Review: Tamiya BBX Buggy | CompetitionX

What’s Included
Like most of Tamiya’s releases, the BBX is a full-blown package. The field incorporates all the things to construct the automotive minus electronics. We’ve included the unboxing video under so you possibly can see, intimately, all the things that comes within the field.

What’s Needed
• Servo
• Brushless ESC
• Brushless Motor
• LiPo Battery
• Radio System

Main Features
(Editor Note: These photos are from the Tamiya web site. We had been too excited and forgot to take ‘beauty’ photos earlier than operating it. These are used for a normal concept of how the automotive seems, not reflecting what we’ve finished with ours.)

1. Obviously, the primary important characteristic of the BBX is the finally cool look of this factor. Tamiya did it proper with the brand new BB-01 chassis – a plastic deck that has an built-in cage and a 6-piece physique panel setup (decrease left and proper, important prime, roof and left and proper rear quarter elements). All of those items come clear however solely require a single coloration paint adopted by a comparatively simple decal utility course of … by Tamiya’s requirements. Also included is a tree of sunshine pods with which solely 3 are referred to as out within the directions – two going through ahead, one out the again. The handbook does give some instruction on including 5 extra buckeds if you happen to so want. Wiring all of that, nevertheless, might show to be difficult.

2. The suspension on the BBX is exclusive as effectively, beginning up entrance with a considerably typical higher and decrease A-arm setup. Long, oil-filled, aluminum-bodied shocks stretch from a really strong-looking tower, via the higher arm and connect to the decrease arm. Unfortunately, there’s not a complete lot of adjustment – no caster, camber wheelbase, and many others. You can, nevertheless, fiddle with some spacers to vary the situation of the higher shock mounts, shifting them in or out to vary (barely) the angle of the shock. It’s an odd setup however nonetheless a enjoyable, practical one. Out again, The BBX makes use of a singular swing arm setup much like that of their aged Blackfoot or Brat. There’s no actual adjustment to this setup both, besides to possibly shorten or lengthen some LONG spacers to vary camber. The rear makes use of oil-filled, aluminum-bodied shocks as effectively with 2 choices for mounting on the higher attachment level.

3. With the chassis design so compact, there was some concern about battery set up. Tamiya received this proper as effectively – take away the higher physique panel (which is connected through Velcro), pull a single physique clip and an aluminum retaining pin slides out that releases a flappy door for the battery. This flappy door has the receiver, receiver field and driver connected to the highest and, with some glorious execution of design, all flips up with none interference with the cage. The battery field can deal with virtually any sort of battery – LiPo or NiMh – and both a protracted or shorty pack. It’s an excellent design, nevertheless ensure your ESC/battery wires are lengthy sufficient. Winding them via the tight areas to attach them has confirmed to be a process. To make life simpler, we ended up eradicating the window netting.

4. One of the extra trendy elements of the automotive is the steering system. The BBX makes use of a ball-bearing supported, dual-bellcrank system that’s really angled with the kickup of the chassis. Steel turnbuckles attain out to the beefy steering arms that are supported by pivot balls on the highest and backside – a pleasant design however, once more, removes the power to regulate issues like caster and camber. Back on the chassis, the BBX requires the usage of a low-profile servo, one thing we weren’t ready for once we received the automotive. We needed to do some digging however discovered a Futaba BLS371 which has been a wonderful alternative thus far. If you don’t have one, you’re going to NEED one – the BBX can’t be configured for tall servos.

5. The rear of the BBX can also be distinctive for Tamiya. It begins off with a racing-inspired, standup 3-gear transmission with a rear-mounted motor. It comes with a pleasant, aluminum motor mount with a plastic cowl to assist hold particles out of the gears. The ESC sits proper in entrance of it on a separate mount and features a cowl to ‘hide’ it. Unless, in fact, your ESC is simply too massive and doesn’t match underneath the quilt – like ours. This could seem to be a confined setup when it comes time to vary one thing just like the gearing, however with the elimination of a pair screws, you could have full entry to the gear cowl and gears! Again, one other sensible design characteristic.

Performance
While we love driving something new on a observe (because it does give some real-world efficiency), we determined that the BBX wants a unique expertise – a enjoyable expertise. A visit was deliberate up north for a week-ish getaway to an RV park that appeared to have some awesome-looking areas to run this automotive, so a plan was made to easily take it out and have enjoyable with it. No expectations – no observe drama – simply us, the BBX and a pair charged batteries. Man, was this a terrific resolution!

