Kyosho Hanging On Racer

Details

The Kyosho Hanging On Racer (HOR) is a 1/8th scale radio-controlled motorcycle and an ingenious marvel of miniature engineering. What makes it so special?

The servo that controls the steering also connects to the rider’s hips and head. When you steer the bike, the rider therefore looks into the apex, hangs off the bike to the side and extends his knee exactly as a real rider would.

The overall effect is surprisingly realistic, and these models are an absolute hoot. My son and I built one together for his eighth birthday and we love playing with it together. We have also — perhaps unsurprisingly — made some modifications and I already have a comprehensive V2 model in the works.

If you’ve never built an RC machine before, the learning curve is somewhat steep, but not too hard if you go in with your eyes open. I think the biggest challenge for a beginner is realizing that what comes in the kit and what you actually need to begin riding this thing are two separate discussions, and two very different price points.

With that in mind, I am listing below everything you will need if you want to build and have fun with one of these, concluding with my first round of upgrades. I have not included links to buy any of these things because availability will depend on where you are in the world. Google / Claude will make this very easy for you.

The kit

Kyosho 1/8 Hanging On Racer Honda NSR500 1991 Kit (This is the basic kit to build the bike and rider)

Radio gear

Kyosho Syncro 2.4GHz TX/RX Set 82147 (This is the transmitter and receiver to control the bike)

Electronic gear

Kyosho GPW20 Steering Servo for Hanging on Racer
Kyosho GPW17 Speed Controller
Kyosho SPEED HOUSE Ni-MH 7.2V-1600mAh 71351 Battery
Kyosho GPW18 Charger Convert Connector(Std-Micro)
7.2V Ni-MH RC battery charger (there are lots of options, just make sure it has a standard connector)

Paint

Tamiya fine surface primer (white or grey doesn’t matter)
2 x Tamiya PS-4 Blue
2 x Tamiya PS-1 White
1 x Tamiya TS-83 Metallic Silver
1 x Tamiya TS-14 Black

Tools and stuff

Craft knife and board for cutting decals
Small and medium size cross head screwdrivers
Two pairs of square nose pliers or miniature socket heads / wrenches
Superglue
Grease
Nitrile gloves
Masking tape

Recommended Phase One Upgrades

ZH Racing slick tires (front and rear) — these have far better grip.
ZH Racing Rear Solid Insert Medium Green and ZH Racing Front O-Ring Insert — these solid wheel inserts stop the tyre deforming under cornering and are a night and day improvement in handling and grip. Note, the rear requires cutting a notch out of the battery tray to make room for the bigger tyre circumference.
FastEddy Kyosho 1/8th NSR ARR Sealed Bearing Kit — better bearing, smoother everything.
Xtra Speed aluminum front damper forks.
GPM Aluminium adjustable rear shock absorber.

Optional extra juice

If you’d like far more power in the current chassis package you can try what I did, which is fitting the Hobbywing EZRun 18A Sensorless Brushless ESC/Motor Combo (12.0T/7800kV). This is a package deal on a faster brushless motor and an electronic speed control. The motor replaces the stock one in the box, the speed controller replaces the one recommended above.

Some people think the brushless motor is too much for the stock gearbox, and that 7800kV is ridiculous. They are probably right. Added to which this is not a simple switch as I discovered. You will require 2 x M2.5 bolts of an appropriate length to mount the motor to the frame (I can’t actually remember the exact length but it is somewhere around the 6-8mm mark I think) — I ordered a set with multiple lengths.

You will also need a replacement set of mini tamiya male / female connectors and the tools necessary to replace the terminal on the battery to connect it to the Hobbywing speed controller which comes with a different plug — a set of wirecutters / strippers and a crimper.

There is also a Kyosho approved “Speed house” upgrade that won’t have these headaches, which I didn’t know about before I went on an eBay spending spree. Fools rush in, and that fool in this case, is me. A happy fool I might add. I love this thing. It’s good clean fun, and quality time with my boy.

Stand by for V2.