X-Games – Hot Bodies Cyclone 12X

Track test
For the track test of the HB Cyclone 12x we once again headed to the permanent indoor track of the RCCG Neu Wulmstorf near Hamburg. The high traction track has a difficult carpet composition making it not an easy task to set-up a 1/12 scale car. At first we had some problems to adjust the Cyclone 12x as the high grip of the reactive caster suspension made the car difficult to drive. Harder and smaller diameter front tyres didn’t help much. The solution was to soak the front tyres with traction compound only minutes before the run. This might be different from tyre to tyre and track to track but at the end it helped a lot and driving the 12x was very enjoyable now. We also lowered the ride height to 4 mm front and rear as the (higher) initial set-up did not suit our 45 mm front and 47 mm rear tyres. We had some issues with a flipping car from time to time which was cured by using Corally hard syrup on the friction damper. It took away some traction from the rear of the car but with a stiffer rear end the 12x was more predictable to drive. We also played with the reactive caster front suspension a bit but found the stock set-up with 10 degrees reactive castor and 3 degrees static caster worked best.

Due to limited time on the track we did not even scratch on the potential of the Cyclone 12x yet and look forward on more experience in the very near future as well as a follow-up feature in the Cyclone 12x!

Conclusion
Hot Bodies Cyclone 12x is a racer with pure racing pedigrees as the two consecutive European Championship titles show. It’s a quality chassis with sensible updates compared to the former Cyclone 12 car that make for an even better, faster and tougher racer.

Specifications
Scale: 1/12
Chassis: 2mm carbon fibre
Drivetrain: 2WD rear wheel drive
Differential: ball differential/carbide balls
Suspension – front: reactive castor
Suspension – rear: T-bar/1.5mm
Shocks – front: springs
Shocks – rear: alloy/oil filled/coil over spring

Dimensions
Length: 276mm
Width: 169mm
Wheelbase: 198mm
Track – front: 140mm
Track – rear: 131mm
Weight: 932 gr
*Stock set-up with wheels as tested

Equipment
Car: Hot Bodies Cyclone 12x [hbeurope.com]
Motor: Team Orion Vortex Race 2008 6.5T[ teamorion.com]
Speedo: GM-Racing Genius 95 1/12 Spec [gm-racing.de]
Battery: Orcan VTEC 4600 OA4600H4 [orcan.de]
Charger: Robitronic Overloader 2 [robitronic.com]
Servo: JR/Graupner DS3781 [graupner.de]
Receiver: Futaba R604FS [futaba-rc.com]
Tyres front: Jaco purple [jacoracing.net]
Tyres rear: Jaco pink [jacoracing.net]
Traction compound: Corally ‘Jack the gripper’ [corally.com]
Body: Hot Bodies C-12 Mark III [hbeurope.com]

Performance Tips
> Assembling the front upper wishbones you need to make sure that you screw the turnbuckles in squarely as this is crucial to archive a proper and consistent caster and camber angle.
> On high traction surfaces running the optional (and supplied) FRP front brace is a must as it smooths the steering action.
> The Cyclone 12x front end offers loads of steering. If you experience snap oversteer or a lively steering action in general try less traction compound on the front tyres and let it soak in for only five minutes instead of 20 to 25 minutes like the rear tyres.

Review by Sebastian Suerstedt