Kamen Rider Zi-O: S.H. Figuarts Ridestriker & Zikan Weapons Gallery

"Bike!"

Ruling over space & time is great and all, but if you have to walk everywhere it's certainly less fun right? Cue the Ridestriker! Hailing from 2068, the Ridestriker is the personal Rider Machine of both Kamen Rider's Zi-O & Geiz. Each has their own Ridestriker, and though they came and went infrequently in series (appearing in only 5 episodes), what's a Rider without their Machine? Tamashii Nations has seen fit to not only bring us this versatile machine, but also to load it down with the signature weapons of the series two main protagonists. Thus filling the Zikan Girade & the Zikan Zax sized holes in many collections. Will you give this rider machine to the Overlord of time, or the Savior of the future? either way, it's Rider Time!

Packaging
The Ridestriker's packaging shares the same basic motif as the individual rider releases from Zi-O, though I think a wide design rider bike looks a bit stronger overall than the individual figures. Say what you will of Web Exclusives not having windows, the art design feels way more cohesive on a fully closed box like this and the theme works well.

Main Figure
The main component of this set if of course the S.H. Figuarts Ridestriker. While we'll get onto the wealth of accessories included below, I just want to touch briefly on the primary piece of the set. The Ridestriker is a real dual purpose Rider Machine, as both the Primary & Secondary rider of the series use it. Something we don't see terribly often in rider. I almost feel like it would have benefited from being sold in a two pack. As is I try not to double dip terribly often anymore though, so I only picked up one this go around. For a refresher, feel free to check out S.H. Figuarts Kamen Rider Zi-O & Kamen Rider Geiz galleries as well.

The Ridestriker doesn't necessarily do anything to elevate what we typically see of Rider Machines in S.H. Figuarts, but what it does do it does just fine. Rarely do Figuarts vehicle really mix things up much. Which is, I believe, a big reason why we see them released in these accessory sets now far more often. Compared to other recent machines like Machine Builder and Lazer Level 2, this is another really solid bike that is thankfully of a bit more subdued design and color scheme. With a general watch design for the vehicle, the silver/black & minor pink accents really make this a sharp release. In practice in show, this bike transforms from a Ridewatch into said bike. Thankfully the design can be far more streamlined and made accurate to the bikes' design when dispensing with that gimmick for the Figuart.

Areas of particular note are the Zi-O emblems on the front and rear wheel (which are sculpted), as well as a tampographed version on the main body. Looking closely you can also see a very delicately sculpted example of it on the far end of the watch band, while on the reverse side wee see the sculpted in "tabs" carried over from it's Ridewatch form. And although the front wheel has an emblem on the opposite side, the rear wheel features what would be the proper face of the ride watch form, which is a pre-applied label rather than a paint app. This is particularly funny because no actual physical ridewatch released in the line has a label for it's watch face at all. One more thing I really dig is of course the "face" of the Ridestriker. Hearkening back to designs like Battle Hopper, Acrobatter, and the like this adds a little bit of personality to the design.

While I often find I have trouble posing Figuarts on their bikes (trust me it's user error, not the bikes themselves) Zi-O & Geiz seem right at home on the Ridestriker. And for fun, and despite not having the correct hands to do so, Woz also fits on it just perfectly. I really appreciate the specific hands included in this set for Zi-O & Geiz to grab the handlebars as they offer a really solid grip for the action shots you can see in my gallery below. Honestly it's really hard to screw up a Rider Machine in this line. As long as they work as solid bikes, and include plenty of accessories, they really can't do any wrong. This one is another winner. And as for accessories, see below!

Accessories
The big draw of this set is of course the plethora of accessories for Kamen Riders Zi-O & Geiz:

1 - Wheel base. Plug this over the front or rear tire on the Ridestriker to get a static pose out of it, if you'd rather not use the kickstand.

1 - Tamshii Stage adapter. This curved clear adapter is compatible with any standard Tamashii Stage arm plug. The part itself snaps onto the underside of the Ridestriker just in front of the rear wheel, and hugs around the underside of the engine. It's a nice snug fit, just be careful not to over stress the part when putting it on or taking it off.

