Hobbyking stocking Baja 5b Clones!
 

http://hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store...dProduct=16241


399 bucks!:intello:

Thats pretty sweet! And the cheapest i have ever seen the clones for! It does not come with radio or servos though.

Hmm. It's nice to see a cheaper alternative, but buying a clone just supports thieves...

I have to agree with Brian but have to say that it is tempting. Especially if they are 100% parts compatible with the HPI. Still though it makes me wonder how they can do it (even just to copy) for that low of a price. I am guessing that materials used will not be of high quality.

This is true. But if a part breaks, an HPI part would most likely be bought to replace it. Sure HPI would lose out on the purchase price of the buggy, but in the long run after most of the parts are replaced it would pretty much be a HPI rig. I think this is a great way for the less fortunate people to get into 5th scale. And knowing that almost any LHS will have parts for it is a huge plus. The mark-up on parts is HUGE anyway, when the mark-up on the whole vehicle is hardly anything. You can still support your LHS and HPI, it is really a win win situation.

why is it only available in the AUS warehouse?

We seem to be fortunate with certain products but not others. I am sure it is only a matter of time before it hits the Euro and US warehouse too.

Yes, they probably do cut corners on materials and workmanship. Also, HPI has to pay for all the R&D to create a new vehicle like the Baja 5B which can be very expensive, and the customer pays for that. The cloners just steal the designs and duplicate the parts.

This reminds me of my hk450 helicopter. By the time I got done replacing parts its almost an align 450, but I couldnt afford the align 450 right off the batt. Align has greatly benefited from the clones. If the parts would have been different, I would have just bought more of the clone parts.
All of the other companies are all building their products overseas now so the R&D should be behind them. I'm really not sure why they couldnt offer the same prices, unless like you guys mentioned, the parts are not as strong or reliable.

I'm not going to lie, I have been against clones like this for a long time, but man, for that price it's really tempting... For an E conversion though a Baja SS kit with the fuelie stuff sold off would probably be just a bit more expensive. $400 bucks though? That's cheaper than a Revo/Flux/Most Truggies..

On a side note though, how is this sort of thing not illegal? I mean it's a 99-100% replica of the HPI Baja.

I always loved the idea of a Baja. I guess this might put me closer to that idea.


Your all forgetting one thing about HobbyKing, shipping = arm + leg

i'm game once a product has been out a while, a few years... then it seems like the copies come out. idk if there is a time limit like drugs that a patent runs out or what so the laws don't come into effect. but anyways, i would love to get one of these guys and yes i will replace parts by sending my money to hpi, or if somebody else made a better part they would get the money. if the price was close i would get the original, but we are looking at almost %50 difference, especially for those who use upgraded radio gear. i'm sure companies like hpi have bookies punching numbers who know clones will come out and their loss there is rolled into the cost of the original some how.

I added it to cart to see what the shipping charge would be and it's only $37.00 USPS priority mail! :rofl: I think this is a bit too big for priority mail, isn't it? :whistle:

My baja is a clone but 99% has been switched to upgraded parts.so if you want something cheap to drive and are going to put hop-up after hop-up it's worth it.
They do use something in the 4 series of aluminum,I found that out when I tried to de-anodize the smaller parts and they lost half there mass in 30 seconds! But I'm still running a completely stock drivetrain with NO wear,not even on the drive cups with a DS 26.5 ported marine motor, and I've seen real bajas drivetrains fail. So it seems like they skimp on good aluminum,but the steel I definately up to par. Oh,and all the plastic is a non fiber reinforced stiff type that I couldn't quite pinpoint.--josh

i thought the global priority weight limit was 70 pounds. it might be right :yes: