NRG 900 from GTA IV.
Motorcycles are two-wheeled motor vehicles that have appeared in almost all Grand Theft Auto games, with the exception of Grand Theft Auto 2, Grand Theft Auto III and Grand Theft Auto Advance. Other names and types associated to motorcycles in GTA include motorbicycle, motorbike, bike, crotch rocket, moped and chopper. The quad bikes, as well as trikes, are included in this group, even though they have four and three wheels, respectively, instead of two. The Oppressor Mk II is also included on the list, even though it features no wheels and it can only be used in the hover/flying mode. Motorcycles are smaller than most vehicles in the game. They are small and narrow enough to travel in places where larger vehicles normally cannot fit, and usually have much better handling and are very "nimble". Since Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, the player can perform a forward drive-by while on any motorcycle. The downside of riding motorcycles is that, without a protective cage, the player can be ejected from the motorcycle during collisions and is prone to damage from gunfire. Getting busted is much easier as the cops do not have to open a door. Reversing on a motorcycle requires the character to use their feet to reverse (except for the Quadbike).
In Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, the player can increase the Bike skill of Carl Johnson, either through long rides on motorcycles or lessons in the Bike School. The higher the skill, the less chance Carl will fall off the motorcycle and the more responsive the motorcycle is.
In Grand Theft Auto IV, The Ballad of Gay Tony, Grand Theft Auto V and Grand Theft Auto Online, the player character will automatically put on a helmet if left idle for a few seconds. Some mission-specific characters will wear unique helmets not seen anywhere else in the game.
Players in Grand Theft Auto Online will also be able to wield specific weapons while riding a motorcycle, ones which wouldn't normally be usable while Drive-By Shooting in cars. This includes the SMG, SMG Mk II, the Sawed-Off Shotgun, Double Barrel Shotgun, Sweeper Shotgun, Compact Rifle, and the Compact Grenade Launcher.
Trivia
- One slight inaccuracy in the operation of motorcycles in GTA IV is that when the player answers his cell phone or performs a drive-by while driving the bike, he uses his right hand which in reality would disable his ability to accelerate as the throttle is located on that side.
- Another inaccuracy is that in real life, only touring motorcycles with a front fairing have built-in radio whereas in the Grand Theft Auto series, all motorcycles do. Using this theory, the Wayfarer in GTA San Andreas and the WinterGreen in GTA Vice City Stories would be the only bikes that accurately have a radio.
- More realistically however, the radios on motorcycles have a lower sound quality and output in mono instead of stereo sound.
- In all GTA games up to GTA IV, the handlebars don't move when the player turns the front wheel. However, this is fixed in the episodic content.
- In GTA San Andreas, when the player has a recruited Grove Street Families gang member and gets on a motorcycle, sometimes the passenger will call out "Shotgun" to sit in the front seat, but he can only get on the back. This proves the same dialogue is used for both cars and motorcycles in the game.
- According to the Liberty Tree themed instructions manual in Liberty City Stories, due to their dangerous nature bikes were being voted to be banned off the streets of Liberty City during the time LCS is set. This might be the story-wise explanation for the lack of bikes in Grand Theft Auto Advance and Grand Theft Auto III.
- In GTA IV and GTA V, the Police can easily ram the player off the motorcycle, making driving a motorcycle with a Wanted Level in either game very dangerous and risky.
See Also
- Category:Motorcycles - Direct alphabetical list of motorcycles in the Grand Theft Auto series.
- Bicycles - pedal bicycles introduced in GTA San Andreas.