Review: Losi Mini 8IGHT

When asked what your favorite racing classes are, most people will say 1/10th or 1/8th scale onroad or offroad. I know because that’s what I always say. But when someone asks what my favorite FUN racing classes are, I always tell them 1/18th or 1/5th. Extremes, right? Yah, well, there’s something about the big and littles that are just a lot of fun, both onroad and offroad. I received a new addition to my ‘littles’ collection the other day in the form of Losi’s new 8ight Mini. I’m excited to see if this ‘Mini-Me’ has what it takes to keep a smile on my face like it’s 1/8 scale cousin!

AT A GLANCE
WHO MAKES IT: Losi
WHO IT’S FOR: Everyone
HOW MUCH: $249
BUILD TYPE: RTR

FACTS
– The first thing you’ll notice is the exterior styling. The current-style cab-forward body, yellow wheels and sexy wing truly make it look like a pint-sized 8ight!

– The heart of the 8ight Mini is its powerful 4500kv brushless system. This system runs smooth and fast with the included 1100mAh NiMh battery. Drop in a compatible LiPo pack and you’ve created pure speed!

– The 4WD system is flawless. Bearing supported, metal-gear differentials, driveshaft and dogbones transfer the power to the wheels with extreme efficiency. To make things easier, the inline slipper clutch is adjusted using the included tool.

– To harness the entire package, a Spektrum DSM 2.4GHz radio system has been included with the 8ight Mini. Ultimate control for your pint-sized ride.

– Losi knows you want something that is durable and easy to tune. To comply with your wishes, they’ve included both a 2.5mm aluminum chassis and 2.5mm aluminum front and rear shock towers. In addition, threaded aluminum shocks are also standard issue as is the aluminum steering drag-link and thick turnbuckles.

– To keep with the whole Mini-Me theme, Losi dropped its popular Kingpin race tires into the shrink machine. These tires have a decent wear time and should work great on multiple surfaces.

– Losi has made the 8ight Mini a true Ready To Run. Included in the box is your 8ight Mini, 2.4GHz transmitter, batteries for the transmitter and car, a wall charger and some tools. There is no need to purchase anything else to run this car…until, of course, it’s upgrade time!

SPECS
LENGTH: 11.49in (292mm)
WIDTH: 8.03in (204mm)
HEIGHT: 4.33in (110mm)
WHEELBASE: 7.32in (186mm)
WEIGHT: 2.15lbs (0.98kg)

ITEMS NEEDED
+ Nothing – everything is included

PROS
• Fantastic styling with awesome ‘Killer Bee’ body graphics
• LiPo compatible, brushless performance
• Strong, 2.5mm aluminum chassis and shock towers
• 4WD drivetrain with complete ball bearings
• Soft racing tires
• Includes everything you need to get up and go

CONS
• LiPo compatible, but comes with a 1100mAh NiMh

TOOLS & ACCESSORIES INCLUDED
+ Wheel wrench
+ L wrench
+ Turnbuckle wrench
+ Binding plug

ON THE TRACK
I decided to take Losi’s 8IGHT Mini to two different locations. The first was in my own backyard. You see, my neighbors LOVE RC and are always out back romping with their 1/10-scale SC trucks. Not only did I want to see if the 8IGHT Mini could keep up, I was also interested in their opinion. After a brief bash session, I handed the radio over to daddy Ryan to see what he thought. He was a little timid with it at first until I told him to ‘drive it like you stole it.’ That unleashed a beast, and he was soon flying high over the jumps. The 8IGHT Mini wasn’t quite as fast as the bigger SC truck, but it still handled the grassy area and landings very well. It was plenty zippy on the driveway and, thanks to the low-profile chassis and body, stayed on all fours even with quick snap-turns.

The dirt, however, is where the 8IGHT Mini really likes to hunt! I took a quick drive over to an abandoned lot and, thanks to a recent rain; it was filled with smooth, packed dirt. The 4WD system and soft Kingpin tires are at home on this terrain and made for some real fun! The suspension is great and soaked up the small imperfections with ease. The aluminum chassis and flex-reducing top-plate helped keep everything straight and true with zero drivetrain issues. I had a little concern about the exposed gears, but Losi has formed the body to be super tight to the chassis. This helps keep quite a bit of debris out of the buggy. But, because the electronics are not waterproof, I would only suggest running the 8IGHT Mini in slightly damp conditions.

THE LAST WORD
The 8IGHT Mini is a fun little buggy. Losi has made it a complete package for you to open, charge and run…absolutely no other items are needed to get your 8IGHT Mini up and running. They’ve also included features that are almost absolutely necessary these days, too; a fast brushless system, soft, race-compound tires, threaded shocks, a sharp-looking body, smooth gear diffs and durable, aluminum parts. The only real bummer, if I had to choose one, is the NiMh battery. It does have a run time of around 10 minutes, which is certainly acceptable, but you’ll need a few of them to keep you going. All in all, the 8IGHT Mini is a great vehicle and, at its attractive price for what you get, is certainly high on the must-have list.

LINKS
Losi, www.losi.com, (877) 504-0233