ELECFREAKS micro/bit XGO Rider Robot Review
If you love tinkering, experimenting, or just exploring how things work, the ELECFREAKS micro:bit XGO Rider is a little robot that delivers a whole lot of fascination. Designed as both a hobbyist’s plaything and an educational companion, this two-wheeled wonder doesn’t just roll—it balances, glides and reacts in ways that make learning feel like play. Whether you’re into robotics, programming, or simply curious about the physics of motion, the Rider is a hands-on way to bring tinkering engineering ideas down to desk size.
Design
Right out of the box, this slightly quirky-looking WALL-E tribute act feels impressively robust. The XGO Rider’s metal components are sturdy, there’s a reassuring weight when you hold it, and even when actively playing with the mechanism to see how it all works, it doesn’t feel fragile. The durable plastics have survived a few accidental drops from our desk without a single scratch, which also speaks volumes about the entire unit’s resilience.
Everything is modular: cables are easily replaced, and disassembly is almost toy-like—some components are screwed, others simply click into place. In fact, the micro:bit slots neatly into the front, and the whole unit recharges via USB-C, which is convenient. What really caught our eye were the wheels on the XGO Rider: they’re surprisingly thin and petite, yet the Rider is expected to stand confidently, even under motion, and never fall!
Two wheels, yet totally stable
Visualising a two-wheeled robot, which is technically referred to as a bipedal robot that can balance itself and move around, you’d assume it would just fall over when not in motion—but seeing the XGO Rider in action is a revelation. Whether on flat floors or gentle inclines, this robot refuses to fall when not being controlled. The secret is constant recalibration in the software, which adjusts its balance in real time. Watching it self-correct and then, when instructed, glide seamlessly is oddly hypnotic; you can’t help but wonder if we might one day see vehicles operate on similar principles?
It’s omni-directional too. Controlled via the app, we could pivot it in any direction on the spot, even while in motion. What’s more, it’s shockingly quick when you push those virtual joysticks to their limits. It darts and dashes happily, occasionally bumping into table legs and doors, but always recovering its balance straight away. The app also offers six actions that are basically party pieces to show off for others. All self-explanatory, things like ‘zigzag’, ’trembling’, and ‘altitude’. The last one is interesting, made possible because you can adjust the height of the robot and even lean its gait. Despite the variety of controls, it has no issue when making these adjustments on the fly, traversing happily from hard wooden floors to fluffy carpets; the grip and software that ELECFREAKS have going on here is excellent!
Is it actually useful?
The XGO Rider isn’t just a neat toy that travels around impressively; it’s pitched as an educational tool. This really is achieved by slotting in a micro:bit and experimenting with the prebuilt programs; learners can explore physics concepts like balance, inertia, and gyroscopic effects firsthand.
The modular design also makes it approachable for beginners: you can replace cables, swap components, and see exactly how each part contributes to the whole. For schools or hobbyists interested in coding, robotics, or engineering principles, it offers a hands-on learning experience that’s immediate and rewarding thanks to graphical languages like Makecode/MicroBlocks. Anyone who can use an iPhone, can begin to tinker with programming basic interactions into the XGO Rider. It’s an interesting and very visual way of understanding simple technology interactions with sound, movement and light; with the latter point being observed on top of the XGO Rider through its cluster of multi-coloured LED lights. You also have Python programming languages supported as well for more technicality.
Verdict
The ELECFREAKS micro:bit XGO Rider is a very visual and tactile way of dabbling in entry-level programming, made joyful by a robot that’s genuinely mesmerising to watch travel on two wheels in its bipedal fashion. Pitched as both an educational tool and a hobbyist’s project, its solid build quality and modular construction make it well-suited to classrooms, clubs and curious tinkerers alike.
What really sets it apart is its energetic, precise movement. We’ve never encountered anything quite like it—the way it can alter its height, change its gait, and pivot on the spot or in motion without hesitation, all while staying perfectly stable, is remarkable. It’s as much a demonstration piece of engineering wizardry as it is a platform for learning.
