Bicycle
A Bicycle is a key item obtained in the games to facilitate faster movement. Cycling Road can only be navigated on while cycling.
In Kanto and Johto
In Generation I, their Generation III remakes, and Generation II, there is only one type of bicycle. It is sold by the Bike Shop (Miracle Cycle in the original Japanese versions) located in Cerulean City (in Kanto), and in Goldenrod City (in Johto). It is the most basic type of bicycle in all the games, as it only provides faster transportation. There are no obstacles that can be passed only with the bicycle, except Cycling Road in Kanto, which cannot be entered without one.
In Hoenn
In Hoenn, there are actually two types of bicycles: the Mach Bike and the Acro Bike. They are both obtained for free in Rydel's Cycles in Mauville City, and can be changed for the other at any time after one is originally obtained. However, the player may only have one type of bicycle at a time.
Mach Bike
This type of bicycle allows players to move a lot faster than the previous models of bicycles. It can move fast enough to ride straight up a muddy slope, or over weak ground without falling through. If the player collides with something, all momentum gained is lost and the speed resets. This is the faster of the two bikes found in Hoenn. On Seaside Cycling Road, a player's time and number of collisions while riding this bike from the northern entrance to the southern exit is timed and recorded. This is part of the data sent over to other players when records are swapped.
Acro Bike
This type of bicycle travels at the same speed as the original models of bicycles, but it also allows players to perform tricks, such as the wheelie or the bunny hop, that let players reach special areas, like climbing up rocks on Route 112. It can also be used for traveling on white rails found on Route 119 and in the Hoenn Safari Zone. The following is a list of tricks that are able to be done with this bike:
- Hold B button (less than 2 sec.): standing wheelie
- Hold B button (more than 2 sec.): bunny hop
- Hold B, then D-pad: wheelie or bunny hop
- B+D-pad direction (perpendicular to direction of travel): sideways hop
In Sinnoh
In Pokémon Diamond and Pearl, there is again a single model of bicycle, but it is different from the regular one in that it has two gears. The differences between the two gears, which can be changed by pressing the B button, are similar to the differences between both types of Hoenn-exclusive bikes, as there is a fast gear that allows players to travel up muddy slopes, and a slower gear for easier turning. The only difference is that the slower gear isn’t made for performing tricks (though it is capable of crossing narrow rails). It is obtained after the player saves the owner of Rad Rickshaw’s Cycle Shop from Team Galactic, in Eterna City. Diamond and Pearl also introduce bike ramps. In the basements of both Oreburgh Gate and Wayward Cave, you can jump over a bike ramp to reach a certain area that's otherwise blocked. How far you jump depends on the gear you have.
Trivia
A running joke in the anime seems to be that every time Ash meets up with a new female traveling partner, his Pikachu ends up destroying her bike.
This item article is part of Project ItemDex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on all items. |