Review: 42036 Motorcycle
Posted by Huw,
Motorcycles are a regular fixture in the Technic range and it seems like it was just yesterday that the last road bike was released. In fact it was 2010 when the last one, 8051, was made.
Is this new one better than the old? There are pros and cons...
The build is straightforward and there are no new parts in the set so I won't dwell on those aspects.
There are, however, parts in new colours: panels, angle beams and connectors in medium blue.
I'll mention the stickers before going any further: I don't normally apply them as you know, for reasons I have documented. However this model looks terrible without them because the 5x7 panels covering the engine are black and look totally out of place against the medium blue panes above and below them.
Hidden under the panels is a V4 engine that is of course linked to the drive chain via a large number of gears as you'll see in a photo below.
The right hand side looks much better than the left because the chain is not visible.
With the side panels removed you can see the crazy geometry that's going on and the gears linking the engine to the chain.
How does it compare with the last road bike, 8051 from 2010? They both have their strengths and weaknesses:
- The new one has better fairings that fully cover the engine.
- On the new one, the front fairing/mudguard is fixed; the handlebars and wheel rotate independently.
- Unfortunately the new one's rear chain is on the outside of the liftarm which detracts from its appearance considerably, particularly as the chain stops halfway up the liftarm, nowhere near the engine. This issue was fixed in 8051 so it's definitely a retrograde step.
- The exhaust tubes are not attached to the pipes at the back, as they are in 8051.
- The engine in 8051 is a bit odd, with long yellow 'crankshafts' connecting the cylinder heads to the gears. It's also very stiff to move, perhaps because mine has been in my cold garage for the winter. The V4 on the new bike is much better.
- No disc brakes on the new one.
Verdict
Despite its weaknesses, it's a great looking model, particularly the right-hand side where the chain is not visible. It definitely needs the stickers to be applied: you will not be satisfied with its appearance without them. It's an interesting build too, because hardly anything is at right-angles.
It's refreshing that a new colour has been introduced: all the road bikes made since 1995 have been red, except for 1998's 8417 Mag Wheel Master, which is blue and made when Technic was going through a bad futuristic phase, so is a poor excuse for a bike anyway.
Definitely one of the more interesting and better Technic models of the year, in my opinion.
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23 comments on this article
I like this set a lot especially with the colour scheme. I generally don't buy many motorbikes because of the fact that they were all the same colour as before with the exception of 8417 and 1268.
You called it a fender Huw, surely it's a mud guard.
Thank you for the review, this one really looks the part and I love the colour scheme.
I'm not convinced that's the right term for it either but concede that it's not a fender. It's probably part of the fairing:
Fairing (http://www.cmsnl.com/about/glossary/)
1. The plastic shrouds that deflect wind and rain from the rider, the motorcycling equivalent of automotive bodywork. 2. The devices mounted at the front of a motorcycle to protect the rider from the elements. These range from simple Plexiglas shields to complex encompassing body panels.
Thank you for the in depth explaination Huw.
you say "all the road bikes made since 1995 have been red, except for 1998's 8417 Mag Wheel Master", however 42007 was orange and 8291 was lime green.
This model looks good at first glance but, why has the saddle been missed out? Surely some black curved pieces would help?
^^ I don't classify them as road bikes, they are more off-road.
^ The saddle is a couple of stickers :-)
@Legonizer: but they are not road bikes, are they? They are both moto cross, so rather off-road bikes.
What about 1268? I think that's more of a road bike than a dirt bike
Thanks for another review Huw
I think the drive chain is supposed to be visible.
^ It's always inside the liftarm on real bikes, it would be dangerous otherwise!
@Huw: You're obviously not a biker ;-)
They are different types of bikes; the previous one was a naked bike, this is a sports bike with full fairing. The first two points in your comparison are a bit like apples and oranges.
The long yellow things are the connecting rods, connecting the pistons to the crankshaft. Lego engines don't have cylinder heads; they would block the view of the moving pistons. I actually quite liked the engine on the 8051.
In terms of looks and detailling this bike is a big step back;
- No footpegs
- No brake discs
- No clutch and brake levers
- No radiator
- No dashboard with clocks
- No exhaust mufflers
- No mudguards
- Rear gear is too small and on the outside of the swing arm
I'll buy it to keep my collection of Technic motorbikes complete but I'm very disappointed.
awesome:D
^^Thank you. I used to ride a Yamaha XT350 but not for 15 years or so!
And the lift arm should be called a swing arm....
Haha, we're all getting technical here! How many of Brickset's commenters have mild OCD?
Hmmm. I think the old one looks better, but the new one has better functionality.
^^ Most! Isn't that why we play with LEGO still?
Looks like a model of one of those 125cc bikes that sound like a bee caught in a glass jar.
I wish LEGO would make something like this: https://ideas.lego.com/projects/30154
Huh, interesting... but probably not. I don't care for the medium blue, red, and black color scheme, the stickers look bad, and I frankly don't like big motorbike sets anyway.
@Rare White Ape: Mild? I've got CDO. It's like OCD but with the letters in the correct alphabetical order!
@CortezTheKiller: you're dead right. That CBR is fantastic and deserves more support.
@Huw: That's the kid-brother of the legendary XT500 right? What happened, kids? Next year I'll be celebrating 25 years on my Honda Goldwing GL1000!
After so many years we still do not have a bike that can switch gears!
I've picked this up, more for the sake of completion than anything else, but I'm not thrilled by the looks.
Hopefully the build will make up for it.
When will this be released in Aus?