1977 Bally NIGHT RIDER pinball machine

Here we have a iconic early Bally solid state pinball machine that seems to be everywhere! Night Rider was produced in late 1976 as an electromechanical machine and in early 1977 as Bally's first solid state machine. (Actually, there is a little confusion over whether Night Rider or Freedom were Bally's first production solid state games, but let's just say Night Rider was the first).
Anyway, Night Rider is a fun game with a symmetrical playfield. The two spinners and two drop target banks are both fun to shoot and the game offers lots to aim for and a fairly quick pace.
The rules are simple: hit the drops to light the special. Smoke the spinners when lit for decent points. Hitting the saucer at the top when lit for 5k is the most valuable shot in the game.
The artwork is perhaps what makes this game so iconic. Many people seem to associate the art package on this game as the epitome of late-70's pinball. Artist Paul Faris had his hands all over pinball starting in 1976 and many of the era's most popular machines donned his designs, including Evel Knievel, Eight Ball, Lost World, Playboy, Paragon and more.
Night Rider was designed by Greg Kmiec.
For more information about this game, see here:
www.ipdb.org/machine.cgi?id=4497
By the way, I haven't been recording the scores on my gameplay videos because editing a multi-camera video takes more time than I care to spend. Sorry. I'll try to get back to it soon.

[@jayducharme]

I remember playing this in arcades. Tough table. Yours is in really nice shape.

[@tWIST1up]

I really like the "Oh What Ever" and the "Oh No" voice features. It adds a sense of realism to the game ...hahahaha ... ;)

[@emsteph]

I thought it hit pretty hard as well.

[@londonpinball]

Sometimes it's hard to get a good game for a recording! The frustration can bleed through occasionally. :)

[@Ricksta66]

Oh yes how very cool 😎 👍 Happy Sunday m8 😊

[@pin-monkeypinball3548]

I usually much prefer the em version. But Bally did a really good ss version of this and matahari. They're so accurate with score keeping which unfortunately lacks with em games especially with a lot of drops. Kinda wish they made an ss old Chicago.

[@emsteph]

I have this same game in the EM version. Just love the old sounds and lots of things to aim for on this game. Wondering, are you able to change the chimes to the old style?

[@londonpinball]

The chimes in the solid state version are the same as those in the EM version. The only difference is that there's a fourth chime added. Bally called this the "extra chime" in the schematic. Thanks for your comment!

[@emsteph]

@@londonpinball I beg to differ, but I'm only going by videos so perhaps I am wrong. Aren't SS versions electronically made sounds as opposed to the natural EM designs? I thought I read somewhere that in the SS versions you could hit a switch to have it reproduce the EM sound electronically? Or maybe there is something you can buy and add to the SS to achieve this effect? Please take a peak at my game and see what you think: kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZqjXhGR8lttoe6ucttps://kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZqjXhGR8lttoe6s No disrespect intended as you most certainly are well versed in pinball and know your stuff much more than this novice. Just a curious observation. Do you think my flippers need an update? In comparison, I find them kind of sluggish. Have cleaned the connections the best I can. I have bought replacements and will tackle this project another day. Yours seem to have a really great ball response. Thanks...love your videos. jeff