The best 3" motor no-one has heard of... 1404 Motor Testing!

[@sendorm]

I would really loved to see rcinpower 1404 3850kv in this list too. Thank you for your great work again.

[@crash_lander]

I have those, they’re crappy

[@ronboFPV]

Thanks! Nice work

[@LS-xb2fh]

Great testing as always. The only thing I missed was for you to recommend using a lower pitch prop with the higher kV motors to reduce the flattening of the thrust curve. I think the HQ T3x2.5x3 could be a better fit for some of the motors.

[@ChrisRosser]

Great point. When I do batch 2 I will definitely mention that.

[@terradroidOnAir]

Danke! you make always super content

[@VahanYerkanian]

I'd love to see Flywoo NIN 1404 added to the list!

[@darkmann12]

100%. They have some special sauce, those.

[@haschkatze8372]

This! Flywoo motors are crazy good nowadays

[@baggszilla]

I would too!

[@somebodyspecific2410]

You can always send him one to add to his testing.

[@MadfishFPV]

Rcinpower smoox 1404 are on par with the Flywoo NIN 1404 if RCInPower test sheets are anything to go by. I'm currently working on an ultralight 4inch sub250g build, currently flown it with Smoox 2750kv motors with a 1100 mAh 4S lihv. Achieved a 12min17sec flight with the battery taken to its flying limits. My maths was giving a longer flight time but being fairly new to this hobby I only allowed 0.5A for the O3 Air Unit but supposedly it can draw up to 2A. So on top of the motors, it's drawing about 4.5A on a hover and probably around 5-5.5A on a forward cruising flight. My last flight I didn't have any voltage or power info, this is resolved now so my next flight will be less nerve racking

[@flowrfpv]

3:26 How can you precisely measure thrust, when ~50% of the area behind the propeller is blocked ? I can image it distorting results quite significantly, especially at higher throttle. Also I've tested most of available 3" propellers and the HQ 3x3x3 is one of the least efficient ones, tested on various motor sizes, KVs and AUWs.

[@onemanmob6756]

I'm surprised to NOT have seen a Rcinpower, Mamba or Flywoo motor inclused in the test while some really obscure brands I never heard of were... Also, I take it as a 1404 class test rather than 3-inch motor test. 1404 (not to mention 1504 or1505) in my experience is way, way too heavy for a 3-inch build. I use 1404s on my 3.5 builds (130g dry weight digital toothpick) and I use 1204 or 1304 motors on my 3-inch analog toothpick builds (60 - 70g dry weight). Anyway - I hope this was a prelude to you, Chris, releasing your own 1404, which I very much look forward to - it will most likely be a replacement for my current Rcinpower on 3.5-inch builds, so long as you make it both a 4s (around 3800 - 4000kV) and a 3s (5000kV). 5000kV is a very interesting option, because, in my experience it performes phenomenally well both wit 3s and 4s (75 - 80% motor output)

[@MCsCreations]

Excellent testing and comparison, Chris! Thanks!!! 😊 Stay safe there with your family! 🖖😊

[@ChrisRosser]

Thanks! Hope everything is good with you 😁

[@showdownz]

Great Info. I really liked the summaries you added through out and at the end. For past videos all the info was there but when coming to my own conclusions I worried I could have missed something. Your additional thoughts were reassuring, and appreciated.

[@davidcane7211]

I'm taking this advice and running with it. Skystars 1404 3800kv set just ordered for my upcoming Quadmula Djinn F25 build.

[@ashingashinga]

Great content as always. Cant wait for a whoop motor test.

[@aracrg]

Brilliant review, thank you! Hope we get to see your motors and rcinpower sometime.

[@VasylDemianov]

Your review is on point, I was just looking for 1404 motor for my 3.5 build!) Two questions thou: 1. Since you make Supernovas with RCinpower, why haven't you included their 1404 SmooX motors in the test? 2. I need 3800kv for my build, should I get T-Motors with 4600kv and cap them, or should I simply get the 3800 version? Thanks!)

