Space Rider

Space Rider, manufactured by Geiger-Automatenbau GmbH of Germany in March 1980, is a solid state electronic (SS) pinball conversion kit — one of 200 confirmed units produced. Like other Geiger releases, it repurposed an existing American cabinet: this kit converted Bally's 1979 'Harlem Globetrotters On Tour' into an outer-space fantasy machine, complete with a Bally MPU AS-2518-35.

The gameplay on Space Rider is characterized by its three flippers, which provide a smooth and responsive play experience. The machine's features include six standup targets (one of them recessed), spinning targets, kick-out holes, slingshots, a 4-in-line drop-target bank, and a right outlane detour gate, creating a dynamic and varied layout.

The Space Rider's design and art, by Michele "Mike" Martinelli, are reminiscent of the sci-fi themed pinballs popular in this era; the backglass is a rendition of Peter Andrew Jones' painting "Sun Soarers," and the lower playfield artwork appears to have drawn inspiration from Bally's 1980 'Xenon.' Little else is documented about this rare conversion, but it remains a lesser-known gem for pinball enthusiasts to discover.