elven wizard

I thought I would give a review to one of my favorites. The Schumacher Riot. The Riot is a 1/10 scale nitro 2wd Rc. It has a .18 engine. This Rc is the medium in the 2wd lineup from Schumacher. The Rascal being the smallest and the Havoc being the biggest. The Rascal and Riot share the same .18 engine. Other differences are size among other things between the two. Alot of parts are interchangable even the optional speed secret parts. Rascal as an option can be equipped with a 2 speed were as the Riot a 3 speed. In this review the Riot will have the 3 speed already installed in it. The Riot comes in three body colors to pick from - green, yellow and blue the other primary color being white on all of them. It a nice looking body with roundish fenders and a hood scoop on top and made thick for long lastness. The front and side window is big enough for easy access when refilling is needed. Body off first looking top view down I see the top deck. Schumacher calls this a S1 Carbon Composite top deck it is light & strong. Next to the throttle servo is a rubber groment open it up and a enclosed reciever is inside. The rubber groment is tightly fit to keep anything from coming in. I have run the Riot in some very dusty conditions and the enclosed area has been debris free. The screws on the top deck Schumacher uses is called the torx screw. You will see the torx screw throughout the Riot. I'm glad Schumacher chose this screw type. Chassis wise Schumacher uses a 4mm Anodised Aluminium Chassis which is super strong and flex free. Chassis color is Schumacher's famous purple. Suspension arms are made of glass filled polymers which is super stiff and rigid. This is really strong stuff. The Riot proved it's durability in a crash when I hit a tree in second gear were the right side front tire and suspension arm resides. I went over picked up the Riot up, gave a good look over, it was unscathed and went running again. The shocks up front are slanted which give the Riot a sleek fast look about it and are all oil filled. I broke the engine in from the Schumacher manual. Step by step. break-in was a breeze and I was ready to run. After many runs you get to know the things you like about an Rc. One of the things I like is how well planted the Riot feels on the track. The back end stays stable around turns like it's hugging the track. I rarely spin out. I am in complete control even when I'm running it on practically any surface. Tires on the Schumacher are a perfect choice. Schumacher also has spiral tires if you want to change things up and Venom type for on road racing. All tire type give great traction. I hardly ever get stuck, thanks also in part to the high ground clearance of the Riot. I can go most over any kind of rough surface. While the suspension has long travel going over rocks, mounds etc, it looks like a spider crawling. Wheels going up and down over terrian while the body stays somewhat flat. This is all atributed to the balanced chassis and superb suspension of the Riot. If you look at the Riot directly in the front bird's eye view you can see the front suspension arms are angled upwards with a smoothed out look to it, from that the undeside is smooth all the way to the back This prevents things from getting snagged up in the buggy and is able to go over terrian much more easily. Lots of forward thinking here. In fact there is no need for a 4wd here, this is one 2wd I can go most places that other 2wd's can't and 4wd's go. The Riot is a great dirt hill climber.The engine in the Riot is the .18. A good reliable engine with a nice powerband. This engine is powerful enough and well suited for the Riot. I find this engine sipps nitro is a big plus, long run times here. Schumacher put a big enough fuel tank to support this. The .18 has always started in the first few seconds of start up. Now for the tranny - nice and smooth Schumacher uses a high Quality diff. I highly recommend the 3 Speed Conversion Set for the Riot. It just takes the fun to another level. Part number U3217. The set consists of a pinionbell, layshaft, gears, bearings etc Easy to install and is a very worth while investment. If you installed it right with the right gear mesh the 3 speed proves totally reliable. People ask me doesn't dirt and sand get in the gears since there exposed like that out in the open. I can honestly say I have run the Riot in all conditions and have never had a problem with the gears. To best describe the 3 speed in action starting off when the Riot builds enough speed you hear a nice pop " shift sound " into second with a rooster to go with it, like a hit of nitro then fastly building up speed like a bullet in air another pop now your into third, a high winding sound to go with it and zoom !. Awesome, just awesome I love it !! 50 mph plus. My Rc track consists of straightway, burms, jumps, and all types of curves. The Riot 3 speed I use depends on what part of the track I am on. I'll start off into a curve into 1st take a jump still in first coming up a burm press throttle more hit it in 2nd keep it there into another burm exit out into a straightway. Press the trigger all the way hear the tranny wind out "pop" shifting into third now going really fast until coming up in a curve brake throttle and now I'm back down to 1st gear. What a blast to run. Any steering adjustments can be made from the adjustable turnbuckles which are made of high tensile. When it came to jumps the Riot went thru some pretty hard landings. Some landing's were one one wheel. After a while a wheel can show cracks from the constant pounding's. I took the wheel out and looked on the inside and out to see not a crack. The wheels are made out of a tuff hard mold. After a hard day's of track use and jumps I do a through inspection, of the suspension, gears, screws and throughout. The only thing I did find was that I was missing in the front suspension 2 "E" 1/16 x8 clips. Part U1551. I replaced both clips under a minute. No problem.
The Riot has been lots of fun, fast, handles well and out of all the use I have got out of it, it just keeps running. It's a perfect sized buggy, easy to carry I just put in the trunk or the back seat of the car and whenever I see a open spot I run it. With all this said the Riot is one of my favorites. I am totally happy with the Riot and would recommend it to anyone.


Elven Wizard

elven wizard

More Riot pics

jaws1

I like the riot too, simple and strong.

Why don't you fit a .21 engine, that will be brilliant.

Good thing they have release 17mm hex converter, unlimited buggy wheels/tyres choice.

As for your e-clips, I use thredlock on my havoc and its' been problem free since.

Glad you having fun with it, wish more people use schumacher cars more, I loved the havoc.

jude26

My Feedback: (1)

Good review. Nice pics. Next time, try to break it up in paragraphs as it makes it easier to read.

thanks.

elven wizard

It's been a real fun truck, I run it just about everyday.


Elven Wizard

elven wizard

update 10/6/09 - Riot still going strong




Elven Wizard