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Type ❯❯ 2WD buggyPrice ❯❯ $930 (price varies with dealer)Top Speed ❯❯ 45mphRequires ❯❯ Transmitter/receiver ❯❯ Throttle servo ❯❯ 12 AA batteries ❯❯ 5-cell sub-C receiver pack ❯❯ 2-stroke gas mix ❯❯ Chargerhpiracing.com

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HPI BAJA5B SSThe 5B is back, with even betterspecs–and you get to build it

HPI changed the face of the 1/5-scale RC scene when it unveiled the Baja 5B in2006. The big buggy was an instant sensation with its realistic proportions, excit-ing off-road performance and ready-to-run convenience. Knowing HPI’s past, itwas only a matter of time before we saw an SS version of the gas-burning giant.For those of you not hip to the “SS” series, allow me to explain. When the HPIguys decide to offer a kit version of an RTR, they don’t just poly-bag the parts,throw in a manual and call it a day. Instead, they up the ante for kit-builders byincluding popular option parts and improvements not found in the RTR. Case inpoint, the 5B SS delivers with a bigger engine, tuned pipe, beefed-up differentialand more. It also has a new look with the orange and gun-metal anodizing, soeveryone will know you stepped up to the bench to build your 5B.

MORE PUNCHThe first thing you notice is that the pipe iswicked loud and not something to run in awell- populated neighborhood. I have a lot ofexperience with the Baja RTR version, andthat has a restrictive muffler, and the clutchengages early. It’s amazing what a difference atuned pipe and high-stall clutch make in thisbuggy’s acceleration. It easily spins the tires

when you punch the throttle from a standstillon any surface. Engine response will increaseas the engine and clutch spring wear in.

DRIVES LIKE A 1/10 SCALEHPI did things right when they designed thisbuggy; it’s very nimble. The Baja 5B SS driveslike many 2WD buggies I’ve raced through theyears. Steering response is great, and the

buggy is so controllable that you can get itaround a tight yard with no trouble. Theincluded servo has more than enough muscleto pitch the front tires from side to side. Theswaybars do a great job of keeping the chas-sis flat in the turns allowing you to stay on thethrottle without the worry of rolling your Baja.

STRONG BRAKESThe brakes work very well, and they should,when you think about how much weight youhave to slow down here. The grip on the disc

CONSTRUCTION SITE AND MY HOUSETEST SPOT

BEHIND THEWHEEL

DRIVE TIME

WORDS KEVIN HETMANSKI ❯❯ kevinh@airage.com | PHOTOS HOPE McCALL

1/5 SCALE | GAS | KIT

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is consistent, but just like when you acceler-ate, things can get a little hairy when trying toslow down on pavement or on hard-packeddirt. The brakes are easy to lock up, and thatcauses the rear end to loop around. You canadjust the brakes so they don’t grab as much,but then you can’t slow the Baja down. Iwould really like to see a front brake kit for it.

AIR TIMEIt’s hard for me to get used to jumping thisbuggy. I’m accustomed to smaller vehicles

that you can mess with in the air to adjust thechassis’ attitude. It seems like you have tohold on for the ride with the Baja. That forcesyou to learn how to jump it correctly, andwhen done so, it’s great. The chassis is wellbalanced and the shocks do a great job ofsoaking up the landings.

ENGINE PERFORMANCEIt didn’t take much work to start the Fuelie26cc engine; just prime the bulb, close thechoke and pull until the engine fires for a sec-

ond, and then open the choke and give it atug. Once the engine was running, I let it sitand idle for a little while to allow it to get up tooperating temperature before I pegged thethrottle. The carb’s tune was fairly close out ofthe box and only needed minimal tuning tolean out the high-end needle. The nice thingabout a gas engine is that you only really haveto tune it once. The Fuelie 26cc engine runswell, and the carb holds a tune very well.

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UNDER THE HOOD

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Serious servoIt’s normal to see an engine included in a kit,but we’re not used to seeing a steeringservo. Rather than send you off on a huntfor a the correct large-scale servo, HPIincludes its water-resistant, metal-gear SFL-10 unit. With 347 oz-in of torque, it has thepower needed to steer over 20 pounds ofgas-burning buggy, and its extra-large sizemeans the metal gears within are also largerthan a typical servo’s for superior strength.