[@MadfishFPV]

100% what I was thinking about the SmooX

[@BreeZieDoesiT]

Same

[@rafaelgonzalezmorales1824]

I would go with the T-Motor 3800 if you are using 4S battery, thats what I use. I did try several 4500 motors but resulted in too much voltage drop, too much power for the batteries I like to use

[@VasylDemianov]

@@rafaelgonzalezmorales1824 Yeah, 3800 seems about right)

[@24rjt24]

Keep up the great work really gives us great info and i think due to everyone want more and more info on certain fpv subjects these videos are invaluable

[@feeksfpv]

please test the newbeedrone flow motors! they got the 1404 too

[@nextlevel_fpv]

The Tmotor F1404 4600kv is crazy. You are spot on. You need to tame this motor at low throttle.

[@that_jason_black]

Man Chris. I wish I could hire you and a bunch of other KZbinrs and YT Pilots for some R&D ideas. Great info. Thanks!

[@mab4195]

as usual, GREAT job! :)

[@romanmanko736]

Great video! It would be cool to see torque curves comparison for the 5'' or 7'' motors.

[@kellywasden]

Hah MEPS... I am really happy you included those motors in this test.

[@YouTubeViewDude]

Great video and very insightful content as always. Which motor would you recommend for your AOS 3.5 freestyle build? Do these findings change anything from your recommendations on your website?

[@xtr0d3m0n]

This is gonna be INTERESTING

[@MosOneK]

Thank you for your research, buddy

[@marekdaras9798]

Great test, thank you! What about Diatone Mamba Toka 1404 4000kv ?

[@Bannisterpost]

in general id like to see you test out and try the XNova motors. The 1408 is great for 3.5 but my favorite is the 2808 for 7"

[@cossi_]

Yes!

[@LeonidasFPV]

Hi Chris, is the T-Motor 1404 4600kv suitable for a baby Ape Pro V2 powered with 3S and 3 inch Props? I think the peak current of the Motor could be to hight for the ESC.

[@jasondonavich2758]

What about 1404 on a 3" cinewhoop, my motors are rated for a 3" micro build but surely they would still work on a cinewhoop running 3" props?

[@mu7095]

Great work there..Thank you!

[@ObsessionFPV]

Would love to see an updated 5" motor test. Curious to see how the Supernovas stand up to some other 2207. Please include Quadifier 2207 2111kv 6S motor. No one has any info on them. No specs to be found.

[@edwurtle]

Where can you find the sky stars in the US? All the USA based sites don’t sell them.

[@madforit9661]

After I crashed my 4 Diatone L4 last week it damaged 2 of the motors They are the Mamba1404. Trying to get replacements impossible. I came across this video and I can see how much time you have taken . I decided to go with the Happy model 1404 motors as I want longer flights and these seemed to be best choice. After taken delivery today from Hobbyrc, I am puzzled at there size. They are a lot smaller and my concerns after paying for these, they might struggle to fly my drone. The stators are a lot smaller and unless they have a more powerful magnets. Do i put these on my drone?

[@MrMilio]

The happymodel sounds awesome for flowy freestyle, isn’t it?

[@rakr9334]

How do the lower torque motors behave with a lesser aggressive people like a 3x1.8x3? Does the Power curve still bend down? How does one low torque motor behave with different props from 3x1.5x3 up to 3x4x3 ? Where is the sweet spot?

[@rgglenn150]

can you do one for 2inch cinewhoop motors? like 1204, 1303.5

[@dukevah]

Great review. Recently all cheap options outperform top brands. Happymodel motors are cheap and I have been enjoying flying with them.

[@divingfalconfpv4602]

Id loved to see t-motor 1604 motor. Wanted for 4" long range

[@adeyinkabrasil4426]

duh...doesn't the title says 3"?

