Element's Golden Era: Bushido Rocks It!

The Element RC Enduro platform is one of my favourites. Well balanced and with plenty of potential reward for thoughtful mods, the Sendero HD and then the Ecto have long been performers in our collection here.
But now there's a shorter wheelbase variant! Meet the Bushido! It looks great! But can it crawl?
Let's test!
-
Element RC Bushido: asiate.es/aff?l=210220&i=76070
Recommended servo: asiate.es/aff?l=190716&i=76070
Also see Enduro SE Sendero: asiate.es/aff?l=211859&i=76070
--
"Whoa! I didn't know you spoke Japanese!"
Heh. Well... • Artificial Intelligenc...
--
Music:
Cartoon Battle - Vadodara by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. creativecommons.org/licenses/...
Source: incompetech.com/music/royalty-...
Artist: incompetech.com/
--
Articles:
What's the Best RC Car? rc-tnt.com/guides/best-rc-car/
Best RC Crawler? rc-tnt.com/manufacturer/multi...
Follow us:
Website: rc-tnt.com/
Twitter @rctrailandtech and on Instagram:
/ rctrailandtech
WHERE TO BUY RC STUFF:
Buy kits, models & upgrades here: www.asiatees.com/shop-now?rc_...
Send money directly to people living in extreme poverty (lets combine our resources to help those most in need):
community.givedirectly.org/ca...
#elementbushido, #rccrawling, #rcreview, #elementrc,

[@roblowrie1969]

The Bushido is about £50 less than the RTR TRX 4 Sport at the moment, but I would definitely be interested in one of these. It's still a lot of money, at £350. The trx4 builders kit is £319, and I only spent about £60 on a 1080 esc, and a Holmes Hobby Crawlmaster Sport motor, so not much difference in price (had a servo knocking about, so I'm not including that!! 😊) The thing I really like, is that's it's not an American truck/ Land Rover body. It's just a bit different. The Suzuki SJ410 or SJ412 (I actually never realised that the SJ in the model stood for Suzuki Jimny!!) , as it was sold in the UK, we're horrible on road, and rolled over very easily, but are now cult off road cars now. So it's great to see that in the market, against the current Jimny shape of the Treka/ Paso. It certainly performs better with the Element chassis. 😎👍🏻

[@RCTNT]

Great comment, 5 stars, would read again. I join you in loving a bit of variety and even as a kid I loved the Suzuki Sierra. Great model. And this is a top little rig (and it's secret is that it isn't so little - only a finger width shorter than the Sendero and co)

[@roblowrie1969]

@@RCTNT cheers. 👍🏻

[@dagkirk]

I’m a big Element fan, and a fan of your channel. Keep up the good work! Cheers from the Black Hills of South Dakota.

[@RCTNT]

I'm a fan too! Cheers

[@elduderinolebowski5411]

This little guy seems pretty decent straight out of the box. I like that. I can certainly see the attraction. No real surprises in the performance on the six problems, nothing that can't be addressed with simple solutions. I also like that. I definitely don't see any reason to complain about the electronics it comes with, either. As you said yourself, everything is a compromise, and this looks like a pretty balanced approach, really. Yeah, I think this is a solid little car. Frankly, it looks like it fits right in with the rest of the Element family, I don't think anyone will be disappointed if they choose this. Apropos of nothing, Voltron was one of my top go-to cartoons as a kid. It's an unexpected bonus to find that included. And of course Tron. Very fun throwback. Very fitting for the vehicle. Just gotta say, that does not look like a true 1/10 scale vehicle, but the body DOES look very scale for the size of tires and wheels they put on it. One of my uncles had one of these, lifted and on too-big tires, back in the day. We called it the "Suzuki Suicide". Everything else aside, it was a very capable little 4x4, despite the underpowered chainsaw motor they stuck in it.

[@RCTNT]

Nice summary. I bet this is a 1:9 vehicle, that's my guess. I just got back from a comp with it. Lent it to a younger fella and he blitzed the field given it was stock plus heavier wheels. My p/scale had some issues so I drove with it the last couple of courses and it was just epic. So controllable. I think 4 or 5 guys are eyeing one now themselves! Really stellar little package, this one!

