Best Brushless RC Motor – Our TOP 5!

When you’re looking for the best brushless RC motor, there are a number of factors to take into account.

Some of the specifications depend on what type of RC vehicle you need the RC motors for, obviously.

In fact, the best option when it comes to RC motors can sometimes vary quite a bit depending on whether it be used for aerodynamic rc planes, drones, replica helicopters, boats, cars, or offroad rc trucks.

So as you can already see finding the best option for your RC brushless motor combo will not always be straight forward.

You may have heard different names and terms thrown around, like NiMH batteries, HobbywingEzrun, Team Orion, and Castle Creations.

We’ve done the work of picking the 5 best brushless RC motors currently on the market, making it very easy for you to make the pick that’s right for you.

Moreover, we’ve also first up laid out some helpful information about what to consider when making your purchase.

What You Need to Know About Brushless RC Motors

Speed Ratings

Brushed motors take into consideration factors like brushes and springs. You don’t have to worry about these things when you use a brushless motor.

With that being said, there is a great deal of different brushless motors that reach different KV ratings or turns.

However, there’s no particular standard for measuring brushless motor speed.

Certain manufacturers take the speed measurement through RPM, while others go with the KV rating.

It’s important to know these terms if you want to choose the right speed of your motor for your needs.

Sensored motors measure speed using the number of turns. Lower turn counts per time actually means the rotor spins faster.

When a motor is sensorless, people use KV ratings to describe the speed.

You should know, KV reads the opposite way from the number of turns; higher number means faster rotors.

Speed For Your Needs

If you intend to just use your vehicle by yourself and aren’t going to involved in racing, you might not have the same “need for speed.”

But if you’re looking for the fastest motor available, naturally you’ll want motors with a high KV rating or RPM.

Also, if you’re a beginner, you should not be too hung up on speed. A fast motor can actually be a hindrance when you’re learning.

Fast motors don’t have the same fine-tuned control that slower ones offer for those just starting out in the RC world, and you could find yourself reacting too late when trying to control your vehicle.

So, beginners would be best off starting to build their skill sets with a slower motor.

Racing Requirements

For people who intend to race, you’ll probably already have your desired motor speed decision made.

Just remember to keep in mind what racing classes you are looking at entering into and make sure your motor is best for these classes.

Information published on the different racing classes will in fact usually give you specifications for the exact motor you should use, making things a lot easy for you.

Speed Controls

If you’re operating a brushless motor, you need to use a speed control that has been designed specifically for brushless motors.

Alternatively, if you use a brushed speed control, you won’t be able to make the motor run. Like brushed motors, speed controls are only capable of handling motors that are part of its specifications.

For example, you might find a control that handles turns of only 17 or higher. Not all speed controls can handle a high-powered, high-speed motor.

If you want speed controls that can handle a wider motor range, you’ll be looking at an expensive option.

It’s important not to run your motor out of speed control range, as this can damage both items.

Ideally, your speed control should include a manual, so you can double check the specifications.

A lot of these problems can be avoided however as many brushless motors on the market come with a speed control as a combination.

Also, speed controls are what determine the vehicle’s capacity to reverse. If you aren’t racing exclusively on tracks, it’s a good idea to get one of these controls.

However, if you’re only going to do sanctioned track racing, you should know that reversing isn’t allowed.

So overall, keep in mind what kind of performance you want from your RC vehicle.

Sensored Versus Sensorless

When a motor has a sensored system, it comes with sensors that transmit precise data to the speed control.

This allows the speed control to become more precise.

A sensored system makes the vehicle give an accurate response to all speed changes, including tiny ones.

Experienced racers love these motors because they give them a competitive edge.

Sensorless motors don’t have such a handy advantage, so they’re only able to estimate the rotor position.

When you think about the rotor, imagine it has marks similar to a clock face. With a sensorless motor, the speed control can’t tell what “time” it is, so it needs to guess whether it’s giving the right speed.

Doesn’t sound very reliable is it?

And because of this, there’s room for error.

In fact it’s possible that the transmitter sends an incorrect pulse that causes you to actually reverse when you intended to go forward.

