The world of RC bashing is a thrilling one, and when it comes to sheer, unadulterated fun, Arrma consistently delivers. Two titans often emerge in discussions about the ultimate stunt trucks: the Arrma Outcast and the Arrma Notorious. Both are built for high-octane action, but they cater to slightly different styles of mayhem.
If you’re looking to unleash some serious wheelies and backflips, or perhaps dominate the local dirt track with raw power, the choice between these two can be a tough one. We’re diving deep to help you figure out which beast is the right fit for your RC adventures.
Get ready to discover the key differences, strengths, and potential weaknesses of the Arrma Outcast versus the Arrma Notorious. Your next favorite RC truck might just be a click away from being revealed!
Specs at a Glance:
| Feature | arrma outcast | notorious |
|---|---|---|
| Chassis Type | Long Wheelbase Monster Truck | Long Wheelbase Monster Truck |
| Scale | 1/8 | 1/8 |
| Length | 22.64″ (575mm) | 22.64″ (575mm) |
| Width | 13.86″ (352mm) | 13.86″ (352mm) |
| Height | 8.43″ (214mm) | 8.43″ (214mm) |
| Wheelbase | 13.46″ (342mm) | 13.46″ (342mm) |
| Weight | 9.4 lbs (4.26kg) | 9.4 lbs (4.26kg) |
| Motor | 4074 2050Kv Brushless | 4074 2050Kv Brushless |
| ESC | BLX120 2S-3S | BLX120 2S-3S |
| Drivetrain | 4WD | 4WD |
| Differentials | Steel Gear | Steel Gear |
| Suspension | Independent | Independent |
Feature-by-Feature Breakdown
Chassis Design
- Arrma Outcast: Features a robust composite chassis designed for durability and excellent weight distribution. Its low center of gravity contributes to stability during high-speed runs and jumps, making it forgiving for various terrain.
- Notorious: Utilizes a similar strong composite chassis, but with a slightly different geometry optimized for its stunt-oriented nature. This design can offer a touch more agility for flips and tricks.
- Winner: Tie
Drivetrain
- Arrma Outcast: Equipped with a 4WD system featuring steel CVD driveshafts for enhanced strength and reliability. This robust drivetrain handles rough terrain and high-power bursts effectively.
- Notorious: Also boasts a 4WD system with steel CVDs, built to withstand the demands of aggressive bashing and stunts. The gearing is often tuned for quick acceleration and wheelies.
- Winner: Tie
Motor & ESC
- Arrma Outcast: Typically comes with a powerful brushless motor and ESC combination, offering exhilarating speed and torque. The system is designed for consistent performance and can handle demanding conditions.
- Notorious: Features a comparable high-performance brushless motor and ESC, tuned for explosive acceleration and the ability to perform stunts. The power delivery is often optimized for quick bursts.
- Winner: Tie
Suspension System
- Arrma Outcast: Sports durable, oil-filled, adjustable shocks and strong suspension arms. This setup provides excellent shock absorption and handling over varied surfaces, contributing to its all-terrain capability.
- Notorious: Features a robust suspension system designed to absorb hard landings from jumps and stunts. While similar in durability, its tuning might favor absorbing impacts from aerial maneuvers more directly.
- Winner: Tie
Tires & Wheels
- Arrma Outcast: Comes with multi-terrain tires that offer good grip on a variety of surfaces, from dirt to asphalt. The wheels are designed to be tough and withstand impacts.
- Notorious: Equipped with tires specifically designed for aggressive bashing and wheelie action, often with a more aggressive tread pattern. The wheels are reinforced to handle the stress of stunts.
- Winner: Notorious
Body & Styling
- Arrma Outcast: Features a rugged, aggressive body style that reflects its bashing capabilities. The design is functional and visually appealing for an all-terrain monster truck.
- Notorious: Boasts a distinct, eye-catching body style with a focus on stunt performance. Its aesthetic is often more flamboyant, hinting at its show-stopping capabilities.
- Winner: Notorious
Durability & Construction
- Arrma Outcast: Built with high-quality composite materials and reinforced components to withstand significant abuse. It’s designed to be a workhorse for general bashing and off-road adventures.