[@elduderinolebowski5411]

@@RCTNT sounds like a fun time was had all round. That's pretty great. I'm glad to hear that the car has been meeting with some success. that's really encouraging. Will be interesting to see more of this car and how it develops under your care. How are the tires? It was hard to tell in the video just how good or not good they are. They seemed allright sometimes, and less allright other times. Now that you've got quite a bit more time on the rocks with them, how do they stack up? As for the size... that's really going to depend. Put it next to your Redcat Gen9 and see how it sizes out. In real life the Scout 800A has a 100" wheelbase, is 154" long, 68.6" wide, and 58.5" tall in the body with the traveltop on (I went out and physically measured mine, if you were wondering where the numbers come from). That translates to 3911.6mm long, 1742.44mm wide, and 1485.9mm tall. The Gen9 is 169mm tall in the body, about 520mm long, and about 230mm wide. These are rough measurements on the Gen9, but close enough for this comparison, I think. the math puts it right about 1:9 scale, or near enough to it (I got .88 overall ratio). The fullsize Samurai sits on a 79.9" (2029.46mm) wheelbase, is 135" (3420mm) long, 60.6" (1539.24mm) wide, and about 55" (1397mm) tall in the body. That makes it somewhere around 4/5 the size of the 800A in real life. if this model is 1:9 as speculated, that body should be that much smaller than the Gen9. if it's not, then... maybe 1:8 scale? 1:7 maybe? Incidentally, in their efforts to make the Gen9 appear smaller than the Gen8 the way the real 800A is smaller than the real Scout II, Redcat messed it up. While the 800A really is quite a bit smaller than the Scout II, they're both on a 100" wheelbase. The 800A does not have a shorter wheelbase, though a lot of people think it does. Some of this misconception comes from the first generation Bronco, which was produced specifically to compete against the Scout 80/800 and sits on a 90" wheelbase. People assume the Scout 80/800 is just as short. It is not. Back to the point, the Scout II is physically 2 inches wider and almost exactly a foot longer in the body, with slightly more front and a lot more rear overhang (and also has a 2 inches narrower frame width, which combined with the wider track and greater turning angle open knuckle front axle, gave it a MUCH tighter turning radius than the closed knuckle wider framed 80/800/A/B). So if they were in scale to each other, the Gen8 and Gen9 SHOULD have exactly the same wheelbase, with the Gen9 having a slightly narrower trackwidth. They don't (though for the realists out there, this could be explained by saying the Gen9 has Gen8 axles, as putting Scout II axles under the 80/800 is a VERY common swap). And, the 800A body should be slightly narrower and noticeably shorter than the Scout II. The Gen9 is notably shorter, and the Gen8 may be slightly taller from rockers to roof, but they appear to be the same width. So they're kind of in scale, kind of? Neither one is 1:10 scale, that's for certain. And yes, before anyone says it, yes, I am an IH geek. There's way too much of this essentially useless information bouncing around in my head with nowhere to go.

[@RCTNT]

Thanks for doing the maths on that. I'll try to keep it in mind for the Gen 9 video. And yes, you're probably right about 1:7 or 1:8 for the Bushido, though being unlicensed might technically get them around that! Didn't use the grabbers. They are good but I wanted weight under it today, so put heavier wheels and Louise Deep Woods under it. Performed admirably.

[@pandacrawler6x6]

A Awesome Mighty Samurai!!! Cool Unbox and Review! Thks for the Share!!!

[@MechanicallyFun]

Thanks for the review, I bought the Bushido 2 days ago and awaiting for the delivery. This is my first crawler/ trail, hopefully it will provide fun and entertainment for me n my family in trialing crawler RCs. thanks for sharing, much appreciated.👍👊

[@RCTNT]

Oh nice. I've just prepped mine to lend out for a comp tomorrow. That really only involved swapping out the wheels and tires. It's a pretty complete rig. Enjoy!

