So what's with UE?
 

Guys,

Do you think that UnlimitedEngineering is dying?

There hasn't been anything new for quite a while now.

Even the VBS are out of stock.

Diffs and savers are going sky high in prices.

Something does not feel good about them ( it seems like Oury wants to quit the game). The problem is that nobody can really match their grade of precision and quality. FLM might do good, but they need to push the envelop if they want to catch up with them.

You got any ideas?

Thanks,

Alawi El-Jifri

Seems like this happens with alot of quality parts...PowerStroke shocks, Kippster etc. It is said to see. I hope you are wrong and this just alittle down time.

Yeah, I hope I'm wrong, too.

I would build a all UE truck if the parts were avalable, they should sell their designs to FLM, or Dace if they are not going to produce parts

From what I have heard, things are changing. And it definately doesnt sound like it is favorable for us r/c nutz that tend to rely on UE for the BEST products.

I'm a little bummed too.

Hmmm, probably he might want to design heavy tools for military purposes, instead......:)

No doubt for some patriotic cause.

The guy was pretty crazy, I've had my share of issues with trying to get stuff off him being outside the USA.

I have a UE Lightning chassis and Monoblock, it certainly was a trip getting them across the Atlantic! But well worth it, outstanding quality. :D

Mike is the one to take over, or to say it more correctly, he has already taken over.

Yeah Mike is doing awesome with his custom parts, if he keeps at it no doubt they'll be some very cool stuff down the pipeline.

i've heard it said unofficially many times that UE SuperMaxx parts are no longer being made. once the stock is out, that's it. i know i've had to pay a pretty penny for the last few remaining parts to complete my SM. i asked sam at UE if the rumors were true, and his response was 'i don't know anything at the moment, and even if i did i couldn't say anything'. i didn't expect a real answer, but thought i'd try.

there are also rumors that UE has a new project that's been in the works, but i can't imagine what it would be. he's got his harley gas tank that he concentrated a lot of time and effort on, and that's done. maybe another harley part? i can't imagine it would be another truggy... they did a very limited run on the Razorback (w/ a center diff) and it got canceled...

I also read a post of Oury himself at his forum of a few projects up his sleeves. Maybe later this year.

yeah, i also read him saying that he learned a lesson about not letting plans out to the public too soon...which means that when we hear about the new project(s), it'll be right around the time they're available. hope it's something cool!

The Razorback would have been successful. I almost bought one a few months back but my wife threatened divorce if I bought another high-end monster truck!

I think Robin is working on somthing as well.

I'd love to buy the US designs and get them into production.

I'm still craving VBS bulks.......

i was not a fan of UE at first, but now i realize always go for the best (in certain areas) first. It will save you money in the long run.

At first i decided to go the cheaper route and I picked up a proline servo saver. it really did not work well and was giving me problems so i finally talked my self into buying a UE one. it came in the mail and not only was the product unbelievable, the shipping speed, packaging, and instructions where great to. i recently have been having some problems with my shocks so i picked up some racer X shocks for my maxx.

i just love the quality you get with UE. you might have to wait a while longer build up some money to pay for the extra cost but it is WELL worth is IMHO. I would really be disappointed if they steeped down from this business especially since i am just starting to experiment with there products.

wow Pro - i saw an RB around 2-3 months ago and it was a pretty penny indeed. certainly divorce material if the wifey can't appreciate these things the way we do. =)

there is a very, very slight chance i'll be selling my vbs-t bulks. if you're interested, i'll let you know once i find out for sure (small chance i could have an opportunity to get towered VBS).

GM360 - i'm in the same boat. at first i scoffed at UE, before i knew better. then i started with 1 thing, was very impressed, then with each consecutive thing i've acquired i'm even more impressed. too bad i have to baby my SM, as there's no replacement parts if i break something. i wanna bash the heck out of it! but i can't.

CONTACT ME FIRST!

I'm thinking I might sell my GA bulks, GA Diff Housings, and all the upgraded diff internals and set aside the cash for VBS's. (I already have a new set of 6-spider diffs sitting in my parts collection.)

My GA stuff is all 7075, highly polished, and brand new! (same goes for the diff internals.)

This is the project that never gets any time (and this weekend we flooded with the storms so I'm still cleaning up....guess what........NO HOBBY TIME FOR ME! :-( so I just keep gathering parts.................

Yeah, you really don't seem the type who likes to miss around with your truck alot....I'm suffering from the same thing...

Well, that's not stopping you? :p

UE is more into making Harley parts (from what it looks like).

What do you guys mean by Harley parts? For Harley Davidson Motorcycles, maybe?!!!....

yep - harley davidson. specifically, for v-rods. his latest part that he developed and is selling is an extended 5 gallon gas tank, and has a support section on the UE website for it.

he (robin) has a v-rod that's about as maxxed out as a full UE SuperMaxx, lol. this is a shot of his bike...not sure how current it is, but holy *BLING*

http://www.unlimitedengineering.com/...les/1/2020.jpg

Capt. its not about liking to work on them. It's about having time, nothing more. Working on, modifying, bashing, & racing RC's is one of my most favorite things to do. With work demands and family obligations plus recent issues (flooded basement and numerous downed trees from 75+ mph winds) I'm spending my time cleaning & repairing the house instead of the RC's. Even my prized possession (Supercharged Mustang) has been sitting idle this summer.

Despite that I'll have my brushless CRT built and running some time in Sept. The Supermaxx is still in pieces and the HSR Slipperkits are on hold till I have time to get them finished.