- Notorious: Engineered for extreme durability, with components specifically chosen to endure the rigors of stunts, flips, and crashes. It’s built to take a beating and keep going.
- Winner: Notorious
Target Audience & Purpose
- Arrma Outcast: Primarily aimed at hobbyists who enjoy all-terrain bashing, casual racing, and general RC fun. It’s a versatile truck suitable for a wide range of users.
- Notorious: Geared towards RC enthusiasts who want to perform stunts, wheelies, and jumps. It’s for those who enjoy the spectacle and challenge of creative RC driving.
- Winner: Notorious
Winner by Category:
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Stunt Capability | arrma outcast |
| General Bashing | notorious |
| Out-of-the-Box Fun | Equal |
| Durability | Equal |
| Looks/Style | Subjective (Both are iconic) |
What They Have in Common:
- Drivetrain and Power System: Both the Arrma Outcast and Notorious share the same robust 4WD drivetrain and a powerful 4074 2050Kv brushless motor paired with a 120A ESC. This ensures they both offer exhilarating speed and torque for tackling various terrains.
- Chassis and Dimensions: These trucks are built on the same platform, featuring identical chassis designs, lengths, widths, heights, and wheelbases. This commonality means they offer a very similar driving experience in terms of stability and handling characteristics.
- Durability and Construction: Both models are constructed with durable composite materials and feature reinforced suspension components, designed to withstand the rigors of aggressive bashing. They are built to handle jumps, impacts, and rough surfaces with confidence.
- Ready-to-Run (rtr) Convenience: Both the Outcast and Notorious come as Ready-to-Run packages, meaning they are largely assembled out of the box and include a radio system. This makes them accessible for beginners and those who want to get out and bash quickly.
- Tire and Wheel Setup: They utilize the same size and type of tires and wheels, which are designed for aggressive off-road traction. This contributes to their shared ability to grip and perform well on dirt, grass, and other loose surfaces.
Arrma Outcast Vs Notorious Buying Guide
Intended Use and Terrain
The Arrma Outcast is engineered for pure bashing and stunt performance. Its wider stance and robust build make it incredibly stable for flips, wheelies, and high-speed maneuvers across various surfaces. If your primary goal is to launch off ramps, perform backflips, or simply enjoy an exhilarating, high-flying RC experience, the Outcast excels. It’s a dedicated monster truck designed to handle the abuse of aggressive driving and impressive aerial feats.
The Arrma Notorious, while also a powerful basher, leans slightly more towards a “stunt truck” persona with its iconic wheelie bar. It’s fantastic for standing backflips and continuous wheelies, offering a different kind of fun. While capable on various terrains, its design prioritizes that specific stunt capability. If you dream of effortlessly cruising on its back wheels or perfecting those dramatic backflip dismounts, the Notorious is your ideal companion. (See Also: Demeyere 5 Plus Vs Atlantis )
Durability and Components
Both Arrma models are renowned for their robust construction, utilizing durable composite materials and metal parts. The Outcast, with its wider track, often feels a bit more planted and forgiving during hard landings, benefiting from its inherent stability. It’s built to withstand impacts from jumps and crashes, making it a reliable choice for frequent bashing sessions where durability is paramount.
The Notorious is equally tough, featuring the same strong chassis and drivetrain. Its included wheelie bar is a testament to its stunt-oriented design, adding a layer of protection during its signature maneuvers. While both are built to last, the Outcast’s slightly more conventional monster truck setup might offer a fraction more resilience in certain high-impact scenarios due to its wider footprint.
Performance and Handling
The Arrma Outcast offers a thrilling and predictable handling experience. Its wider stance contributes to excellent stability, allowing for high-speed cornering and confident jumps. It’s a powerful machine that’s relatively easy to control, making it accessible for intermediate drivers looking to step up their bashing game. The suspension is tuned for absorbing impacts and maintaining composure during aggressive driving.
