Tamiya Grasshopper Vs. Tamiya Hornet - RWD Buggy RC Rally 01 - ‘The legends clash!‘

The RC legends clash!
The Tamiya Grasshopper takes on it's old rival the Tamiya Hornet in a series of 3 race stages with the overall fastest time declaring the winner.
Three stages -The fastest overall time over the three stages .....wins!
For anyone who cares i’ve added a league table to keep track of results .
Points awarded thus :
1st place - 9pts
2nd place - 4pts
3rd place - 1pt ( if applicable)
Please note - These races are by no means definitive.
Both buggies have been upgraded with bearings and a Tamiya Torque Tuned motor. Both running on 7.2V nimh 3300 mah batteries.
If you enjoyed this video please think about subscribing to the channel.
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[@1kzrider]

Grasshoper was my first true RC and loved it.

[@rc-dom-uk]

yeah it’s a classic . thanks for watching 😊👍

[@deanusrjm]

Me too, mine took a battering, I gave it to a friend who has completely restored it now with NoS parts.

[@misterskippy2u]

Fun video. It really takes me back. The Hornet was my first "real" R/C car. The difference between the two basically comes down to the motor: a 360 in the stock Grasshopper vs a 540 in the stock Hornet. The oil-filled shocks in the Hornet made almost no difference over the standard shocks in the Grasshopper.

[@rc-dom-uk]

spot on mate. just motor size really . the spikes seem to give more traction . glad you enjoyed it. might do a comparison vid over winter ?

[@ianw5119]

I had this grasshopper back in the day. First thing I did was upgrade the motor to a 540.

[@rc-dom-uk]

@ same here. i’ve popped a tt in their and it really suits it . it sometimes even jumps well now with that extra speed 😂

[@RCBirds]

Awesome idea to let these two compete. It was a great joy to watch these iconic buggies race.

[@rc-dom-uk]

thanks for watching my friend 😊👍

[@JoevsRc]

Nicely done. Love the race. The hornet will always have a place in my heart. It was my first rc.

[@rc-dom-uk]

same here mate . i love it . thanks for watching 😊👍

[@SlLVERFAWKES]

Me too! My Dad bought it for my 11th B-day in 1987

[@rc-dom-uk]

@@SlLVERFAWKES awesome. it was for me the rc of the 80’s

[@MarkBryanRC]

Oh Yeah! Loving the new series, Dom, it's another wining formula! I must say that I thought the Hornet looked a little more composed overall and definitely seemed to have more traction out of the turns. Can't wait to see what's in store next! I hope we get to see some rally cars as well as the buggies and trucks! A big thumbs up from me, mate! Cheers! 😎👌👍👍

[@rc-dom-uk]

yeah watching back u can see the hornet just goes a bit better . weirdly the hopper felt faster 🤷‍♂️ thanks for watching mate 😊👍

[@AddamsPlayground]

Great video Dom! I am loving the head to head battle in this!!The Grasshopper did well considering it is hard to get them to go in a straight line to begin with and out there on the rough stuff it did as well as could be expected from the buggy and the driver! Good job getting them around everything! It did amuse me the GH bumped into the cone at the end, seemed fitting! LOL!

[@rc-dom-uk]

thanks mate. yeah u noticed the hopper hitting the cone. those shots took a few goes because of the breaking but i decided to leave that hopper cone crash in😂👍

[@AddamsPlayground]

@@rc-dom-uk it was perfect!

[@Hrothgar13]

Grasshopper was my first rc as well. My best Christmas present ever! Definitely was my red rider bb gun!! I had a lot of hours on that car and loved every minute.

[@rc-dom-uk]

awesome mate, thanks for watching 😊👍

[@J.W.W.]

Grasshopper original here! Best Christmas present my wife ever gave me

[@rc-dom-uk]

awesome 😊👍

[@HaydadRC]

Ohhhh a new series?!? I’m all in!😎 I always love to see a Hornet victory but was impressed by the plucky Grasshopper! Great work Dom!👍😊

[@rc-dom-uk]

thanks bud for tuning in 👍😊 think the old hopper might struggle against some of my buggies but who knows

[@MadLFC]

Loved the Grasshopper because it was the underdog compared to the more powerful Hornet. The Grasshopper was more stylish and cheaper than the Hornet so it always appealed to me more. My friend at the time boasted that his Hornet was faster but I didn't care.