Oops! Sorry, Pro, I did not mean to enrage you.Haha!
Still, I need to stay away from keeping my truck clean and shiny, I want to enjoy the hobby like everyone else. Assemble, play, break and assemble again. It seems like I only want to assemble, play and keep it safe at the same time....that's boring, imho.

No problem Al! I just did not want anyone to thinks that I lost interest in RC's since quite the opposite is true!

Well, my point wasn't that you lost interest, but I thought you're the type who, build it, put it on the shelve and keep it clean. Well, that's me, but not anymore, I'll go dirty this time...:)

Al,

I build them, run them hard, clean and detail them, then put them on the shelf till I can get the time to rune them again. Then the whole process starts over again. I do hate dirty cars & trucks though. I take pride in how my gear looks and like to keep it clean and good looking.

Pro.

makes me think of his maxxed out prices

No doubt! Top quality and the prices to match!

yep. it's by no means the cheapest stuff out there, or even in the moderate price range. but the quality, craftsmanship and engineering that goes into every piece is unmatched. i cannot believe how much better my truck handles, just from the EXT suspension alone.

Personally, thats one UGLY bike, probably the ugliest V-Rod I've ever seen...The All chrome is just not that good looking, in my opinion.

totally agree. the first thing i think of is 'how in the heck do you ever keep that clean!'. it's gotta show dirt and fingerprints like nothing else. and it's just too much 'bling' - it's gotta blind people around you in the sun.

i'm a big fan of v-rods too - one of the things on my wish list is a Night Rod Special. =)

If he's going to make parts for v-rods and Harley bikes, I don't see any reason why he should be keeping making parts for our little rigs.
I should pick up a truggy and convert it to brushless in the future and just sell this SuperMaxx of mine...=(

See, the problem is was that he was just in it for the money, and not for the interest of the hobbies (and other's in the hobby), like Mike is.

He seems to have found something that creates more income, and thus he is going to drop RC.

Yeah, I guess I feel sorry that I spent over 3 grands for nothing.

i wouldn't be so sure robin's abandoned r/c. so far all he's made (well, marketed to sell) for the v-rod is a 5 gallon plastic gas tank. that's it. i'd have to imagine anything he creates new takes an extensive amount of time for engineering and production, and he usually does some very extensive testing before he ever releases anything. he's hinted in the past to the r/c group that there could be something new in development.

i know i'm keeping my fingers crossed for something new for r/c.

Al - keep your SM!! i know i can't bash mine as hard as i'd like due to zero replacement parts, but i don't believe i'll ever sell it. it's taken me too long to collect everything, and it really is a work of art even if it is a bit outdated. lots of guys that have sold their SM's have been sorry they did. =)

Can you post some pics of yours, if you don't mind?

I disagree with you on that. If Robin was in it purely for the money he would not have invested ENORMOUS effort into engineering items like the Racer-X suspension, Victory Bulkless, EXT Suspension, FOC's, Lightning Chassis, Thunder Chassis, Razorback, etc. He's bright, loves RC's, and has a knack for thinking "outside the box". Otherwise he would have done like nearly everyone else and just made aluminum copies of the Traxxas parts.

BTW, from an RC parts perspective Robin is alot like Mike. An innovator and creative thinker. Mike is more personable and more available to us but both gentlemen are HUGE assets to the moster truck/rc community and I respect them both a great deal.

i have mine torn down to clean/polish/rebuild diffs etc. but should have it back together after this weekend. i'll post pics shortly thereafter.

and well said, procharged. =)

I hope that he isn't done with RC, cause I love the quality of the parts,(but the price hurts sometimes) but it seems like lately they are hard to come by

I've been following UE for a few years and I don't see it coming back to what it was. I'm really surprised to see genIV servo saver back in stock, as well as the 6 & 8 spyder kits. I really think Robin has lost interest and with the other things he's making I don't see it coming back. I don't think you'll ever see a Razor in production.

There was a thread in UE forum some time back where he unloaded about the crap he has to put up with, folks stealing his designs, constant complaints about prices, costs, taxes and so on. Copycats that scab his ideas and sell them for cheaper prices than he can cause they cut corners he won't. It frosts him to see these guys be successful like FLM.

He made a statement in that thread the his V-Rod project had been an eye opener for him - his products were appreciated, he never had a snippy, contrary word about his prices and they weren't being ripped off.

Its taken me two full yrs to get a SM pulled toghether and I'd still like to find a set of straight 8mm cvds. I'd buy em new in a hearbeat if they were available. CVD drive pins - pieces you gotta have to run, good luck with finding those. UE is really about the ultimate in everything for that type platform and for the top, you have to pay the price.

i totally agree, duster - 100% dead on (and welcome over here, btw =). robin doesn't strike me as someone very strong on patience - and i've read many a rant from him - to add to your list, he's also very anti-Bush and his outsourcing to foreign countries for a cheaper wage/tax cuts campaign, and has said in threads that he's feeling a lot of pressure to do the same. i think he's fed up. combine that with the fact that - let's face it - the maxx platform is now becoming more and more outdated. truggies and buggies are in, and the hottest, most hip r/c's to buy are trucks like the revo and the 8ight, among many others.

the funny thing is that 6 months ago UE had just about everything in stock: VBS, just about every driveshaft, EXT and RacerX, and most all the spare parts for them. then they all immediately started going out of stock and have stayed that way. had i known it would get to this point i don't think i would've built my SM, as now i can't really push the envelope with it for fear of lack of replacement parts. it's still an amazing truck and UE parts are unmatched...but as you've pointed out, robin seems to be on to bigger and better things. IMO, there are most likely more people with harley's wanting a gas tank nearly double the size of stock vs. people like you and i that are willing to drop $2,000-$3,000 to make a radio controlled SM.