[@divingfalconfpv4602]

@@adeyinkabrasil4426 yea no shit but the motor can spin a 3" like to see how it test. He had a 1505 that can spin 4" . You can an idea how it does.

[@Luganjahkinghe]

Great. Test the 5 inch ultra light. Try rcinpower 2104 m2, it seems the best performance/efficiency on paper

[@vanlifefpv6340]

Do these results vary depending on the ESC the motor is mated with?

[@chrisbee5481]

If your ESCs handle >20A per motor, the results should be the same. No matter what esc or aio manufacturor. But your battery will change these results alot. Still the motors compared to one another give the same results

[@arnaudbeasse1081]

Perhaps I make a mistake but iflight xing 1504 3900kv doesn’t exist… 1504 is 3100kv.

[@diggsit69]

Chris, have the Crux35, 1404 / 3500 Kv motors light Weight very efficient, Q, about Crux35 3.5” Shit frame. this is the 3rd frame I broke on grass crashes. Can you recommend a lightweight durable 3 or 4” 4/5 Mm frame that’s better than the Crux35 Frame and can use the Crux35 20 x 20 stack / 1404 M etc. any ideas Bro?

[@jasukenneth]

Xing2 1404 4600kv is great, would like to see in comparison to Tmotors.

[@alainassaf]

1:30 If I may suggest to sort the motors by kv error in order to emphasize which manufacturer is being honest and which one is going for the BS marketing

[@ChrisRosser]

Good suggestion thanks!

[@rawpicsfpv3516]

If you had to run a 50g naked gopro (flywoo v2.0) on a sub 250g freestyle quad, what would be your ideal setup? What motor, prop and battery size? I´d propably design my own frame:)

[@EricLaermans]

Foxeer Datura 1404 is pretty okay too. Worth testing.

[@ninmarioscc]

I wonder when are we getting the supernova motor in this category

[@sakfpv8444]

I still have the rcinpower 1207 5000kv for my 3s toothpick. I went crazy buying parts 5-6 years ago, and havent had to buy anoything fpv for 2 years or so. Except new goggles and batteries. I still have an Airbladeuav "plus" Eclair in 3" with iflight xing 1404 4600kv. Oh, and the $45 diatone 30a mamba stacks in EVERYTHING that needs a 20x20. I need to get with the times...

[@josiahmos5880]

Would have liked so see the Flywoo NIN 1404. It has a decent flux ring. It reminded me of the AOS motor as a result. Thank you for testing on behalf of the community.

[@ChrisRosser]

If you have a spare flywoo nin 1404 you can send it in and I'll test and return it to you.

[@SuphiKaner]

I sent an email to Flywoo asking if they could send Chris a motor because I also would love to see the NIN 1404 in the next batch

[@MadfishFPV]

@@ChrisRossercan you also test the Smoox 1404 2750kv, I’m running them on a 4 inch LR and while they might not have a great deal of thrust compared to some of these others in this test, they are extremely effecient and I’d say on par with the Flywoo

[@lomokid]

Found this video a few months later. Flyfish 1404 4500kv is such a strange motor! It's cool to fly outdoors; it's flat over 45% throttle for my setup. By my god, that 45% is enough to bring it into Earth's orbit.

[@sullytrny]

Im n9t sure but some of those braking up are single bearing?

[@dcabecao9357]

I wonder what the Diatone Mamba 1408 4100kv motor would look like in this chart. It's a crazy size for a 3" motor but it's what they had in the excellent GTR349 racing quad and I've been using motors that size for 3" racers ever since

[@GBMark90]

Chris will you be doing a 3/3.5 inch motor any time soon ?

[@JuicySmullietFPV]

What about 1604, 1804 or 2004?

[@PropagndaX]

The further you go down in weight, the less these numbers really seem applicable. The 3” class flies so much better around 100g-150g as an ultralight platform.

[@MrJarrod]

I like to see the 533 tiny trainer motors next time thanks.

