Kyosho Double Dare

A typical Double Dare

Chassis View

The Double Dare (aka Double Dare 4WDS) is a radio controlled monster truck that was released by Kyosho in 1989.

It was designed as a contender with the Tamiya Clod Buster, though the Clod came two years earlier. Both were 4WD monster trucks with four wheel steering and four wheel drive using twin motors, one to each gearbox. Both trucks used a single servo to steer and another to run a heavy duty mechanical speed controller, so they were easily controlled with a common two channel radio. Both trucks came with a set of eight friction type shocks and 27 turn RS-540 motors.

The two trucks came out at a time when realistic radio control monster trucks were rare. The only true MT at the time was the MRP High Roller, which was little more than a cool looking paperweight. Both trucks were designed to use standard R/C equipment and be as affordable as any other R/C car. The trucks both have an odd mix of realism and performance. The Tamiya Clod Buster uses a thick plastic Chevrolet-based body with high detailing, but the Kyosho only has a Lexan one based on a Nissan light truck. Nevertheless, it features detail pieces such as chrome bumpers, a rollbar with detailed chrome spotlights, a grill with clear headlight lenses, and a detailed chromed plastic dummy motor.

The Double Dare is smaller in size than the Clod Buster, with narrower wheels and an overall smaller footprint. It weighs less and feels more sporty. While the Clod Buster uses dual gearbox attached by a simple 4-link suspension with shocks mounted directly on the links, the Double Dare has independent suspension all around and the gearboxes are solidly bolted to the chassis with chrome braces on the underside. Clod Buster wheels are tall and very wide white plastic one piece units, but the Double Dare has chrome rims that are of a standard 2.2 size. They are two piece, making for easy tire changes. The Double Dare has water protection in mind, as evidenced by the sealed electronics section and the motor covers.

Stock, the two trucks were quite different in some ways and the same in others. Neither could steer very well, but the Double Dare was easier to set up and worked a bit better. Speed was low on both, but the much lighter and more agile Double Dare could beat a Clod in any race. The Clod's large tires made it a better car crusher and a bit more realistic, but the Double Dare could usually win a looks contest and had suspension that was actually functional.

One area the Double Dare excelled in over the Clod was option parts. Kyosho's Option House division had a set of gold shocks for the Double Dare that made it handle much better, and they looked great. Clod owners were limited to dull colored Tamiya CVA oil shocks. The Clod Buster was never spec'd for any Tamiya motor upgrades, but the Double Dare was easily equipped with a pair of fearsome 22-turn Kyosho Mega Motors. Aftermarket parts, once they came out, upgraded both trucks' chassis.

Unfortunately, the Double Dare was not as much of a success as the Clod Buster. Tamiya had the US distributor MRC (Model Rectifier Corp.) on their side, and masses of the new Clod Busters sold. The Double Dare came out two years later, by the time everyone had a Clod already. Parts support was decent, but parts and hopups were in lower supply due to Kyosho's lack of a dedicated distributor. Several magazines did compare the two trucks, though, usually favoring the Double Dare. The introduction of a rival to Tamiya's truck started the development of newer and better monster truck designs.

Today the Double Dare and Clod Buster are seen as pioneers of the radio control monster truck genre. The Clod Buster, sold en masse, is very easy to find and is a common base for rock crawlers with a seemingly never ending supply of spare parts and aftermarket upgrades. The Double Dare is still much less common, and it is especially hard to find one in good condition or with a decent body. Parts are hard to find, being resold individually in bags, as opposed to Tamiya's large parts trees.