%% Administrivia/ZeroContextExample entries are not allowed on wiki pages. All such entries have been commented out. Add context to the entries before uncommenting them.

[[quoteright:349:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/roboriders.png]]

A relatively short-lived (2000) range of Franchise/{{LEGO}} Technic figures, SpiritualSuccessor of the ''Toys/{{Slizer}}'' and forerunner of ''Toys/{{Bionicle}}''. Sandwiched in between these two considerably more popular lines, many people consider ''[=RoboRiders=]'' to be a failure, although that's not to say it doesn't have something of a fanbase of its own.

The sets were, essentially, {{Cool Bike}}s with ElementalPowers that came in [[ColorCodedForYourConvenience six distinct colorations]] based on those elements. Each figure had a set of varied weapons, but the main gimmick was that their front wheels (officially called Talisman Wheels) could be [[AbnormalAmmo used as projectiles]]. Wait, you say, [[FridgeLogic doesn't this render the bikes useless every time they fire at something]]?

[[AllThereInTheManual According to the backstory]], the [=RoboRiders=] are {{cyborg}}s with human brains and machine bodies residing in a world known as [[{{Cyberspace}} the Web]], which is divided into six [[ElementalNation regions]] (LEGO was fond of using this type of setting). A [[ComputerVirus monster virus]] gets loose on the web, so the [=RoboRiders=] set out to detect and eliminate the virus. But as LEGO [[WrapItUp quickly wrapped up the line]], it was never revealed where this mysterious virus came from in the first place.

There were seven kinds of [=RoboRiders=] (Swamp, Lava, Frost, Power, Onyx, Dust, and The Boss), and [[http://images.wikia.com/lego/images/d/db/Roboriders_Wheel.png 16 Talisman Wheels]] (Axer, Blazooka, Chain-Saw, Driller, Dynamite, Flame, Fuel, Grab, Laser, Ninja, Rope, Scout, Skeleton, Stunner, Toxic and Twin Saw). Four smaller promotional sets (Volcano Climber, Dirt Bike, Ice Explorer, and Swamp Craft) were also released, but they never appeared in the story.

As it's been said, the line wasn't a great success. For one, it mostly did away with the ball-joint system introduced in ''Slizer'', and as you may have guessed, firing wheels don't quite make for long-lasting play sessions. But aside from these, the line introduced the canisters[[note]]barrel-shaped storage containers that the sets came in[[/note]] and many other, now-common LEGO pieces which ''Bionicle'' and other Technic lines made great use of. There were also [[GottaCatchEmAll collectible items]], namely the Talisman Wheels.

