The latest wave of LEGO Technic sets have hit the shelves. While there isn’t a mammoth-sized set this time around, there are a few potential crowd-pleasures. THE BATMAN fans will possibly rejoice at the subtle drop of new sets, including LEGO Technic 42155 The BATMAN – BATCYCLE. Join us as we take a quick look at this 641-piece set, that is currently available as of March 1st, and retails for US $49.99 | CAN $64.99 | UK £49.99.
The LEGO Group provided The Brothers Brick with an early copy of this set for review. Providing TBB with products for review guarantees neither coverage nor positive reviews.
Unboxing the parts and instructions
The box shows some nice angles of the bike, but no comparisons with the real one, which is interesting. This is also where all the BATMAN branding stops, as there is none on the model itself. That said, it’s clear that the designers did their best to replicate the real life version.
Inside the box there are three #1 bags, two #2 bags, a final bag of larger elements, and a set of loose tires.
As previously mentioned, there really isn’t branding beyond the box. The instructions are standard Technic fare with no unique intro pages.
The build
We begin in the center of the motorcycle, with the engine. This dense little block is filled with attachment points for the steps to come.
The engine has four pistons, but as we’ll see in a moment, they’re pretty hidden.
Next we add some structure, as well as decorative piping. The newer 12-tooth blue gear can be seen on the side. Eventually the chain will wrap around it and transfer rotation (via bevel gears) to the engine pistons.
At this point we add a little more structure along with the ever-important kickstand.
The kickstand and central bit of structure are helpful in keeping things upright and stable while we add pieces.
Next up we fill out the body with beams and “piping”, as well as some ball-joint linkages for both stability and to fill out the shape.
The giant back tire is actually mounted on two wheels positioned side by side. This style of wheel hub, which was also seen in the Harley Davidson Fat Boy motorcycle, is new in black.
Then we add the chain (on seen in grey once before with the UCS Razor Crest) and a guard. A second spring will be added to give the back some firm suspension. This is the first time we’ve seen a spring in all black, and this is the perfect opportunity for it.
We gussy both sides up with some additional piping. Here you can see how the lower pistons of the engine block are completely covered and non-visible.
Now we really start to realize the model taking shape with the addition of the seat and fuel tank portion.
The underside is tidied up with a few more panels and the kickstand fits neatly into the frame. It does touch the chain, which is a little bothersome for the perfectionist in me. It doesn’t greatly inhibit the movement, particularly with its smooth, rounded edges, but it just feels wrong. The chain can be pinched if you press on the kickstand at all.
Next up is the front wheel, which very much resembles the real bike. It’s mounted with a set of another type of spring, new in black. Additional parts of the engine now cover the entirety of the pistons. On one hand this is an odd choice. Although, the instructions do suggest that they are intended to be pulled off to expose things.
There are a handful of Technic panels in this model that are all quite new overall, only showing up in a few recent sets. In particular, this kit shares many panels with the fancy Ferrari Daytona SP3 supercar.
The one feature of this model that gives it a true BATCYCLE vibe is the front face. It has the “bat ears” characteristic of the hero. This is fairly accurate to the real bike, although a bit elongated.
The completed model
When all is done, the finished product is a fairly good representation of the real thing. At least, about as good as you can make it at this scale. All the red and blue showing from the pins and axles is a bit annoying for display. However, this set was clearly intended to be more for play than display.
As far as features go, the back wheel drives the pistons, which again, you can only see if you remove the blocks on the side. Additionally, the motorcycle also has pretty good suspension.
And here you can see the kickstand being folded into its home. The slack in the chain helps you get away with these components touching.
Conclusions and recommendations
Overall, this is a slick little bike that is sure to please those interested in motorcycles. There’s not a ton to it, and in some ways it’s kind of “bare-bones”, but it does resemble the movie version and will likely make fans happy. In this humble reviewer’s opinion, it doesn’t necessarily feel like it has enough “umph” to match the price point, but the price per piece suggests that it is a good value, especially if you simply want the parts.
LEGO Technic 42155 BATMAN – THE BATCYCLE is currently available at most retailers and is priced at US $49.99 | CAN $64.99 | UK £49.99. It may also be available from third-party sellers on Amazon and eBay.
The LEGO Group provided The Brothers Brick with an early copy of this set for review. Providing TBB with products for review guarantees neither coverage nor positive reviews.
Thanks for this review! Price per piece seems reasonable to me, and I’m stoked to get those wheels in black and the tires more available. (As well as generally all the parts are in nice usable color).
A bit odd that it has a center stand instead of a more typical sidestand, I’m curious if that is specific to the movie bike? Rubbing on the chain is annoying, though once a rider sits on it the suspension compression might move it away.