Crawler Canyon Quick(re)view: Element Enduro Sport Edition (SE)

[@fishnrc294]

YES! You made my evening it’s 15 till 6 here in Ca.805 area & it’s pouring rain & super windy so it’s a indoor day. It’s nice to watch something worthwhile. I’ve had my SE for a week now. I had it out one time stock. I could see the potential. My goal is to get it for a good price then build it up so kind of the opposite of your goals not to do much. I have a the new Hobbywing FOC Pro Injora metal beadlocks Proline Hyrax tires Injora metal shocks & it’s amazing. The new Hobbywing Pro just changed it 100%. The performance has increased so much I don’t want to take any other Crawlers out. It’s just to much fun. Awesome you got one I think I mentioned it as being a good rig & the price makes it very appealing.

[@CrawlerCanyon]

We're getting that "indoor day" today-- it's supposed to rain for the next 20 hours or something, and it's already been going for about 16. The temptation-- particularly on a rainy day-- to start turning Baseline into a non-Baseline is STRONG. I have plenty of parts here. Must... resist...

[@Brian_Mowry__BMOW71]

Nice rig rundown of the "Baseline"! Element continues to impress with their releases. I do agree, the stock electronics are lacking, but easily replaceable. Looking forward to the upcoming HW Fushion SE review in this rig. All in all I think for the money, The Enduro SE is a great place to start and can easily be upgraded as needed. Happy New Year and can't wait to see the next installment of the "Baseline"!

[@SivartCustomRCs]

Happy New Year. Almost got one myself. That was before I destroyed my TRX4 hard body, it was and awesome sight rolling end over end down a hill. Decided to convert the remaining parts to a Gmade R1 chassis....👍😀👍

[@x3dominator28]

Dude I love your content and knowledge. I wish I could get the Keith Olbermann out of my head 😅

[@JPWirt]

I think the SE in the SE is only fitting. I guess I was fortunate to fry my stock Ecto ESC 5 mins out of the box. It got a 1080 instantly. Those Pinseekers are impressive! The open tread blocks kinda reminds me of the "islands" on the Ruptures/Rovers/GOATs, and I like that they wrap around onto the sidewall.

[@CrawlerCanyon]

The ESC isn't even underwhelming-- there's no whelming involved. Makes you wonder what those things must put AE/Element back wholesale, when we're buying 1080s for $40 retail. I'mma throw a guess out at like 8 bucks. The Pinseekers are the best out-of-the-box RTR tire I've met. They annihilate VXTs.

[@JPWirt]

@@CrawlerCanyon it can't be much. I told my LHS and they said I was the 3rd person in 2 days to complain to them about that issue out of the box. I'm sending you some pics of what might be a fun little project for that SE.

[@jord001]

Happy New Year CC. Great to see a vid to start 2023. Its a great little truck out of the box. My Carisma SCA1E Coyote RTR has very similar issues. Very capable out the box but the throttle is way to fast. Like your Element reverse is fierce and forward can go really slow till you hit an obstacle then it gets bogged down and you have to pull the trigger further and further back to get it to go then all of a sudden you have full power. The drag brake is really good though. I have an esc70 (I know you didnt lke yours but I have my other rig running with one and its great) that I can drop in to check if the esc is the problem (no spare 1080's at the moment) and I have a spare rx for my GT3C I can try. The Coyote I think has a 14t pinion, an 83t spur and an 17t motor. Im just wondering if changing the spur for one with more teeth would make much difference, and how much bigger would it have to be OR go much smaller with the pinion? I know you can get a 9t but wether it would fit my motor shaft I don't know, I havent looked there yet. Again thankyou for the videos.

[@CrawlerCanyon]

The Vanimal here is a SCA-1E underneath, and much as I love that ATT gearbox, the internal reduction is pretty small-- I'm running a bigger spur, smaller pinion, and a 1200kv Fusion in it. I think the gearing might be 12/87. The SE makes me want to tear the whole thing apart and start tweaking it. I'm trying to distract myself.

[@jord001]

@@CrawlerCanyon This one is the v2 with the ATT gearbox so im presuming its the same as Vanimal's. The current gear ratio its too fast and its low cost to change pinion and spur and drop the other esc in. So I think thats my 1st point of call. Its got to make some difference for the better. Did you use a kimbrough spur or are there other options/brands? I am still new to anything but tamiya. Thanks for the reply

[@CrawlerCanyon]

@@jord001 Kimbrough is my first choice for anything I can fit them on. Whatever material they make their gears out of, it seems to be the perfect blend of durability and "doesn't sound like a rogue chainsaw."

[@jord001]

@@CrawlerCanyon Ok thanks for the info, I will check the screw attern on the Carisma and do some research

[@JIPPERR_1]

Thanks for pointing our that omni calculator, I had wondered how you were calculating the CG location. Interesting how this and link geometry effects crawlers, remindes me of roll center on independant suspension cars, just sideways.