[@waynomurphymadfab]

Really enjoying my Element Enduro Sendaro Sports Edition So many out of the box mods you can do to make it a real contender !! I have fitted the 12% underdrive , bottom to top rear control arms & custom lower links made to suit plus removed rear fuel cell to create more upward wheel travel , battery up front , tucked & channelled front & rear bars with rear to front bumper mount , raised rock sliders , lowered rear body mount , trimed body to suit plus it locks into the sliders sweet , rotated left to right rear shock hoops with small shock angle change , cut & modified front chassis mounted servo plate/mount to create more upwards travel in the front , rotated the front castor 3 positions & lifting the tow link to the top to suit plus fitted fit JC Concept Scorpions Super impressive & looking forward to some more testing tmw Keep up the great work & looking forward to your review on this game changing out of the box crawler

[@RCTNT]

Thanks for the epic list! I've got an upgrade video or two for the Sendero HD here but I'll do another series for the Bushido, I think. Something a bit more serious, this time. Your list is quite exhaustive, I bet your Sendero SE is a goer now!

[@waynomurphymadfab]

@@RCTNT I will have a go at doing a video out testing today as well as a breakdown of the simple changes I have done to vastly improve the Sendaro SE as non of these are hard at all for the experienced R/C crawler guys Definitely one of my favourite crawlers 🤟😃👌

[@RCTNT]

The value is definitely there!

[@Noizy-Boy]

Great review! I feel that the Element trucks are really overlooked for performance to dollars in the rock crawling community. I love my modified Ecto. Thanks for the informative review!

[@RCTNT]

No worries and thank you. You're right, too. These are understated performers - and very reliable!

[@Daithlee]

Man, I would kill for winter. It's summer here in Florida and trailing and crawling is way more enjoyable then. If you ever make it to Central florida and wanna go hit the rocks or trails, I got you covered!

[@RCTNT]

Haha thank you

[@VS666]

ive had my eye on one of these for awhile. my buddy is visiting this summer, i may have to surprise him with one 😅

[@RCTNT]

Wow, that'll be epic if you do! This thing is definitely fun, capable and durable. I'm just loving the body, I think this might be one of my new favourites. Indeed it might end up being the first element rig I really put a lot of upgrades into.

[@mikeashbaugh7773]

Another great video, I was at my local hobby shop today, I think I am going to buy a element crawler. But. There are so many choices.. I like the look of the ecto, and now this video!

[@RCTNT]

Haha right? There are many choices. For me, if I could only have one, it'd probably be a black Ecto or a titanium Sendero HD. Buuuut yes, this one is just a finger width shorter than the Sendero and has all the same bits apart from headlights. Tough decision!

[@michaeldorich4485]

This is another excellent review. It performed quite well. If you contact Associated about the paint problem, they may send you a new body.

[@RCTNT]

Thanks. I'm happy enough with the paint, it looks like just the edges were affected. Great rig tho!

[@scottjlambert]

I really enjoy the Element platform and how they perform in stock form. They are different enough from some others to give a unique driving experience. Just my opinion of course.

[@RCTNT]

For sure. It's a solid platform and they're clearly taking good advantage of the modular design. I'm a fan!

[@Br0rB]

The Element stuff looks really nice. Be interesting to see what/how you do with the SE as well. Crawler Canyon runs the SE as his test rig, and it's awesome. 😊

[@RCTNT]

I'm looking forward to testing it, for sure. Have been curious about its capability since first seeing it!

[@jeremymiller2340]

One of these days i will get one of these elements I do like that ecto

[@RCTNT]

I don't think you'll regret that. These are great rigs.

[@danweiss1371]

My element trailwalker has transformed into my class 2 cop truck. My element V2 builders kit has become my class one scale truck. I like having the ability if needed to be able to steal parts if needed. So far I’ve never had a breakage. My class two is running 25%. And I am loving running the budget trucks lol only start out a budget 🤓

[@RCTNT]

Totally. Their durability is underrated. And that their modular nature leads to all these different options is a brilliant design element. (in my head, "... is a brilliant design, Element!")

[@CornholioMcGeeRC]

As always good video!!

[@RCTNT]

I appreciate that, thank you

[@mgscheue]

Element platform is very nice. I like my Gatekeeper (same as the Ecto though with a different, heavier body) a lot, especially since I got it on sale at a very good price.

[@RCTNT]

They've made something great with this, yes! (I have a Gatekeeper vs Ecto video floating around on the channel here somewhere)

[@brianargo1659]

The main thing is the clear windows😂 which is something u hear everyone complain about with other brands

[@RCTNT]

One of the thoughtful details I like about these too, yeah!

