Why are there two sets numbered 8857?

The number was used for a motorcycle in 1980 and again for this Street Chopper / Trike in 1993. They are separate sets from different eras.

A trike is a motorbike-style vehicle with three wheels instead of two.

How many part types does the set contain?

There are 98 different part types among its 378 pieces.

Technic

Street Chopper / Trike

Street Chopper / Trike 8857 is a Technic motorbike set from 1993 made up of 378 pieces. Its name points to two classic custom-bike styles and it comes without minifigures.

Set number: 8857
Year: 1993
Pieces: 378
Minifigures: 0
Theme: Technic
Different parts: 98

What can I build with it?

Parts list 98

As BrickLink list (XML)

Import on BrickLink: Wanted → Upload, upload the file (or paste its content), pick a Wanted List and add the parts.

Spare parts (6)

These extra parts come with the set in case one gets lost.

Description

Custom bikes as a subject

Choppers grew out of American custom-bike culture, recognisable by a long, raked front fork, a low seat and tall handlebars. Trikes take a different route, with three wheels instead of two. By naming both, the set leaves no doubt about its focus on unconventional motorbikes rather than everyday road machines. That makes it a nice counterpart to the more traditional motorcycles found elsewhere in Technic history, and a subject where the frame and fork geometry are part of the appeal.

Sharing a number with 1980

Set number 8857 was used twice. Besides this 1993 chopper, the catalogue lists an Expert Builder motorcycle from 1980 under the same number. The two share their main colours, black, light grey, red and blue, and are similar in size, but they belong to different eras of the range. If you are searching for instructions or spare parts, make sure you know which one you need. This set is the later of the two, with 378 pieces in 98 part types.

Early-1990s construction

In 1993 Technic models were still built mainly from studded Technic bricks, joined with pins and axles and locked together with plates. Studless beams existed but played a supporting role. The result is a compact, easy-to-follow structure. The light grey in this set is the older shade that was phased out in the mid-2000s, so it will not match newer grey parts, while black, red and blue have stayed close to their original tones and combine easily with modern elements.

Keeping it complete

Copies of 8857 from 1993 are second-hand today, and the parts list on this page is the easiest way to check one for completeness, type by type. Once you have logged your pieces, the ‘What can I build?’ tool compares them with other sets and shows which ones you could rebuild. Technic motorbikes from different decades often rely on similar core parts, so a collection built around this chopper can lead you to further models from the range.

FAQ

Why are there two sets numbered 8857?: The number was used for a motorcycle in 1980 and again for this Street Chopper / Trike in 1993. They are separate sets from different eras.
What is a trike?: A trike is a motorbike-style vehicle with three wheels instead of two.
How many part types does the set contain?: There are 98 different part types among its 378 pieces.

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