[@CrawlerCanyon]

That's pretty much how I think of it too-- tip angle instead of slip angle.

[@augustzackery]

I’m getting one very soon, same plan of barely touching it. Gatekeeper gold shocks, spectrum receiver and change to CMS

[@CrawlerCanyon]

I had a spate of "all SOA" builds last year, then overcorrected and I think I'm mostly CMS now, so it was a welcome sight for me to see SOA on the SE. Now if they decide to offer aluminum shock bodies for these "new" shocks... I think I might have to get those. I really like the shocks.

[@augustzackery]

@@CrawlerCanyon as far as what I’ve seen from Element, everything from the plastic bodies swap onto the aluminum ones. Happy new year my friend

[@michaellenheiser3157]

Great review on the changes / performance to Elements Base platform. I like the minimal / individual parts replacement approach to upgrading only what is necessity to achieve a good performing rig. This will be fun especially when you start comp’n it against full builds. 👍

[@eeatsvaz]

Testing mine today with the SE installed 1800. Seems like may need a bigger pinion initially.

[@CrawlerCanyon]

The SE for my SE is (up to) 2 weeks out, so it will be a good minute before I get to do my testing on it. I absolutely LOVE having to gear up, because for one the mesh is always better, but mostly because of minimal gear reduction, I never seem to get to do it. I think out of 21, maybe 3 or 4 rigs are on a pinion that isn't the smallest that will fit.

[@fishnrc294]

I need to get metal links but it’s longer then other Elements so I need to measure the links & find a match. But I’m sure the aftermarket will make some for it.

[@henrysrcgarage5210]

Awesome Review! I am hoping Element comes out with a new kit based on this or change out the trans in the current kit and replace it with the new trans from the RTR. Great Work!

[@CrawlerCanyon]

No idea why the Bushido and re-re of the Trailwalker are still coming with the Stealth X. The XF is a serious upgrade. In the dream, Builder's Kit 3 has the XF with OD options and choice of CMS or SOA in the box. Are you listening, Element? MAKE THIS HAPPEN

[@FaithSaraG]

I think if you put a Radiolink on it you can probably fix the twitchy throttle with a throttle curve.

[@CrawlerCanyon]

I need to try both options: the crappy FlySky with a decent ESC, and the crappy ESC with a decent radio.

[@Andy_Yates]

I'm betting the low speed control is going to be a combination of radio and ESC limitations but I am curious which is the bigger contributor. Factory set BEC on the SC480 has been 7.4V so that was a positive, but motor control is lacking. Thankfully the drag brake on yours looks better than I can remember mine being. Low speed control aside, this truck looks like it's a performer with a really solid foundation. I'm also impressed by the tire performance here. They don't appear to be an automatic throw-away tire like some can be. Hobbywing SE sounds like a natural fit too (eventually)

[@Steve_J81]

A hobby wing SE would be amazing in this truck and it would still be cheaper than a Basecamp.

[@connorclark8541]

Guarantee the element will outlast the axial 10 times over to

[@CrawlerCanyon]

I still feel likes it's some kind of taboo that Axial isn't my "favorite brand." Everything that I have that was born Axial least resembles what it started as-- I mean, Zoidberg started as a Capra and has nothing left but the axles. The same is true for the Colonel. But Element? The Gate Rover is just a Gatekeeper underneath. Ms. Direction is a Capra cage and everything else Element. So naturally, the SE appealed to me more than the Basecamp. Now that I think about it, naming this one Baseline might have been a half-jab at the 10.3. Honestly didn't occur to me at the time.

[@NumberOneBatfan]

I think out of the box settings on those escs isn't the best, the initial throttle percentage can be turned down.

[@CrawlerCanyon]

I'm not sure what the OE equipment is under the Reedy livery, but I really don't like that ESC. There's a real lack of smoothness for me, and while that certianly could be the result of a combination of factors, everything I try to tinker with it comes back to a lack of low end control. Dropping $21 on an ESC-specific program card seems a bit out of range, as that's over half the cost of a brand new 1080. I think OE inclusions from say like Dynamite or Carisma (which are rebadged 1040s or 1060s) are smoother, and get replaced simply due to SUPER weak BECs and lack of adjustment options. If the SC480 came with the program card in the box, I might think differently. But I just don't like the "feel" of it on the rocks.

[@Shakermt]

Baseline, the new tire tester? :) That radio/esc is gar bage. I will say though the truck is impressing for a rtr.

[@CrawlerCanyon]

Pleasantly surprised by the RTR performance of the rig, completely offset by being utterly horrified by the ESC and radio. That radio is... wretched.

