The newest and most complete r/c bike FAQ can be found at the RCMCC site: http://rcmcc.tripod.com

The Radio Control Motorcycles FAQ

(The most recent update: Oct. 10, 2003)

The newest additions are here! Dated Thursday, February 27, 1997!

The idea of this Frequently Asked Questions sheet, was of Mr.Dale Hurtt, of Tampa, Fla. There seem to be a hundred questions about these R/C bikes! I tried to gather all the questions I have received since the start of these pages, thru e-mail and categorised them accordingly.
Alas, if there's something not covered here, or in any of the R/C motorcycle pages, please do not hesitate.
My name is Stelios Hatzopoulos, and I live in Athens, Greece.
My e-mail address is: steliosh@steliosh.net.

• Buying (Where and How Much?)
  • Where can you buy these model kits?
  • I want to know how much?
  • Are spares easily available?
• Construction
  • Are they ballraced from kit?
  • Is it possible to paint the bike?
• Motors
  • What is the average speed with these motorcycles (box stock and upgrade motor)?
    
  • I was just wondering if you had specs for the LeMans DM20 and DMC20BB. Things like voltage, RPM, and current draw.
  • Are there any other motors that could fit into the bike, except for the ones Kyosho has?
  • Would you suggest getting the DM20BB engine? I was wondering if it really makes a difference in speed?
• Batteries
  • Please tell me the exact name of the bettery required for this R/C motorcycle.
  • What is the average runtime with these motorcycles (270mAh and 600mAh)?
    
  • The Kyosho motorcycles batteries are 4 cell, right?
  • Where can I order these batteries from?
  • Will a standard NiCad battery charger fit the 6 pack minnie?
  • How do I make an adapter?
• Electronics
  • Do you know of any other RS sets (ESC/Rx combos) that will work in my bike?
  • Do I need a receiver/speed control combo that Kyosho make?
  • Can I use a electronic speed controller with my receiver?
  • In my Kyosho book It stand that you must have a speed control and I wonder what kind of speedcontrol it is.
• Accessories
  • Are there 3rd-party, after-market (i.e. non-Kyosho) parts?
    
  • Are there many upgrades for them?
• Driving and racing the bikes.
  • The steering on this R/C motorcycle is accomplished by changing the angle of the forks, not the turning of the forks. Are the newer ones like that?
  • Can these motorcycles really be raced, or are they too unstable?
    
  • If they can be raced, can they do a: Banked oval? Flat oval? Easy road course? Tight road course?
    
  • How much adjustability is there?
    
  • What are the handling and performance characteristics of the motorcycle over (or under) the various types of R/C cars?
    
  • What is the driving skill level requirement for a motorcycle?
    
  • How do you start them? Do you hold up the spinning back wheel and drop it?
  • Do you need a second person?
• Miscellaneous
  • Conversion to gas.
  • More links (if there are any about r/c motorcycle).
  • Does Graupner have any R/C motorcycles, is there any other makes except Kyosho?
  • Does Kyosho still sell R/C motorcycles? Is it true that Kyosho have discontinued the NSR500 motorcycle?
  • Do you have any idea about the place where I can get a scale model of Max Biaggi 's black Chesterfield Aprilia (RSV 250)
  • Does Tamiya make a motorcycle too?
  • Do you offer this R/C model?
  • Why would someone want a motorcycle (other than to be different or because they think motorcycles are cool)?
    

Here are the answers:

• Buying (Where and How Much?)
  • Where can you buy these model kits?
  • First, try your local Hobby Shop. Hopefully, they'll have a Kyosho dealership. Then try the Net's resources, or R/C car magazines... (Update Oct. 2003:) Also, try www.ebay.com. I have found a new kit of the HOR Suzuki there and bought it, as well as a lot of spares and upgrades. The shop I bought the bike (and other stuff, too, like a brand new Futaba 2PL set, and some spares for the bike) is called Stella Models, from Hong Kong. Their prices are VERY reasonable, while the service is quick (I got my stuff in less than a week, to Greece, from HK) and they offer shipping insurance too.
  • I want to know how much?
  • This depends from country to country... For example, in Greece, the new models were sold for drs 39.000, (approx. GBP 100), while in the UK, I saw them advertised for as low as GBP 69. (Update Oct. 2003:) At ebay.com again, the prices seemed more like US$ 60, for an unbuilt kit.
  • Are spares easily available?
  • Unfortunately, they're sparse. However, if one is careful enough, he might not need anything at all. There are only a few options for the bikes available, which, also, tend to become rare!
  
