Surpass Hobby and Overlander Thumper

[Nigel Heather]

Are these the same thing?

 

I am quite familiar with the Overlander Thumper range, but yesterday, I discovered the Surpass Hobby motors and my immediate thought was they they look very similar.

 

I didn't do an exhaustive search but I looked at a motor that I was considering from both companies and they are technically identical - dimensions, weight, shape, power, rated currents, kV, poles etc. all exactly the same.

 

Got me wondering whether Surpass Hobby is a clone or whether they come out the same factory, identical with different badges.

 

Another bit of circumstantial evidence is that eCalc does not have Overlander Thumper motors and when I asked the developer they said that this was because Overlander won't supply the technical details needed to include them. I wonder whether it isn't won't but can't, because Overlander just slap their labels on and don't know the technical details.

Edited September 29, 2023 by Nigel Heather

[David Ovenden]

I can't answer your question Nigel. However, I have several Surpass Hobby motors that I have found excellent.

[Outrunner]

1 hour ago, Nigel Heather said:

Are these the same thing?

 

I am quite familiar with the Overlander Thumper range, but yesterday, I discovered the Surpass Hobby motors and my immediate thought was they they look very similar.

 

I didn't do an exhaustive search but I looked at a motor that I was considering from both companies and they are technically identical - dimensions, weight, shape, power, rated currents, kV, poles etc. all exactly the same.

 

Got me wondering whether Surpass Hobby is a clone or whether they come out the same factory, identical with different badges.

 

Another bit of circumstantial evidence is that eCalc does not have Overlander Thumper motors and when I asked the developer they said that this was because Overlander won't supply the technical details needed to include them. I wonder whether it isn't won't but can't, because Overlander just slap their labels on and don't know the technical details.

My belief is that it's badge engineering. Overlander and the like I believe, are not big enough companies to tool up and manufacture a range of motors themselves. There are probably several factories in China who quite happy to put your companies name on the motors if you buy enough from them.

I've used motors from various suppliers including Overlander that I believe came from the same source. All very good motors so no complaints.

 

 

[MattyB]

99% of motors at the value end of the market are rebadged. I wouldn't criticise Overlander per-se for doing that, as they aren't being enough to be designing and manufacturing themselves. Just be aware that unless you are buying a higher end motor like a Hacker or Axi, it's highly likely the product you are purchasing is a rebadged one that you can get cheaper from the likes of AliExpress, but without the UK support. You pays your money, etc.

[Nigel Heather]

Thanks for the ideas.  Pretty much as I thought and I am well aware of the practice of ‘badging’.

 

My interest is that the Surpass motors are cheaper than the Overlander that I was looking at, so if they are the same thing then why not.