[@nepeeer]

Did You try to use a 2S battery instead of 3S? I think the modulation then would be better (and of course the max speed will be reduced).

[@CrawlerCanyon]

I need the wheelspeed and torque of 3S, so it's always a game of trying to keep the modulation without losing the power/speed. I don't have any 2S rigs at all.

[@nepeeer]

@@CrawlerCanyonAfter one season with the Sendero HD, the ESC story was: 2S + stock ESC -> drive into the water... -> replaced by HW1080 -> replaced by HW Fusion SE 1200 + 3S battery. Now I bought the SE for my son and the only I will do is to put there the second Fusion SE and a heavier rims. And i have reduced outer diameter of foam inserts by few milimeters to make the Pinseker tires surface not to firm.

[@polishguywithhardtospellna8227]

Did you know RadioLink made a budget esc? I'm sure you wanna test it after you enjoyed isdt so much 😋

[@polishguywithhardtospellna8227]

It's called RadioLink cool 9030 90A esc. It was available in a small batch on banggood, currently under restocking, says expected to ship before end of January. Product page is actually quite intriguing. RadioLink claims superior smoothness through resolution of the signal and full support of 3S. Apart from that it's priced as hobbywing 1060 competitor, so might actually be quite good. I wonder if it'll make motors sing in high pitch or not?

[@polishguywithhardtospellna8227]

Correction, 4S capable, a bit cheaper & available atm on Ali, with even more detailed and intriguing description, also adjustable BEC to 7,5V. one review on YT shows it makes motor sing in high pitch though.

[@CrawlerCanyon]

Yeah, 2KHz PWM is gonna be a screamer. I run all my 1080s at 16KHz. Intriguing nonetheless.

[@fishnrc294]

Next I’m hoping you get the new 1:10 scale FMS Jeep

[@CrawlerCanyon]

The Mashigan comes with the exact same radio as the Sendero SE. That might be a dealbreaker.

[@FaithSaraG]

Last I heard they got a cease and desist from Jeep.

[@CrawlerCanyon]

@@FaithSaraG Must have gotten just for Jeep's comfort with the body. That might help explain why it's completely OOS domestically, but you can find one on AliExpress, with a paltry $166 shipping charge.

[@ericstratten6974]

Maybe scratch build a $299 Rig and see how it compares?

[@CrawlerCanyon]

299 is a tough get, even leaning heavily on AliExpress/Amazon. Building from the frame up you hit gearbox and axles-- even shopping smart, that's half the budget. It seems like around 400 is where a scratchbuild lands (not including radio.) So I guess a better question is what does an Enduro SE look like after a $100 budget...

[@jimbocreationsbu8203]

hi ,how are these bushings instead of bearings - any input ?

[@CrawlerCanyon]

Well, if you were gonna go in a lot of water or mud, the bushings are actually a better option than bearings-- no moving parts. I've been at this long enough to remember when every kit came loaded with bushings and bearings were an aftermarket option. I'm not too worried about them in terms of durability. They'll gradually get replaced as I'm working on the rig, but I'm not rushing to do it.

[@leonelmolinajr2]

Where are you at? Rc crawler park?

[@CrawlerCanyon]

This is all in my backyard in SoCal.

[@leonelmolinajr2]

@@CrawlerCanyon sweet!

[@Daniyoyo]

Perfect mixed between a traxxas slash and a vanquish… perfect basher but too slow ..perfect crawler but too damn fast

[@CrawlerCanyon]

The SE is still a standout for me, because the list of musts is so short-- obviously, you must take the SC480X and the Reedy Crawler 540 and throw them into the ocean. If you do not live near an ocean, a quarry or crevasse is acceptable.

[@fromfin90]

thats silly cheap, plastic links explain it. Servo on axle is fun, and great that they have their own servoplate above it, place for chassis mounted servo if you want and/or winch, or as you mentioned batteryposition. The radio looks worse than a flysky GT2, which is actually a reasonable radio in my opinion, haha. Oh and if you want to try a worse ESC, try FTX Outback2 rtr, its awful :D

[@CrawlerCanyon]

Don’t send me on some insane quest to find the worst crawler ESC… because I’ll probably do it. It’s gonna be hard to unseat the ISDT ESC70. When (not if) I do the links, I’ll probably only put on lowers. Plastic uppers are fine by me.

[@fromfin90]

@@CrawlerCanyon isdt70 was bad? I got a friend who swears by them, i need to check the backlog to see your isdt video

[@CrawlerCanyon]

@@fromfin90 supposedly the “new” ones are better, but mine was an absolute lemon. Would lose throttle calibration during battery swaps. The app would crash, lose the ESC, forget settings. It was all bad all the time. It’s sitting in its box, presumably forever.

[@fishnrc294]

So then pass GO! 😂