Is the Savage what it's all hyped up to be?
 

Okay, I want to get another gas R/C for the summer. I want something I can bomb through sand, dirt, mud, grass, hills, etc etc. Not for racing, just something tough and relatively cheap. I know, I know, this is a brushless forum. But I also know you guys put your vehicles through more abuse than most people since you guys run brushless. So, give me your honest opinion - Is the Savage worth it? Or should I look elsewhere, like a MGT?

The savage X is a good truck. I prefer it to a MGT. Diffs may need some attention from new, as they may not be shimmed correctly. Other than that the truck is decent. Takes a hit better than a maxx... The shocks are a bit wimpy, but you may not drive as hard as I do. I never did damage a shock, but I was always waiting to...

Okay so Savage X is a good start. I'll probably buy it new so I don't have to fool around with used stuff anymore. Savage X is a kit still right?

EDIT: I see they offer the X RTR now too. Is the RTR good to go or does it still need diff shims?

HPI sells it in RTR and kit forms.

Always good to make sure the diffs are shimmed correctly no matter what you buy...

That's true. Thanks for the input linc! If you or anyone on here has experience tuning that 4.6 engine, please chime in. I'm not the master of tuning engines, so I want something pretty trouble-free.

I have a nitro XL and I freaking love the truck. Tough, cheap, and easy to work on. I did replace the diffs as they are pretty weak even w/ nitros. The rest of the truck is solid.

You can always sell the 4.6 motor and get a better motor w/o breaking the back. I sold off the 5.9 that came with the XL and bought a LRP .28. Nice power (for a nitro) and easy to tune and start. $165 or so. It was my 1st nitro motor and I can run it well, so isn't that difficult. I even use a pullstart. I like the savage more than any other truck I've had (maxxes, revo, losi, tho never a MGT.)

Depending on what you want to spend, I would consider looking at the Sav XL as well. Its a freaking beast, and has some nicely upgraded parts. The longer wheelbase is nice too, and makes pipe manifolds easy. You can get these not too pricey if you look around.

I replaced my shocks w/ LST shocks. They are big and baddass. You don't have to do this, but its def nice.

I had an HPI savage 21 and 25 and they were one of the worst trucks Ive owned. They both constantly broke. I kept the 21 nitro and converted the 25. I blew up my brand new 3spd tranny in the 25 while it was brushless and had many other driveline issues with the 21 even when it was in nitro form. I have never had a savage x though so i have no input on those. They seem to be a ton better than the 21 and 25.

So the older Savages had problems huh? That's what I remember hearing. I like the Bigger XL, but I would rather get a MGT 8.0 if I were to lay down that much cash. Any other suggestions for a MT?

LST2

This will be my next monster truck after I finish some other projects. Linc has one converted and the diffs are so good he sticks them in everything now.

Got an XL recently, it's a helluva truck. Unfortunately I found out I'm allergic to Nitro, so I'm selling it. But yeah, they're solid machines. If you get a new RTR, make sure to loctite every screw that goes into metal, though. They do fall out!

- Tony

Sent you a PM kraegar.

TexasSP - I've never liked Losi's design and hate how all my allen wrenches seem to never be the right size for their screws.

Losi's use of Imperial screws drove me crazy. Half the truck is metric, half is SAE. I had a muggy for a while, it was a decent enough truck, but the screws and a few other things drove me nuts enough to sell it. Got an XL and never looked back. Hopefully you two can work out a deal that is good for everybody, g/l.

The LST2 is one helluva truck for sure. You wont be dissapointed...

As far as nitro motors goes, OS is the easiest when it comes to tuning, but I would probably go for a Picco .27. Its one BEAST ass motor, especially if you have some work done to it. A guy called Cabbie on TruggyRacers forum is really good with them and if it were me, I'd probably try and find a new roller on Ebay and buy a Picco .27 and send it to him if he still does port work (you might not know of it, but his Ruggy had one and he added ports, yada yada, and it smoked all the other nitros in a magazine shootout), then add my own servos, radio, rims tires, body, and so on. Shouldn't be much more than a new X since last time I looked the new rollers where pretty cheap.