[@billknepp1965]

I just got 2 sets of the body clips from the ak917 for my at6 6x6 n my enduro trailwalker. no more fumbling in the dark for body clips...lol if i were to add another crawler n im seriously thinking of it.. the deadbolt seems a great choice for the money n performance.. also because I don't own anything from Axial yet.. can't wait to see the se on the 6 problems.. was a toss up between it and the trailwalker..

[@RCTNT]

The trailwalker has the IFS, right? The deadbolt will dominate on the rocks over that rig. The trailwalker and knightrunner have their strengths but they're a different class of vehicle, honestly! Hope that helps! I'll get the SE out soon and we shall see! Gen 9 is here too, I'll get that done soon also :)

[@danwoodruff4323]

You should try the Dixieland RC servo. It’s a good RTR replacement Servo.

[@RCTNT]

With the exchange rate as it is, the value isn't there for me so much as it is with other options. But I've heard good things about them!

[@frankernstorfer372]

Do not get me wrong...but is the Bushido not slightly too big? It hast bigger tyres than the Knightrunner? From my point of view It is more 1:7 than 1:10.

[@RCTNT]

Yep, that'd be about right.

[@WestyCoastHermit]

I love the Samurai! I wish Suzuki was still selling their cars in Canada as I would love a newer Jimny in my driveway. Alas, I may have to settle for the Bushido. However, I would like to hear your thoughts on the SE when that video comes out. Its affordable and looks like a good starting point for a budget crawler. Great video as always and I hope today is a great day!

[@RCTNT]

Thanks! For whatever it's worth, I had the Bushido out at a comp yesterday as a loaner, then I ended up driving it too. It was amazing, just with different wheels and tires, no other changes. Predictable, controlled, balanced. Went great!

[@WestyCoastHermit]

@@RCTNT Interesting. That's good to know. Thank you!

[@Andy_Yates]

I do like the Element Enduro platforms. The servo on my Sendero HD cooked itself pretty quickly, but it might have been partially my fault driving on the carpet. My complaint with the motor and esc is the low low speed control and throttle tip-in, and it's lack of drag brake. My truck wouldn't hold on an incline past 30 degrees, which really isn't much angle for these trucks. A Fusion SE and a simple Amazon blue case or Injora servo would probably do a lot for this rig. It's a tough one when you start modding because it's easy to sink a bunch of money in any of these. I deleted what I was going to say because it was essentially replace these things and it's epic, but then all that would be original would be the slider 😂

[@RCTNT]

Lol But I get you, really. My Sendero HD components are still hanging in there, even with all the crawling it's done. No carpet though! A few basic upgrades do add substantial value though, yes :)

[@Andy_Yates]

@@RCTNT I love to tinker and work on things so mods are just an eventuality on the RC cars :)

[@muskokamike127]

It's so wild seeing you in a hat and sweatshirt...we're getting 30 C up here these days.....

[@RCTNT]

Haha yes, understandable. We don't get snow here but it's below zero some nights and maxing out in the low teens at best, currently. Still, yesterday was the solstice, so our experiences will slowly begin to reverse again now!

[@muskokamike127]

@@RCTNT yeah, we won't get our peak temps until end of july ish. When I worked construction I was out in 48 C with 100% humidity. I don't miss it.

[@RCTNT]

The most extreme temps seem to be at the end of the season. Makes sense, the warm side has had a few months to absorb heat, while the winter side has been allowed to chill awhile. The humidity would make 48 so much worse. That's only a few degrees off what was about as hot as it got for a long time! Not so much these days. We don't get humidity here much at all, though I grew up with it, up north. I don't usually miss it, but sometimes it's nice!

[@muskokamike127]

@@RCTNT I actually prefer the dry. I was out west working and even though it was 35 C, I was able to work comfortably because the body is able to cool via convection/evap. I don't know what's worse: +48 or - 45. I've worked in both.

[@RCTNT]

Extremes are hard enough for living in, let alone working in. Humidity makes it harder in the heat, no doubt at all! What work did you do in the cold?

[@FeralRC]

Thoughts on the General Grabbers? I personally found them useless on our Element trucks but I put them on our TRX4 with brass portals and they were perfect. It's as if they needed a heavy rig to shine. You mentioned the Fusion SE and I agree. Fusion SE in our Gatekeeper made it so much more capable and it makes the rig whisper quiet. As for most our other trucks we like the Fusion Pro just for the wheel speed when we want it.