Not something you want during a race right?

Advantages of Brushless Motors

The main thing is, the parts aren’t grinding against each other, so a brushless motor will have higher power efficiency.

It also has a longer runtime and more generated power thanks to its overheating protection.

If you want maximum speed and RPM, a brushless motor is indeed your best friend.

It will also give you better overall performance and acceleration, no matter what type of RC vehicle you’re using.

Maintaining Brushless Motors

Many people are surprised to learn how little maintenance is required for brushless motors. When you need to clean them, you can use compressed air to blow the dust and grit away.

Use a light oil as a lube for the bearings, and that’s it.

By comparison, a brushed motor will need to be completely serviced from every 7 to 10 runs.

They need even more frequent maintenance when used for racing, because they wear down easily over time and don’t perform like they used to.

Also, to complete maintenance on a brushed motor, you have to disassemble the entire motor, clean the can, lube all of the bearings, recut the commutator, deburr the commutator, reassemble the entire motor, install new springs and brushes, break in the brushes, and test everything.

It’s a huge pain, which is why brushless motors are your best electric motor option.

Our Top 5 Best Brushless RC Motors

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1. Traxxas Velineon VXL-3s

This best brushless RC motor makes the list of the best brushless RC motors because of its strong electric motor.

This motor brushed design is the most expensive RC brushless motor combo on the list, but that’s because it’s the best brushless motor for RC car on the market.

So don’t let the price put you off.

This is a brushless crawler motor that comes with a waterproof ESC, motor with four poles, and a mounting plate for the speed control. It’s a great RC brushless motor combo for a brushless motor RC car.

The ESC also comes with 3 different useful drive profiles.

Sport mode is made to handle off-roading and do incredible tricks, while Racing is optimized to make your vehicle go as fast as possible.

The third option is Training, which helpfully limits your throttle when you’re just learning to drive.

These handy modes make these the best brushless RC motors for beginners.

These RC motors have integrated low-voltage protection that works for a LiPo battery. It also uses NiMH batteries.

Also, the high-temperature magnets in the motor give the vehicle massive torque and overall powerful speed while still keeping the vehicle cool.

This DC motor has the widest available range for different battery options, so it’s great if you want an RC vehicle with any length of battery life.

You can use 4-celled NiMH batteries, then work through the scale all the way to a 3S sky LiPo.

Pros:

• Comes with a waterproof ESC
• Includes a mounting plate for speed control
• Training profile reduces the throttle for beginners
• Two-stage voltage regulators built in for LiPo batteries
• Widest battery range on the market

Cons:

• Most expensive option on the list
• May not suit people who don’t want variable battery options
• May not suit people looking for just one motor mode

“Best Brushless RC Motor for Performance”

OOR: 4.3

2. RCRunning 3650 Sensorless Brushless Motor

This is a more affordable best brushless RC motor, although it isn’t the cheapest brushless motor ESC combo on the list either.

As far as brushless combos go, though, it’s extremely high quality. And it’s specially designed to suit an RC car.

The motor comes with a number of different protective features.

First, when there’s low voltage from the battery, the motor will automatically cut itself off from the battery.

Second, the brushless construction provides protection from overheating.

Also, if you lose the throttle signal, the motor shuts off.

There’s also protection if the motor becomes blocked.
So safety first with this motor.

The motor can be easily programmed and it’s compatible with a pocket-sized program card.

Also included in the combo is a splashproof ESC designed for a 1/10 ratio car.

Another good thing is that this motor is easily installed.

It’s recommended to install a small pinion gear that helps keep the motor from overheating too.

Experts recommend starting with small pinions and keeping track of the motor temperatures.

Lastly, this motor uses a LiPo 2S battery, which you will have to pick up seperately.

Pros:

• Great protection features including lost signal protection and blocked motor protection
• Easy to program
• Includes a splashproof ESC for a 1/10 ratio car
• Easy to install and upgrade

Cons:

• Can overheat if you aren’t careful
• Doesn’t have a wide range of battery options
• Only has one drive mode

“Best Brushless RC Motor for Racing Cars”

OOR: 3.3

3. GoolRC Upgrade Waterproof Brushless Motor

This brushless motor is a combo set.