[@frankyfrench5279]

Thanks interesting test, also of interest to compare the internal resistance of the motors. I am pleased you added the efficiency of the motors at 50%. Interesting motors would also be the Sparkhobby Xspeed 1303.5 and the Geprc Speedx2 1303.5 3800kv, which both show high efficiency nrs. Personally I like to fly the less powerfull motors, on 4s light toothpicks, with light bi-blades prop. the HQ prop on my toothpick are absolutely inefficient. Gemfan hurican bi blade and 3 blade are much much better on light 3inch builds. Which is totalally different usage than on heavy racer or cinewhoop. So to pick the right motor for the application is still not obvious, there is a lot more constraints. So the happy model most efficient motor could be the best choice for the light tooth pick and driven with light gemfan bi-blade.

[@EagleFPV43]

Would these motors so be suitable for a 3.5" sub250? Maybe the lower kv versions? Thanks

[@josiahmos5880]

It's fine for lighter 3.5inch builds. Cinewhoops are probably too heavy. A Crux35 is a nice frame for a 3.5inch build with 1404 motors.

[@mlentsch]

I've always had great results with t-motor.

[@ahn_math]

No foxeer datura?

[@vanlifefpv6340]

There's a lot of motors missing in this test.

[@gusDoTebyaDoebus]

Rcinpower?

[@ericseidel4940]

You don't speak about it but for all high Kv motors that are flattening, shouldn't we select a more suitable prop (reduced pitch for example ?) Kv selection is not the only parameter. ENGINEERING QUESTION (good idea for testing/video?) Pursuing the goal of long range/best efficiency/lower power draw, is it better to : 1 - 4S battery, full throttle. 2 - 6S battery, same propeller, reduced throttle 3 - 4S battery, bigger diameter prop, reduced throttle. Motor/esc stay the same. Prop is chosen low pitch & have the best efficiency in 1rst case. Throttle is managed to get EXACTLY the same traction in the other cases. Interresting to know if esc frequency can change the result and maybe other parameters I don't see ? Many thanks in advance.

[@kerrymillar4981]

Rcinpower do a good 1404 6s motor

[@sonvu7896]

The skystars so cheap but shocking perfomance!!!! Bought immediately after this video

[@661FPV]

Really sucks the xing 1504 was discontinued long ago...

[@divingfalconfpv4602]

That's the prop i use. Damn not me running RCinPower 1207 5000kV on 3" 😂 🤣 🤣 🤣

[@shanemshort]

I'm a little confused why two 4500KV motors are considered "too high KV" but then the highest recommended one is 4600KV, did I miss something?

[@24rjt24]

Because the recommended motor can use that high kv at the top end due to having more power

[@shanemshort]

@@24rjt24 thanks :)

[@soy_leche]

He notes that the high KV have poor low throttle response. In his recommendation he suggests using throttle expo to balance that low throttle jumpiness.

[@nikotttin]

Very nice in depth testing. Thank you so much! I am actually moving away from 1404 for 3”. I’m down to 1303.5 now. The lighter motor combined with almost the same power makes a good pop when you throttle up and a good amount of control. Obviously that would not be as good for cruising.

[@RCRitterFPV]

Hate T mount… 😢 3.’mm shaft… 😊

[@miquelmarti6537]

That was a great test. But no RCinpower? These are usually regarded as one of the best.

[@ChrisRosser]

Couldn't get hold of any!

[@DigitalCruzer]

I luv my Skystar motors! I have almost every size and they are all some of the best economical motors you can get, i always wanted them in the other tests, Glad to see they did pretty well, i knew they would, i just wish the Motors were actually Matched up more, like why put 3800kv against a 3800kv, t-motor makes a 3800kv but chris uses a 4600kv... just Not really a fair match up, like the low kv are for a biblade 4inch or 6s... Why is everything all over the place?? might as well put a skystars koko 1505 3400kv in there on 6s that's going to destroy all those, lol

[@DigitalCruzer]

Honestly in my experience the T-motor is a touch lighter and may preform slightly better then the skystars if the 3800 is matched against a 3800, and same with the higher kv, cuz both skystars and tmotor are available in similar kv ranges, the biggest difference is skystars costs more then 30% less which is why I'm a massive skystars fanboy. I would like to see the skystars 1505 matched up with t-motor 1604 on gemfan 3630 props tested on 4s and 6s! I've had crazy good results with the skystars!

