Review: 42155 Batcycle
Posted by Huw,42155 The Batman - Batcycle is the second Technic model of a vehicle that appeared in last year's DC Comics film The Batman.
The first, 42127 The Batman - Batmobile, was not well received here at Brickset, but this one looks to be much better.
Summary
42155 The Batman - Batcycle, 641 pieces.
£49.99 / $49.99 / €54.99 | 7.8p/7.8c/8.6c per piece.
Buy at LEGO.com »
A good-looking model of the Caped Crusader's ride
- Looks to be accurate to the source material
- But, not overly 'Batman-ised'
- None
The set was provided for review by LEGO. All opinions expressed are those of the author.
The prototype
Unsurprisingly, Robert Pattinson's Batman rides a predominantly black bike that motorcycling websites claim is a modified Harley-Davidson FL Softtail. Unlike many of the caped crusader's vehicles it looks fairly normal, and in this case much like any other retro road bike.
Parts and stickers
There are no stickers in the set and no new parts designs either. There are, however, some recolours, most prominently the black wheels, 46334 RIM, NARROW, DIA. 75X15.8, NO. 1 which were first produced for 10269 Harley-Davidson Fat Boy, in 2019.
The front forks are recolours of those that first appeared in 42107 Ducati Panigale V4 R.
Also of note is 49491 CROSS BLOCK 2X4, one of the least used Technic connectors, which has been cast in black for the first time.
Construction
As it's a relatively small model there's not much to say about construction other than it's performed in two parts, with the back end and engine being built from the first bag and the front and fairings being added from parts in the second one.
The completed model
The model looks much like any other model of a road bike, and if you didn't know it was a Batcycle you would not really be able to tell, which is not necessarily a bad thing.
I am very glad to see that the chain is on the inside of the swing arm, which isn't always the case on Technic bikes.
All the functionality you'd expect to find on a model of a bike is present: front and rear suspension, steering and a 4-cylinder engine linked to the chain that drives the back wheel.
The centre stand can be pushed back to enable it to be rolled freely.
The back end differs from most production road bikes in that the swing arms, and thus the wheelbase, are longer than normal, and the rear suspension springs are attached to a low point on the frame, so they do not work particularly efficiently.
Other models of the vehicle such as this one show the same arrangement, so it must be accurate. I suspect aesthetics were more important than practicality when designing the version seen in the film.
The engine cylinders are completely obscured, although the top part of the covering can be removed to view the upper pair moving in and out as you wheel the bike along.
Verdict
Without the Batman branding this is a decent model of a road bike that's on a par with other recent Technic motorcycles. With it, it's still a decent model but one that probably costs more than it would otherwise. Presumably the licence will encourage sales to Batman fans as well as those of motorcycles.
That said, it seems reasonable value for money, at $49.99, £49.99, €54.99, and you'll find it for sale now at LEGO.com.
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33 comments on this article
I'm not normally into Technic, but this looks great.
This might be the very first Technic set I buy since I came out of my Dark ages, back in 2007. Last one was when I was a kid.... and offered by my parents in the early 80s. I like this one a lot. . But for the unsightly red and blue pins,of course. Thank you for your review and excellent pictures.
Looks good if a little generic. But I guess that's down to the bike's design than the set itself.
@Brick_t_ said:
"Thank you for your review and excellent pictures. "
Thank you. It's always easier to photograph black models than white ones!
Can you please post a comparison picture with the Ducati? I'd like to see them side-by-side, since the Ducati is physically about the same size, but it costs $20 more and has a two-speed gearbox inside. That's the major thing the Ducati has that the Batcycle doesn't; the things the Batcycle has that the Ducati doesn't are two symmetrically located springs for the rear suspension (instead of one off-center spring), a chain located on the inside of the swing arm (instead of on the outside), and a kickstand (instead of a floor stand).
