I purchased a Novak XBR Sport/13.5 Turn EX motor for my RC10T4 today. I got it home, soldered on a Deans (it comes with a Tamiya connector for the battery) and it started pouring down rain, thunderstorm, tornado warning, the whole works.

I wanted a brushless system to eliminate maintenance and increase runtimes. Increased performance was a factor, but not the main concern. Which is why I opted for the 13.5 turn system. Since the XBR Sport can handle down to a 8.5 turn I figured I could always buy another motor later. I also wanted a sensored system because I appreciate low speed smoothness (just picky about that for some reason). I have run 27 turn "stock" as well as 19 turn and 17 turn motor. Due to the area I drive I didn't really care about higher top speed than these motors offered, but I do enjoy torque.

Due to the previously mentioned weather I haven't gotten to do a proper test run. However, from driving around my living room (and a quick pass on the wet sidewalk during a lull in the rain, couldn't resist) I can say that I am completely pleased so far. It is buttery smooth at all speeds in forward. I can creep across the room with a smoothness that even some brushed motors I've used couldn't rival. Reverse doesn't seem to be as smooth and it almost seems to search for the rotor rotation for a second if you try to go slow. However I can live with a little reverse jerkyness at low speeds for how smooth it is in forward at all speeds.

I threw a partially charged 6 cell 3000 mAh Ni-MH battery (Venom) in it to test it out. A quick blip of the throttle produced a noticable sound from the slipper clutch. With my previous brushed motor (19 turn Trinity brushed) it didn't notaceably slip at all under normal acceleration. I tightened it a little and it wheelied across my living room easily. Plenty of torque. The quick pass on the sidewalk seemed to rival the 19 turn for speed, but I didn't go far because I didn't want anything to get wet.

I will update with a better review once I can do a more complete test drive. Just seems like there are dozens of people who will tell all about their Sidewinder/MM and how it performs in their vehicles, but very few about the Novak systems (or any others for that matter). I like Castle Creations products and have several, but now that I have a Novak I just thought I'd share.