Clone vs Genuine - throwing petrol on the fire of debate!

[Carpmart]

http://rc-car-online.de/homepage/public/imgs/hersteller_logos/zusatzseiten/losi_rovan/losi_rovan_en.html

 

Anyone got any comments?  

 

A few months ago a Losi 5ive-T clone and clone parts have hit the market. Since there is evidence of a number of problems regarding reliability and tolerances of these parts, we acquired some parts and tried to portray some distinguishing features for you.

The genuine Losi 5ive-T plastic parts are sometimes less shiny than the copy, as can be seen clearly in the picture of the rear a-arms.
The hinge pin holes in the a-arms are noticeably larger than those in the genuine part. Therefore the suspension using these a-arms inevitably has more play.

One particular mistake happened when copying the rear a-arms. Here, the labels "R" and "L" have been mixed! Since we had no front a-arms for comparison, we don

Edited January 23, 2015 by Carpmart

[The Trooper]

We all know that clone parts are inferior, there is no other way to describe it.

 

Original manufacturers make them cheap in order to allow them to sell them at a profitable price, cloners make them cheaper allowing them to sell them cheaper. Cheaper materials = inferior.

 

It's not a debate as far as i am concerned, anybody who puts clones on par with originals  must be deluded.

 

Has no one ever seen The Sixth Day?

[Nitroholic]

I have never rated Rovan parts on a Baja, so that's no surprise. They were always a step below KM for those.

 

Would like to see how the KM compares with the Rovan

 

As we all know, there is a cost differential, and some of that will be cost cutting in the manufacturing. Other cost differences are down the the brand name, and R&D cost recovery.

 

Comparing the KM clone I have with the HPI Baja that sits next to it, I can see the differences. What matters, though, is whether the differences render the car less reliable or less enjoyable to drive. Where they did, I spent money to improve with aftermarket parts. If....for whatever reason...the cost of doing that brings you up to the cost of buying the genuine item, then it's stupid to buy the copy.

 

If you don't agree with the ethics....don't buy the copy.

If you can afford a genuine Losi....buy the genuine item. You are supporting the company that invented the thing.

If you cannot afford a new Losi....as long as the clone is good enough, why not? It's that or a used one. Either way Losi get nothing.

If the cost of fixing a clones shortfalls is too high....buy genuine or not at all.

 

These items are legally sold, and legally imported....so if what KingMotor is doing is illegal, that wouldn't happen. People need to make up their own minds about the ethical position and do what they feel comfortable with.

 

The product, however, must be up to standard and fit for purpose or there is no point. Modelsport briefly stocked ShenQi clone Bajas at one point. They stopped selling them pretty quickly. Not because of any legal pressure.,...but simply because of poor quality leading to product returns. They were shoddy cars. But not all clones are the same.

[Carpmart]

A guy I bash with brought his newly acquired KM Baja round for me to ooh and aah at with him, as we all do with new RC's right!    

 

With his budget, I had recommended he went this way, so I was keen to see that I hadn't led him astray.  I have to say, I'm pretty impressed really.  The plastic arms looked a little shinny/cheap/fragile, but other than that, it seems a proper bargain at less that

[Fg-Mart]

I love my km. ive put it through alot. Slammed it ito a steel fence on full throttle. Bent chassis and bent upper plate I replaced these with km parts again and the upper plate is km hd. I then hit a tree at some speed. Bent chassis. Also my reAr boot got ripped off due to wire wrapping round it. Ive had alot of tumples. As i just go full on into whatever jump i see. And jet thats the only damage i have done. Fantastic piece of kit. My only worry is the bolts. They strip easy

[patriots-1]

its simple you get what you pay for

[munch]

These threads always end up the same. 

 

If you have a big enough budget, buy HPI.

KM baja are well worth the money.
Rovan are below KM.

 

And of course nobody has had any sort of in-depth review of the X2 so nobody knows if they are worth the money yet.

Edited January 23, 2015 by munch

[atom3624]

With the KM, it appears that some key dimensions appear slightly different - hole, thus shaft diameters for example.

Is it still the case that as/when parts wear/ break that they can be systematically replaced by the original Losi parts or their replacement hop-up parts?

 

Al.

[John_RCModelz]

With the KM, it appears that some key dimensions appear slightly different - hole, thus shaft diameters for example.

Is it still the case that as/when parts wear/ break that they can be systematically replaced by the original Losi parts or their replacement hop-up parts?

Al.

The two that were compared are losi vs rovan we are yet to know what parts can be replaced for losi or vs versa

[RCbutcher]

Looks like their rovan parts not km. Quick check of the rear arms on the km L/R and hinge pin hole to check. 

[atom3624]

Sorry guys.

Question remains the same - whether Rovan or KM.

 

Al.

[HomerSimpson]

These threads always end up the same. 

 

If you have a big enough budget, buy HPI.

KM baja are well worth the money.

Rovan are below KM.

 

And of course nobody has had any sort of in-depth review of the X2 so nobody knows if they are worth the money yet.

 

I pretty much agree with this and not just in RC. Spurios parts in all walks of life are generally cheaper for a reason but hey if they are half the cost then it might be a chance worth taking....

