Bike
Bikes appear in the Super Mario franchise as vehicles used mainly in the Mario Kart series, alongside karts and ATVs. They come in many different styles and have features that set them apart from normal karts.
During the development of Mario Kart: Double Dash!!, Hideki Konno presented the idea of putting bikes in the game.[1] The idea was rejected, because the concept of Mario riding a motorbike was doubtful, even though multiple characters including Mario were shown riding Motor Cross bicycles in The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! episode "The Great BMX Race". However, when Mario Kart Wii came around, they decided to put bikes in and call it Mario Kart X, a name that got changed because Super Smash Bros. Brawl was called Dairantō Smash Brothers X in Japan.
History[edit]
Mario Kart series[edit]
Mario Kart DS[edit]
While bikes do not appear as a class of vehicles in Mario Kart DS, one of Waluigi's special karts, the Zipper, is a tricycle. Also, R.O.B.'s ROB-LGS has three wheels and therefore can also be considered a tricycle.
Mario Kart Wii[edit]
Bikes first appear in Mario Kart Wii. The game is the first Super Mario racing game in which the characters could race in a non-kart vehicle. Peach, Daisy, and Rosalina wear jumpsuits if riding a bike, as it would be difficult to ride a bike while wearing a dress like when they are driving karts without having their trains (loose, hanging parts forming the backs of their skirts) getting caught in the wheels.
The basic model of the bike for all characters is the Standard Bike, a motocross motorcycle showing the emblem of the character over the plate of the front and the sides of the rear. The color of a standard bike also changes, matching the character's custom color. These bikes are the only available to use in Battle modes along with the Standard Karts. These bikes appear to be based on the bikes in Excitebike.
The large bikes are given design differences, depending on which large-sized characters are using them. Except for the Standard Bike L, each large bike has three design differences.
- The default designs are used by Wario, Waluigi, Donkey Kong, King Boo, Funky Kong, and the large-sized Mii.
- The second designs, which are depicted having lower positioned exhaust pipes and/or repositioned handles, are used by Bowser and Dry Bowser.
- The third designs, which are depicted having shorter handles, repositioned foot pedestals, and/or a thinner body, are used by Rosalina.
Additionally, the Bit Bike has a design difference that's only seen when the player is using a small-sized Mii; the Bit Bike's exhaust pipes are positioned lower for the small-sized Miis, than for the other small-sized characters.
All bikes differ from karts in many ways. While driving a bike, characters are able to perform wheelies, which boost the player's speed temporarily. If a bike is rammed into while doing a wheelie, the player will lose speed and have to accelerate again. Also, bikes only emit blue sparks when drifting and release a small mini-turbo, thus making them unable to emit yellow sparks for powerful mini-turbos. Statwise, bikes have slightly lower speed and much lower weight compared to karts, but excel in every other stat (acceleration, handling, drift, off-road and Mini-Turbo). Additionally, bikes have six trick variants while karts only have three.
In terms of gameplay, bikes are divided into drift type (「ドリフトタイプ」) bikes,[2] that are able to drift and are commonly referred to as outside drifting bikes or outward drifting bikes, and hang-on type (「ハングオンタイプ」) bikes,[2] that commit to the turn instead of drifting and are commonly referred to as inside drifting bikes or inward drifting bikes due to their significantly different lines when they commit to the turn.
Mario Kart 8 / Mario Kart 8 Deluxe[edit]
After their absence in Mario Kart 7, Bikes return in Mario Kart 8 and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe with the ability to go underwater, use gliders, and utilize anti-gravity. Also, in this installment, just like the karts, bikes are able to perform a Super Mini-Turbo and the bikers only perform wheelies during the boosts obtained via a Mushroom, a Dash Panel, a Trick, or a Rocket Start, unlike in Mario Kart Wii. As with karts, the bikes in this game can be customized with different bodies, wheels and gliders. Both drift type bikes, now known as standard bikes, and hang-on type bikes, now known as sport bikes, return and they again respectively drift or commit to the turn when the player attempts to drift with them.[3] Peach, Daisy, and Rosalina retain their alternate jumpsuits from Mario Kart Wii. Pink Gold Peach, Pauline, and Peachette also wear jumpsuits while riding bikes.