[@robinsonraymond8779]

next 2inch motor 🎸

[@moek]

WHY WHY do you not go over durability and construction of the motor??? this is all great for people who are chasing 5% - 10% additional performance but the reality durability is a lot more important for 2024 its not 2016 any more shaft diameter is an extremely important spec specially on 1404, motor materials and construction, bearings, and motor weight, a super light weight motor while very good, can also mean it won't last beyond a single crash.

[@Voyajer.]

Has he developed a reliable and accurate durability test yet? Without that all he can do is rattle off specs that you can find on your own.

[@moek]

@@Voyajer. a lot of manufacturers don’t list these specs, which is the point of someone testing and comparing. also a lot of people in hobby don’t even know what to look for, maybe you do but a lot don’t….

[@yohfpv]

I’m pretty sure that all these motors use a 2mm inner shaft with a 1.5mm outer shaft and the same size bearings. Perhaps he excluded such specs because they’re all the same.

[@moek]

@@yohfpv Unfortunately that isn’t true, some of these are 1.5 and some are 2. For example, Emax motors while very cheap, they were more durable than most because they had a 2mm inner shaft.

[@-mostfpv-]

Skystars 1404 and it iss very good motors for my 3inch and 3.5inch Voladors

[@TWEECH45]

Why test most motors at 3500ish kv but then test t-motors and others at 4500ish?

[@ChrisRosser]

I'm quite limited by what's in stock and available. If you have any motors you want tested I have an open door policy. You can get in touch on aos-rc and send motors in for testing and I'll test and return them to you for free.

[@Kai-P]

Everything points towards the T-Motor F1404 3800KV to be a great motor, if you ever decide to add more it should definitely be on that list to compare 2 different KV of a motor. Also sad that the P1604 didn't make the slightly-larger list, it seems to be the perfect compromise for 250g AUW freestyle if you take care to save some weight in other places.

[@ChrisRosser]

I have an open door testing policy, I'm happy to test and return to you any motors you want added to the database. 👍

[@user-bh9yk2wv4w]

No 1804?

[@gregdavidd]

Conspicuously missing is the Flywoo NIN 1404? It would be one of the most popular motors out there since it comes on the Explorer? How is it possible that this test would not include that motor??

[@soy_leche]

"How is it possible?" Are you kidding me? This is a lot of work and he's one dude. Do your own tests if you don't like it. I'd also like to see that motor tested but don't be so rude.

[@gregdavidd]

@@soy_leche Are you the internet rudeness police? I would in fact say that you are the one being rude. This guy has repeatedly shown that his results cannot be trusted because of his biases. People should be made aware..

[@soy_leche]

@@gregdavidd Your method of making people aware is very passive aggressive, leaves out critical information, and as a result it comes across as rude. Do you have a source or further reading to your claims? I'm about to purchase some items based on information I saw in a previous video and would like to reconsider if it's wrong.

[@strykerfpv]

one thing i didnt like is how he didnt include any larger, say 1506-1507 or 1408s or 1804 motors. wouldve loved to seen some more powerful, heftier motors on the test.

[@powersv2]

Emax 1404’s are pitiful. I have 1507’s now.

[@TouYubeTom]

betafpv 1404 has crap bearings. like most 1404 cause of size constraints and weight imperative

[@kinzokushirogane1594]

Chris, stop using similar shade colours for a graph! Use numbers or vastly different color shades.

[@rowanballinger3690]

The colours are easily distinguished, the dark blue is vastly different to the light blue

[@zibixxx1]

I have Mambe 1408is this some equivalent of t-motor ?