Kyosho LeMans line up X5

[Bormac]

I recently picked up a job lot with a mate and I had my eye on these motors. Whilst they aren't mint new they are going to be used for some of my vintage Kyosho Optima runners.
All were stripped, cleaned then reassembled the best I could. Each has been tested on my Dyno and whilst they aren't really huge in performance they are to my liking. Not too much power for the old girls
It will be nice having some of these out circulating again.

[Coelacanth]

I love the endbells. Kyosho and their anodizing...yummy!

[V12]

All of the Le Mans motors were looking very good.
Also the cans were of very high quality. Powerwise they were average but this was because the armatures were just machine wound.
But some motorbuilders knew why they used them for making their modifieds.

[Bormac]

It's been a long time since I've seen any of these motors. I used to own the High Torque and High Speed from new. I also have the 'MEGA' motor collection from back when I worked in the Hobby Shop. These motors were good at the time but were out performed by a lot of what was on the market back then.
I've always had a soft spot for these LeMans motors.

[V12]

Yes very rare today. Perfect match for vintage Kyosho runners.

I have a motor with the red endbell and also know the gold one.
Had there been others as well? Don´t remember exactly.
Mega motor? Not sure how those look like.

[Bormac]

Mega motor? Not sure how those look like.

[Bormac]

I have a motor with the red endbell and also know the gold one.
Had there been others as well? Don´t remember exactly.

There were three from what I remember. The red 'HIGH SPEED', gold 'HIGH TORQUE' and a blue 'ON ROAD' version.

Up to that point I think these may have been Kyosho's most high specced motor. Others may be able to confirm or deny this.

Cheers-Jason

[Coelacanth]

Ugh...the Mega motors were evidently the end of the nice, classy-looking Kyosho motors. Those look awful.

[Lowgear]

No different than any other generic canned stock motor of the day. They were popular for their time, especially with the dual motor and monster truck crowd.

[Bormac]

Yeah the Mega motors didn't really have the same appeal to me back then. Actually not now either.

[Bob-Stormer]

Ugh...the Mega motors were evidently the end of the nice, classy-looking Kyosho motors. Those look awful.

+1, agreed. I might be looking with a magnifying glass at a picture, trying to find out what motor is in something. and there is ALWAYS that disappointment when you realize it's a Mega. ~~~

[Lonestar]

All of the Le Mans motors were looking very good.
Also the cans were of very high quality. Powerwise they were average but this was because the armatures were just machine wound.
But some motorbuilders knew why they used them for making their modifieds.

There's a reason why Ernie picked them

[Bormac]

I always felt that Kyosho did really really nice stuff right up until the late 80's with the Optima and Ultima series. From there it seemed they wanted to capture more of the 'price point' market place. Sure, they released the Lazer and Triumph but they also started doing the Raider, Alpha etc.. series of what I consider to be more 'plastic' than competition type stuff.
It seemed they were all about nice alloy componants up to a point and I think this carries over to the motors too.
The MEGA series sucks.

[Coelacanth]

I always felt that Kyosho did really really nice stuff right up until the late 80's with the Optima and Ultima series. From there it seemed they wanted to capture more of the 'price point' market place. Sure, they released the Lazer and Triumph but they also started doing the Raider, Alpha etc.. series of what I consider to be more 'plastic' than competition type stuff.

Let's not give Kyosho TOO much credit...they made their share of plastastic cars in the 80's too...the Icarus/Pegasus/Gallop/Progress/Rocky and probably a half-dozen more were all very plasticky, and competed with Tamiya and the lesser brands' price points.

[1300GT]

I remember seeing the Kyosho Mega motors in the local hobby shop and thinking that they were anything but. They were a lot cheaper than the Le Mans motors though. $59 AUD compared to $83 AUD for the 480T. Chris.