Listed below are the glitches inKirby Air Ride. Please read theGlitch Disclaimer Notes before attempting any of the glitches listed on this page. Note that the listed "names" of glitches on this page are by their nature conjectural.

List of glitches[edit]

Bulk Star infinite glide[edit]

TheBulk Star can further accelerate over its normal top speed in a single charge. By charging very quickly to refuel, this machine can reach a very high speed, up to the speed cap in the game (124.86 mph or 200.95 km/h, also the Hydra's top speed). When used in the air, this can make the machine glide almost endlessly and easily complete the two harderAir GliderStadium tasks onCity Trial's Checklist, namely "Fly more than 1,300 feet" and "Stay airborne longer than 30 seconds". To charge very quickly, the player must tap the A button rapidly in a particular rhythm.

Copy Chance Wheel Storage[edit]

In special cases, it is possible to store the ability obtained from a Copy Chance Wheel for later usage. One way to perform this is to use theTornado ability and perform aQuick Spin immediately before running into the Copy Chance Wheel. This maneuver only has a one frame (1/60th of a second) window to work. If the glitch is performed, Kirby will appear glowing white with the ability hat, but will not "get" the ability until A is pressed. This glitch is utilized inspeedruns of theNebula Belt course to complete it more quickly.

Spin Dash[edit]

Using theWheelie Scooter, it is possible to gain extra speed by riding into a wall while performing aQuick Spin and charge. While riding the Wheelie Scooter, the player should ride toward a wall at about a 45 degree angle and perform a Quick Spin just before running into it. As soon as the scooter makes contact with the wall, they should initiate a charge by pressing and holding A and then continue holding the direction toward the wall. If done correctly, the scooter will gain tremendous speed as it slides along the wall for a brief moment. This glitch makes the Wheelie Scooter the overall best air ride machine to use inAir Ride speedruns. More information about this trick can be foundhere.

In City Trial, collecting Boost patches will also allow theSwerve Star to perform this glitch, making it exceptionally good atDrag Race stadiums.

Super Slick Star[edit]

After a machine speeds past its top speed (through Boost Panels, Boost dashing, or the like) it will usually deaccelerate back down to its normal cruising speed. However, if the Slick Star receives a boost, then begins holding A and turns to face sideways, it will keep sliding forward while maintaining the boosted speed indefinitely. However, because it cannot steer and will still slow down on slopes, it is a difficult technique to use effectively. Even so, it is particularly easy to use onNebula Belt andDrag Races.

Stuck in Wheel form[edit]

While inWheel form, Kirby can get stuck indefinitely instead of reverting back after a short time as he is supposed to. Players can do this by holding A to brake and stop underneath a stationary hazard such as aGordos that appear on Air Ride courses. Done correctly and held in this position, Kirby will not revert back to normal. While in this position, a looping damage sound will play.

Out of Bounds[edit]

In certain courses, such asCelestial Valley andMagma Flows, it is possible to get out of bounds in certain places. There are a few spots along the fringes of various race courses where invisible walls do not line up correctly. These spots are typically found along the edges and corners of invisible barriers along the upper regions of the playable area. Once such place is above theCopy Chance Wheel in Celestial Valley. To reach these small gaps and pass through them, sufficient mobility is required, such as using theWing ability in conjunction withBomb to gain the appropriate lift. Combining this with the Bulk Star infinite glide glitch can allow the player to travel very far out of bounds and explore the outer reaches of certain race courses.

City Trail: Floating Wheelie[edit]

In City Trial, collecting Glide patches while on the three wheel-class machines (Wheelie Scooter,Wheelie Bike, andRex Wheelie) will normally improve their jumping abilities, but it will also cause them to fall slowly and lose aerial momentum. Once the Stadium begins, the effect will intensify greatly, causing the machines to become floaty and sluggish. Once airborne, they will rapidly lose all momentum until they stop midair and drift slowly downwards, vastly hindering their performance in any of the gliding-based Stadium events. The effect becomes more pronounced the more Glide patches were picked up prior.

City Trial: Kirby Launch[edit]

In City Trial, it is possible for Kirby to be hit in such a way that he flies straight upward at high speed and collides with the ceiling of the level. One way to perform this glitch is to have one Kirby off his vehicle and standing on aSuper Jump Ramp or in a golf hole. Another player should then be present riding a vehicle with high launch power, such as the Hydra. The free-walking Kirby should then hover just above the ramp or hole and allow the vehicle rider to enter from below. When the vehicle is popped up by the ramp or hole, it will launch the free-walking Kirby high into the air. If done with sufficient force, that Kirby will be stuck tumbling on the ceiling of the sky for a while before coming back down.