Great review and some very helpful images. The 42127 Batmobile had several glaring inaccuracies compared to the actual vehicle, which thankfully doesn't appear to be the case here. Although the bodywork profile sould be lower, as can be seen in the production photo, which means as with the Batmobile some modificatons are in order. But a decent set for the price, and already ordered.
Set is priced well and the model looks great (for a Technic that is), so Technic fans will enjoy it.
However, there's nothing Batman about it. I don't blame the designers, as it looks like the real one, it's just that the source is generic as well. I wonder what was the reason behind picking that one as a set to produce.
looks great besides the red axles. seriously ruins the set, i remember this from the late days of bionicle. they still do black 2L axles now, it would've been so easy to replace them, why didn't they?
Looks great, design-wise, but the bright blue and red bits really detract from it looking properly Batman.
Haven't seen any of the Batman movies since the Nolan trilogy, but I can't help but feel this looks utterly boring. Might not be an issue with the movie, I guess they're striving for more realism which would make this look work. But as source material for a Lego set.....to me it just doesn't do it. Maybe if they had a Batman figure to go with it? But as it is, neither looks nor functionality are that interesting.
Best thing about it are probably the very useful recolors of those parts. But when looking on the color front, why red axles and blue pins? Why no black axles like in the Bugatti Bolide?
Price doesn't help either. In itself €50 doesn't even seem that bad. Until you realize the Ducati has been continuously discounted for ages, at around the same price. And sure, that might also mean it will soon be discontinued, while this one is still brand new. But that does make this feel like a rather poor replacement.
Not a terrible set, but just very meh.
@TomKazutara said:
"* Le me looking at red and blue that ruin the whole estattic of that black bike *"
I've told you before that it doesn't bother me: it's part of the Technic aesthetic and to be expected.
@Huw said:
" @TomKazutara said:
"* Le me looking at red and blue that ruin the whole estattic of that black bike *"
I've told you before that it doesn't bother me: it's part of the Technic aesthetic and to be expected.
"
Hear, hear! I actually quite like it as part of the defining aesthetic of Technic.
It also looks like the designer has specifically looked to maintain red & black connectors as much as possible, even down to the use of red pins with stud.
@elangab said:
"However, there's nothing Batman about it."
I don't know, those sort of look like bat ears above and behind the headlight. I do agree that if you probably wouldn't associate it with Batman if you didn't already know what it was, however.
Number one reason I own zero Technic sets: the exposed pins and unreasonable color choice for them. Every Technic set I've ever seen looks unfinished and ugly as sin. This is no exception.
@Huw said:
" @Brick_t_ said:
"Thank you for your review and excellent pictures. "
Thank you. It's always easier to photograph black models than white ones!
"
Very humble response @Huw. As someone who has dabbled in photography, I know it's really is quite a skill to be able to photograph big black objects well. Anyway, I'm sure it would've pleased Batman, who only works in black, and sometimes very very dark grey.
"a bike that motorcycling websites claim is a modified Harley-Davidson FL Softtail."
The front forks are from a Hardley Ableson... The bikes frame is inspired by Ducati, the long swingarm by the Hayabusa. For the engine they somehow Frankensteined two BMW engines together. That's why you have the somewhat odd engine layout (that's not visible in the photos in this review).
Here's an story about the design:
https://www.bikeexif.com/batcycle-batman-motorcycle
I'm not much of a Batman fan, but this seems like a decent parts-pack for MOCing motorbikes. You get the fat rear tyre, the front forks, the silver chain...
Wow a chain inside the swingarm. You dont see that every day.
But why does Lego always put the tires facing the wrong way? In motorcycle tires, the threads always go inward! Just look at the source material photo for crying out loud
Pretty badass lookin' bike. Gonna' pick this up.
Gonna' swap out some parts with chrome elements and pearl silver.
Looks ok for a motorcycle, but I would never think Batman just by looking at it.
I grew up with the 1989 Burton Batman movie, so to me something that's supposed to evoke the feeling needs to be more extravagant. I also loved the Nolan trilogy but even there the styling was far more cartoonish than with the newest iteration.