1 - Zikan Girade Sword Mode. This sword form is of course one of the big draws of this set. In recent years (and continuing with the recently revealed SHF Zero-One) the signature weapon of the rider generally comes along later, packed with a vehicle or accessory set. Sometimes even coming with another form all together. The Girade is a much needed accessory for Zi-O and one that should definitely please if you picked this set up. If you didn't pick this set up, you may be kicking yourself in the near future though. The upcoming Figuarts Zi-O II release comes with his second sword, the Saikyo Girade, which in turn combines with the Zikan Girade to form the Saikyo Zikan Girade. Unfortunately, Zi-O II does not come with it's own Zikan to use with the Saikyo. So you'll need to have picked up this Ridestriker set to have it. Good luck to any and all looking to track it down after the fact. The Zikan Girade can accept ridewatches on the handle via the same rectangular plug as the Ziku Driver.

1 - Zikan Girade Gun Mode. I do feel like the Gun & Sword mode could have been consolidated into one functional accessory given the mechanics of the design. But having two separate weapons works out pretty nicely, especially given the above mentioned issue present thanks to Zi-O II. It allows your standard Zi-O to still be armed with a Zikan weapon. It can also accept Ridewatches.

1 - Zikan Zax Bow Mode. The bow mode is probably the more often used version of the weapon though Geiz used the Ax fairly often as well. The bow mode can be a bit unwieldy to hold but once posed correctly works very well with Geiz. An alternate longer Burst Slinger handle is included as well, to simulate Geiz pulling it back to fire energy blasts. Once again it can also accept Ridewatches above the handle.

1 - Zikan Zax Ax Mode. Again, I feel like the two versions of the weapon could conceivably have been consolidated into one functional piece. But it's always nice to have a couple extra display options. There's no huge functional change to the design, but I think it works best for being held close to the body in this ax form. Again there's a port for Ridewatches to be accepted.

5 - additional hands for Zi-O. Zi-O gets one set for gripping the Ridestriker's handlebars, one set specifically for gripping the Zikan Girade Sword Mode, and a single right hand for holding the gun mode. This presents a ton of variety when factored in with everything S.H. Figuarts Zi-O came with in the first place.

5 - additional hands for Geiz. Basically the same pattern as what Zi-O got. Two for the bike, two for the Ax, 1 for the bow. In addition to what Geiz initially came with, you cover all the bases here.

As a glorified accessory set with a bike, that's an excellent pile of parts to accent your Zi-O and Geiz.

Final Thoughts
Commonly, collectors tend to dislike this release pattern for Figuarts accessories. Buying the actual lead rider, then waiting 7-8 months for an accessory set including their weapons to be released, can be off putting. For me personally, I don't mind. I nearly always intend to buy the bike as well. Including a bunch of weapons and tons of extra hands with the bike certainly doesn't hurt it either. So I'm down for this kind of release. The S.H. Figuarts Ridestriker on it's own, is a totally serviceable vehicle. The addition of the Zikan weapons for Zi-O & Geiz is icing on a pretty delicious cake though. Highly recommend picking this set up, particularly if you want to have a complete Zi-O II in the near future.

Part 2

Honestly one of many reasons I was all too happy to go for the Figure-Rise. For Riders like Zero-One and Build they're just fine without their weapons, but Zi-O with his sword is just -right-, and he's probably the Rider that actually rides the least even compared to recent years. So I'll happily take a much cheaper model kit with weapons and ridewatch detail over a not terribly impressive supposedly higher-end figuarts and his expensive bike kit any day.

But, uh, at least it looks kinda nice...? As nice as a bike with a bulky watch strap and a face on the front can look, anyway.

I'm torn on whether or not I want to spend the money for this bike set. lol. I think the bike looks great and the addition of the weapons would be nice for Zi-O and Geiz but it's not exactly cheap either. Haha. Great gallery though! It might just be what pushes me to pull the trigger.

I've always thought the RideStriker looked alright - not great, not awful - but seriously, only five episodes? Wow.

And yeah, it's a shame it comes with weapons (especially now we're putting secondaries into the mix), but at least they make it look good while doing so.

Is RideStriker the least appearing bike in all of Heisei series? I can't think of anything else other than probably Machine Kivaa.

Gaim and Baron's machines make a very good case.

The bike is kind of terrible in design, but the accessories really make up for it.

I kind of adore the little face on the bike tbh. Reminds me of Battlehopper despite never watching Black

Near as I can tell, it is. Unless we get technical and re-group the 90's standalone films as Heisei again. Though Toei does not do this. I only bring them up because Shin apparently has a bike, but it never made any appearances.
Sakura Hurricane actually made 12 appearances in Gaim which was more than I'd realized. Twice as many as Ridestriker.
That's exactly what it reminded me of.