Like many large brushless motors, these ESCmotor combos are designed for 1/10 scale vehicles.

It utilizes 4 poles and 12 slots to provide a high-torque overall design.

The motor has been precision engineered to provide maximum possible energy conversion, much like an RS Gen2 system.

The precision-balanced rotor works to keep your driving smooth, so you generate the maximum possible amount of RPM – in other words, more speed.

Also, there are a number of different protection features included.

For instance, the motor cuts off if it detects low voltage from the battery.

It also has protection from overheating and potential signal loss.

Pros:

• Motor generates high torque and power
• Precision engineering allows maximum converted energy
• Balanced for smoothness when driving
• Sensored brushless motor provides great protection features

Cons:

• Can only suit a 1/10 ratio car
• Limited in the batteries it can use
• May be more complicated to handle than some other motors

“Great RC Brushless Motor Combo for 1/10 Scale Vehicle”

OOR: 4.3

4. Crazepony 4pcs Brushless Motor

Unlike the other best brushless RC motors on the list, this best brushless RC motor is made for an RC quadcopter.

It’s also an RC airplane brushless motor that provides enough power to prove as one of the fastest brush motor available.

This motor is designed according to new updated standards.

It has been upgraded with many features suited to multirotors.

It’s light and yields a faster rotational response along with higher thrust.

The thrust power is more than 1,000 grams, an impressive feat compared to many other brushless motors.

The motor also utilizes the highest grade magnets available to provide ideal acceleration, faster stopping, and sustained RPM as you fly.

The design also includes unique fins that draw cool air through the motor, keeping it from overheating.

This feature helps to increase the efficiency and lifespan of the motor as well.

On top of all that, it’s an easy motor to install.

The manufacturer has also simply marked the motor’s rotation direction so it’s easy to determine what direction the CW motor will spin – in case you are left wondering.

Pros:

• Lightweight motor provides higher thrust than most competing motors
• Highest-grade magnets are used to increase acceleration and stopping power
• Motor provides sustained RPMs as you fly
• Unique design allows cool air to flow through the motor during flight
• Clearly marked rotation direction makes installation easy

Cons:

• Made for racing quadcopters, so it’s not good for RC car users
• Doesn’t have the same protection features others offer
• Only has one flying mode

“Best Brushless RC Motor for Racing Quadcopters”

OOR: 4.3

5. Arris Brushless Motor

This is the fastest brushed RC motor for you if you’re on a budget.

This is the fastest brushed motor you’ll get when looking for good flight control at a little cost.

Also, this is an upgraded and improved version of a previous motor.

The brushless motor is designed specifically for multirotors with sizes from 200 to 300.

Its total weight is just 29 grams, so it won’t slow your drone down.

The motor is also optimized for use with a high speed ESC and lightweight fixed-wing drone.

Before the motor is shipped, the manufacturer carefully balances it and tests it in the factory. This means you won’t have the nightmare of receiving a faulty product.

Unfortunately, only two pieces are included in the package. If you want to use these motors with a quadcopter, you’ll have to purchase two packages.

But you won’t complain given the low price of this package.

Pros:

• Upgraded version of a previous motor that provides more power
• 29 gram weight won’t slow your aircraft down
• Receives balancing and testing before leaving the factory
• Most affordable option on the list

Cons:

• Need to buy two packages to use in a quadcopter
• Only suitable for multirotors from 200 to 300
• Doesn’t include ESC combo

“Most Affordable RC Motors”

OOR: 3.6/span>

Final Thoughts on The Best Brushless RC Motor

No matter whether you’re a beginner or an expert, you deserve the best brushless RC motor for your vehicle.

Drone, car, and truck enthusiasts alike, we all need the best RC motors for our vehicles in any particular situation.

Make sure you pick the right RC brushless motor combo that will provide you the most fun without breaking the bank.

We’ve carefully picked our list so that the best brushless RC motor for you is sure to be there for you to grab today!