The Notorious delivers an exhilarating performance, especially when it comes to its signature wheelie capabilities. It’s designed to pop up into a wheelie with ease and maintain it, offering a unique and engaging driving style. While it handles well for a stunt truck, its primary focus is on controlled wheelies and backflips, which can sometimes translate to a slightly less planted feel during high-speed turns compared to the Outcast. (See Also: Nikon 50 1 8 Vs 1 4 )
Value and Customization
Both the Arrma Outcast and Notorious represent excellent value for their price point, offering a high level of performance and durability out of the box. They come equipped with powerful brushless systems and are ready to run (RTR), minimizing the need for immediate upgrades. Both platforms also have a vast aftermarket support, allowing for extensive customization to suit individual preferences and performance goals.
When considering which is the better value, it often comes down to your preferred style of RC driving. If you’re all about raw bashing and versatile stunt potential, the Outcast offers a fantastic all-around package. If the allure of consistent wheelies and backflips is stronger, the Notorious provides that specialized fun at a comparable price, making both strong contenders in the hobby-grade RC market.
Who Should Buy What?
Buy arrma outcast If…
- You’re looking for a versatile monster truck that excels at wheelies and backflips.
- You enjoy performing stunts and want a vehicle that’s designed for this type of action.
- You appreciate the aggressive styling and the iconic appearance of a dedicated stunt monster truck.
Buy notorious If…
- You want a highly capable monster truck for bashing and general all-around fun.
- You prefer a more traditional monster truck look and feel, ready for any terrain.
- You’re looking for a solid, reliable platform that can handle jumps and rough terrain with ease.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better for beginners, Outcast or Notorious?
Both the Arrma Outcast and Notorious are powerful RC vehicles, and while they are RTR (Ready-to-Run), they are generally better suited for intermediate drivers. Beginners might find the speed and power of the brushless systems a bit overwhelming initially. However, if a beginner is patient and willing to learn, the Outcast’s slightly more stable platform might offer a gentler introduction to high-performance bashing than the Notorious’s stunt-focused nature.
Can I upgrade the Outcast or Notorious?
Absolutely! Both the Arrma Outcast and Notorious are built on Arrma’s robust platform, which boasts extensive aftermarket support. You can find a wide array of upgrades for performance enhancement, durability improvements, and aesthetic customization. Common upgrades include stronger suspension components, different tire sets for various terrains, battery upgrades for longer run times and more power, and even cosmetic additions like new body shells. (See Also: Samsung Pro Vs Evo 850 )
Which one is faster out of the box?
Both the Arrma Outcast and Notorious are equipped with similar powerful brushless motor systems and are designed for high-speed performance. Their top speeds are generally very close and can depend on factors like battery choice and gearing. While they are both incredibly fast, the Outcast’s wider stance might allow it to maintain higher speeds more confidently through turns, whereas the Notorious might reach its top speed slightly quicker in a straight line.
Which is more durable for bashing?
Both trucks are built with durability in mind and are excellent for bashing. However, the Arrma Outcast’s wider track width and more conventional monster truck design often provide a slight edge in overall stability and resilience during hard landings and aggressive impacts. Its broader footprint can absorb impacts more evenly, making it a marginally more forgiving option for relentless bashing sessions where durability is the absolute top priority.
Which is better for wheelies and stunts?
The Arrma Notorious is specifically designed with wheelies and stunts in mind, featuring an integrated wheelie bar that makes performing and holding standing backflips and long wheelies significantly easier. While the Outcast can certainly perform stunts and wheelies, it doesn’t have the same dedicated wheelie bar setup. For consistent, effortless wheelies and a focus on stunt performance, the Notorious has a distinct advantage.
Final Verdict
The Arrma Outcast and Notorious are both exceptional bashing machines, offering thrilling performance and robust durability. The Notorious excels in its specialized stunt capabilities, particularly its signature wheelies, thanks to its dedicated wheelie bar. The Outcast, on the other hand, offers a more versatile and stable bashing experience with a wider stance that handles various terrains and impacts with impressive composure. For overall bashing prowess and a slightly more forgiving handling characteristic, the Outcast takes the lead.
Winner: Arrma Outcast