I've had quite a few OS motors and always liked them. I would rather stick to a RTR than start building my own since I want to be able to run it out of the box. I'm low on time right now with work, school, and everything I got going on. I want something that's nitro but easy to run so I can take it camping, etc. Doesn't have to be the baddest, fastest, most insane monster. Just something fun.

A buddy of mine is selling his MGT 8.0. He's probably the only guy I'd buy a used MT from right now since he works at a LHS and has a ton of R/Cs. I might be getting that :)

I am going to be ordering the Savage XL 5.9 GT next week.
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...I=LXUHD0**&P=K

I've read the XL5.9 has been beefed up compared to the other versions. No experience with the the Savage trucks but heard the drive line/transmissions/diff were a weak point. Reading about this truck they have addressed that with the XL. I tried to do some research through threads in other forums a while back. Some people mentioned the 5.9 isn't a real powerful engine (compared to more expensive engines), but haven't found anyone complaining about tuning problems. So it might last long enough to decide on which brushless setup to use.

I have an original savage and an X.

The original is a pain to work on, but the 2 speed tranny has never given me any issues. I am not really that impressed with the slipper design, but it works so whatever. Once you put al diff cups and shim the diffs correctly it is fine. I put the heavy duty center cvd shafts and the heavy duty wheel shafts on it (not the super heavy duty xl version, basically the X wheel shafts).

Not much time on the X but it is way easier to get to the diffs, and the tranny case can be split 2 ways to access the gears (not reallt sure if that is a needed feature). All savages use the same arms, and hubs. I do not like the rear tie rod setup, but you can get fixed rear hubs (the atomic look to be the next best to the HPI ones that come in the 150 dollar kit).

The flux appears to have the best diff setup with the machined gears (not sure if the xl comes with those). They are regular buggy ratio, in case anyone was wondering.

Not a bad truck, but the std shocks just look wimpy. I bought the flm towers and kit to use lst shocks. Still prefer the lst, std screws or not. It is a better design, and looks like it will take a beating better.

I only have an XL, but all the upgrades and improvements over the years seem to have really paid off. The tranny is ez to open (nice if you need to service, or have a 3spd & to adj other cent clutch) the diffs are ez open (6 screws max) and the XL/flux driveline is really beefy. Nice the XL has a steel spur too.

From what I read about the XL is that it has a lot of TQ, lots of wheelies, but is a fuel hog and not so fast on the top end. I sold it off and bought a LRP.28 w/o very little net change in cost. Just got a dynamite 053 pipe as well. Its simple to tune (I'm a nitro noob and i have no probs) and powerful. Not too bad on gas.

I did get FLM towers and LST shocks. They are just kickass. I also upgraded the diffs to Cen diffs. Huge beefy diffs. Otherwise mostly stock other than radio and the adj arm set for savage (cheap too.) Kick ass truck and extremely tough. Last annoyance is the rear tie rod, but haven't broke it since new in Sept.

BTW: The XL has an alu diff case, but not the stronger gears. The cen gears are still the way to go regardless. :)

I'm sure the LST is also a great truck too, just I hated it. Lots of people have them and swear by them. I do love the shocks!

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y25...4/IMG_6269.jpg
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y25...4/IMG_6271.jpg

Thanks for all the info and pics guys. Keep them coming, I don't mind more info. It seems like the 5.9 isn't too bad, but is better replaced than kept. I guess I can keep it stock if I decide to get one and just decide afterwards what I want to do.

Anyone know where to get a Savage XL pretty cheap?

Oh, and for some reason I still think the MGT is a better bang for the buck. The engine, radio, and electronics are all much better quality and I wouldn't find the need to upgrade them, ever. The only thing I'd do is basic stuff like a body, wheels, and tires.

