The GEPRC Vapor BNF is a solid choice right out of the box—well-tuned, well-built, and ready to fly. But like many Bind-and-Fly (BNF) quads, there’s always room for improvement. Whether you’re aiming for better performance, longer flight time, easier maintenance, or just want to fine-tune the drone to your preferences, this guide will walk you through the most effective upgrades and modifications you can make to the Vapor D5.
Check out my review of the Vapor here: https://oscarliang.com/geprc-vapor-d5-o4/
You can purchase the GEPRC Vapor D5 from these vendors:
Try Different Propellers
Trying different propellers is perhaps one of the cheapest and easiest ways to upgrade your quad.
The Vapor ships with Gemfan Vanny Style 5136 props. This is a 5.1-inch propeller with a 3.6-inch pitch (that’s what the “5136” stands for). These are great for power and speed. However, you may want to try lighter props—either smaller in diameter or lower pitch.
Lighter props might generate less thrust, but they allow for faster RPM changes. That means quicker throttle response, better cornering grip, and improved instability handling.
Personally, I find that HQ props tend to be smoother than Gemfan. One of my favorites is the HQ 5×4.3×3 V2S. While there are even lighter options, they often sacrifice too much power. The Vapor isn’t the lightest quad, so the 5×4.3×3 strikes a good balance between efficiency and control.
If you fly freestyle, this upgrade can noticeably improve flight feel. But if you primarily do cinematic cruising or fly long-range, you may not notice as much benefit—stock props are perfectly fine for that.
Remove Unnecessary Parts
If you use the Vapor as a basher, you probably want to keep all the protective parts for durability. But if you’re chasing peak performance, reducing weight can go a long way.
Here’s what I removed from my build:
- Side plates (~15g): Safe to remove for most people, minimal impact on durability.
- Arm guards (~15g): Keep these if you crash often.
- Plastic motor wire tubes (~4g): Replace with cloth or electrical tape. Again, if you crash regularly, consider keeping them.
- One battery strap (~5g): Use just one strap if you’re confident in your battery mounting.
- Replace metal stack locking nuts with nylon/plastic ones (~1.5g saved).
For advanced pilots, consider removing two screws from each motor to save a few more grams. But you MUST apply threadlocker to the remaining screws to avoid motor detachment mid-flight. If you want to play safe, you can also just remove one screw per motor.
By removing unnecessary parts and optimizing the build, I managed to shave off 44 grams – it’s even lighter than my own custom build using the Vapor frame. That’s a 10% reduction in weight—pretty impressive!
Vertical Receiver Antenna Mount
As mentioned in my Vapor D5 review, I wasn’t a fan of the stock receiver antenna mount. To fix that, I designed a custom vertical mount that attaches to the rear standoff. This orientation provides a better antenna alignment for long-range flying. Note: The antenna wire is relatively short, so you may need to reposition the receiver slightly to prevent tension in the antenna connector.
Download my 3D print file here: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:7035383
If you only fly within 1 km, this upgrade may not be necessary.
Move GPS to the Front
Relocating the GPS module to the front of the frame offers two benefits:
- Improved GPS signal – It’s further from the VTX and RX antennas, there’s less interference. I’m getting up to 30 satellites even on overcast days.
- Addresses tail heavy issue – Redistributing the weight balances the quad better.
A custom made GPS mount would be ideal, but I reused the stock mount and simply taped it to the front using double-sided foam tape and reinforced with a zip tie, worked like a charm. I also cut a slot in the base of the mount, so I could rotate the GPS 180°, since the cable wasn’t long enough to reach in its original orientation.
Tune the PID & Filters
If you’ve reduced the weight of your quad, and want to maximize performance, it’s a good idea to tune the PID and filter settings. Not to mention the stock GEPRC tune is somewhat conservative and there’s room for improvements.
An optimized tune can:
- Make your quad more responsive
- Reduce latency
- Improve tracking in fast, acrobatic moves
- Reduce prop wash
If you mostly just cruise for cinematic shots, the stock tune is fine. But for freestyle and acro flying, tuning is worth the effort.
I share my custom PID and filter settings on my Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/posts/128765386
Advanced Mods for Long-Range Efficiency
If you’re pushing your Vapor for long-range performance, here are a few extra tweaks to improve efficiency and flight time:
Set Motor Output Limit to 75–80%
The stock motors are quite high in KV and beyond 80% throttle, it’s really power hungry. Reducing the limit cuts current draw and boosts efficiency. However, it’s not ideal for freestyle, only recommended for cruising flights.
Trim and resolder motor wires
The Vapor came with motor wires soldered like the 2nd image below. You could shorten the motor wires and solder them like the 3rd image and shave a few grams.
Upgrade to a diversity receiver
A single antenna receiver will inevitably get blocked by the battery or frame. A true diversity receiver with antennas mounted on both sides of the frame will provide better signal coverage and eliminates blind spots.
Add Conformal Coating
If you plan to fly in humid environments or light rain, applying conformal coating to your flight controller and ESC is a wise move.
Why it’s useful:
- Adds moisture resistance
- Protects sensitive components
- Helps prevent shorts and corrosion
Check out my conformal coating tutorial if you’re new to the process: https://oscarliang.com/waterproofing-drone-electronics/
Final Thoughts
Out of the box, the GEPRC Vapor D5 is already a fantastic FPV drone, but with these simple modifications, it can become even better for flight time and freestyle performance. Whether you’re after improved responsiveness, longer flight times, or simply a lighter build—these tweaks will help you level up your flying experience.
Got your own favorite mod? Share it in the comments or tag me with your custom build pics—I’d love to see what you come up with!
