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I would say space!?

I also got 8258 short after christmass and build it two weeks ago. I was very amazed about that many parts! I didn't expect THAT many parts! The first time I thought that the box could NOT have been smaller to fit the parts in. The build was very great and the functions are OK. But it's very difficult to play with it for my kids. It's almost to complex for my kids to play with all functions.

I've now 'Technic Beam 5 x 7 with Open Center 3 x 5' engrafted vertically into my 8297 and put a XL motor on it. It's not fully finished yet, but I've tested so far and there's no crunching while driving

Is this a not connected LA?

Additionally what allanp said, I would say a long axle can twist a lot. The longer a axle, the more twist. In some situation the force of the twist will turn the axle. So you get this "jumping". My advise is to put the motor as near as possible to the wheels, with sorter axles. I also recommend watching the "Trial truck tip" from Zblj, like http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=45639&view=findpost&p=797980 they are very good

First google image search on "extreme cruiser": A CD player! 8081 will be a CD player Next possibility is a SUV, then comes a motor bike. The idea with the Trike is very possible. They could use the wheels from the Unimog.

My personal opinion is, that 8265 is great I've got 8265 shortly after my dark age and hadn't all the parts needed to mod the set to be fully remote controlled. But I had the parts to put the motor in it. And with motor it is fun to play. Without motor you have to turn the knob a lot. For sure, sometime I'll rebuild my 8265 and make it fully remote controlled. There're a lot of instructions on the net how to do it.

@blueShinyApple: I'll try that, many thanks.

Hi, so now I'm on to remote control my 8297 Off Roader. The steering with one M-motor and one clutch gear was no problem. But the drive motor makes me headaches. I've a similar setup like the first example here. And my gears are sometimes crunching while driving. So I tried to use a clutch gear, but this is to weak and the car nearly moves. The next thing was to gear down, use the clutch gear and gear up again. But that was a lot of gearing, so I only geared down and used a M-motor instead the XL. Now it moves very slowly and also stops very likely if something comes across. So my next idea is more intrusive. I'd like to use 'Technic Beam 5 x 7 with Open Center 3 x 5' http://www.peeron.com/inv/parts/64179 for the differential. My question is, how likely is it that the the gears http://www.peeron.com/inv/parts/32269 and http://www.peeron.com/inv/parts/62821 (setup like in 8265 Front Loader) wil crunch in this setup? What else do you do to prevent gears from crunching in a drive train?

Another idea for lots of remote controlled power functions, if you have enough PF parts: betterybox1 - switch one - 4x receiver - 8 motors: 1 motor to toggle switch one (and two) betterybox2 - switch two - 4x receiver - 8 motors: 1 motor to toggle switch two (and one) => You can control 2x 7 motors = 14 functions! The two motors which toggle the switches must be controlled by the same remote laver. You got the idea? Not switching functions with a gearbox but switching functions with putting power on 4 receivers (exclusive) or 4 other receivers. OK, this idea is not so much fun because you don't need much gearing and you have to use a lot of PF receivers.

Today one of my sons also finished building 8052 and I saw the instructions with the LA. You see the LA and one hand on one side of the LA and another hand on the other side and an arrow showing to extend the LA. There's no sign to put an axle in the LA and turn the axle! So I can understand the question if it's the first time you have a LA in your hand. My son already knew how to handle the LA, so it was no problem for him.

@rien: Put bricks around the LiPo and put (soldering) a LEGO power connector to the wire you will have a 100% pure LEGO battery

I've done so! I wanted to get 8043 for christmass, but it wasn't available (now) for me (in germany). So I shortly redecided that I have to get 8258 (first). I'm now very amazed about how much parts are in the box! The first time I thought the box has to be this size to hold all the parts. I'll begin to build 8258 tomorrow but have opened the box today. The instructions were packed inside a plastic bag, great! One of my sons said I have to get 8043 for Easter.

One word: huge! I wouldn't have thought it is possible to build a humanoid robot in human size with LEGO! But you proved me wrong. Wow! I like this "little" fellow and a video of the functions would be fantastic.

Hello paul_delahaye, sure you missed http://technicbricks.blogspot.com/2010/12/tbs-techreview-14-mla-under-magnifying.html