Banana Peel

The Banana's artwork from Mario Kart Wii.

The Banana (also known as the Banana Peel) is a common item in the Mario Kart series. A Banana Peel causes a vehicle to spin-off if the vehicle touches the slippery object, making the character inside stunned for a few seconds. While these are likely the least effective items in Mario Kart, tripping on a bunch will effect the player greatly, possibly determining which place they finish in.

Variations

Giant Banana

The Giant Banana.

A larger variant of the banana is exclusive to Mario Kart: Double Dash!! and Mario Kart Tour is called the Giant Banana. It is at least twenty times bigger than the ordinary Banana Peel, and has a sour expression its face. When a driver makes contact with a Giant Banana, it explodes, and the fruit splits into three separate Bananas. This massive special item can be used by Donkey Kong, Diddy Kong (also in Mario Kart Tour), Petey Piranha, and King Boo, who are able to use any special item.

Banana Bunch

The Banana Bunch is an item exclusive to Mario Kart 64. It is a row of five Bananas that trail the user's kart. Hitting another racer with the trail causes all the Bananas to drop and a wacky sound effect to play. This is one of the few normal items that have only appeared in one incarnation; although a Triple Banana variant took its place in Mario Kart DS and Mario Kart Wii, neither version appeared in Mario Kart: Double Dash!!. Also, in Mario Kart 64, it is possible to prevent spinning out from hitting a Banana. It is accomplished by holding the B button (brake) until a musical note appears over the character's head. This can only be done if the racer is driving straight; hitting a Banana going into a turn always yields a spin-out. Though done a little differently, this is also possible in Mario Kart: Super Circuit by tapping the B button if the player has the item.