[@RCTNT]

Nice. I've found these tires to be very good - I included them in my tire test series last year. Vehicle weight is pertinent, thanks for mentioning that. And hobbywing's FOC systems are something else, eh?

[@FeralRC]

@@RCTNT yeah FOC is a game changer. Now I can barely stand to use brushed motors. Don't go thinking I haven't watched your tire tests multiple times now. I check on your results whenever I'm looking to try out something new for a specific application.

[@RCTNT]

Haha righto, thank you. I've added vehicle weight as a factor into my planning list for my upcoming tire test series. It'll be a big one!

[@FeralRC]

@@RCTNT sounds awesome. I get notifications so I'll be on it when it's up.

[@brianargo1659]

I would love to have one of those bodies without the holes to be able to put magnet mounts on it. That's all I see that should have been done from the factory. 😂

[@RCTNT]

Hm that's a good point.

[@daig1984]

This looks pretty awesome tbh it’s a toss up between this and the ecto, excellent review as always

[@RCTNT]

Thanks! I think the Ecto will be the better performer, but this one is a sleeper rig for sure. I'm thinking of going hard on the upgrades and having another comp with it, but more seriously this time. It's very good and has much potential! It's bigger than the body tricks you into thinking, too.

[@daig1984]

@@RCTNT was gonna get the ecto 2 weeks ago, but got the outcast 4s instead 🙄🙄 don’t just like your content, but like you as a man just a decent bloke tbh

[@RCTNT]

Aw thanks :) I don't blame you on the outcast decision. Arrma make some epic machines!

[@bernardrc1137]

Hey bro, didn't know you were yakasun lol, very good Japanese, 👍 nice little crawler, excellent vid, my triumph 800 xc tiger, was a Friday night special, BUY A TRIUMPH SAY SAID , never again bro ,😱😱😡😅

[@RCTNT]

Lol I feel you with the triumphs, they had a lot of Friday arvo builds it seems. A shame, because they're super fun bikes when they work. I ride a triple for a while, one of the newer ones about a decade ago. That thing was a hoot.

[@polishguywithhardtospellna8227]

Gotta say goodbye, had to drop the hobby in the end, after almost getting back to it. Maybe some day. Good luck Craig one last like guaranteed 👍

[@RCTNT]

All the best and be well. Thanks for hanging out with me here :)

[@polishguywithhardtospellna8227]

Pleasure was all mine 👍👏

[@Daniyoyo]

Can you share why you dropped the hobby ? If you don’t mind

[@Albertotron]

I hated the look of the Bushido when it first came out but as time went on I've actually come to like it. Looks like it performs quite well too. Kinda kicking myself for not picking up one up when it was on Scratch and Dent on Towerhobbies. Shame the paint on your body was coming off.

[@RCTNT]

It's a brilliant little car. The paint seems to have chipped only around the edges where the lexan was cut. The rest of it seems like it'll stay intact. I'm really liking it too. I wasn't sure at first but yeah, it's one of my favourites!

[@muskokamike127]

Just looking at the bass speaker on the left...you know, if you attach the speaker with screws you wouldn't need so many bungie cords to hold it in? (craig: this guy and his smart ass comments lol)

[@RCTNT]

Lol I have screws and brackets but stopped using them because I pull the sub out of the car 8 or 10 times a year. Too much hassle. Bungie cords for the win I went to the trouble of building this box (bought a ported slot design from Mark of car audio fab) back in 2018. You're right, I should finish the job here. Maybe I'll get some flush mounts so I can just strap it down on left and right, nice and tidy. No more bungie spaghetti.

[@muskokamike127]

@@RCTNT oh, I thought they were holding the speaking in the box hahaha. I bet it sounds wonderful when the sub hits the bungie cords hahaha. yeah you should get some straps to hold it to the floor of the storage area. I had some speaker boxes on the dash of my boat and people would say "aren't you afraid of them flying off in rough water"? Nope, they're held on with velcro. The ONLY way you could get them off is if you slide a slim jim underneath to separate the velcro. It was VHB (very high bond). You could not pull them off otherwise. They actually make velcro with wire bristles that are even harder to remove. (least they used to).