Mario on a bike in Mario Kart 8
A red Shy Guy, performing a wheelie on its Flame Rider, in Mario Kart 8
The Super Mario Bros. Movie[edit]
In The Super Mario Bros. Movie, Peach creates a bike resembling the Mach Bike at the Jungle Kingdom. She uses it to traverse the secret passage and the Rainbow Road. After Mario and Donkey Kong are incapacitated by the Koopa General's explosion, she uses her bike to return to the Mushroom Kingdom and warn the Toads of Bowser's arrival.
Gallery[edit]
Mario Kart Wii[edit]
Small bikes[edit]
Baby Mario's Bullet Bike
Baby Luigi's Bullet Bike
Baby Peach's Bullet Bike
Baby Daisy's Bullet Bike
Toad's Bullet Bike
Toadette's Bullet Bike
Koopa Troopa's Bullet Bike
Dry Bones' Bullet Bike
Male Mii's Bullet Bike
Female Mii's Bullet Bike
Baby Mario's Bit Bike/Nanobike
Baby Luigi's Bit Bike/Nanobike
Baby Peach's Bit Bike/Nanobike
Baby Daisy's Bit Bike/Nanobike
Toad's Bit Bike/Nanobike
Toadette's Bit Bike/Nanobike
Koopa Troopa's Bit Bike/Nanobike
Dry Bones' Bit Bike/Nanobike
Male Mii's Bit Bike/Nanobike
Female Mii's Bit Bike/Nanobike
Baby Mario's Quacker
Baby Luigi's Quacker
Baby Peach's Quacker
Baby Daisy's Quacker
Toad's Quacker
Toadette's Quacker
Koopa Troopa's Quacker
Dry Bones' Quacker
Male Mii's Quacker
Female Mii's Quacker
Baby Mario's Magikruiser
Baby Luigi's Magikruiser
Baby Peach's Magikruiser
Baby Daisy's Magikruiser
Toad's Magikruiser
Toadette's Magikruiser
Koopa Troopa's Magikruiser
Dry Bones' Magikruiser
Male Mii's Magikruiser
Female Mii's Magikruiser
Baby Mario's Jet Bubble/Bubble Bike
Baby Luigi's Jet Bubble/Bubble Bike
Baby Peach's Jet Bubble/Bubble Bike
Baby Daisy's Jet Bubble/Bubble Bike
Toad's Jet Bubble/Bubble Bike
Toadette's Jet Bubble/Bubble Bike
Koopa Troopa's Jet Bubble/Bubble Bike
Dry Bones' Jet Bubble/Bubble Bike
Male Mii's Jet Bubble/Bubble Bike
Female Mii's Jet Bubble/Bubble Bike
Medium bikes[edit]
Mario tricking on his Standard Bike M
Luigi tricking on his Standard Bike M
Bowser Jr.'s Standard Bike M
Princess Peach driving her Mach Bike
Mario's Mach Bike
Luigi's Mach Bike
Peach's Mach Bike
Daisy's Mach Bike
Yoshi's Mach Bike
Birdo's Mach Bike
Diddy Kong's Mach Bike
Bowser Jr.'s Mach Bike
Male Mii's Mach Bike
Female Mii's Mach Bike
Mario's Sugarscoot/Bon Bon
Luigi's Sugarscoot/Bon Bon
Peach's Sugarscoot/Bon Bon
Daisy's Sugarscoot/Bon Bon
Yoshi's Sugarscoot/Bon Bon
Birdo's Sugarscoot/Bon Bon
Diddy Kong's Sugarscoot/Bon Bon
Bowser Jr.'s Sugarscoot/Bon Bon
Male Mii's Sugarscoot/Bon Bon
Female Mii's Sugarscoot/Bon Bon
Mario's Zip Zip/Rapide
Luigi's Zip Zip/Rapide
Peach's Zip Zip/Rapide
Daisy's Zip Zip/Rapide
Yoshi's Zip Zip/Rapide
Birdo's Zip Zip/Rapide
Diddy Kong's Zip Zip/Rapide
Bowser Jr.'s Zip Zip/Rapide
Male Mii's Zip Zip/Rapide
Female Mii's Zip Zip/Rapide
Mario's Sneakster/Nitrocycle
Luigi's Sneakster/Nitrocycle
Peach's Sneakster/Nitrocycle
Daisy's Sneakster/Nitrocycle
Yoshi's Sneakster/Nitrocycle
Birdo's Sneakster/Nitrocycle