The only thing that out of the box should be replaced on the XL is the radio gear. And the 5.9, as noted, isn't the best, but it was pretty easy to learn on for me. I hit 40mph after only 8 tanks through it, and still figuring out how to tune them. And it would stand on its back wheels without a problem when it was warmed up.

I'd love to see one with an LRP in it. Especially once the .30 is out here in the US.

The radio gear is a lot of money. I know the MGT isn't the cream of the crop in electronics but they work pretty good and the actual radio is great for what I want. Sure the LST has a better unit but I can't stand Losi designs and their system of holding things together. I've had 3 or 4 Losi GTXs, a couple NXTs, LXT, 3 XXXNTs, and about 5 RC10GTs. Overall, I loved the GTs and hated the Losi STs. If that's any glimpse into the design of the LST and any of their other cars, not to mention the lastest transfer of Losi Jr to Kyosho, Losi has gone downhill. The only Losi that has impressed me lately is the Losi 1/10 crawler and I might suck it up and get one down the road.

I sold off the radio brand new as well and immediately replaced it w/ a faast. I love the dsm radios, and I had one after a trade I got and kept. That and a 300+oz JR servo as well, so I can't comment on the elecs, other than they are prolly normal oem crappy.
Seems like my savage is fairly stock, but I guess I have changed a few things then lol.

I really don't know about the MGT. I've heard a few good things, but mostly little about it. The lrp engine I have is AE... However none of my LHSs (when I had some) ever had MGT parts, so I never looked at it.

Some people hate the stock savage tires, I actually like them for bashing. They roll alot and the Muggy I had def out handled the savage, but the Savage w/ terrapins drives over everything. Terrible for high spds tho. 40 mph gets very scary quick..

Thought I saw one FS somewhere for ~$450, but can't remem where. I'm sure there are a few good deals out there.

Yeah it seems that way with the Savage, you have to upgrade it before it's actually a good truck. I want one that's good out of the box and the MGT looks more promising.

I had an mgt roller that i was planning to convert, but it just looked like a bigger tmaxx. The shocks did not look very strong, and the chassis design was a bit weird, especially how it held the arms on. I doubt the diffs are any better than the savvage, and the tranny is about 40 times more complex than the savage. Strange bevel setup from the slipper shaft to the input shaft, did not look strong at all to me. Plus the mgt slipper is weak. Some of these things may have been rectified with the mgt 8.0... I have no idea.

I have always prefered losi over assc... The lst2 is definitely a better design than the mgt, and the drivetrain is much stronger. They are not cheap though, especially the lst2 and the xxl. I would not buy an originsal lst, or the aftershock, mega baja, ramminator, etc as they have the weaker lst1 arms and wheel driveshafts.

I don't know any weak area on the current Savages. The original 2 bevel gear diffs in the old Savages were certainly a weak part, but I've never had issues with any of the 4 bevel gear ones, especially the X SS ones with the alum cups. The shocks have popped a cap a couple times, but that would have obliterated the alum. tapered combo on the MGT. The weakest on any of mine (I have 4) has been the slight bending of the TVPs, but you should have seen what I was doing:)

I've had 3 MGTs before this, never an 8.0. I can tell you they are strong and reliable. The engines are without a doubt the easiest I've ever tuned. The only time I had problems with the tranny was when I bought a truck knowing it had problems already and the centrifugal clutch needed adjustment/replaced. The transmissions are NOT weak at all, regardless of the bevel setup. They're all metal gears too. The diffs are not weak either, never had a problem there. Slipper is the same thing, never had a problem and never heard of it being a problem. The shocks are stronger than they look but everything has a breaking point. It is a bigger and better T-Maxx, but that's what every MT nowadays is. The whole reason the LST, Savage, MGT, etc came out is because of the T-Maxx.

Losi won't be getting any of my money for a while, regardless of how many people rave about their stuff. I guess we're just polar opposites linc! :na:

what is the better motor 5.9 on the truck or the lrp .30?