Donn - Did you buy it "off the shelf" or are you sponsored by Reedy or LRP? And how does it compare to the brushed motors you normally run?

Donn - Did you buy it "off the shelf" or are you sponsored by Reedy or LRP? And how does it compare to the brushed motors you normally run?


Hey Kevin bought mine at RnL right off the shelf last Sunday I run it for first time at raw roots in west olive MI in the T4 and can not believe how fast it was. I was passing guys on the straight away doing a catwalk down about half way just ask Marty w or gene K
I did have to gear down about 3 teeth and mine did come with a heat sink for the speed control. :) :)

Nick at the Hobby Hub managed to get one, too. Apparently there were only 100 of them available in the 1st shipment, which all went to one of the smaller distributors. Maybe they ship on the basis of who ordered first, who knows? I haven't had a chance to try it in the car yet (been in Indy for work since friday), but it'll be in there for the Summer Classic this weekend.

A very good local racer just got his and is very happy with it, but he did have to replace the motor right off the bat due to the rotor shaft coming out of it after the first run with it. Luckly the LHS had an extra motor to swap out with him.

Ran mine for the first time Sunday, and I've got good news and bad news (along with excuses why I didn't win) .....

1st heat:
Bad news - The ESC does have a thermal shutdown limit (somewhere north of 200°)
Good news - a $10 fan fixes it

2nd heat:
Good news - It's speed in a TC3 is VERY impressive on 6 cells
Bad News - It's not nearly as impressive in a TC3 on 5 cells :mad:

3rd heat:
Good news - Battery life doesn't seem to be an issue
Bad news - You'll need both eyes open to properly drive it (got some dirt or something in my eye at the start)

Main:
Good news - The off-the-shelf unit I bought is just as fast as the one the Associated sponsored driver has.
Bad news - The sponsored driver will probably make fewer mistakes! (Nice run, Walt :thumbsup: )

Overall opinion of it's speed and power:
Good/Bad news (you decide)-
Brushed motors are now obsolete (unless you really feel a NEED to turn comms)
Nitro cars are no longer required (unless you really NEED to hear a loud car to feel like you're going fast)

So... Kevin... have you put any of those bad boys on the TurboDyno?

It'd really be nice to compare the Sphere to the Novak SS... with the same motors, etc... just to see how much of a differance there is with the controlers themselves as the only variable...

At the last MARS race I ran a 5800 systems in my XX4. This was a first run for me with brushles. Bottom line I was faster, far more stedy power and now looking to decide if I go to the GTB when it is out or with the LRP/Reedy. The 5800 delivered enough power for me and my driving, but want to move to the newer hardware. The 5800 will stay in the XX4 for now, just need to add the fan and a warm weather body.

I agree with Kevinm, this will kill off brushed motors and challange Gas as far as loner run time and power. It will not replace gas, just make gas less attractive to the power hungry, and the lower cost to run.

The brushed moter builders better take note now with the GTB soon to arrive and the LRP/Reedy now out, brushless is pratical in all electric mod classes.

So... Kevin... have you put any of those bad boys on the TurboDyno?

It'd really be nice to compare the Sphere to the Novak SS... with the same motors, etc... just to see how much of a differance there is with the controlers themselves as the only variable...

I haven't put it on the dyno yet. I'm hoping the Novak system will ship soon so I can test them both on the same day

In off road you may very well not 'need' more power then you can get with the 5800 and the SS controler... where the GTB and Sphere should help however is in on road racing, perticularly on carpet where amp draw will be higher and the systems should be much more effcient at high loads then the SS is... On 4 cell carpet Oval, it should defffintely be noticably faster to run either the Sphere or the GTB when it comes out... Based on the specs, I also suspect that the GTB will be noticeably faster then the Sphere on a 4 cell carpet oval setup... people will gear to the moon and back... Everyone will be running receiver/fan packs too, cause thermal shutdowns may be the only thing keeping people from putting even bigger gears on.

Yup... I think it's just a matter of time before brushed motors are phased out... People who try burshless pretty quickly realise that the lower maintaince issue is a really big thing and gives you much more time at the track to socialize or even work on your chassis setup...

Looking forward to Kevin's TD testing...

Nick since I work there I was able to purchase mine direct, but not until they were ship out and all the orders were filled. I started a Naztruck class and there are 3 of us that are running the LRP/Reedy combination in Sportsman mode, while others are running 19t motors.

In the main I ran 43 4:18.0? with a truck body, and the 19T Stock car class ran 46 laps in the main, I think that the body and down force might give them the edge to run the extra 3 laps...

But the class is really happening, we were at Jimmy Babcocks "Hot Rod Hobbies" in Saugus, Ca for the once a month oval run and 5 drives showed up with their trucks. But for our normal South West Tour series coming up this weekend I have somewhere in the neighborhood of 12 to 15 drivers saying they were bringing trucks. I will let you know how it all turns out..hopefully more people will get into the brushless, I have to say I really like it...find the gear for the track and go, no more comm cutting and I am hooked.