Intro
Losi 8ight-T
Xray XT8
Hyper ST Pro
Hong Nor X1 CRT
Mugen MBX5-T
Kyosho ST-R
Revo Derived Truggy(RDT)
Conclusion

Hong Nor X1 CRT

Overview

This is the granddad of the group as the first competition built truggy, yet undeniably the most successful in the hands of a clubman, so it’s not so much old, but matured. With its 3.5mm 7075 hard-coated chassis as the back bone, it was then strengthened further by two 7075 chassis braces and the first “Z” brace option in the centre which kept the chassis flex to a minimum. Supporting them was a 3mm thick carbon steering plate which neatly hid the adjustable Ackerman plate. Controlling the steering was left to a pair of 7075 grade steering knuckles and the Hong Nor King Pin retainer design. The 3mm thick fibre brake discs made it stop on a pin head, then the Ferris wheel centre spur took it back on its merry way again. The drive shafts were sprung steel to reduce preload on the diffs when under acceleration. It also came standard with 17mm wheel hexes which made stripping wheels a thing of the past. The 13mm big bore shocks may not be the largest in the class but have no problems soaking up the bumps and are strapped to long suspension arms and 2.5mm and 2.8mm anti-roll bars that keep the CRT stable in hard turns. All in all, the options list that came with the CRT Pro was long, making it good value for money and a very strong truck.

marcus' view

For me, driving the CRT again was like being reunited with an old friend. There’s nothing revolutionary about it but you can just grab the controller and drive it. The set up of the truck makes it a doddle to drive. But don’t be fooled into thinking this means the CRT is a slouch, it is fast and well balanced, easy to jump (though not in the Losi league), with nice neutral steering. It makes average drivers look good and fast and was by far the easiest of all the kits to just grab and drive without adjusting driving styles. The CRT would be very suited to someone new to the truggy scene due to its ease of drive and competitive price tag. Spares are very reasonably priced and stocked by many, and this along with the excellent backup from importer SMD make the CRT an excellent choice for many. Whilst not as revolutionary as the Losi and certainly not as desirable as some of the newer kits, it was by far the surprise package of the shoot out for most.

julio's view

The very first truggy that I ever took control of was the CRT and it made a lasting impression because shortly afterwards I made racing truggies my top priority. The CRT is one of the best all-rounders that has hit the truggy class to date. I have had a go on a few of them that were all set up quite differently but to me they all seemed very easy to get the hang of. The handling was good and the most forgiving of the lot and it has a very good balance of on-power and off-power steering. Overall it seems to be top spec with quality parts and very little is needed to make the CRT 99% bomb-proof. Taking into account the above and the excellent backup and support for this kit in the UK, you can’t go wrong if you were to buy one of these. This kit is very good value for money and the spares are very cheap and easy to come by. Some might say that it is getting a bit dated but that does not mean that it is not capable. I personally feel that this kit will suit the new racer right through to the pro.

Gung Ho Pro says

Felt very soft, reasonably good steering but felt there was under-steer in the middle of the corners which made it difficult to push hard.