A modest Bandit project that surprised me with how much better it drove.

This customer build reminded me how much a simple buggy can change when you work on its tires and stance. The video starts with a Bandit XL-5 platform and develops it into a modified brushless car.

• Tires made a real difference. I combined a different rear tire with Pro-Line front tires and the appropriate wheel hubs to get the response I wanted.
• Small setup changes count. Shock position, rear camber adjustment and carefully placed front weight were part of making this particular car more settled.
• The motor was changed too. The featured car has a BL-2S conversion. Its power delivery and gearing are not a demonstration of the standard brushed XL-5 system.

Parts from the customer conversion: Pro-Line Blockade front tires paired with; DE Racing 12mm-hex front wheels in the adapted wheel setup; Traxxas 2443 rear camber links for alignment adjustment.

My take: there is a lot of enjoyment in making a straightforward buggy drive well. Start with the stance and the tires before treating extra power as the entire answer.

Shop this model's spare parts & upgrades — see current prices and available options.

The video shows a modified customer Bandit with a brushless conversion and other options. This listing is the brushed XL-5 model; confirm compatibility with its exact version before choosing conversion parts.