[BarbaraGordon]

Street Date: 2021-09-01
MSRP: $25
Price I Paid: $20
Scale: 7-inch (or 1/10)

Target, Walmart, and Amazon usually sell this for $20.

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I've been waiting for McFarlane to release the "perfect" Batcycle so that I can buy several and display the Batfamily charging into battle together. Like many, I was excited about the one based on the Batcycle used in the live-action The Batman directed by Matt Reeves, but after seeing videos and in-hand pictures, I decided it's not something I want. Action figures don't have soft flesh like human beings, so their bodies don't conform to the contours of their corresponding vehicles. Also, many of these action figures' heads can't be tilted backwards enough so that they're looking forward when almost lying prone on the live-action Batcycle.

I decided to backtrack and get the White Knight Batcycle instead. The MSRP is lower than the one for the live-action Batcycle, and it's usually available for $20. I also like that it's designed so that the rider sits upright rather than lying on their stomachs.

The Batcycle comes with an info card. It's held in place on top of a plastic tray with long zip ties. The front wheel housing can be extended once the Batcycle is out of the box. Unextended, the Batcycle is 13-inches long. Extended, the Batcycle is 15.5-inches long. I prefer how the bike looks unextended, so that's how I'm going to display it.

More than likely your eyes will be drawn to the massive rear tire, which is very tall and wide. It's so wide that the Batcycle does not tip sideways, so no kickstand required.

I've been reluctant to buy the White Knight Batcycle for two major reasons. First, I don't really like the exhaust pipes as they look like they'd spew smoke and fumes right into the rider's face. The pipes are also in the way when you're trying to pose a figure on the bike. Second, it doesn't look like there's a steering mechanism, as if this Batcycle can only go forward in a straight line.

There's not much that I can do about the lack of steering, but I found out that the exhaust pipes are basically a single piece of plastic attached to the main body with two screws. One can easily remove the pipes without impacting the Batcycle's structural integrity or utility.

Characters with long capes don't look good on the Batcycle since the capes just drape over the rear wheel.

Even though this Batcycle was designed with a thin seating area to accommodate hard plastic, most of the DC action figures still look like they're partially standing, especially with their hands on the handlebars. Of the figures I tried, only the White Knight Joker body (which I'm using with a Barbara Gordon head), the New 52/Rebirth Nightwing, and the New 52 Red Hood can be fully seated and still reach the handlebars.

I gave Batman Beyond's alternate hands to the Gotham Knights Red Hood, and they can grip the handlebars comfortably. However, due to the bulkiness of the thighs and the stiffness of the upper body, he's also basically standing rather than sitting on the bike. The same applies to the John Cena Peacemaker figure -- the hands fit well on the handlebars, but he's not fully seated.

Gal Gadot Wonder Woman looks great on this Batcycle, though she can't be fully seated either. Instead, only the pointed tips of her skirt touch the seat.

Areas of concern:
-- Overall, this Batcycle is quite sturdy, but the foot pedals are the thinnest parts. I imagine they're the easiest pieces to break if you're not careful.