 

HPI Baja approx

[HomerSimpson]

On the face of it the X2 seems good value....

 

Losi 5ive

[Pistonhead]

The two that were compared are losi vs rovan we are yet to know what parts can be replaced for losi or vs versa

From what i've been reading so far, people are swapping out warped diff cases and gearboxs for Losi items without issues, amongst many other parts. I fully expect the KM to be the same with regards to parts compatibility.

[turok007]

cannot call them parts cloned as they are not even the same size.

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If you can afford a genuine Losi....buy the genuine item. You are supporting the company that invented the thing.

 

wasn't it losi who released a car from another company but has the losi TAG. 

Edited January 24, 2015 by turok007

[munch]

On the face of it the X2 seems good value....

 

Losi 5ive

Edited January 24, 2015 by munch

[sean-vrs]

for me what i want out of a clone is 1/2 price for 2/3rds quality

im quite happy with that and for me the km bajas fit firmly in that category

if im racing i want everything original and the best it can be,

i wouldnt compare a rovan baja with a km so until we get some proper user x2 reviews the jury is still out

[andy and dan]

i have just orderd 2 losi 5ives after being out of the rc scene for a while for me and my son just for mainly bashing but with thoughts of going to our local club to see if the race side fits us and we looked at the rovan copy 5ive but put it this way who baught a kia or a hyundia when they came on the market not so long ago but they are now a viable company with very robust vehicles so the only real test is time so in a couple of years time the genuine brand buyers will either be glad of their choice or the clone buyers will be sat with a smug grin nowing they have spent 1/2 the money but got a good product i think ive made the correct choice for me right now but who knows for sure after buying ford and vw all my life i now own a vehicle with a 7 year warrenty voted best in its class 3 years running and yes its a kia

[sean-vrs]

i have just orderd 2 losi 5ives after being out of the rc scene for a while for me and my son just for mainly bashing but with thoughts of going to our local club to see if the race side fits us and we looked at the rovan copy 5ive but put it this way who baught a kia or a hyundia when they came on the market not so long ago but they are now a viable company with very robust vehicles so the only real test is time so in a couple of years time the genuine brand buyers will either be glad of their choice or the clone buyers will be sat with a smug grin nowing they have spent 1/2 the money but got a good product i think ive made the correct choice for me right now but who knows for sure after buying ford and vw all my life i now own a vehicle with a 7 year warrenty voted best in its class 3 years running and yes its a kia

you make a good point, that is where the km bajas are right now but the x2 is still a unknown quantity and if you are considering racing the losi will not let you down, for flat field bashing though the 5ive is a bit too good at its job thats where the 2wd madness of the baja comes into its own.

[babylon]

its simple you get what you pay for 

 

 

When it comes to Rc Cars, Everyone should know by now that this quote is pure bunkum, And if you buy a kit based on it, Your gonna be disappointed more times than not.  

[jim46]

Still not convinced with these clones, yes there is a big price difference with some like the km Baja vs the hpi Baja, but when I look at the two, it would have to be the genuine item, it just looks so much better finished, also why is it that everyone who buys these clones seem to end up fitting a load of genuine hpi or losi parts to make them better ?, yes you may still save yourself some money in the long run but by the time you have done I bet the difference is small, and then what you end up with is mix mash of different manufacturer parts on the buggy or truck, suppose you could call em a hybrid by that stage, I will admit though I have been tempted by the km a few times, but think I will wait a little longer, get that money together and buy the genuine article,  

[Fg-Mart]

Mabe because "these" people. Couldnt afford a "real". Hpi. So the hop them up slowly to be like a hpi or better.

[mark35]

Even if you buy hpi you'll still end up chuckin loads of cash in upgrades at it.

[Nitroholic]

Still not convinced with these clones, yes there is a big price difference with some like the km Baja vs the hpi Baja, but when I look at the two, it would have to be the genuine item, it just looks so much better finished, also why is it that everyone who buys these clones seem to end up fitting a load of genuine hpi or losi parts to make them better ?, yes you may still save yourself some money in the long run but by the time you have done I bet the difference is small, and then what you end up with is mix mash of different manufacturer parts on the buggy or truck, suppose you could call em a hybrid by that stage, I will admit though I have been tempted by the km a few times, but think I will wait a little longer, get that money together and buy the genuine article,  

 

The one thing they DO NOT do is to upgrade with lots of HPI parts

 

They replace KM parts with aftermarket parts .... which is what you do to HPI ones as well!

 

My 'genuine' Baja got IRC plates, Silverback wheels, Hitec/Alturn servos, Hostile tyres and rear uprights, Darksoul axle extenders, and so on.

My KM Baja ended up with different axles, FG wheels, IRC plates, Hitec/Alturn servos....well, you get the picture

 

In my case, I planned to build a shorty monster truck chassis to take an FG shell... so I saw no point in buying an HPI as half of the truck would be disposed of and replaced with custom or aftermarket parts. If that is your intention...it makes no difference what your start point is.

 

Clones don't suit all .... but they do suit some.

 

Whatever ...tiz folly to think whatever you buy will remain in the exact form you buy it. I don't know anyone who owns or runs a 100% stock largescale anything!

[mark35]

Well said..^^^^^^