The Beast Max Arrives
Today we have on the bench the Beast Max this. The name of this truck alone should put everything else to bed like we should all tramber in fear, because the Beast Max has entered the chat. It comes from a company called ZLL or ZLL. However, you want to say that it’s a 1/16 scale, it’s brushless. They’re claiming on their website to be about 80 km/h, which I am not going to put any money on. There is a brush version as well, which is a bit cheaper, and they’re claiming about 40 km/h on that one. The brushless version is what I’ve got and yeah, it’s supposed to be half decent. Well, see how this thing pans out.
Special Promotion
Of course, I’ll have links in the video description because this was supplied to me by Banggood and they’re currently having a sale on this truck. As of the time of upload where I think the first 50 people also that order, it get it for like 154 bucks, Australian – and I think that comes with free shipping, and then it goes up to like 160 bucks or something you save. A few bucks. If you want to get in early and get this one for your kids or for yourself as a spare car.
Box Damage
You can see here that this box has sustained some damage. The contents inside survived just fine.
Initial Impressions
I haven’t got any breakages or anything like that, but obviously that didn’t stop East Ventura from kicking a field goal with this thing and it made it to my front door in one piece. Thank God. So let’s get that out of the way and have a look at what we’re working with here.
First Glance
What have we got? Banggood has sent over for me to have a look at. Believe it or not, they asked me to review a bunch of stuff from time to time. I turn down a lot of cars, but sometimes I think, “This might be okay.” So, why not give it a shot?
Unboxing Experience
This is what you get. As you saw, the car doesn’t come with the wing installed, so I’ve installed the wing myself. It also comes with a wheelie bar, which is a nice touch. However, it’s not installed on the car for packaging purposes, so a few screws need to be undone to put it on.
Quality Check
The wheels seem to spin pretty freely, which is a good sign. Despite my initial skepticism, the car seems to be decently built. But why do they keep doing this? Sending partially assembled cars that require additional work from the user could be frustrating for some.
Unpacking the Box
I don’t believe there is any adjustment on this, but not that you’d really want it on a car like this or need it. There are some screws in here to put the wheelie bar on. I’ve already taken two out of the bag to obviously put the spoiler on. There’s a bag with some grease or oil, or I’m assuming it would just be grease. Also, a couple of spare screws and ball ends for the steering links, presumably the steering links. A couple of preload spacers, spare body pins, and other hardware are included.
Additional Accessories
There’s a USB charger for the included battery and a little cross wrench for taking the wheels off the car. A small screwdriver is provided for attaching the spoiler and wheelie bar. A spare part, a little spring for the front or rear bumpers, is also included, which can be used to support the wheelie bar once it’s on. The manual is also included in the package.
The Radio and Manual
There is a little leaflet here regarding the radio, containing all the features the radio has and some information about the car itself. I thought I saw a sticker sheet when I opened this up, or maybe not. The manual is in Chinese on one side, but there is an English version at the back, so it’s like two manuals stapled together. The back piece contains instructions on how to assemble the car, including how to put on the wheelie bar and service the car.
The Radio Features
Looking at the radio features on paper, it doesn’t seem bad. It has cool features like channel 3, which turns the lights on and off, and a three-speed position switch that allows you to adjust the top speed of the vehicle on-the-fly with one hand. The trigger is weighted nicely, and there’s an on/off switch as well as a reverse switch for steering control.
Questionable Build Quality
We have steering Jewel rates and we’ve got steering trim over here right so on paper. This is all very good. What I can’t convey properly on through camera is how light and cheap this thing feels like it’s just its ridiculous this and it doesn’t quite sit 100 on its feet. Of course you can lie it down. You can lay it down like that. The Fram wheel is actually not that bad, but what I have a bit of an issue with is something that I noticed pretty much straight away is just how much wobble it has. So just bear that in mind, like the radio is not the best Handle With Care is probably the best advice I can give you, don’t go dropping this thing, throwing it around, and you know if you give this to a kid and they’re cranking On this wheel to turn the wheels of the car, just be mindful that you may actually break this thing.
