5 Minute History: Space Marine Attack Bikes

The Space Marine Attack Bike is a bulkier, more heavily-armed variant of the Space Marine Bike. In appearance, it is just a standard bike with a second rider in a sidecar. The original Attack Bike model was made entirely of metal and armed with a multi-melta released in 1989 during Rouge Trader.

 The second version of the Attack Bike was released by Games Workshop in 1997 for the 2nd edition of Warhammer 40,000. This version was based on the new plastic Space Marine Bike, although the sidecar and gunner were still made of metal. Two versions were released. The generic Space Marine Attack Bike was armed with a heavy bolter, while the Dark Angels Ravenwing version had a multi-melta. The current incarnation of the Attack Bike is an all-plastic model kit that was released for the 3rd edition of Warhammer 40,000. This latest version can be armed with either a multi-melta or a heavy bolter in addition to the bike's mounted twin-bolters.

Image Credit Ron at From the Warp

In-game, Attack Bikes can either be fielded in squadrons by themselves or singly, accompanying squads of Space Marine bikers where they can significantly increase the firepower of the squadron. Many players use multi-melta armed Attack Bikes as potent hit-and-run tank hunters, while heavy bolter-armed Attack Bikes are tasked for anti-infantry work.

Outside of the Warhammer 40,000 game, Space Marine Attack Bikes are also featured in the Epic large-scale battle tabletop game. Epic 40,000 (3rd edition) attack bikes were metal figures and had the same look as their Warhammer 40,000 counterparts albeit on a smaller scale, contrasting with the (regular) Space Marine bike squadrons whose vehicles were sleeker and more rounded. Nevertheless, Attack Bikes were given a lower speed than Bike squadrons and Land Speeders (30 cm per turn instead of 35 cm), causing them to be omitted from many players' fast attack detachments. The Epic: Armageddon (4th edition) attack bikes retained the 3rd edition design.