[@rc-dom-uk]

i love thrm both . really tough to choose between them tbh 🤔😊👍

[@PeteWylieRC]

Hey I love the format of this Dom. These must take a fair bit of editing. Anyway I did expect the Hornet to win because the back tyres have a load more grip off road. Great stuff mate 😁👍

[@rc-dom-uk]

thanks pete. glad u enjoyed it and thanks for watching 😊👍

[@madsrcbuggy]

Great entertainment for the autumn, thanks a lot Dom! Yeah, well, the Grasshopper was my favourite, but like you mentioned, the Hornet rear tyres are just superior on grip!

[@rc-dom-uk]

thanks mads . i’m actually a bit of a team hornet boy myself but love them both 😊👍

[@neverenoughguitars8276]

Great video, I had a huge smile on my face watching this.

[@rc-dom-uk]

thanks buddy that’s great to hear 😊👍

[@braddsn]

Great race! Love both of these legends. Not quite a fair race though, considering the Hopper has a 380 motor and the Hornet has a 540. But nonetheless, awesome!! I had both of these cars as a kid!

[@rc-dom-uk]

thanks for watching 😊👍 both torque tuned mate . glad you enjoyed it 😊👍

[@yodadarksideGreenHawksRC]

Ah wicked mate.... a new series!! I was like an excited school kid when I saw this come up, and what an awesome first round! I adore these two buggies, and it's not just the nostalgia..... something about that whiney bouncyness that makes driving these things so much fun! I prefer to drive one of these over my far superior top force or RC10 B6. 2 any day of the week! Bearing in mind how much they hop about all over the place, and struggle to hold their line off road I thought both buggies done exceedingly well! Certainly wasn't much in it that's for sure. I've always believed that the biggest performance difference between these two are the tires (I really don't think the rear dampers on the hornet make a blind bit of difference to the hoppers pogo sticks!) No hints at the end as to what's coming next, but I sincerely hope we get to see the lunchy and the blue pumpkin battle it out in the same way! Cracking content, superbly produced as always Dom! 👌 👍 👍 👍

[@rc-dom-uk]

thanks buddy. i’m with you on these buggies . cheap and brilliant. and yeah hornet tyres are the key. that rear suspension is like u say, meh😂 few buggies for the future 👍

[@theoagrc]

Brilliant stuff Dom! Love this dude and what a great first match! You can really see the difference in handling with the Grasshopper. The hornet is so much better composed out on the track. Can’t wait for the next one dude 🙌🏻

[@rc-dom-uk]

i’m actually surprised u haven’t got the hornet mate . i think it’s one of the best looking and interesting buggies out there . thanks for watching as always mate 👍😊

[@madblunted]

i remember first getting a grasshopper, building it, getting the futaba radio and it was almost as expensive as the kit lol

[@rc-dom-uk]

yeah with these kits you can spend quite a bit extra on what’s needed to get it running 😂

[@rivierarc]

Right I Need some cones!! That looked great fun & I had forgotten how bouncy a Hornet can be! I must get mine out for some off road fun!

[@rc-dom-uk]

go for it mate . good fun . thanks for watching 😊👍

[@hollyhillrc]

Love this Dom. You make excellent Tamiya videos.

[@rc-dom-uk]

thanks buddy. good to hear from ya . 😊👍

[@timmillheim5796]

LoL... Great share. I still have my ole Grasshopper. With the rerelease of the hornet, be curious if more come out

[@rc-dom-uk]

thanks for watching 😊👍 tamiya are re realising quite a few of the 80’s kits

[@jessealeshire3091]

When I was a kid I was going through a very very hard time. I received a grasshopper, and boy the rough times seemed to disappear when I played with it.

[@rc-dom-uk]

they really do put a smile on ya face 😊👍

[@MauzyrockRC]

Terrific race today. Mad hopping from both contenders. 🤘🤘

[@rc-dom-uk]

cheers buddy 😊👍

[@rosscopantani4678]

Awesome video, thinking of buying my boy a hornet for his birthday

[@rc-dom-uk]

@@rosscopantani4678 thanks for watching 😊👍 yeah the hornets great fun and pretty tough 👍

[@dwarfyh32]

Great comparison. I had forgotten how bouncy the grasshopper was

[@rc-dom-uk]

thanks . yeah it earns its name 😊👍👍👍

[@mickdundee7604]

What an ace video man i had both of them then got vw baja beetle then hotshot 4x4 i prefer the old retro ones 👍

[@rc-dom-uk]

thanks mate, glad you enjoyed it 😊👍

[@barrygiddey9139]

Cool video and great showdown!

