Yokomo YZ-834B "Dog Fighter" Initial Impressions and thoughts. Is it any good?

[@jemster38]

Always look forward to your reviews and impressions on kits, good stuff! 👍

[@KaiCityRC]

Thank you!

[@kentb3175]

Thanks for the video very informative - I picked one up as it was the only older Yokomo I'd not had experience of. It is a quite primitive compared to the 870c but you can see the Yokomo DNA not least the hubs and the steering which remained largely unchanged up to the later YZ-10's. I'm looking forward to running mine when I get the chance.

[@n22pdf]

Awesome David looks so nice.. same as you in the UK I always remember the Dogfighter I loved seeing and reading about them in the magazines back in the day.. lovely buggies :) Great info.. Pete :)

[@KaiCityRC]

Round my way (Derby, Midlands) I don't recall seeing many Yokomo buggies. At my local club, if you had the money then Kyosho and Schumacher were the choices for racing. For most of us however, the only choice was Tamiya. 😊

[@n22pdf]

@@KaiCityRCI’m Midlands to live in Sutton Coldfield 👍 yeah same it was mainly tamiya Schumacher 👍👍

[@videorage]

I've got an original vintage 834B. The motor can be removed by just removing the two screws in the mounting plate. It's one of the great features of the car. Seems odd that they have made it more complicated now.

[@TheRCNut]

Great overview! Thanks for providing answers to many questions folks seemingly have about this one. I want to see it run in slomo like your other park videos!

[@KaiCityRC]

Thanks! As soon as I have some free time and it is not either sweltering hot 35ºc or raining, I'll be at the park! 😁

[@AddamsPlayground]

It is a very interesting design! I thought about getting one but I never knew much or followed any of the Yokomo stuff in the past so I don't really have a connection to it. It would be cool to have in the collection but it has not peeked my interest enough to get one. I do find it odd that the pre-build a lot of it but you are forced to disassemble parts to fit the motor in. I guess it still saves a lot of time but I would rather just build it all myself. Thanks for the up close look at it the detailed description of what it takes to get it going. Take care David and have a great week!

[@KaiCityRC]

Likewise, I didn't have any direct experience with this one back in the 80's. The 870c was the first Yokomo I can recall seeing. But living here, it's unreal how much hype and excitement surrounded the release of this machine. It's something so many people grew up with and remember from their childhood. I would have liked to build it myself, and it would have been nice if it was cheaper too - though the high price tag doesn't seem to be putting many people off. 👍

[@AddamsPlayground]

@@KaiCityRC Yeah the hefty price tag did not entice me into wanting run out and grab one.

[@Qthewingedserpent]

The Hirobo car was the Zerda/rock n city, really want one of these but it’s very expensive in the UK and pre built, great video again!

[@KaiCityRC]

Thanks for watching! I couldn't recall which Hirobo it was! 😁

[@canuckchuck8836]

What a cool buggy!

[@MapleNachiman]

I just finished a reproduction Tamiya Super Sabre 4WD, put a torque tuned motor in it and a 2s lipo and it has been super fun.

[@KaiCityRC]

Perfect power combo for that buggy. 👍

[@guest6423]

The original 834b chain was smaller (pitch) than the Kyosho Javelin/Optima. Maybe they increased the size for the re-release. (It's called 'ladder chain, with links made from round wire. As you might imagine, round wire rubbing against round wire resulted in extremely rapid wear)

[@KaiCityRC]

I’ll have to dig my Optima chain out and compare. Maybe I’m just getting confused with the Fantom chain. It’s nice to have the chain drive as it fits with the nostalgic appeal of the buggy. But i also applaud Kyosho for giving us the option of belt or chain. 👍

[@AsurasWrath164]

Awesome colour choice and the thin black stripes really complement it. Body is beautifully too. But way too expensive for basically just a shelf queen as I probably wouldn't want to run it.

[@KaiCityRC]

I'll run it, just like most of my buggies. But I'm in two minds whether to race it. In the vintage class I plan to enter, it's a choice between this and a race ready Optima loaded with options and a box full of spares...🤔

[@calvintu4868]

I’ve been waiting for this kit long time! So disappointed on the single shock on the back. The whole kit looks so plastic as well. Hope they can come up with some rear suspension upgrades!

