07.03.07

Gakken 1/20 Ride Armor (Cycle Mode)

Posted in 1/20, Cyclone/Ride Armor, Gakken, MOSPEADA/RT New Gen at 5:06 am by micronian

 

REVIEW(UPDATED): Ride Armor on the roll

Packaging & Extras (3/5)
Nothing really to it but it gets the job done just the same as the box for the other ride armor.  Unlike the other ride armor, the back of the box here does not show several prototype toys.  There were only two 1/20 scale figures released.

 

Charm & Collectibility (3/5)
This is a pretty hard toy to come across so true Gensis Climber fans probably would rate it higher.  The bike itself is composed mostly of diecast which will attract a few casual collectors.  The unattractive plastic rider, odd scale, and lack of transformation assure that this will never be too hot of a collector’s item.  The manufacturing stamp is pretty prominently located on the back of the writer as demonstrated below.

 

Sculpt, Detail, and Paint (6/10)
For the most part the representation of both the bike and the rider are fantastic but there are a few let downs.  The rider looks a bit out of proportion, kind of unnaturally thin from being stretched somewhat laterally.  The back of the bike accomodates the rear tire by cutting the exhaust pipes in half.  Paint on the bike looks great, it’s spruced up nicely by the included decals, but the rider is completely unpainted and looks odd.  Gakken was thinking ahead though and made the rider completely removable so fans could paint him on their own.

 

Design (5/10)
Seriously, where’s the kickstand?  Someone please let me know if I just have the misfortune of owning one that has lost its kickstand throughout the years.  As it is, without a kickstand, this thing is a bit annoying to display.  I’m sure it made a fun little toy though with the rubber wheels that spin very easily and no kickstand dangling down like the Matchbox version had to stop children from swinging it through sharp turns.  Still, a kickstand that could have been either up, or down, should have been considered essential.

 

Durability & Build (9/10)
No kickstand means one less thing to break off I suppose.  The diecast bike is rock solid, as you might imagine, but also prone to a bit of chipping.  The removable plastic rider is a bit rubbery and seems like he’d be able to stand up to some serious play.  Honestly, other than paint-wear I don’t see this toy having any durability shortcomings.

 

Articulation (2/10)
As I said when I did my review of the Matchbox Armoured Cyclone, a motorcycle CAN be articulated.  Moving handle bars are a start, a moving kickstand, a suspension, wheels that move, and pedals/breaks/clutch/misc would get a bike a perfect score.  This bike has a rider that could also have been made poseable but was not.  As such, this toy is more of a cool little statue that would seem perfect for displays… if it had a kickstand.

 

Total Score (28/50)
As a huge Genesis Climber fan I think this toy has more charm than I gave it credit for.  It’s a cool little representation of the bike that looks great amongst other Genesis Climber merchandise.  However, there’s not a whole lot to it and anyone looking for a toy with any bells and whistles would inevitably be let down by this product.  It’s a lot of fun for Ride Armor (Cyclone) fans but there’s not much here for anyone else.

Permalink