CEN Magnum NX Editor's Review

We have been waiting for a chance to test out CEN's rc cars since the beginning of BestChoiceRc.com and were given the chance with their 1/10 scale Magnum. As always, we will review the magnum exactly as it comes from CEN. We will take the Magnum to our test track to see how well it handles in and out of the corners as well as on the jumps. Will it crack under the pressure of a rough day at the track? Does the Magnum have enough speed and power to pull ahead when it counts? We will find out all this and more in this edition of the BestChoiceRc Review.

First things first. We took more than enough time cornering in CEN's Magnum to get a feel for how well it handles. The Magnum comfortably enters the corners with the brakes, shocks and servo working well to create a smooth driving experience. The Magnum has great control in and out of the turns; however, it was a little underpowered exiting the corners. Overall, the handling through the corners was a great compliment to the Magnum’s drive-ability.

The second aspect of handling, and one of our favorite thing to do at the track, is jumping. The Magnum handled all the jumps we hit extremely well and with several magnificent crashes the Magnum took the abuse like a champ. We had full control leading into the jumps, making it easier to choose a good line. The Magnum bottomed out and got a little squirrelly at impact on the larger jumps which can be addressed by making some adjustments to the suspension and adding foam inserts in the tires. Finishing out a solid showing in the handling department is the monster truck tires, which maintained traction pretty well (foam inserts would improve the overall traction) during our entire review.

Due to the set-up of the truck we have had a hard time with exactly how to review the stock drive-train on the Magnum. When the Magnum hit its peak power it is nearly unstoppable, however it is underpowered at take-off. We made up ground quickly with the Magnum on the top end. The Magnum has an awesome two speed transmission that can be adjusted according to your driving style. Overall, it performs well, and with some easy adjustments you will be able to make it great.

We tested the Magnum over the course of several weeks to see if it could handle everyday abuse, throwing everything we could at it to see if it would crack. We had a number of full speed crashes that brought us to a dead stop, and only managed to scratch the bumper. I did manage to break a the steering bracket, a five dollar part, and sheared off one of the screws during this review. In the interest of full disclosure (and the willingness to get a good laugh at my misfortune), I missed the ramp with my right wheels, sending the Magnum into a spectacular cartwheel display at around 40 mph. Believe this or not, I did this more than once before I managed to break any parts.

We used the pull start when testing the Magnum and it easily started every time we wanted to drive it. The Skion DSX radio system was good throughout our testing. We loved the digital screen and multiple settings which can be saved on the Transmitter. With the exception of losing our signal a few times, the radio system performed well. The stock 144 oz. metal geared servos proved to be very durable, standing up to our test and never showing any signs of weakness.

Magnum nx at a glance
Handling:
Performance:
Durability:
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Overall Value:

The question becomes... Is CEN's 1/10 scale Magnum your BestChoiceRc? To be completely honest, This car was a pleasure to drive, compelling us to review it longer than necessary. The Magnum was crashed and smashed over several weeks and left its mark as a top contender in the 1/10 scale monster truck category. The Magnum’s simple maintenance, durability and ease of use help to make for a fun driving experience. It provides easy access to most of the parts making it a great truck for first timers that would like to learn how to make adjustments under the body. If you are new to rc and are looking for a fun, stress free drive, then this is the ride for you. I would recommend the CEN Magnum to just about anyone from beginners to intermediate drivers.