing a bowling ball.
Thanks
to the gyro system in the rear wheel, the DX450 is very stable. This
bike is labled as a beginner's motorcycle, and it's easy to see why;
slow speed turns are easy and make any driver look like a pro.
This
bike also has a different side to it as well. Crank up the speed and it
moves out very quickly, but it remains very easy to control through any
turn. The suspension soaks up any bumps and rough terrain that you may
encounter, and the DX450 stays moving in the direction you point it!
Check
out the video to see the DX450 in action!
DuraTrax
DX450 1/5 Scale Brushless EP Motorcycle
Or,
Download the Video (24meg) CLICK HERE
As
I stated in the ride report, this is the first motorcycle review I
have done. I was excited to have the opportunity to review the DuraTrax
DX450, and to this day, my eight year old son and I are having a blast
running it around our yard and in the street.
DuraTrax Great
Planes Model Distributing
P.O. Box 9021
Champaign, IL 61826-9021 www.duratrax.com
Comments on RCU Review: DuraTrax DX450 RTR 1/5 scale brushless EP motorcycle
The comments, observations and conclusions made in this review are solely with respect to the particular item the editor reviewed and may not apply generally to similar products by the manufacturer. We cannot be responsible for any manufacturer defects in workmanship or other deficiencies in products like the one featured in the review.
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