Concerns About Durability
Batteries wise let’s see it runs on three AAs by the looks of things which is okay, all right, but it just it feels like super cheap super lightweight. Hopefully range is okay and I don’t have any like major latencies or anything like that. Because the trigger position, ergonomically, like it fits well in the hand and steering’s there you can do you know drive one hand as well everything’s like ticking a lot of boxes, it’s just.
Questionable Longevity
We have steering Jewel rates and we’ve got steering trim over here right so on paper. This is all very good. What I can’t convey properly on through camera is how light and cheap this thing feels like it’s just its ridiculous this and it doesn’t quite sit 100 on its feet. Of course you can lie it down. You can lay it down like that. The Fram wheel is actually not that bad, but what I have a bit of an issue with is something that I noticed pretty much straight away is just how much wobble it has. So just bear that in mind, like the radio is not the best Handle With Care is probably the best advice I can give you, don’t go dropping this thing, throwing it around, and you know if you give this to a kid and they’re cranking On this wheel to turn the wheels of the car, just be mindful that you may actually break this thing.
The Beast Max
It feels real nasty so lets hope it isnt real nasty and now for the Beast Max. This is an absolute Beast of a car. Its got LEDs on the front bumper here its got a body that resembles a body of a another car from another brand that shall not be named um in this video. Its got a wing that also resembles a wing from another car from another brand. In a much bigger scale, um and then of course, you can put your wheelie bar back here wheels and tires no foam in here.
Disappointing Suspension
Theres no foam in these at all and uh suspension, wise yeah heres. The thing right I Im going to have a little rant Im going to have a little rant, because I think companies that do these cars, its okay, like if its brushed like the brushed version. If it comes like this, with no foam in the tires and its no oil and its just a friction, shocks and like you can give that a pass, its a brushed car, its not going to be very fast right and its designed for beginners design to keep Costs down like we get it its its an entry level, but when you do brushless, can we just unanimously just agree that this this should be prohibited?
Unacceptable Quality
There should be fines to these companies that bring out a brushless car and dont have foam in the wheels in the tires and dont have oil shocks like just stop it get some help.
Why Keep Doing This?
Please just just stop. This has to stop right. We were in 2024, not 1984, like I I I get it like this is this? Is bang good car? You know people, I know you guys are going to be very vocal in the comments.
Feedback and Criticism
I know I know my. I know my audience. I know my crowd, but can I if, if any, if z z, if what is it z, z, l zll, whoever made this thing if they watch this video can? Can you have next time you have a board meeting or a or a teams meeting or anything like somebody just just put their hand up and just go, can we can we not?
Quality Concerns
Can we please not do this like if youre going to go through the effort? Just just just another 5 of effort would would make a big difference in how this things going to drive. Okay, okay R rant over rant over, because I I I know how this is going to AG go cuz.
Previous Experience
You guys have seen I I did one a little while ago. That also was brushless and didnt have oil in the shocks and the thing was a nightmare to drive and anyway, um body pins out and lets have a look inside this thing: bodywise typical, nothing, special, theres, no plastic bits and pieces to protect the body or anything Like that.
Components Overview
Its its probably a PVC body but its a body car come with a little lithium ion battery there brushless motor on this side, ESC and receiver in one.
The Issue with Servo and ESN Receiver
So this also creates another problem because here’s the other thing as well: uh, oh no, okay! Well, I read somewhere that it had a five cable Servo and it doesn’t – it’s a three cable, which means you can replace the servo, but the ESN receiver in one yeah. I mean look, I get it, it’s going to be probably cheap to manufacture. You know you don’t have to have a receiver box, um, everything’s waterproof, but the minute you try to upgrade your radio. Now you have to get a new ESC as well, and the costs start to creep up a little bit when you want to start to get this thing good.
Challenges with Upgrades
Finding shocks that are going to fit in here that you can get that’s going to work with. So you can see where I’m going with this now in saying that, like you guys have to understand. When I saw this and they said, hey, do you want to review this car? I said yeah sure, like I don’t know that it comes like this. I can only see it from the pictures. The pictures don’t say that the shocks are not oil-filled. It doesn’t say that it doesn’t come with foam in the tires. The tires themselves actually don’t feel that bad, like the wheels are good and everything, but come on, a little bit of foam here would be nice and and the shocks, but you get.
