Aftermarket Kyosho hop-up parts

[sondeen]

I am curious about other folks' experience with aftermarket part quality for modern Kyosho models, more specifically the re-re Optima Mid. For example I am looking at CVD's for my re-re Mid. I see EXO Design and Koswork both make these. I have no experience with either brand. Are they comparable to MIP CVDs as far as durability, overall quality?

[carloco8]

I can vouch for the EXO parts. The chassis kit and cva axles are great. Even the turnbuckles are great for the price. Im in the US and ordered directly from their site and the parts arrived in a little less than 2 weeks. The cva are rebuildable and a direct replacement for the stock parts and the chassis kit allows for a lot of mounting options and customizing. If you want to use modern wheels the current standard AE B6 rear wheel is a direct bolt on the back using the stock hex with just enough axle threads left for a low profile nut and for the front use AE B6 2wd fronts with koswork +2 hex parts. Its still about a 1/4in away from roar/ifmar max width (front and back), but hey, we are just having fun anyways, right?!

[sondeen]

Thanks for the reply on the EXO axles and other parts. CVA axles are the type of part where I would think soft metal or sloppy machining could quickly ruin your day. I plan to run brushless in the Mid and think these axles would be a good performance upgrade over the stock dog bones.

Thanks for the tip on the AE wheels, as I want to go with 2.2 wheels for running. I also noticed that the Kyosho OTH248 2.2" wheels are back in stock at amain., but with the hit and miss availability of Kyosho parts, it might be best just to go with the hex adapters and AE wheels as these AE wheels should be more consistently available in the future.

Speaking of parts availability, it's crazy that it is easier to find new old stock vintage RC10 parts on ebay than to find new Kyosho parts for a kit released a year ago.

(for the record IFMAR max width is of no concern to me either.)