  Back to the top
  
  
• Construction
  • Are they ball raced from kit?
  • No. There are eight plastic bushings used in the kit, which are extremely long lasting. To tell the truth, you may never need them, like you would in a racing R/C car. The bike's weight is only a third of that of a car and the speeds are not up to par. If you have to have them, the normal Kuyosho buggy wheel bearings (5X10 mm) will fit to the wheels, while 4 special small ones (3X6 mm) can be fitted in the transmission.
  • Is it possible to paint the bike?
  • Of course. The rider is made of polystyrene, like the plastic static car models. The chassis and the bodywork are made of ABS plastic. They can all be painted with plastic model colors, but not R/C lexan body colors.
  
  Back to the top
  
  
• Motors
  • What is the average speed with these motorcycles (box stock and upgrade motor)?
  • If you want numbers, then I'm sorry, I can't offer any! I can tell, however, that with the kit motor and the longest gearing of the kit (14t pinion), the bike is rather slower than a simplistic 2WD buggy with a 540 motor and a simple 1200 battery (Something like the cheap Tamiya 2WD's, for example).
  • I was just wondering if you had specs for the LeMans DM20 and DMC20BB. Things like voltage, RPM, and current draw.
  • I have never seen such details in any of Kyosho's papers or catalogs. Who cares, anyway?!
  • Are there any other motors that could fit into the bike, except for the ones Kyosho has?
  • Yes. I have tried the Tamiya Tamtech motor, which was originally destined for their 1/24 R/C cars. Performance-wise, it fits somewhere in between the two Kyosho motors. It has better top speed than the kit motor, while at the same time it has somewhat less torque than the DMC20BB, which makes it better for slippery conditions.
  • Would you suggest getting the DMC20BB motor? I was wondering if it really makes a difference in speed?
  • Yes and Yes! It's like upgrading from a 22X1 Stock motor to a 14X2, when talking for R/C cars.
  • What size motors do they use? I.e. 540, 320 etc.?
  
  Back to the top
  
  
• Batteries
  • Please tell me the exact name of the battery required for this R/C bike.
  • I have found that Sanyo makes a suitable cell: The Cadnica N-270-AA, which is 1.2 volts and 270mAh.
  • What is the average runtime of these motorcycles with the 270mAh and 600mAh batteries respectively?
  • Since run time is also a coordinate of gearing, let's take the extremes: Using 270mAh battery and DMC20BB motor with the longest gearing: About 10 minutes. I have not tested the 600mAh batteries for time, but they should have at least the double run time. There's a slight difference, though, in speed! The 270's feel like good SCRC's. The 600's feel a bit less "punchy", like the older SCE's.
  • The Kyosho motorcycles batteries are 4 cell right?
  • No. They're six cell stick packs.
  • Where can I order these batteries from?
  • Your local Hobby Shop, or a Shop that specializes in NiCd and other types of small batteries. I had one 6-cell 270 Sanyo cadnica stick pack made at my local electronics shop made (www.e-germanos.gr)
  • Will a standard NiCad battery charger fit the 6 pack minnie?
  • I've used a Tekin BC100, a Schumacher C20 and a HiTec Charge-a-matic with success. The only problem is the...
  • How do I make an adapter?
  • ...adapter. You should check your local Radio Shack or such for a plug suitable to the battery. The other side of the adapter, going to the charger, should prove easier to accommodate, especially for those who have electric cars.
  
  Back to the top
  
  
• Electronics
  • Do you know of any other RS sets (ESC/Rx combos) that will work in my bike?
  • Yes. Except for Kyosho's own, there is the Futaba unit, called MCR. You can also fit the Tamiya Mini-CPR-Unit, originally destined for their 1/24 R/C cars. This one, however, has... reverse! (It's for cars, remember!)
  • Do I need a receiver/speed control combo that Kyosho make?
  • No. See above.
  • Can I use a electronic speed controller with my receiver?
  • I'm afraid that the answer is no. The reason is the very small space, not allowing even to a small Tekin Rx to fit...
  • In my Kyosho book It stand that you must have a speed control and I wonder what kind of speedcontrol it is.
  • See above.
  
  Back to the top
  
  
• Accessories
  • Are there 3rd-party, after-market (i.e. non-Kyosho) parts?
  • There was an American company in the early 1990-91 that made some aluminum accessories for the bikes. They eventually have run out of business. I don't know of any other company that makes accessories, at the moment. (Update Oct. 2003:) At ebay.com, once again, I found quite a lot of upgrades made by TopCad and GPM, mostly in aluminum (swingarm, wheels, brake discs, front steering stem, oil-filled forks and shocks etc), ball bearings and other goodies. Any info, welcome.
  • Are there many upgrades for them?
  • Try to get a hand on a recent Kyosho catalog. There is a page full of them! Here's a quick list (Availability was never good, though...)