----
!!''[=RoboRiders=]'' provided examples of:
* AbnormalAmmo: The Talisman Wheels are the front wheels of the CoolBike [=RoboRiders=]. They are also the projectiles launched by said [=RoboRiders=].
* AllThereInTheManual: What little storyline there is exists mainly [[http://web.archive.org/web/20000815214413/http://www.lego.com/roboriders/story.asp on the toyline's website]], with other bits of story (such as character profiles for the [=RoboRiders=] themselves) dropped in magazines and catalogs.
* AmbiguousGender: The Boss's only description abstains from any pronouns. Similarly, the promotional [=RoboRiders=] (Volcano Climber, Dirt Bike, Ice Explorer, Swamp Craft) have no descriptions and therefore their genders are unknown.
* ArchaicWeaponForAnAdvancedAge: In a futuristic {{cyberspace}} populated by {{cyborg}} {{Cool Bike}}s, half of the [=RoboRiders=] still wield archaic melee weapons from ''Toys/LEGOCastle'', such as Lava's halberds, Frost's spears, and Swamp's katanas.
* ArmCannon: Several of the Talisman Wheels depict characters, such as Flame, Laser, and Stunner, with cannons instead of hands.
* {{BFG}}: The Blazooka, Laser, and Skeleton Talisman Wheels depict robots with weapons almost as big as themselves.
* BigBad: The monster virus is the villain of the online story, and it is up to the [=RoboRiders=] to track it down and destroy it.
* BloodKnight: The Lava [=RoboRider=] is described as loving to battle with volcanoes.
* BuiltWithLego: As to be expected with a LEGO line, all [=RoboRiders=] are built with LEGO pieces. They use TECHNIC, not the classic bricks, although Lava, Frost, and Swamp use the weapons of conventional minifigures.
* ChainsawGood: The Chain-Saw and Twin Saw Talisman Wheels depict robots with buzzsaws for weapons.
* ChromosomeCasting: While the genders of The Boss and the promotional sets [[AmbiguousGender are never specified]], the six main [=RoboRiders=] are all male and there's no hint of any female characters.
* ColorCodedForYourConvenience: Each [=RoboRider=] (except the Boss) is depicted with a color scheme matching their respective element. Swamp is green, Lava is red, Frost is white, Onyx is black, Dust is tan, and Power is an industrial yellow and black.
* CombiningMecha: There are a number of official models consisting of two or more [=RoboRiders=] combined together. The logical conclusion of this is the [[http://www.miniland.nl/LEGOclub/lego%20mania%20magazine%20mar%20apr%202001/17.jpg Super RoboRider]], formed from all six main [=RoboRiders=] combined together.
* CoolBike: The main aspect. Every standard [=RoboRider=] set, plus Dirt Bike (AKA Power Bike), is a cool and extreme motorbike cyborg.
* {{Cyberspace}}: While never explicitly referred to as cyberspace, it is implied that the Web (also referred to as TheInternet in [[https://images.brickset.com/library/view/?f=catalogues/c00uk2&p=69 a UK catalog]]) is a virtual reality, and that the monster virus threatening it is actually a ComputerVirus.
* {{Cyborg}}: Catalogs and magazines consistently describe the [=RoboRiders=] as having human brains and machine bodies.
* DarkerAndEdgier: The ''LEGO World Club Magazine'' marketing for the [=RoboRiders=] was unexpectedly edgy for a standard LEGO line, even when compared to its predecessor ''Toys/{{Slizer}}'' and its successor ''Toys/{{BIONICLE}}''. NeverSayDie is very much averted here to a gratuitous degree. [[https://brickshelf.com/gallery/Phyoohrii/stuff/blogstuff/clubmagazines/june2000/june_2000_08.jpg Their]] [[https://brickshelf.com/gallery/Phyoohrii/stuff/blogstuff/clubmagazines/june2000/june_2000_09.jpg bios]] are ridiculously over-the-top in describing death, poison, and skewering. One article is titled ''[[https://brickshelf.com/gallery/Phyoohrii/stuff/blogstuff/clubmagazines/december2000/december_2000_06.jpg Are you prepared for Dooms Day in Hell?!]]'' and has the [[https://brickshelf.com/gallery/Phyoohrii/stuff/blogstuff/clubmagazines/december2000/december_2000_07.jpg RoboRiders threatening to kill each other.]]
* DetachmentCombat: In one of its forms, The Boss could separate into a bike and a flier.
* DualWielding: Onyx has two laser blasters; Lava has dual axes; Frost has two ice spears; and Swamp has dual swords.
* DubNameChange: Three of the Kabaya sets have different names in Japanese and English: Lava Buggy/[[SpellMyNameWithAnS Vulcano]] Climber, Power Bike/Dirt Bike, and Frost Flyer/Ice Explorer. The only exception is Swamp Craft.
* ElementalEmbodiment: Carried over from ''Toys/{{Slizer}}''. The elemental regions all had their specialized hazards, in the form of elemental monsters. The online game suggests that these are different forms of the monster virus.
