Wheel v Stick Radio

[DCM]

For those guys who have converted over from Stick radio to Wheel, how have you found it?

[RogerM]

I started on sticks, raced that way for about 10 years then changed to a wheel for 3 years but always felt slightly uncomfortable with it. I then changed back to sticks and here I am 12 years later looking at wheels again. I have decided however to stay with sticks and have just arranged to by another stick radio.

For me the issue with the wheel was I struggled with the feel of the brakes, the rest of it comes quite quickly but even after 3 years I'd still apply more brake than I wanted half the time and much less the other half.

[Gnarly Old Dog]

I converted from sticks to wheel a long time ago.
At that time, the issue for me was that I wanted more feel from the steering as I felt that it was too easy to push the stick too far and I was never comfortable trying to feed in a little bit of opposite lock - and I'd still say that wheels are better than sticks for this reason.

But...

Back when I changed, the awesome power that was a 27T motor meant that having a binary throttle response wasn't a problem. Now it is more so and, as Roger has said, modulating the brakes can be a touch more difficult with a wheel but if you spend time making sure that the trigger is shaped to your finger (and adding some foam if you have little fingers) to ensure that the throttle is a snug fit around your finger then it's not too bad.

it won't be easy to swap and if you do - you have to be committed and ready to crash a bit more as you learn - but I'm pleased that I persevered back when I made the switch.

[DCM]

I did flirt with a wheel a while ago and found the brake an issue (more squeezing rather than pushing when in a panic), but getting trouble with my left thumb so am thinking again.

[ch!3f]

they need to start making a transmitter like the steer wheel version but at the back of the handle have a stick for thumb use rather than the trigger for your finger is they made this id have 1 as i struggle with steerwheel trigger but i would like to use it as like
Gnarly Old Dog said feeling the steering is better on them.fair enough it would look strange but i recon they would become popular and give people an extra choice!

[silky]

I tried changing to a wheel radio a good few years ago steve. Went back to a stick radio about a month after, as like the posters above i just couldn't use the brake, if i was going at around 70% i was ok, but if i tried to push on a little and went into a corner a little fast i would always squeeze the trigger in panic and apply more throttle rather than breaks, which as you can imagine, always ended in crashes!
I always look at wheel radios purely as i think you get more radio for the money, but i just have to hold back as i know i will regret it!

[DCM]

Seems we have all suffered the 'opps thats speeding up, not slowing down' error!!

[ch!3f]

yes with my fg leopard and destroyed it basicly!straight in to a concrete fence post wouldnt have minded if it was all the original plastic sus arms and standard shocks but was full alloy nice threaded shocks and some haw managed to destroy my steel spur gear which ripped a nice hole in my shell too,thats when i decided i was better off with sticks

[DCM]

Bugger!! I hopes me thumb gets better then!

[ch!3f]

thats why i wanted steerwheel tranny i broke my right thumb biking a few years ago and its abit stiff so side to side with the sticks made it ache alot where as with the wheel it hardly bothered me best bet just get some acoms 2.4ghz to try it out for a while see haw you go its cheap enough to buy and sell easily if you dont like it

[DCM]

Kids have all got wheels, I may still try, see if I can get a D3Xs cheap, don't want the hassle of buying new receivers!

[ch!3f]

good luck anyway bud thats a nice set if you can get it at a good price even better

[Holeshot]

I started with stick and then went to wheel. Much perfered the wheel as not as bulky as the stick. I havent used a stick in awhile though but i can understand what others are saying with the brake thing.

[fidspeed]

Hi Dave

i have raced wheel radio since i started in 1990 with a very basic 27am set have progressed to ko mars and 3pk futaba now .I fly planks and whirly birds on stick radios (Futaba FF9) but i am buggered if i can drive a car on them everything happens far too fast . I dont think i will ever master a stick for cars
Peservere with wheel it is worthwhile especially if you are having flexibilty issues with your fingers .

In defence of sticks my 13 year old son can drive either wheel or stick with equal effiency

good luck dave

[Gaz_Stanton]

Originally Posted by DCM

For those guys who have converted over from Stick radio to Wheel, how have you found it?

Difficult! In the B at Caldicot club night first time out with wheel.
Will have to get used to it properly now though as just sold the sticks.

[racingdwarf]

This may sound strange, but i use stickes with 10th, but with rallyx I get on better with wheel, I do find my driving is smoother with wheel,But on say astro/grass 10th tracks I find the rapid corrections needed easier with sticks But on dirt the wheel flows

[markwilliamson2001]

Started with sticks aged 10, but my hands were too small. Tried a go with a wheel, picked it up early, then went from there....

I can still drive with sticks, but find braking late quite difficult, and applying opposite lock hard as well with sticks.


I found that reducing the braking effect on the car does help a bit when using a wheel though...

[team n.o.m.a.d]

i started out with sticks but moved over to wheel a couple of years ago and find wheel suits me best