The Taiyo Ninja Racing Bike was a radio controlled motorbike released in the global market by Taiyo in 1995. Also know as the 6.0V Ninja, but most widely known as its Tyco model, the 1996 Tyco Samurai.
Features and Performance
The 1/10 scale RC Ninja Racing Bike is much larger in real life than it appears in these photos, with a weight and presence which make is more fun to 'drive' than you might imagine.
Able to 'lean' around corners, the Ninja truly rides on two wheels unlike many other toy radio controlled motorcycles. The 6.0V Jet Turbo pack provides decent performance, plenty for scooting around indoors, though outdoors the lack of top end can become noticeable.
If you're looking for something with a little more power, I'd recommend the 7.2V 2000 Taiyo Yamaha YZ-250 OffRoad Bike which is an excellent evolution of the design.
Design Patents
This type of R/C motorcycle toy which drove on 2 wheels and cornered/steered like a real motorcycle was unique at the time in the toy space, and so patents were filed by Taiyo in the USA for many of their designs.
One such patent is a 2003 design below registered under Taiyo founder Shoehei Suto.
Key components are visibible such as the main steering servo, circuitboard, battery, and main drive electric motor, with gears driving the rear wheel.
Recommendation
The Ninja is one of those toys you'll either love or hate as it was very much a Tyco influenced toy grade design towards the later years of the company, though personally I enjoy both the earlier hobby-grade style realistic models, and these later exaggerated fluro colored toys.
Finding one in good condition can be difficult, and remember that it's unlikely you'll ever get replacement stickers for these (unlike more popular Bandit, Turbo Hopper, etc.) so choose wisely.