[@rc-dom-uk]

Glad you enjoyed it and thanks for watching 😊👍

[@elsharpos]

awesome! I had a Grasshopper about 30 years ago!

[@rc-dom-uk]

thanks and glad you enjoyed it. you can still get them and they aren’t to expensive 😊👍

[@elsharpos]

@@rc-dom-uk Lots of memories! I'm getting back into RC with the Team Associates MT10 ... looking forward to getting it delivered. I might have to get the Grasshopper later on. Good old days!

[@rc-dom-uk]

@@elsharpos it’s a good truck the MT10👍 it’s a great time to RC with better batteries and parts availability as well as modern cars and retro re releases 👍

[@elsharpos]

@@rc-dom-uk yeah, lots of great options out there, I was looking also at the Maxx 4s 1/10, what a machine! although a bit more expensive. BTW, Do you have any videos comparing any of these modern beasts with the Grasshopper/Hornet ? with all due respect to these old time legends of course 🙂

[@rc-dom-uk]

@@elsharpos don’t know much about many of the big beast RC like the Maxx. the only really modern vs old would be the tamiya dt02 vs wild one . I do have a few vids of traxxas and associated brushless on here somewhere which you might like👍

[@outbackrcaustralia4895]

That was great Dom👌, I had a feeling the Hornet might win by a stinger🐝. Thanks for sharing your video mate 👍🦘🇦🇺

[@rc-dom-uk]

thanks buddy for watching and glad i enjoyed it 😊👍

[@MegaDeth859]

My goodness, i remember owning these two. They were fun to build and operate.

[@rc-dom-uk]

very cool . hope it brought some memories back 😊👍

[@millboss1372]

Love these rc's

[@rc-dom-uk]

me to , thanks for watching 😊👍

[@jmf3353]

Grasshopper was my first real RC car in 1985, by the time I was done with it the only original part left was the battery cover..

[@rc-dom-uk]

took a beating. it’s a famous car 😊👍still so popular

[@shuckylad]

I’m wanting get into this for the first time for myself and my 10 y.o. lad, would the grasshopper be a good starting point? Do these come pre built or is it diy kits? Cheers

[@rc-dom-uk]

hi, they are kits and easy enough to build together . u can get quite a few alternatives which will drive better though kit and ready to run. for a first tamiya kit i recommend the dt02 sand viper or plasma edge (4wd) as for rtr , theres so manu. but maybe have a look at Arrmas offerings?

[@antz6130]

Great shoot out I love em both Team Tamiya 🇯🇵

[@rc-dom-uk]

thanks for watching 😊👍

[@claptoned0]

Grasshoper my first RC when i was 8 😍

[@rc-dom-uk]

happy days 😊👍👍👍

[@rustystuff]

Great little video, guys! 3:27 What was the music from, please?

[@rc-dom-uk]

thanks 😊👍 epidemic sounds 😊👍

[@NitroRoo]

What a fun vid - so nostalgic

[@rc-dom-uk]

thanks for watching and glad you enjoyed it 😊👍

[@tamiyarcbuggyscarsandtruck7621]

Brilliant race 🏁

[@rc-dom-uk]

thankyou 😊👍

[@markcole6475]

I forgot how slow and terrible handling those car were….Awesome!😅

[@rc-dom-uk]

thanks buddy. i prefer to call them ‘unique’ 😂😂😂 they are pretty bad tbh but fun

[@Santor-]

Love both of these, in fact the chassis is fine to do all kinds of builds on. Wont ever win any competitions, but excellent when having multiples for family and friends. We have 6-7 of these. Most with 380 and ball bearings, some 540 and one super stock, which is a little much for the chassis.

[@rc-dom-uk]

thanks buddy. yeah they are great kits . iconic and loads of fun and not to expensive if they should break . which tbh they rarely do 👍

[@Pablo668]

This was fun to watch.

