When my six year old son became interested in my stepson's 1/10 scale Exceed Nitro Forza, I decided to break the young lad into the world of R/C cars. When searching for a beginner ready-to-run vehicle, my options were a little limited in terms of spending.
The decision came down to either the MRP Ripper ST RTR, or Exceed RC Electric Infinitive monster truck. The MRP Ripper is reminiscent of the early Associated RC10T and shares many common parts with other vehicles. Exceed's Infinitive monster truck looks a tad bit meaner in stance and includes larger more substantial tires.
Both are available with a wall charger and battery; however, the Infinitive costs a little less. Although I was less than impressed with the overall quality of my stepson's Forza, I decided to give Exceed another try. After all, I didn't expect either vehicle to last very long in the hands of my 6 year old.
Specifications:
As expected, the 1/10 2.4Ghz Exceed RC Electric Infinitive came well-packaged and included everything we needed. The 2.4 Ghz radio system looks a hell of a lot sleeker and more durable than Exceeds 27Mhz offering, included with some of the older Forza vehicles.
The standard wall charger and battery included with the Infinitive is--well--junk to say the least. But, that could be said for any RTR that includes a wall charger and battery. The charging process took a few hours to complete.
I was pleasantly surprised to see Exceed do away with the older and often inefficient Tamiya-type battery connectors for better Deans connectors. The standard 540-size brushed motor includes a heat sink pre-installed.
We took the truck out for a test drive and It performed better than I expected. The battery lasted approximately 10 minutes. I decided from that point to order an inexpensive peak charger and additional battery.
After getting the new charger and battery, I proceeded to let the boy have free reign with the Infinitive. It was early morning and our grass had a fair amount of fresh dew. Within two minutes, the truck cut off. With disappointment in my son's eyes and me cussing up an internal storm, we pulled off the body and noticed that the ESC, motor and chassis were completely soaked with water.
I thought for sure we fried the speed control and/or radio receiver thanks to excessive moisture. After a couple days, I reconnected the battery and gave it go. Viola! Worked like new. For those not familiar with the Exceed Infinitive, the truck does not include a water-proof box used to house the electronics, as Exceed's line of Nitro vehicles do. While it's understandable not to house the ESC do to heat issues, the radio receiver could definitely use a little moisture protection. When operating the Infinitive, it is extremely important to keep the vehicle away from puddles or other wet driving conditions-it simply isn't up to the task.
The biggest single complaint I have has to do with an inherent design flaw within the 1/10 2.4Ghz Exceed RC Electric Infinitive-- the drive axles.
Why the drive axles? Aside from being manufactured from soft steel, they are also too long. The excessive length of the drive axles do not allow for full suspension travel. So if you are bashing around with the Infinitive and bottom out too much, be prepared to have a few spares handy!
Aside from the drive axle issues, I think the 1/10 2.4Ghz Exceed RC Electric Infinitive makes a great beginner R/C truck for kids wanting to get into the hobby. There is plenty of room for modifications as the child gets a little older, but I wouldn't push the vehicle too much in terms of speed, as the materials used for the truck probably wouldn't hold up too well.
MRP is well-known for producing high-quality products and I suspect the MRP Ripper ST RTR will be my next choice when my son starts to improve his driving skills, and wants to branch out to local racing venues.
The decision came down to either the MRP Ripper ST RTR, or Exceed RC Electric Infinitive monster truck. The MRP Ripper is reminiscent of the early Associated RC10T and shares many common parts with other vehicles. Exceed's Infinitive monster truck looks a tad bit meaner in stance and includes larger more substantial tires.
Both are available with a wall charger and battery; however, the Infinitive costs a little less. Although I was less than impressed with the overall quality of my stepson's Forza, I decided to give Exceed another try. After all, I didn't expect either vehicle to last very long in the hands of my 6 year old.
Specifications:
| Engine: | RC540 Stock |
| Transmission: | Single speed with Reverse |
| Gear Ratio: | 1:10.3 |
| Drive System: | Four Wheel Drive |
| Radio System: | Two Channel A.M. |
| Length: | 400mm |
| Front Track: | 150mm |
| Rear Track: | 150mm |
| Overall Height: | 185mm |
| Wheelbase: | 275mm |
| Front Shock Length: | 95mm |
| Rear Shock Length: | 95mm |
| Front Tires: | Off Road |
| Rear Tires: | Off Road |
| Wheel Width: | 60mm |
| Wheel Diameter: | 120mm |
| Brake Type: | Reverse Braking |
| Suspension Type: | 8 Plastic bodied oil filled shocks |
| What's Needed: | 8 AA Batteries. Everything else is included |
As expected, the 1/10 2.4Ghz Exceed RC Electric Infinitive came well-packaged and included everything we needed. The 2.4 Ghz radio system looks a hell of a lot sleeker and more durable than Exceeds 27Mhz offering, included with some of the older Forza vehicles.
The standard wall charger and battery included with the Infinitive is--well--junk to say the least. But, that could be said for any RTR that includes a wall charger and battery. The charging process took a few hours to complete.
I was pleasantly surprised to see Exceed do away with the older and often inefficient Tamiya-type battery connectors for better Deans connectors. The standard 540-size brushed motor includes a heat sink pre-installed.
We took the truck out for a test drive and It performed better than I expected. The battery lasted approximately 10 minutes. I decided from that point to order an inexpensive peak charger and additional battery.
After getting the new charger and battery, I proceeded to let the boy have free reign with the Infinitive. It was early morning and our grass had a fair amount of fresh dew. Within two minutes, the truck cut off. With disappointment in my son's eyes and me cussing up an internal storm, we pulled off the body and noticed that the ESC, motor and chassis were completely soaked with water.
I thought for sure we fried the speed control and/or radio receiver thanks to excessive moisture. After a couple days, I reconnected the battery and gave it go. Viola! Worked like new. For those not familiar with the Exceed Infinitive, the truck does not include a water-proof box used to house the electronics, as Exceed's line of Nitro vehicles do. While it's understandable not to house the ESC do to heat issues, the radio receiver could definitely use a little moisture protection. When operating the Infinitive, it is extremely important to keep the vehicle away from puddles or other wet driving conditions-it simply isn't up to the task.
The biggest single complaint I have has to do with an inherent design flaw within the 1/10 2.4Ghz Exceed RC Electric Infinitive-- the drive axles.
Why the drive axles? Aside from being manufactured from soft steel, they are also too long. The excessive length of the drive axles do not allow for full suspension travel. So if you are bashing around with the Infinitive and bottom out too much, be prepared to have a few spares handy!
Aside from the drive axle issues, I think the 1/10 2.4Ghz Exceed RC Electric Infinitive makes a great beginner R/C truck for kids wanting to get into the hobby. There is plenty of room for modifications as the child gets a little older, but I wouldn't push the vehicle too much in terms of speed, as the materials used for the truck probably wouldn't hold up too well.
MRP is well-known for producing high-quality products and I suspect the MRP Ripper ST RTR will be my next choice when my son starts to improve his driving skills, and wants to branch out to local racing venues.