    Old Model	New Model
    Oil filled forks	Oil filled USD forks
    -	Steering parts set
    -	Chrome-plated frame
    270 mAh Battery	600mAh battery

    There are some parts that can be interchanged between old and new models.
    (New models are the ones with the leaning rider).
    Rear oil shock, Reinforced Gear set, Ball bearing set, Hard pinion set, Light flywheel.
  
  Back to the top
  
  
• Driving and racing the bikes.
  • The steering on this is accomplished by changing the angle of the forks, not the turning of the forks. Are the newer ones like that?
  • Exactly. The "steering" action is actually free, for some small angle (about 15 degrees either side). When you steer the bike, the steering leans to the desired side, and then the chassis follows, leaning to the same side. Stability is produced with the spin of the front wheel, which acts as a flywheel, with the metal inside the front tire.
  • Can these motorcycles really be "raced" or are they too unstable?
  • Yes, they can be raced. And, yes they are stable, provided a stable hand is at the steering! If two of them touch, they can spill, easily, though!
  • If they can be raced, can they do a: Banked oval? Flat oval? Easy road course? Tight road course?
  • For practical reasons, I'd not recommend ovals in general, due to the long tracks. An easy road course would be more suitable. A tight road course will be challenging and tiresome for the "rider". A parking lot with fresh and (preferrably) clean asphalt is the best. First check that all cars residing have left!
  • How much adjustability is there?
  • When the model is standard, only the pinion gears can be changed. If you change the suspension components, then these can be changed. Oil viscosity, at both ends and the spring tension of the rear shock can be adjusted.
  • What are the handling and performance characteristics of the motorcycle over (or under) the various types of R/C cars?
  • There is no direct comparison of these two R/C vehicles. The bike leans, but is easier to fall, while a car, when spinning, it still stays on its wheels. Cars can handle small jumps, eg go down from the sidewalk to the road surface without any damage at all. A bike will almost surely fall. As for performance, the fastest a bike can go in a straight line, is less than a stock motor equipped 2WD buggy.
  • What is the driving skill level requirement for a motorcycle?
  • If you ride a real motorcycle, it helps to better understand the physics and the limits of the R/C bike. If you have R/C car experience, it helps with the construction and the charging matters...
  • How do you start them? Do you hold up the spinning back wheel and drop it?
  • Not exactly, but close! You hold the transmitter with one hand, finger on throttle, and with the other hand you hold the bike. You give it throttle while you push the bike a little. The bike goes away in a straight line. Then you reach for the steering control and the fun begins!
  • Do you need a second person?
  • Not really... See above.
  
  Back to the top
  
  
• Miscellaneous
  • Conversion to gas?
  • I'd not reccommend it. The plastic chassis does not look so sturdy to my eyes, so that it could handle even a small gas engine (sub .10 size). It could... melt!
  • More links (if there are any about r/c motorcycle).
  • So far there is non other than the official Kyosho pages...
  • Does Graupner have any R/C motorcycles, is there any other makes except Kyosho?
  • Graupner sometime offered Royal's 1/5 models, under their corporate name. From what I know there are no other R/C motorcycles in the market.
  • Does Kyosho still sell R/C cycles? Is it true Kyosho have discontinued the NSR500 motorcycle?
  • I have not yet seen their 1997 catalog. If someone has any contact with the factory in Japan, they could tell us for sure!
  • Do you have an idea about the place where I can get a scale model of Max Biaggi 's black Chesterfield Aprilia (RSV 250)?
  • I'm afraid there is no such R/C model! However, you can always create one, based on the standard R/C bikes, with leaning rider or not. Then, of course lots of plastic model building skills are required, mainly for painting and decorating purposes! Need some more ideas? Doohan's 1996 Repsol NSR, 1996 Lucky Strike Suzukis (different from the kit) and almost every other GP 500 cc or WSB racing bike. The similarities are more than are the differences! The problem is lying in the stickers, and/or painting.
  • Does Tamiya make an R/C motorcycle too?
  • Tamiya make only plastic static display motorcycle models in 1/12 and 1/6 scales.
  • Do you offer this R/C model?
  • No! I'm a fan of them, just like you!
  • Why would someone want a motorcycle (other than to be different or because they think motorcycles are cool)?
  • Do you need more reasons?!
  
  Back to the top
  
  
  
  Next page....
  Back to the R/C motorcycles main page...