Posted February 23, 201114 yr As the first pictures of the NinjaGo Theme leaked last year, this set was the only one that appealed to me immediately. I knew that I would buy it if I stumble over it. Today was the day and here is my review of the set: 2259 Skull Motorbike Brickset Flickr Link Theme: NinjaGo Name: Skull Motorbike Set Number: 2259 Pieces: 157 Figures: 2 Released: 2011 Price: €14,99 First some shots of the Box and Content. Front 01 Box Front by plisskeneb, on Flickr Back (showing the action feature, more on that later). 02 Box Back by plisskeneb, on Flickr Instruction booklet with DSS. "Only" two stickers in this set (I didn't apply them). 03 Instructions by plisskeneb, on Flickr Random Page (you can see where the stickers would go) 04 Random Page by plisskeneb, on Flickr The other content of the box, four polybags filled with gorgeous plastic 05 Bags by plisskeneb, on Flickr Some pieces of interest 06 Pieces of Interest by plisskeneb, on Flickr The Minifigs Jay, the blue ninja. No backprinting. 07 Ninja by plisskeneb, on Flickr Jay fully armed 08 Armed by plisskeneb, on Flickr Chopov, the skeleton with the cool helmet and armor. Nice face 09 Skeleton by plisskeneb, on Flickr The Build Step 5 10 Step 5 by plisskeneb, on Flickr Step 11 11 Step 11 by plisskeneb, on Flickr Step 14 12 Step 14 by plisskeneb, on Flickr Step 17 12 Step 17 by plisskeneb, on Flickr Step 21 Adding a tire... 13 Step 21 by plisskeneb, on Flickr Step 23 ... and some flames. 14 Step 23 by plisskeneb, on Flickr Step 24 The bone mudguard. Cool looking but pretty useless 15 Step 24 by plisskeneb, on Flickr Step 29 Some front details 16 Step 29 by plisskeneb, on Flickr Step 6 (yeah, thats right. Step 6. It's a submodel. Everything's still in order ) 17 Step 6 of the submodel by plisskeneb, on Flickr Step 33 More front details 18 Step 33 by plisskeneb, on Flickr Step 7 (another submodel) The front skull 19 Step 7 by plisskeneb, on Flickr Spare parts 20 Spare Parts by plisskeneb, on Flickr The completed model The Bike 21 Complete by plisskeneb, on Flickr Front 22 Bike Front by plisskeneb, on Flickr Back 23 Bike Back by plisskeneb, on Flickr The complete set 24 Complete w Figs by plisskeneb, on Flickr And now as a little extra a small demonstration of the mentioned action feature of this set. In this picture you can see the lever on the right side of the bike (left to the purple stud) 25 AF01 by plisskeneb, on Flickr The next step is to pull it back. The mechanism draws the chain and the front skull will rise. 26 AF02 by plisskeneb, on Flickr If you make these steps a little faster, the skull will come down at the front of the bike, smashing everything in his way. 27 AF03 by plisskeneb, on Flickr Rating Playability/Driveability: 8/10 The bike is great. It rolls very well, it is mean looking and the action feature works surprisingly well. Design: 8/10 Like I said before, the bike is mean looking and I like that. The build itself is nothing special but the mechanism of the action feature is simple and nice. Price: 9/10 I think it is a great value for the money you spend. Minifigures: 10/10 Jay and Chapov are very nice figures with cool prints. I like the new skeleton torso and the armor is great. Really outstanding is the helmet. If it isn't appearing in other sets of the next waves this set will get very wanted. Parts: 7/10 Some purple, some white, a short golden chain, the mentioned helmet and a lot of Technic parts. The feeling about this is a little mixed. Overall: 9/10 Pretty high I know, but I really love that bike. With a few modifications it would be perfect for Lobo (DC Comics character btw). Edited February 23, 201114 yr by Peppermint_M
February 23, 201114 yr Nice review, but unfortunately I really dont like this set. It's not what I would buy to son, ever. The bike is way oversized and minifig looks like some twisted nazi and I think that should be out of bounds for Lego.
February 24, 201114 yr Very good review Plissken! The set is decent at best, but not something that I would really spend my money on. Interestingly though, that oversized skull motorbike somehow reminds me of DC Comic's Lobo's Spacehog interstellar motorcycle.
February 25, 201114 yr Great review. I kept thinking it was strange that we didn't have a good review of this set yet. This set really appealed to me, so I bought it, but have not built it yet. I was itching to bust it and try for my first review, but I'm lazy so had not got to it yet. I think for the price $15 US you get a decent value. And heck... it's a biker skelly vs a ninja set? ZOMG!
February 26, 201114 yr Great review Plissken I do agree with Cwetqo. Not a fan of the Nijago series... I don't get the theme very well I guess. Motorcycles, skeletons, and ninjas... back to what Cwetqo said; the bike IS pretty big. I would buy it if it were much smaller. If only TLG would make a chopper for city. I do like the look of the back of the bike. The front is lacking. I've never liked those skinny wheels. They're ugly, boring, dated. The value doesn't seem too bad and that new 1x4 trans light bar looks neat. Thanks for a good review
March 1, 201114 yr I have been hoping a review from this set for a while, thank you! Very nice review!
March 4, 201114 yr I've been hooked on Ningago ever since I saw this set, really set my inner child free. I cant get over the fact this set is an actuall nazi biker skelleton vs elemental ninja set.
