KyoSho mini-z moto RaceR
rtr | 1/18-scale | electric | on-road
Words & photos stephen bess
RemembeR those zip-coRd-poweRed model motoRcycles from
the 80s and 90s? They weren’t radio controlled, but they sure were fast in a
straight line—at least until the rear wheel slowed down and the bike fell over.
The basic gyro stabilization design for model motorcycles has evolved over the
years into many different forms. Radio control motorcycles are typically large,
with dense, heavy wheels and mechanical gyros that spin up to speed as the
motorcycle’s wheels increase in speed. Mechanical gyros provide
stable but inconsistent handling, and they’re usually heavy and
bulky, which makes them better suited to 1/8-scale models. So, how the heck did Kyosho engineer a miniature
motorcycle weighing in at a feathery 85 grams that also
drives upright without training wheels? I tested the
Mini-Z Moto Racer to find out.
Look, ma—no training wheels!