So, thanks for the review but no thanks to this set.
No 49491 CROSS BLOCK 2X4 jokes??
Definitely seems like a well-put-together Technic recreation of the source material. Granted, that source material isn't as visually distinct as the Nolan equivalent, the Bat-Pod, and its corresponding promo set 5004590, but the set is functional at its goals.
As a Bionicle fan I have long made peace with colorful pins and axles, but I do question the decision to have the gear for the chain be blue.
With these recent Technic Batman sets, I wonder if other Technic sets of licensed themes are in the cards. I'd be curious to see a modern Technic Star Wars.
@Huw said:
"It's always easier to photograph black models than white ones!"
Ha! Oh, that's rich. When I got my first digital camera, I deleted about 1000 pictures that I took on the first day, not saving even one, because I was trying to photograph a model that was almost entirely black. The next day I put my theatrical lighting training to use, and was able to start getting usable photos. These days, things have changed, of course. My current digital camera isn't that spectacular (other than having 40x optical zoom while still being pocketable), but I can take photos of our club layouts at outdoor shows at dusk without a flash, and they look like they were taken at midday.
Regarding the rear suspension, what you think of as "practical" may not factor in the wearing of a cape. Also, they have the option of getting stronger shocks, even if they need to be custom made, where this set is limited to whatever is in current production.
@elangab:
The headlight cowling has bat ears. It's subtle, to be sure, but it is there.
@WizardOfOss:
The Batman is supposed to be somewhat like Batman: Year One, where he's still kinda figuring out what works. Equipment is therefore not as polished as it is in BvS.
@PurpleDave said:
"My current digital camera isn't that spectacular (other than having 40x optical zoom while still being pocketable), but I can take photos of our club layouts at outdoor shows at dusk without a flash, and they look like they were taken at midday."
That sounds interesting. May I ask which model of camera you use?
I like it as a model, but compared to the source material it looks like this bike has been on a steady diet since the move came out... Give it something to eat and fatten it up somewhat.
@TomKazutara said:
" @Huw said:
" @TomKazutara said:
"* Le me looking at red and blue that ruin the whole estattic of that black bike *"
I've told you before that it doesn't bother me: it's part of the Technic aesthetic and to be expected.
"
I am sorry, but to 'expect' that much colorful pins, axles and gears for Technic is just a very low standard ."
I hope you realise how incredibly arrogant this sounds. It almost seems to me as if you think that your opinion is superior to others.
@AustinPowers said:
" @PurpleDave said:
"My current digital camera isn't that spectacular (other than having 40x optical zoom while still being pocketable), but I can take photos of our club layouts at outdoor shows at dusk without a flash, and they look like they were taken at midday."
That sounds interesting. May I ask which model of camera you use? "
Canon PowerShot SX720 HS.
I wonder if the scale will allow 4526 to ride it? Seems to sit too high, possibly height needed to fit the 4 pistons. The engine exhausts look cool, the top bodywork maybe could be improved especially around the front light.
They really need to replace those red and blue pins… That’s all I can see…
I like this a lot, and not being very 'Batmanized' is a major plus point (especially with the only worthwhile Batman being from 1966 of course!).
The size is also great. I really liked the look of the 42130 but it would have just been too huge to display with any other Lego motorcycles.
I noticed that one of the rear springs is not connected all the way? Is that due to the spring strength when connecting it? Is it a byproduct of testing the feature out and it somewhat weakens the connection, or was it just not probably clicked into place? I’m curious
@rex501 said:
"I noticed that one of the rear springs is not connected all the way? Is that due to the spring strength when connecting it? Is it a byproduct of testing the feature out and it somewhat weakens the connection, or was it just not probably clicked into place? I’m curious "
The latter I suspect!
I love the Technic bikes, I can't wait to get my hands on this one! The black will really add some nice contrast to the other Technic bikes.