[@KaiCityRC]

I personally don't think Yokomo will officially release anything to convert the Dog Fighter to a twin rear shock setup, at least not anytime soon. Assuming they plan to continue with a re-release timeline, the next one will likely be the Wonder Dog Fighter that had a dual rear shock setup. I'm sure that in the meantime, third party manufacturers such as Yeah Racing, EXO Design etc will release option parts and most probably a dual rear shock conversion kit for the 834B. 👍

[@calvintu4868]

@@KaiCityRCSo do you think this re release once they all sold out, they won’t come out again like they do to tamiya avante?

[@KaiCityRC]

@@calvintu4868 The 870c sold out almost immediately, but since then Yokomo seem to have done a few more production runs. So, I think they will continue to produce the 834b for a while, before stopping/pausing production. After that, I don't see why they wouldn't run off a new batch every now and then if there's demand. How long you'd have to wait for them to come in stock again is anyones guess. Could be months. Could be years!

[@coygtrc]

Thanks for that honest review, David. It's interesting, still, Semi-assembled is a bit of a let down and the price is a bit high. I still prefer the 870c (that I have), and will wait for the next one, an eventual Works 91 or 93 🤔🤞🤝

[@KaiCityRC]

Yeah, that's my only real "complaint". I really wanted to build it myself, and if coming completely unassembled also reduced the price, that would be a win-win in my book. 👍 The buggy is great and a mini time capsule. Side by side with the 870c it is interesting to see how quickly Yokomo developed their buggies. The evolution in design is readily apparent.

[@awe5543]

Yokomo knows people who are going to buy this buggy will not be deterred by the outrageous price. It’s one of those either you want it then you pay kind of deal and people are sucking it up. It’s not worth 1/2 of the price except you are paying a premium to satisfy a childhood memory or dream. The fact is if you’re looking for best bang for your buck then none of these vintage buggies would suffice with the exception of Tamiya.

[@martinhsrc6699]

I like it and would have got one if it was a kit. For me the fun is building cars

[@KaiCityRC]

Likewise! It would have been nice to build it.

[@eekrc]

Thanks for sharing this with us David. It is definitely over priced for what it is. I do like that some of the RC manufacturers are bringing back the vintage kits, but this one isn't very good. For the same price I would rather buy the YZ10. Or it should be 25-30 % cheaper than the super dog fighter.

[@KaiCityRC]

Agreed! I think they would sell a lot more if the price was more in line with the specs of the buggy. That said, despite its relatively high price tag, I suspect it will sell quite well over here going by the excitement surrounding its launch. And the domestic market is probably what Yokomo consider the most important for this kind of release.

[@aviano72]

Thanks for reviewing this This is so expensive 😧 I would rather want the YZ-10 😂So true about Smoke PS 😂

[@KaiCityRC]

Every single time I try smoke it never turns out right. Doesn't matter what I do! Warm day, cold day, hot day, dry day, humid, light coats. I never get a consistent coat! 😭 😅

[@lin6499]

Hi, I am a Taiwanese. Just wanna tell you that the two kanji decals at the both side of the bodyshell means 'corpse'. From my point of view, it's a weird choice and we always try not to use that word. But it's your car, your call, and I will respect that.

[@KaiCityRC]

Ah, yes. I was aware. As the 834b comes with virtually no decals I was hunting around for something to use. The decals are from a well known Japanese KZbinr that popularized the Death Match style of racing - Team Chonmage. It’s part of a sticker sheet that has various words relating to death, walking corpses, zombies and so forth. It’s not meant to be taken seriously. 😊

[@jecoboost1440]

I like it. It's pretty cool, but i'm not gonna get one too expensive.

[@joseaugusto-vd9vg]

Use a Edith in the left parte of the chassi

[@arboghast8505]

I don't get why this buggy has so much hype. The chassis is very simple and coarse, it looks like some 3D printed DIY project (especially that rectangular gear box and the pan plate). It does not carry the vintage mechanical sophistication seen in highend Tamiya or Kyosho buggies but it costs the same.