No need to save up for a servo; HPIincludes this monster to steerthe 5B

HPI supplies a clear body kit forthe SS. Most of the buggy’s lookcomes from the exposed chassisand roll cage, so even a simplepaint job looks killer. I usedParma FasKolor paint to com-plete my 5B.

The 5B SS gets a serious-looking gunmetaland orange treatment that sets it apartfrom the purple-power of the RTR version.

RADAR TESTING

Distance (in feet) traveled in:1 sec. ❯❯ 15.32 sec. ❯❯ 54.83 sec. ❯❯ 107.74 sec. ❯❯ 168.55 sec. ❯❯ 233.30-132 ft. time ❯❯ 3.4 sec.Time to top speed ❯❯ 7.5 sec. Speed at 132 ft. ❯❯ 41.2mph

45.3mph

TIME, SECONDS

SPEED, M

PH

TOPSPEED

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Beefy drivetrainThis buggy has some heft to it, and now that it has more power,the drivetrain needed to be beefed up a little. The internal gearsare the same, but HPI gives you a cast-aluminum diff housing that is muchstronger than the plastic unit used in theRTR version. And the housing has

small fins molded into it to dissi-pate heat that builds up in the

diff while in use. Heavy-duty dogbonesspan the gapbetween thediff and axles.

Aluminum diff cases won’tspread under load, and you’ll finda complete set of metal gears andlarge-diameter rubber-sealed bear-ings in the transmission.

The Fuelie 26cc engine is a powerfulmill, and it’s easy to tune. A polished-aluminum tuned pipe lets the enginebreathe and helps with low-endresponse.

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DIMENSIONSOverall length 32.2 in. (817mm)Wheelbase 22.4 in. (570/368mm)Width F/R 18.1/18.9 in. (460/480mm)Weight as tested 21 lb. (9.7kg)

CHASSIS4mm stamped aluminum

SUSPENSIONType Pivot ball with upper and lower armsInboard camber-link positions F/R 1/1Outboard camber-link positions F/R 1/1Upper shock positions F/R 1/2Lower shock positions F/R 1/1

SHOCKSThreaded aluminum body with rubber shaft pro-tectors

STEERINGType Dual bearing-supported bell crankServo-saver Spring loadedTie rods Steel Ackerman settings (inboard/outboard) 1/1

DRIVETRAINType 2WD Transmission 3-gear sealed transmission Differential Bevel gear with steel ring gear andsealed aluminum housing; steel outdrivesSpur gear Plastic with rubber insertsBrake Disc with vented and drilled steel rotorDriveshafts Chrome plated steel dogbonesBearings Rubber sealed ballGear ratios Primary 3.4:1; tranmission 8.1:1; final19.9:1 (1st gear), 13.8:1 (2nd gear)

ENGINE & ACCESSORIESModel HPI Fuelie 26cc 2-stroke gasolineConstruction Ringed aluminum pistonCarburetor 2-needle with primer bulb and chokeStarter PullManifold Tubular aluminumPipe Tuned aluminumFuel tank 750cc

BODY, WHEELS & TIRESBody Clear, factory trimmedWheels Bead-lock plastic-spoke, 24mm hexTires F/R HPI Dirt Buster rib/HPI Dirt BusterblockInserts Foam

INCLUDED ELECTRONICSTransmitter, receiver & throttle servo NotincludedSteering servo HPI SFL-10MG, 347oz-.in.

SPECIFICATIONSHPI BAJA 5B SShpiracing.comScale 1/5Price $930 (varies with dealer

More powerWhen you see SS at the end of the name, you know you’ll get a bunch of goodies with your kit,and one such goodie is a bigger engine. The RTR ride is equipped with a 23cc engine, and HPIups it with a new 26cc Fuelie engine. It comes in the box with a muffler installed, and you cankeep that on if you’re running your buggy in a close-knit neighborhood, but it will rob the engineof power. The included tuned pipe will enhance the engine’s response, but it’s much louder. HPI’s8,000rpm clutch comes installed on the engine, and that, too, will help with low-end response.