March 4, 201114 yr Nice review, but unfortunately I really dont like this set. It's not what I would buy to son, ever. The bike is way oversized and minifig looks like some twisted nazi and I think that should be out of bounds for Lego. I've been hooked on Ningago ever since I saw this set, really set my inner child free. I cant get over the fact this set is an actuall nazi biker skelleton vs elemental ninja set. Everyone's using the term "Nazi" to refer to the look of the helmet Chopov wears. I might not be an expert on WWII history, but I don't see why this generic army helmet in black stands out automatically as a Nazi soldier's helmet. Looking at Wikipedia, it does resemble a Stahlhelm, but the only real trait that makes it stand out as such is its black color-- and considering this is on the Earth-elemental skeleton (corresponding to Cole, the black ninja), and considering that all of the skeletons wear black armor, I can't think of many alternatives. Dark Stone Grey (BL's Dark Bluish Gray) might have worked, but IMO that wouldn't have looked nearly as good as the black does.
March 4, 201114 yr Everyone's using the term "Nazi" to refer to the look of the helmet Chopov wears. I might not be an expert on WWII history, but I don't see why this generic army helmet in black stands out automatically as a Nazi soldier's helmet. Looking at Wikipedia, it does resemble a Stahlhelm, but the only real trait that makes it stand out as such is its black color-- and considering this is on the Earth-elemental skeleton (corresponding to Cole, the black ninja), and considering that all of the skeletons wear black armor, I can't think of many alternatives. Dark Stone Grey (BL's Dark Bluish Gray) might have worked, but IMO that wouldn't have looked nearly as good as the black does. I know the Nazi's where not the only evil army to walk the earth, but it's the first thing that comes to most peoples heads.
March 5, 201114 yr So, if a helmet based on the US army design is coloured black it is Nazi? That is the exact same helmet as the Toy Story army men headgear, except black. It looks nothing like a Stahlhelm apart from being black in colour. The helmet resembles a SWAT team design or just a regular kevlar helmet in black. Darth Vader's helmet was based on a Stahlhelm, does that make it Nazi? I mean the army has Stormtroopers in it and the Imperial Officers are just missing certain symbols, replaced with more "SciFi" details. Heck, costumers buy Jackboots! The entire Empire was the Reich IN SPACE. Does this make them Nazi and therefore deplorable and unpurchaseable? Or am I to bet that Cwetqo and co quite happily play with Star Wars sets, play the games and watch the films themselves? It is a skeleton with a black army helmet (The pawn of an evil Wizard/Ninja). Not a mass murderer.
March 5, 201114 yr Thanks for the review 'Plissken', I only brought one of these because my son begged me to buy one and actually I liked building it....I consider it well designed with that funny front fork play feature....ouch that's gotta hurt in the way of that moving part ! The helmet is like an old school bikers helmet......though it does sort of helmet used in a tv series of days gone by....'Col. Hogannnnn ! I see nothing, I know nothing !' Brick On.....Spin On !
March 5, 201114 yr I'm not saying that because of the fact the helmet makes me think of a nazi army/ evil army, it should not be bought. I love the theme, I find the whole evil army type thing very entertaining. I'm just saying the whole thing is a massive collection of tropes in one, with the biker, skeleton and evil army cliques in one. When you think of evil army, how could you not be at least inspired by nazis- they are histories evil army, surpassing all those in the past. I’m not condemning the set or Lego for this, nor am I saying I like the theme for the nazi association in my mind. I’m just saying that is what I think of. If I offended anyone or dipped my toe in too far for such an inexperienced user, I apologize. I hope this isn’t going to forever lessen your opinions of me and I can regain the respect of you folks as I continue to contribute to the site.
March 5, 201114 yr Nice review. At first, I thought it was just the bike, so when I found out about the function, I was pleasantly surprised. The USA price is great, but the Canadian one isn't, so I ain't gettin' it!
March 5, 201114 yr Everyone's using the term "Nazi" to refer to the look of the helmet Chopov wears. I might not be an expert on WWII history, but I don't see why this generic army helmet in black stands out automatically as a Nazi soldier's helmet. ... I think this is more related to the way the skeleton is a biker, than the particular look of the helmet. So that the association with Nazi symbolism is more triggered by the chopper bike, and potential associations with Hells Angels who use the helmet (which is not always related to the signaling of an affinity with a fascist ideology). Perhaps if the skeleton had the helmet, and no bike, less people would interpret the symbolism in the way that many have done, which is not just in this forum.
March 6, 201114 yr Great review,I really like minifigs and it has useful parts but set itself doesn't make any sense: Ninja fighting skeleton on motorbike?!
March 6, 201114 yr I think this is more related to the way the skeleton is a biker, than the particular look of the helmet. So that the association with Nazi symbolism is more triggered by the chopper bike, and potential associations with Hells Angels who use the helmet (which is not always related to the signaling of an affinity with a fascist ideology). Perhaps if the skeleton had the helmet, and no bike, less people would interpret the symbolism in the way that many have done, which is not just in this forum. That is a very good point. It still kind of bugs me that people throw the word "Nazi" around like that was literally LEGO's intent, but your explanation does make the assumption seem a lot more logical. I have to say I prefer the skeleton in this set (Chopov) to Bonezai, who gets no helmet or headgear at all. He's the one who really needs headgear, too, since his loincloth/rags are white, and his color scheme is therefore the most boring of all the skeletons.
March 17, 201113 yr Got this today for 13 bucks. Not that much of a discount but still. Haven't opened it (I want to clean my room, and this being the reward) but the review made me purchase this over the Star Wars BP and the 7.99 Ninjago set with Kai. Good stuff and nice review!
May 31, 201113 yr Hi, my son bought this set while ago. He's a big Ninjago fan. He's (since yesterday) 4. With guidance he build the set together. Great fun to play with.
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