This video shows some comparison between different configurations.
1, What we have here is a red plastic boat with a brushed 380 motor and a 2s pack. The green fiber boat is 3s powered 540 brushless.
2, Now the green fiber boat is running against a smaller boat with a brushed 21 T 540 class motor.
3, This time we have a white fiber boat with a 380 class brushless motor running on 2 cells versus an orange boat with a 5 40 21T brushed motor running on 2 cells. As you can see, brushless is much much faster.
This vid shows multiple brushless boats chasing each others. They are small but fast.
This video shows the performance of the BL Feilun FT012. This is a small nice boat although not really fast…
FYI …. Brushed vs Brushless: Why 540 Motors Still Matter
If you’ve been in the RC hobby for a while, you’ve probably noticed something interesting: brushed 540 motors are still hanging around, even in a world dominated by high-power brushless setups. At first glance, it might seem outdated—but there’s a lot more to these little workhorses than nostalgia.
Simplicity Wins
One of the biggest reasons 540 brushed motors are still relevant is how simple they are to use. No programming, no advanced ESC settings, no timing curves to tweak—just plug it in, and it runs. For beginners, that’s a huge plus. You can get a kit on the table and on the track without worrying about electronics frying because of a misconfigured controller.
Cost and Availability
Brushed motors are cheap, easy to find, and easy to replace. You can run a few packs, fry a motor, and swap in a new one without breaking the bank. That makes them perfect for entry-level racers, casual hobbyists, or anyone who doesn’t want to spend hundreds on brushless gear just to have fun.
Reliability and Durability
These motors are surprisingly tough. A brushed 540 can handle abuse that would make a high-KV brushless motor overheat or fail. They’re forgiving with temperature, load, and crash damage, which is why they’re still common in toy-grade RC cars, scale builds, and casual club racing.
Torque and Scale Performance
Brushed 540s shine in applications where raw speed isn’t everything. Their lower KV ratings provide strong torque at low speeds, making them ideal for crawlers, scale trucks, and indoor racers. You can adjust gearing to fine-tune performance without touching the motor itself, which is perfect for hobbyists who love tinkering.
Nostalgia and Community
Finally, there’s the intangible appeal: familiarity. Many hobbyists grew up running them. They’re easy to maintain, parts are plentiful, and the performance is predictable. For a lot of people, that consistency and connection to the hobby’s roots are just as important as peak speed.