Diddy Kong's Sneakster/Nitrocycle
Bowser Jr.'s Sneakster/Nitrocycle
Male Mii's Sneakster/Nitrocycle
Female Mii's Sneakster/Nitrocycle
Mario's Dolphin Dasher
Luigi's Dolphin Dasher
Peach's Dolphin Dasher
Daisy's Dolphin Dasher
Yoshi's Dolphin Dasher
Birdo's Dolphin Dasher
Diddy Kong's Dolphin Dasher
Bowser Jr.'s Dolphin Dasher
Male Mii's Dolphin Dasher
Female Mii's Dolphin Dasher
Large bikes[edit]
Wario's Flame Runner/Bowser Bike
Waluigi's Flame Runner/Bowser Bike
Donkey Kong's Flame Runner/Bowser Bike
Bowser's Flame Runner/Bowser Bike
King Boo's Flame Runner/Bowser Bike
Rosalina's Flame Runner/Bowser Bike
Funky Kong's Flame Runner/Bowser Bike
Dry Bowser's Flame Runner/Bowser Bike
Male Mii's Flame Runner/Bowser Bike
Female Mii's Flame Runner/Bowser Bike
Wario's Wario Bike
Waluigi's Wario Bike
Donkey Kong's Wario Bike
Bowser's Wario Bike
King Boo's Wario Bike
Rosalina's Wario Bike
Funky Kong's Wario Bike
Dry Bowser's Wario Bike
Male Mii's Wario Bike
Female Mii's Wario Bike
Wario's Shooting Star/Twinkle Star
Waluigi's Shooting Star/Twinkle Star
Donkey Kong's Shooting Star/Twinkle Star
Bowser's Shooting Star/Twinkle Star
King Boo's Shooting Star/Twinkle Star
Rosalina's Shooting Star/Twinkle Star
Funky Kong's Shooting Star/Twinkle Star
Dry Bowser's Shooting Star/Twinkle Star
Male Mii's Shooting Star/Twinkle Star
Female Mii's Shooting Star/Twinkle Star
Wario's Spear/Torpedo
Waluigi's Spear/Torpedo
Donkey Kong's Spear/Torpedo
Bowser's Spear/Torpedo
King Boo's Spear/Torpedo
Rosalina's Spear/Torpedo
Funky Kong's Spear/Torpedo
Dry Bowser's Spear/Torpedo
Male Mii's Spear/Torpedo
Female Mii's Spear/Torpedo
Wario's Phantom
Waluigi's Phantom
Donkey Kong's Phantom
Bowser's Phantom
King Boo's Phantom
Rosalina's Phantom
Funky Kong's Phantom
Dry Bowser's Phantom
Male Mii's Phantom
Female Mii's Phantom
Battle Mode[edit]
Red Team Standard Bike L
Blue Team Standard Bike L
Mario Kart 8 / Mario Kart 8 Deluxe[edit]
Master Cycle Zero (Mario Kart 8 Deluxe only)
The Super Mario Bros. Movie[edit]
Names in other languages[edit]
| Language | Name | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | バイク[?] Baiku |
Bike | |
| Chinese (simplified) | 摩托车[?] Mótuōchē |
Motorcycle | |
| Spanish | Moto[?] | Bike |
References[edit]
- ^ Iwata Asks - Mario Kart Wii. Nintendo of America (American English). Archived January 13, 2010, 03:10:58 UTC from the original via Wayback Machine. Retrieved August 31, 2020.
- ^ a b Page 14 and 15 of the Nintendo Official Guidebook of Mario Kart Wii (PDF). Retrieved April 27, 2018.[dead link]
- ^ "There are actually two sub-categories of bike: standard and sport. Standard bikes drift similarly to every other body type. Sport bikes more or less commit to the turn during a drift, sharply cutting in the direction of the turn." – Musa, Alexander (May 30, 2014). Mario Kart 8 PRIMA Official Game Guide. Prima Games (American English). ISBN 978-0-804-16328-6. Page 28.