[@joseaugusto-vd9vg]

Its possível tho use a bruslhess motor?the diferential have any.problem it a bruslhess motor??🤔

[@KaiCityRC]

I am running on brushed setup to keep things period correct and because the races I plan to enter it in require brushed setups. I do not see any obvious weakness in the transmission, so a moderately powered brushless setup would probably be fine. However, the lack of a slipper clutch should be noted.

[@rc-fannl7364]

Tie wraps to help the trailing arms? That's pretty clever and dodgy at the same time

[@KaiCityRC]

I thought the exact same thing! But if it works, it works! 😁

[@jonthomas8487]

I wish whoever ended up with the rights to Hirobo would rerelease the Alien

[@KaiCityRC]

That would be nice!

[@AsurasWrath164]

@@jonthomas8487 but Hirobo is still around. Although in the helicopter market

[@joseaugusto-vd9vg]

The problema like Kyosho and tamiya is the Spare parts

[@KaiCityRC]

Spares for Kyosho and Tamiya are (usually) easy to come by here in Japan. Yokomo too. 870c parts are easy to find. The 834b is too new at the moment and parts are not yet available in model shops.

[@joseaugusto-vd9vg]

I live in europe

[@joseaugusto-vd9vg]

Change the oil of the shoks

[@KaiCityRC]

800 weight oil is included in the kit. I will adjust as necessary depending on how well it runs on track.

[@seich3612]

私も買いました！

[@KaiCityRC]

ビデオをご覧いただきありがとうございます。😊 Have fun with the 834B お楽しみください!

[@gigglehurtz3167]

dont take this the wrong way but... it looks cheapish. Im sure its not but something about looks cheap and toy like.

[@Jaysqualityparts]

Yeah I’ll pass on this one. I did get the 870.

[@KaiCityRC]

I think that many people would agree with you. 🙂 And side by side with the 870c, or other similarly priced vintage releases like the Avante, Egress, Optima series etc it certainly looks way more...how should I say, "budget" than the others. 😬 No argument there! And given that, it makes it harder to defend the price tag. But in its defense, this is just how the original was back in the day. Yokomo have kept true to the original (as far as I know) with only minor changes designed to make it suitable for modern electronics. It is a product of its time. I suspect nostalgia will drive most of the sales of this buggy. Indeed, I grew up in England so don't have the connection to this buggy. Butt talking with other Japanese enthusiasts they are super excited to get one as many can recall owning or racing against one when they were kids.

[@Jaysqualityparts]

You don’t sound impressed at all David 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂.

[@KaiCityRC]

Sorry if I gave that impression! The buggy itself is very nice and an iconic piece of RC history. I'm glad Yokomo decided to re-release it! I never make final judgment on a machine until I've run it. What was somewhat disappointing was the cost of the kit and that fact that you're paying more to have someone else build the buggy for you! 😔 I really enjoy the building aspect of the hobby, so having it done for you is a negative. When I make a review I try to give my honest opinion, but also look at it from different perspectives. Given the materials used, the complexity, specifications and what's included in the box I know a fair few people would argue it is way over priced for what you get. That's made all the more apparent when compared to similarly priced buggies like the 870c, Avante, Egress, Turbo Optima etc. It's even a good deal more expensive than many other full RTR's that include all the electrics. If you're interested in one, you could try holding out for the price to drop. Sadly, unlike their modern race series (S.O. and M.O.) the 870c has not seen any significant discounts. I suspect the 834b will be the same. If Yokomo also offered a cheaper unassembled kit that would be great!

[@Jaysqualityparts]

@@KaiCityRC absolutely agree I will wait it out.

[@airtec87]

Way overpriced. Shouldn't have the same price as the 870c in my opinion. Should have been $300-350 at most.

[@KaiCityRC]

That is my mine gripe with the 834b also. Shipping the model "pre-assembled" undoubtedly raised the price. Consequently those who wanted to enjoy the build process are now paying more to have some of that enjoyment taken away. 😔 But as I noted in the video, I understand why Yokomo decided to ship it this way.