[@rc-dom-uk]

glad you enjoyed it, thankyou 😊👍

[@kps.77]

Hornet always has a place on my heart, as a kid I always wanted one but it never happened 😢

[@rc-dom-uk]

same here mate 👍

[@HansZarkovPhD]

I had a grasshopper and my buddy had a hornet. We raced them all the time.

[@rc-dom-uk]

good times 😊👍

[@alastairmulholland2581]

Two great buggies,the hornet was my first build.

[@rc-dom-uk]

they are classics i think 😊👍

[@chuckylevesque2129]

Just built one, pretty hard at 47 years old ,very small parts got it done

[@mcjjordan]

Did t grasshopper have a 6v battery & hornet 7.2v?

[@rc-dom-uk]

no both 7.2v 😊👍

[@JF-RC]

Hi Dom, a great battle of the hoppers 😊😊 in the F1 world, +6s would have been at least 10 years of development 😂😊😂 not sure in the Tamiya world that would have been the case, perhaps using the element of scale, a 1 year development phase is realistic 😊🤔👍 awesome work. 😊😊best wishes 😊

[@rc-dom-uk]

thanks john . so true. tbf team hornet have had 40 years 😂😂😂👍

[@ZOOTV-1976]

Are they both using 540 motors? The Grasshopper looks way slower.

[@rc-dom-uk]

yes identical motors.

[@ZOOTV-1976]

@ the gearing must be quite different. I enjoyed the video.

[@rc-dom-uk]

thanks for watching 😊👍 i would have to check as it’s been a while now . i think the hornet is stock gear though

[@MikesWorld1]

Stock, the Hornet was definitely better. I had a Grasshopoer as a kid and it needed a bigger motor.

[@rc-dom-uk]

yeah totally agree. i added a torque tuned to the hopper and it really woke it up but it still struggles with that rear suspension 😊👍

[@paulw1365]

You need to drive the cars the same around the course to compare

[@rc-dom-uk]

@@paulw1365 easier said than do e with these two 😂 but you have to take into account handling models . assuming my skill is the same and the speed is the same it really leaves a cars handling as the major difference

[@I_have_Aquestion]

Hornet vs Frog?🤔

[@rc-dom-uk]

i haven’t got the frog but maybe in2025 when funds allow 👍

[@kevincheong1516]

I think the handling of the hornet is much better than grasshopper.

[@rc-dom-uk]

i agree 😊👍 thanks for watching buddy 😊👍

[@awdtalon57]

not sure they where ever rivals per say. more how much you could afford in 84.

[@rc-dom-uk]

yeah i couldn’t afford either 😂👍

[@IowaBudgetRCBashers]

2 of my favorite buggies. Add the falcon and ya got my top 3

[@rc-dom-uk]

i’d love the falcon mate . yeah love these two trouble makers 👍

[@TboneTenEighties]

Seems the oil filled rear shocks on the Hornet help out a bit. I had the Grasshopper II Super G. Never owned the og.

[@rc-dom-uk]

the grasshopper 2 beat the pair tbf. i think where i drive them on this sand its spikes and big lug tyres that give a huge advantage. i plan on getting some spikes for the OG at some point . thanks for watching 👍

[@Santor-]

The hornet tires are a far bigger upgrade than the shocks.

[@TboneTenEighties]

@@Santor- I am sure they are. The oil rear helps a bit to keep those better tires in the dirt. Tbh though, if I had either rc today I wouldn't change the suspension on either for that was the whole point of having a og Tamiya. It's the nostalgia. Remembering what it was like.. for us older folk anyway LOL.

[@flyboy451]

Also, the Hornet has those 'slide' things at the front of the rear axle that allows for more axle and suspension articulation. Probably more significant than the oil shocks...

[@mikasantos3774]

Looks like the hornets rear tires work mutch better

[@rc-dom-uk]

yeah on this surface 100% 😊👍

[@kanenstuff]

The Grasshopper is just a bit too bouncy be good to see it again both with some mods like shocks and bearings.

[@rc-dom-uk]

it has bearings and the tt motor . i do quite like it stock but maybe i’ll look into it 😊👍thanks for watching 😊👍

[@Santor-]

Just add some rubber o rings to the front grasshopper spring rods, it helps a bit, easier to keep it straight.

[@kanenstuff]

@Santor- yeah I've dome thst one and also have a set of Hornet rear tyres it helps also.