[@RCTNT]

I've used something similar in a previous sub setup. With the design of this one, the air rushes out the vertical slot on the side there, so it doesn't make the straps vibrate audibly that I've noticed. I am motivated to get this sorted a bit more now - my focus on projects comes in fits and bursts, so I've not actually even thought about it for a good while since building it all! Thanks for the prod.

[@STP_RIDGELINE]

SWEEEEEEET!!!!👍👊💯🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@bidibulle6795]

Good morning . I follow you with as much interest as ever from France! I already saw this video when it came out but a sudden desire for a new toy made me go back! So a little late I have a question for you. I have a Sendero trail walker bought thanks to your good advice and I am very happy with this crawler, but... But I walk a lot and it doesn't fit in my backpack, it's too big. How much does the Bushido measure in length please? For the mechanical part it's the same as the rc elements so I know what I'm going to get but for the length, it's impossible to know how much it measures!!! It could replace my trail walker if it could fit in my backpack!! thank you very much in advance The Frenchi.... 😘

[@RCTNT]

Sure, happy to help L 485mm W 235mm H 290mm She's quite tall! That's on 4.75" tyres though, FYI. Cheers!

[@bidibulle6795]

@@RCTNT 😘 thx !! Wow. It's still too big, I thought it would be a little smaller. I will probably take a Capra UTB18 from Axial even if I don't really like the look. I prefer the "real" car look but hey, I need a vehicle capable of following me on my walks in the forest (I'm in the mountains in the Pyrenees). So yes, the Capra UTB18 will be my choice and it will fit in the backpack! Thank you again for your response, have a nice day.

[@RCTNT]

I was going to suggest the FMS FCX24 but you want something with bigger wheels and more capability. The baby capra is very good in this regard, yeah. I've had a think and the only other thing that might be a good one to consider that's smaller is the RGT 136100v3. These are both on my channel, and both very different. Maybe one of those would be alright!

[@bidibulle6795]

@@RCTNT As a mini crawler I already have an axial scx24 gladiator, I also have a traxxas trx4m defender! In fact I'm looking for something at 1/10 that will fit in a backpack that can accommodate a not too large RC. My backpack measures: Long 470 by wide 240 by High 225 max. I may have found it! The element ecto is exactly the right size in length and width but I don't have the height! I think it must be 220 in height? Otherwise there is the axial scx10 II deadbolt which is: Width 190mm Length 460mm Height 229mm Or the Carisma SCA-1E 2.1 Coyote which seems smaller to me. What do you think ?

[@bidibulle6795]

@@RCTNT It's very strange, the ecto has a larger wheelbase but it is smaller in total length and body height included than other rc elements like the bushido for example!!!? The data on the sales sites are false or is the ecto really smaller in total length and height?

[@rcjoe406]

Holy cow it's 469 at amain why is this little truck so expensive 😳

[@RCTNT]

I'd think it'd be similar to the Sendero and Ecto. It's about the same amount of vehicle as those. Dunno if that's the case. If it is more expensive than them, I have no explanation! For what it's worth, I paid AUD$459.42 for this from an aussie hobby store with the help of an eBay discount. That's USD$310. That really tells me Amain has a high price on it! The regular usd price of this car in Australia is USD$378

[@rcjoe406]

@@RCTNT ok good to know seemed high to me

[@RCTNT]

Amain has the Sendero HD for $376. They list the Bushido at $400 www.amainhobbies.com/element-rc-enduro-bushido-trail-truck-4x4-rtr-1-10-rock-crawler-white-asc40118/p1451936 I'm guessing it'll drop too, after a few months..

[@hadynmcloughlin4661]

Just the review was looking for thanks for sharing. From a JDM drift background this body is very appealing to do a Jap build. Could add a neat trailer too.

[@RCTNT]

It is a nice body, this car is growing on me very much. I like it a lot. I bet you could do a great job with it.

[@hadynmcloughlin4661]

@@RCTNT On sale at the moment for just over $500 plus postage in AUS so a nice rtr package to kick off crawler build. Having clear body option also nice to run x2 designs

[@RCTNT]

For sure. I happened upon it for $459 on ebay store crazy hobbies (Sydney based hobby shop). Those decent 20% off sales happen a few times a year. My channel is powered by them, lol