The Battery and Power
The ZLL SG1116 Beast Max 1/16 Scale Brushless MT comes equipped with a 1500 milliamp, 7.4 volt lithium-ion battery. While this battery may not provide a huge amount of punch, it is possible to run lipos for a bit more speed. It is claimed that the truck can reach speeds of up to 80 kilometers per hour with a 3s battery, but fitting one in may prove to be a challenge due to the lack of adjustment on the strap.
The Design and Components
Upon closer inspection, the truck features an aluminum brace on top, although it doesn’t appear to be particularly strong. The drive shaft is made of hex metal or steel, offering some durability. The rear of the truck is equipped with standard dog bones, while the front boasts CVDS for added strength. The bumper looks sturdy enough to withstand a few hits, and the adjustable body posts and LEDs on the front add to the overall design.
A Potential Challenge
One puzzling aspect of the truck is the lack of a clear solution for fitting a 3s battery to achieve the maximum speed. With no obvious adjustment points or straps, the prospect of reaching 80 kilometers per hour with the current battery setup seems uncertain. The ridges on the chassis and absence of a designated battery strap leave much to be desired in terms of practicality.
Speculation and Uncertainty
As the unboxing continues, doubts begin to surface regarding the truck’s performance capabilities. The question of whether it can truly deliver on the promised speed and power remains unanswered. While the presence of certain components like metal dog bones and a wheelie bar inspire some confidence, the overall design and functionality of the truck raise concerns about its ability to live up to expectations.
Mystery Behind the Motor Specs
As you saw the motor, I cant read the specs because its hidden behind some stuff but Ill put them up on screen because Im sure will be on the box or in the manual or something like that. Likewise with the ESC, I think it is a 35 amp. It actually says it on there – 35 amp, 2s – so it says right there. What that means is that, if I probably plug a 3s in here this things going to like the it so Will exit the body as we know, possibly potentially, if it does, if it’s got over voltage protection it’ll be fine. But if it doesn’t, um bad things will happen. So there we have it, a quick little unboxing of this thing.
The Alloy Hinge Pins
It does have alloy hinge pins, hinge pin holders here on the front of the front AR ARs and on the rear of the rear ARs. It doesn’t have alloy hinge pins on the inside because it’s actually molded onto the chassis. This is something that a lot of people will overlook because it’s molded into the chassis. Arma did the same thing with their 3s line. And when you broke the little ears that hold the hinge pin, you had to swap out the entire chassis. The same thing will happen here now.
Initial Impressions
I don’t think that this is heavy enough or even going to be traveling fast enough. If it’s claiming 80 kilometers an hour, this thing could weigh as much as a paper clip when it’s moving at top speed. Will it cause any damage? That remains to be seen.
Unboxing Process
We’ll see what happens with this little guy when I do run it. Normally, I would like to do the running video in the same video as the unboxing, but the stars haven’t aligned for me to do that all in one go before the release date. So, you’re going to get the unboxing separate from the running video on this occasion.
Potential Challenges
Based on my experience with previous models that didn’t have oil-filled shocks and foam in the tires, I’m wondering if this new model will have the same issues. Will it be difficult to control? Will it perform as expected?
Testing the ZLL SG1116 Beast Max
What’s the problem, sir? Why will you not go? Am I doing something wrong? These uncertainties arise as I try to figure out how to operate this RC car. Let’s see how it pans out once I get it up and running.
Initial Impressions
Uh. Apologies for that, but there we have it the radio, the car some bits and pieces, some spare parts wheelie by that I still got a fit and well take it out for a run and uh. Well, come back after the run on that uh on the next video and Ill.
Review
Let you know how this thing went: thats it for me, thanks for watching, if you enjoy the video, be sure to hit that Thumbs Up Button dont forget to subscribe. If youre new and again check out the video description Ill have links in there for this um and uh, I do want to say a big thank you to bangood for sending this out for a review.
Supplier Support
I do appreciate them supporting the channel and uh keeping me in their circle of friends when they want something uh reviewed and showed off uh, so uh. Thank you to them for for supplying this thats it for me.
Conclusion
Overall, the ZLL SG1116 Beast Max 1/16 Scale Brushless MT is a promising entry into the RC car market. Despite some minor inconveniences during unboxing, the car seems to have potential. It will be interesting to see how it performs on the track once fully assembled and ready to go.