[@LukeEdwards-x8c]

Put hornet tyres on the grasshopper - they are a straight replacement and you get lots more grip

[@rc-dom-uk]

thanks mate . i will do a hopper custom at somepoint 👍

[@JohnDoe-ss8ec]

We want more

[@rc-dom-uk]

more is coming 😊👍

[@robertshelton2605]

Hornets tires look like they grip lots better and the Grasshopper.

[@rc-dom-uk]

yeah i agree . thanks 😊👍

[@DrDiff952]

The same chassis but different motors one has 540 the other a 380

[@rc-dom-uk]

both these have been upgraded to torque tuned 😊👍

[@advantagevarnsen7436]

Let’s be real. It’s all about the hot shot - crapped on both of these.

[@rc-dom-uk]

true , a fantastic machine 😊👍

[@mbgoats09]

My 1985 falcon would have taken em both. 😂😂

[@rc-dom-uk]

i would hope so 👍😂

[@WillieLee-yp7gw]

They are the same car

[@chloedevereaux1801]

now do hornet V's falcon.... falcon ftw.

[@rc-dom-uk]

love a falcon mate . 😊👍

[@simonr23]

the hornet smashes the grasshopper. better lines in stage 2 wouldve demonstrated it clearer.

[@rc-dom-uk]

thanks for watching 😊👍

[@MarkNewphone]

Hornet will win if they're both stock . 50/50 if they're both equally modified

[@rc-dom-uk]

thanks for watching 😊👍

[@206beastman]

The hornet won cause of those step pin tires

[@rc-dom-uk]

yup 100%

[@Robert-iy3by]

These cars bouncing more than Trump’s checks. 😂

[@rc-dom-uk]

😂😂😂👍

[@I_have_Aquestion]

This channel is awesome! Thanks.🫡👍

[@rc-dom-uk]

thanks very much 😊👍

[@ThePriester23]

I'll take the Frog over both.😊 the Frog was a better design than the Hornet the grasshopper was too cheesy😂 plus the frog chassis was used for Blackfoot and other models

[@rc-dom-uk]

yes it’s a classic 😊👍 i have the monster beetle. thanks for watching 😊👍

[@Santor-]

Honestly the frog was crap, with a gearbox that sounded like eating poprox, stripping gears continuously as one used it, front suspension had way too little travel and wear out really quickly with more slop than actual suspension travel. Half shafts popping out all the time, no real protection of anything, and rolling over constantly. Even a sand scorcher with twice the weight and a hot motor would outperform the frog in every landscape. What totally blows both out of the water of the classic buggies is the Fox. Long arm suspension front and back, shocks that actually worked,, a real bulletproof gearbox that doesn't need shimming before every run, half shafts that was actually attached, with a hot motor, ie Technigold, it would literally fly, and land without destroying itself and keep going. The frog couldn't even handle the stock 540 without stripping gears and dropping shafts. But I suppose it was "better " than the hornet, until everything stripped out, but that's not saying much, as it has some of the worst handling of any rc buggy ever. The only biøuggy I can think of that was worse than the hornet was the original Sand Rover, which didn't even have rear springs. But front end steered alot better, and didn't katapult into the air landing upside down like the hornet does once it speeds up. The grasshopper was really an upgrade from the Sand Rover with a bulletproof gear box, and no real parts that broke except the body and front suspension arms. A grasshopper pretty much lasts forever. Comparing the gear sizes of frog vs a grasshopper, the frog has gears as if from a Morris mini, while the grasshopper have gears and pitch sizing like a semi truck, night and day difference. I love both for what they are, but if I want to take out 5-6 reliable cars for a family outing, I leave the frogs on the display shelf and get the hornet/grasshoppers, they just work.

[@ThePriester23]

@@Santor- understandable but I had better gears for hop up kit that made it last longer. I didn't find the front end to bounce off the ground as much as the grasshopper.

[@Santor-]

@@ThePriester23 Yes, I agree it's better, when it works. But if it's mostly broken down, even a grasshopper will beat a frog with a dropped shaft. Reliability is polar opposites. I'm actually building a hooked up frog now with Universal joint shaft upgrade and a MIP ball diff. Should make it more reliable perhaps. But it's still crap as one have to spend so much money modifying it it cost as much or more than far better buggies, like the BBX.