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Rating the Baja 5B SSThe Baja 5B SS is easily one of the coolest RC vehi-cles around. I love that it comes as a kit and with use-ful hop-up parts. The Baja is perfect for any newbiethanks to the powerplant on board; you never have totune the carb, and it runs on economical 2-stroke mixgasoline. Some may be intimidated by the steep pricetag, but remember that you’ll pay about the sameprice for a nitro monster truck or buggy by the timeyou’ve bought batteries, a charger, fuel and the otherthings you need to get it running. The impressive size,handling and performance of the Baja 5B SS willmake you the envy of all your friends.

READ THE MANUALIn the back of the manualyou’ll find great informationon tuning the engine, mixingthe fuel and more. Take thetime to read this sectioncarefully. The 26cc Fuelieengine is expensive toreplace, and if you run it toolean or get your fuel mixturewrong, it may seize.

USE THREAD-LOCK ONEVERYTHINGAny of the 5B’s screws thatdon’t thread into plastic aresecured by locknuts. Thenylon inserts in those nutsshould be enough to keepthe screws in place, but Istill had screws come loosewhile driving my Baja.

RECEIVER POWERHPI recommend using asub-C 5-cell hump pack to

power the Baja’s radio gear.You can get away with usinga standard-size hump-stylereceiver pack if you must,but remember: you’ll onlyget about half the run timewith the smaller pack, andyou’ll need to pack thereceiver box with extra foamto take up space. Myadvice? Get the right pack.why skimp on a $1000 car?

PULL-STARTER PROTECTIONDebris can find its way intothe workings of the pull-starter on the Fuelie engine,and that may cause it tomalfunction. Keep the inter-nals clean by installing anOuterwears pull-startercover. It allows air to passthrough while keeping thedirt out.

EXTENDED SPUR GEARLIFENow that the Baja SS hasmore power, there’s apotential for spur gear dam-age due to the gears push-ing each other apart. Theplastic mounts for the topshaft and clutch bell have asmall amount of flex inthem, and if you don’t getyour gear mesh tightenough, the gap may possi-bly open, and you’ll stripyour spur gear. I haven’t hadany problems here, but toprevent this, I installed alu-minum top-shaft and clutch-bell mounts from GoldenHorizons. These direct-fitaluminum parts don’t flex atall, and they enhance thelooks of the Baja.

HPI BAJA 5B SS

The instructions for the Baja are very informative, and that makes it veryeasy to build the Baja. There are, however, a few things you should knowbefore you build or drive your buggy.

❯❯ Great engine response❯❯ Love the new orange

anodizing❯❯ Included metal-gear

servo

❯❯ Tuned pipe is very loud

+-

Kit-building, gas-powerenthusiasts

BESTFOR

❯❯ Sand Buster paddle tire—item no. 4846❯❯ Sand Buster rib tire—4843❯❯ Front carbon upper plate—87446❯❯ Carbon gear plate—87447

FACTORY OPTIONS

YOU’LL NEED | WE USEDRadio and receiver Futaba 2PL

futaba.comThrottle servo Futaba S3050

futaba.com8AA batteries Duracell

duracell.comReceiver pack HPI hump pack

hpiracing.comCharger HPI Escape

hpiracing.com2-stroke gas mix Shell

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ON THE BENCH

Long-stroke shocksThe 5B’s shockcks use familiar construction, but are much more heavily built and usetwo springs per shock. the pistons are nutted for strength, and the shocks are filledwith MX-style petroleum fork oil instead of the silicon fluid we’re used to seeing. anew rear shock tower increases suspension travel, thicker 6mm shock shafts resistbending, and the o-ring cartridges and shock valving have been tweaked for the SS.The shock bodies are threaded for easy preload changes and front and rear sway-bars are also included in the kit, making the 5B SS highly tunable.

The shocks feature threaded bodies for easyride-height adjustment, and the 6mm shaftsare thicker than the RTR 5B’s for increaseddurability.

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