Bandit XL-5/VXL

Traxxas Bandit XL-5/VXL

Q&A, gearing, kit settings, manual, and guides

Off-road•Buggy•1/10 scale•2WD

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Gearing

Stock gearing for the Traxxas Bandit XL-5/VXL, with common pinions and their ratios.

Stock spur
76T
Internal ratio
2.72:1
Typical pinion
≤6T ≈ 22T · 7.5–8.5T ≈ 22T · 17.5T ≈ 32T
Class medians on the stock spur. For your motor and track →
PinionSpur ÷ pinionFDR
18T4.2211.48
19T4.0010.88
20T3.8010.34
21T3.629.84
22T3.459.40
23T3.308.99
24T3.178.61
25T3.048.27
26T2.927.95
27T2.817.66
28T2.717.38
29T2.627.13
30T2.536.89
31T2.456.67
32T2.386.46

Shaded rows are the pinions most 1/10 2WD buggy setups run on the stock spur.

What pinion should I run?

Tell us your motor and track and get a starting pinion for the Traxxas Bandit XL-5/VXL, with the range racers in the class run.

Get a recommendation →Shop pinion gears at AMain →

What pinion gear should I use on the Traxxas Bandit XL-5/VXL?

It depends on your motor and the track. In the 1/10 2WD buggy class, racers gear by final drive ratio: 6T and below near 9.40, 7.5–8.5T near 9.22, 17.5T near 6.48. On the Bandit XL-5/VXL's stock 76T spur that is about 22T for 6T and below, 22T for 7.5–8.5T, 32T for 17.5T. Tight tracks gear down, open tracks gear up. For a starting pinion matched to your motor, use the So Dialed Pinion Recommender with the Bandit XL-5/VXL selected.

What is the internal ratio (transmission ratio) of the Traxxas Bandit XL-5/VXL?

The Bandit XL-5/VXL has an internal ratio of 2.72:1. Final drive ratio = spur ÷ pinion × 2.72. With the stock 76T spur, a 18T pinion gives an FDR of 11.48 and a 32T gives 6.46.

How many teeth is the stock spur gear on the Traxxas Bandit XL-5/VXL?

76 teeth. Changing the spur moves every pinion's ratio at once; most racers leave the spur and tune with the pinion.

Kit setup

Kit shock setup (VXL). Part numbers link to AMain.

Shock oil
Front
30 wt
Rear
30 wt
Traxxas oil
Springs
Front
Kit #2458 →
Rear
Black XX-Long #2457 →
Pistons
Front
2-hole
Rear
2-hole

What shock oil does the Traxxas Bandit XL-5/VXL come with?

Out of the box the Bandit XL-5/VXL runs 30 wt front, 30 wt rear (Traxxas oil), on 2-hole front, 2-hole rear pistons. That is the kit setup; you will need to adjust it for your track conditions. The RC Setup App can help dial it in.

What springs does the Traxxas Bandit XL-5/VXL come with?

The kit springs are Kit (#2458) front, Black XX-Long (#2457) rear. Stiffer springs suit high grip and big jumps; softer springs add grip on slick or bumpy tracks.

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