RoboRiders

RoboRiders was a TECHNIC theme launched by LEGO in 2000. It succeeded Slizer as a series of affordably priced characters with the suggestion of a world and story behind them. It was short-lived, being replaced by BIONICLE in 2001. A total of eight retail and eight promotional sets was released.
== Description ==
The RoboRiders were designed as robotic, anthropomorphic bikes, complete with a faceplate and special gear to suggest adaption to a specific environment; for example, Swamp has two katana mounted near its front wheel to cut through undergrowth. These tools usually integrated a play function - pressing down on Swamp's head swings the katana forward.
The main selling point of the RoboRiders, however, was their Talisman Wheels. All of the RoboRiders' front wheels are set in a special launching tray which, when pulled out, can be bent upward and released to send the wheel flying forward as an attack. Like the discs from Slizer before them, the RoboRiders wheels are also collectible, with the ones included in each set random-packed, and more available from the supplementary 8515 RoboRider Wheels set. Continuing the concept of special packaging that began with the Slizer sets, the RoboRiders came in plastic cans which, when placed in a freezer, could reveal a code to unlock that RoboRider's respective stage in the RoboRiders minisite's online game.
The second release wave consisted solely of 8516 The Boss, a larger-scale model that could be built in two configurations, one of which allows the RoboRider to separate its upper chassis from its wheels for flight mode.
== Story ==
The RoboRiders websiteLEGO TECHNIC Robo Riders Story Page and UK catalogUK 2000 catalog - pages 68-69 describe a story where the RoboRiders battle against a monster virus on the Web. It is unclear if this was intended to be reflective of the story concept for RoboRiders in its entirety, or merely the premise of the web-based RoboRiders Game unlockable with the codes from the RoboRider cans.LEGO TECHNIC RoboRiders Game Page
Aside from the aforementioned UK catalog, most print media does not mention the virus. Instead, magazines (such as LEGO Mania Magazine and World Club Magazine) simply focused on describing each RoboRider's ability to safely navigate dangerous environments.LEGO Mania Magazine September-October 2000 - pages 18-19World Club Magazine Number 2 2000 - pages 7, 8, 9 World Club Magazine indicates that they battle one another in a grand competition to win the title of "The Real RoboRider".World Club Magazine Number 4 2000 - pages 6-7
==The RoboRiders==
The RoboRiders are cyborgs that possess human brains and mechanical bike bodies. LEGO Mania Magazine and World Club Magazine provided descriptions of the main six RoboRiders. The Boss received comparatively little information, but is described as the next generation of stronger, faster, and smarter RoboRiders in its Shop At Home description.
*Swamp - A lime RoboRider with teal wheels and katanas, equipped to navigate poisonous swamps.
*Lava - A red RoboRider with orange wheels and halberds, equipped to navigate volcanic regions.
*Frost - A white RoboRider with trans-light blue wheels and ice spears, equipped to navigate icy drifts.
*Onyx - A black RoboRider with glow-in-the-dark wheels and twin laser cannons, equipped to navigate rocky mountains.
*Dust - A tan RoboRider with dark grey wheels and spring-loaded harpoons, equipped to navigate sandy deserts.
*Power - A yellow RoboRider with yellow wheels and arm-mounted adjustable brakes, equipped to navigate urban environments.
*The Boss - The next generation of RoboRiders with two alternate forms: a three-wheeled motorcycle and a detachable flying craft.
== Talisman Wheels ==
Each RoboRider came with either two or three Talisman Wheels, and more could be found random-packed in 8515 RoboRider Wheels. The Talisman Wheels are launched by RoboRiders as projectiles at incoming obstacles. The wheels are randomly decorated with one of sixteen talismans:
* Axer
* Blazooka
* Chain-Saw
* Driller
* Dynamite
* Flame
* Fuel
* Grab
* Laser
* Ninja
* Rope
* Scout
* Skeleton
* Stunner
* Toxic
* Twin-Saw
Each talisman could be collected in nine colors:
* Bright Bluish Green (Swamp)
* Bright Orange (Lava)
* Transparent Light Blue (Frost)
* Phosphorescent White (Onyx)
* Dark Grey (Dust) 
* Bright Yellow (Power)
* Black (The Boss)
* Transparent Fluorescent Reddish Orange (only in RoboRider Wheels packs)
* Gold (only in 880010-12 combo packs)
With sixteen talismans and nine colors, this meant that a total of one hundred and forty-four Talisman Wheels was available to collect.
== Sets ==
;Combination Packs
* 78675 Original RoboRiders Pack
* 880010 Swamp/Lava Pack
* 880011 Frost/Onyx Pack
* 880012 Dust/Power Pack
;Combination models
Each RoboRider had instructions for a combination model in the back of the instruction manual. The pairs were as follows:
* Lava/Swamp
* Power/Onyx
* Dust/Frost
Additionally, instructions for the following combinations were available on the RoboRiders website:
* Dust + Lava + Swamp
* Frost + Onyx + Power
* Dust + Frost + Onyx + Swamp
* Dust + Frost + Onyx + Power + Swamp
* Dust + Frost + Lava + Onyx + Power + Swamp
== Development ==
With the development of what would become BIONICLE taking more time than anticipated, a placeholder theme was needed to keep something new on the market in the interim between that line's launch and the end of Slizer. RoboRiders was this filler line, combining the character-based impulse-buy concept of Slizer with the Create N' Race styling of TECHNIC in the year 2000.
The early storyline outlined by Christian Faber describes the RoboRiders competing in obstacle courses in the Pit, which is overseen by the RoboMaster.Unboxing Secrets with the Creator of LEGO BIONICLE: Christian Faber!
== Gallery ==
File:Code.gif|Instructions for using the codes on the minisite
Robo Riders 6.jpg|Power
Robo Riders 5.jpg|Dust
Robo Riders 4.jpg|Onyx
Robo Riders 3.jpg|Frost
Robo Riders 2.jpg|Lava
Robo riders 1.jpg|Swamp
8516 Boss 2.jpg|The Boss
lego_s_h_scan_-_roboriders.jpg|A catalog page with a description of The Boss
lego_mania_magazine_scan.jpg|A page from LEGO Mania Magazine, advertising the six-way "Super ComboRider" combiner
Roborider_combo.jpg|The Frost/Dust combiner
Roborider_combo_3.jpg|The Power/Onyx combiner
Roborider_combo_2.jpg|The Lava/Swamp combiner
Roboriders_combiner.jpg|The other combiners
kabaya.JPG|Small combiners featured on the back of the Kabaya Roborider sets
== See also ==
* Slizer/Throwbot
* BIONICLE
== References ==
Category:Themes
*
Category:Themes introduced in 2000
Category:Discontinued Themes
Category:Subthemes
Category:TECHNIC
Category:Constraction Themes