** Swamp Environment: evil water-bubbles
** Onyx Environment: rock-monsters and falling boulders
** Frost Environment: SpikesOfDoom and ice monsters
** Lava Environment: fire monsters and raining lava
** Dust Environment: sand storms and sand-pits (imagine a [[Franchise/StarWars Sarlacc]], but with grasping hands)
** Power Environment: acid rain, fumes, as well as evil cranes with evil wrecking balls
* ElementalNation: Each of the six environments matches the element of its respective [=RoboRider=]. For example, the Lava Environment is a LethalLavaLand, while the Dust Environment is a ShiftingSandLand.
* EnergyWeapon: The Laser Talisman Wheel depicts a robot with two laser weapons.
* EverythingTryingToKillYou: The descriptions of each environment emphasize just how much deadly stuff there is (acid rain, toxic fumes, sudden avalanches, skewering icicles, quicksand, ash-filled skies, etc.), thus explaining why each [=RoboRider=] needs to be specifically equipped in order to survive here.
* ImpaledWithExtremePrejudice: The Frost Environment's description invokes this trope, noting that it is filled with sharp IceCrystals that would skewer anyone to death unless they were as well-equipped as the Frost [=RoboRider=].
* KatanasAreJustBetter: One might question why a cyborg motorbike would need to use katanas, but the Swamp [=RoboRider=] is clearly operating on RuleOfCool as he cuts through swamp creatures in his way.
* LethalLavaLand: The Lava Environment is a volcanic region of molten lava and skies that are blackened from ash.
* MeaningfulName: Each [=RoboRider=]'s name ties into their element and environment. Swamp is equipped for the swamp, Onyx is best suited to rocky terrain, etc. The Boss is open to interpretation, but as the next generation of stronger, faster, and smarter [=RoboRiders=], it is believed to be TheLeader.
* MerchandiseDriven: As with any Franchise/{{LEGO}} theme, the toys drive the story. In this case, ''[=RoboRiders=]'' only having a single main wave of sets likely accounted for the lack of story development compared to ''Toys/{{Slizer}}'' or ''Toys/{{BIONICLE}}'', which both had more toys and therefore more story.
* NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast: Some of the Talisman Wheels (Blazooka, Chain-Saw, Axer, Skeleton, Toxic) have menacing names... although, as a subversion, they're all used by the good guys.
* NinjaPirateZombieRobot: While actually being a ninja or a robot isn't necessary for this trope, the Talisman Wheel called Ninja deserves special mention since it's a ninja, a robot, a wheel, ''and'' a projectile.
* NonStandardCharacterDesign: While the titular [=RoboRiders=] are all {{Cool Bike}}s, the promotional sets are more varied: Volcano Climber and Swamp Craft are four-wheeled buggies, and Ice Explorer is a helicopter.
* OnlySixFaces: The four promotional sets reuse the faces of their larger [=RoboRider=] counterparts. It's noticeable when said faces are printed with the [=RoboRider's=] respective names, leading to Volcano Climber, Dirt Bike, and Ice Explorer having "Lava", "Power", and "Frost" on their faces (Swamp Craft having "Swamp" is less noticeable).
* TheParalyzer: The Stunner Talisman Wheel's function is most likely to stun its target.
* PollutedWasteland: The Power Environment is described in the UK catalog as having acid rain and poisonous fumes, suggesting that this industrial cityscape is full of pollution.
* SecretFinalCampaign: The online game has six levels, one for each of the main [=RoboRiders=] and unlocked by its respective code. According to the game's description, unlocking all six levels will reveal a secret seventh level; however, it is currently unknown what this level featured, since it does not appear to be archived by the LEGO Media Project.
-->"To defeat the virus completely, you will need all six [=RoboRiders=]. After you enter all six codes, you will be allowed to play a special, seventh game!"
* SkeleBot9000: The artwork for the Skeleton Talisman Wheel shows a robot whose right half resembles a human skeleton.
* SpellMyNameWithAnS: The Kabaya set 1290 Lava Buggy's English name is written as "Vulcano Climber", while its international counterpart set 8003 is correctly spelled Volcano Climber.
* SpellMyNameWithAThe: The Boss is notable for being the only [=RoboRider=] with "The" in its name.
* SwampsAreEvil: While the Swamp [=RoboRider=] itself is heroic, the Swamp Environment is described as an inhospitable world of radiation, acid rain, and toxic gases where nothing but savage swamp monsters can survive. The Dust Environment is also described as a swamp filled with greedy monsters, and anyone who falls in is a goner.
* ThisIsADrill: The Driller Talisman Wheel depicts a robot with a pneumatic drill. It's presumably weaponized when the [=RoboRider=] launches this wheel as a projectile.
* TransformingMecha: The Boss could either turn into a large three-wheeled motorcycle, or a bike with a detachable flying component.
* TwoFaced: The Skeleton Talisman Wheel shows a robot with a skull-like right half of its face. The trope is exaggerated since, in this case, Skeleton's entire body is split in two.
----