City Trial: Kirby Melee CPUs[edit]

While the CPU players' AI is prone to making mistakes, one particularly egregious example happens when CPU players particpate inKirby Melee 2. During this event, CPU players will very often get stuck on the edge of the map and spend the entire event driving circles in place. This happens more often with CPUS who have more patches and a higher CPU level. They will usually finish with 0 points total.

City Trial: Out of Bounds[edit]

Inside the second volcano of Heat Top (the one which the rail leads into), there is a piece of missing collision. By precisely flying down into the main chamber of the first volcano, then flying upwards into the second chamber of the second volcano, it is possible to clip into the side of the volcano and fly underneath the City. The boundary walls of the City do not extend underground, and thus Kirby is able to fly under both the first and second invisible boundaries. Going too far in any direction past this point will cause an out-of-bounds warning to appear.

If Kirby passes the out-of-bounds point while on an Air Ride Machine, he will abruptly fall, and then be placed back in the City, near the City Wharf, unharmed. However, if Kirby passes the out-of-bounds point while off a machine, he will instead fly off in whatever direction he was moving. The screen will then go black and Kirby will never respawn, softlocking the match.

City Trial: Out of City[edit]

The City is surrounded by an invisible boundary that spans around the entire city. However, the boundary is not very high, so it is possible to bypass it quite easily. The player can use a vehicle with decent glide, such as theWinged Star, to fly over it from ground level. Alternatively, jumping from certain points like Castle Hall or the Garden in The Sky will allow most machines to cross it easily. The boundaries are at their lowest at the Electric Lounge, in which Kirby can jump over them without needing to use an Air Ride Machine. If the player crosses it, they can enter back into the city from any point; the wall is not solid from the other side, and there are multiple ramps leading back into the City. If the player tries to go even farther out-of-bounds, they will be stopped by a harder-to-bypass second invisible boundary.

City Trial: Sideways Kirby/Breakdancing Kirby[edit]

InCity Trial, it is possible to put Kirby in a state where he appears sideways. First, Kirby must dismount his machine near the city center and head for the uppermost entrance tunnel leading into the underground areas. Kirby must then jump and land on the edge of the steep yellow opening in such a way that will cause him to fall off and land at an unusual angle. At this point, Kirby should be locked in his falling animation and slide around on the floor. In this state, he can still move around freely and can cancel the state at any time by jumping, getting onto an Air Ride Machine, or traveling up a slope. Kirby will also be unaffected by water currents.

After performing the "Sideways Kirby" glitch, if Kirby is hit by any high-damage attacks, he will begin to tumble sideways indefinitely along the ground, making it appear as if he is breakdancing. The easiest way to perform this knockback is to hit the sideways Kirby with a heavyweight vehicle, such as theRex Wheelie. Alternatively, it can be done by placing down aSensor Bomb in an accessible area, and navigating the sideways Kirby over to that point. Once he begins tumbling, Kirby will be completely unable to move, unless another source of damage knocks him into an upwards slope, ending the glitch.

City Trial: U.F.O. visuals[edit]

During the U.F.O. event, certain graphical effects (such those from theBomb ability orSuper Jump Ramps) appear fully visible through the U.F.O. instead of being visually obstructed. This is because the U.F.O. is still considered transparent even after fully appearing, and thus interferes with other transparent effects due to graphical limitations.

City Trial: Vibrating Dedede[edit]

This glitch occurs if King Dedede is selected in City Trial's Free Run mode and brought to the Electric Lounge. By landing on the top floor while holding down on the control stick, King Dedede will begin to rapidly change between his grounded and aerial appearances, and the controller's rumble pack will vibrate intensely. He will continue vibrating for as long as the stick is held down.

City Trial: Wagon Star Boost[edit]

It is possible to perform aBoost dash while riding theWagon Star, a machine that is normally unable to Boost. By picking up aSuper Charge, holding A, and then releasing A for a few frames just as it expires, this will skip the charge "burnout" that normally applies and allow the Wagon Star to keep some of the charge. This charge can be released to perform a Boost dash. By doing this, it can seen that the Wagon Star's Boost dash is quite unremarkable, roughly equal in speed to that of theCompact Star.

• Glitches
• Kirby Air Ride