The location featured a gravel walkway surrounded by minimize grass and a few very blown-out areas speckled with floor squirrel holes and small, fallen branches. To be sincere, we weren’t actually anticipating something spectacular – it’s a new, awkward design (so far as 2WD buggies go). However, after blasting via the world for about 5 minutes, we knew the BBX was the actual deal.

Speed
Since electronics weren’t included with this package, we had been open to run any variety of energy programs. We opted for a strong (however not overly silly) Reedy competitors 17.5T setup. Prior to our ‘official’ run, we took the BBX exterior for a shake down check – ensure all the things was working previous to leaving on our journey. Everything labored nice, nevertheless the equipped 18T pinion was WAAAAAY under our velocity wants. We subbed out that tiny gear for a 26T pinion and man, did that make a distinction! Acceleration was nonetheless extremely fast, however it was the highest finish speeds that made the BBX a enjoyable buggy to drive! We’re undecided how briskly it was going (once more, this was purported to be a enjoyable run), however as a guess-timation – possibly 20-25mph? Not depraved, however spunky sufficient to have alot of enjoyable with it. Being a 2WD buggy with a race-type transmission, we’re fairly certain this drivetrain might in all probability deal with one thing upwards of a ten.5T and not using a sweat. And sure. We are going to offer {that a} go!

Handling
The BBX actually was a pleasure to drive. On the unfastened gravel path, it did require just a little ‘managing’ of the steering and throttle from a standstill however, as soon as it received up and operating, it drove like a regular, competition-level 2WD buggy. Traction was nice with each the entrance and rear tires and, as you possibly can see from the video above, we had been ripping round with it on completely different terrain and it stayed very composed. Was there understeer? Not actually. Was there oversteer? Well, sure, some, however it was simply overcome and introduced again into form with just a little throttle management. Now, we’re not going to say it could actually compete with the most effective of them on an precise observe however, so far as total ‘play’ really feel, we will’t think about it being significantly better.

Suspension
The suspension is odd, we’ll agree, however all kidding apart, we had been extremely impressed with how effectively all of it labored on this buggy. We figured the gravel can be positive. We figured the grassy patches can be simple as effectively, however what we weren’t prepared for was how effectively it powered via the tough, hole-ridden off-path dust space. Like, severely – it tore via there like a Class 1 buggy via the Baja 1000! No getting sideways, very minor bucking, it actually blew us away. If you don’t consider us, watch that video AGAIN! You’ll see it in motion with no fancy edits to cowl something up. That’s all BBX!

Durability
Thankfully, we didn’t have any points with the BBX throughout our day of testing. Now, we did run it totally on flat, bumpy terrain with only a few jumps, so when you get it up within the air and begin lacking your landings, there could possibly be a couple of issues that pop up. Our first concern is the rear suspension. With nothing supporting the again half of the swing arm, there could possibly be some flex there that might come out the drive bone. Other than that, there’s nothing actually uncovered on the BBX to interrupt off (apart from possibly the sunshine pods). But bear in mind, it’s not a 1/8 scale supercar or 1/10 scale competitors buggy – it’s a enjoyable, scale experience that may require some constraint to simply ship it.

Additional Notes
• While an attention-grabbing design, the rear swing arms had been a bear to construct. Our construct video will likely be dropping quickly with some knowledgeable recommendations on the way to assemble it.

• The BBX does include a well-known driver determine, nevertheless the helmet is new. Sort of. It’s the identical helmet that’s included with the Super Avante, nevertheless it has ‘new’ vents close to the driving force’s mouth. You know, for contemporary air.

• The entrance and rear wheels are precisely the identical – similar offset and dimension. The tires, nevertheless, have completely different patterns and widths. Obviously. The fronts have a grooved tread sample, the rears have a tall, block design.

• While not included, the BBX does include an extra rear-tire mount for the again of the buggy.

Gallery

Final Thoughts
As excited as we had been to get our fingers on this buggy, we’re extra excited to see what the world thinks of it! Understand, although, that regardless that the efficiency is nice, it’s not a full-fledged offroad racer. It’s a enjoyable automotive. It’s a great wanting automotive. It’s an consideration getter as effectively. Drive it onerous however drive it sensible. It’s not going to outlive jumps over homes or skateparks (effectively, it’d), so don’t count on it to. But DO count on to have a smile from ear to ear while you’re out having a great time with it. After all, it’s a distinctive platform – it’s the Tamiya method (because of Matt at SBG for this quote – can’t use it sufficient).