Dark Rider

The Dark Rider, also known as the Bike, is a vehicle that appears in the Sonic the Hedgehog series. It is Shadow the Hedgehog's personal motorcycle.

Game appearances

Shadow the Hedgehog

The Dark Rider first appears in Shadow the Hedgehog as an unnamed vehicle. It is shown in the game's intro, where it gets destroyed, and in Lethal Highway.

Sonic the Hedgehog (2006)

The Dark Rider reappears in Sonic the Hedgehog (2006), where it can be used in Radical Train and Aquatic Base. It also appears in Shadow's seventh Town Mission, "Motorcycle License Test". It has been completely redesigned, is now armed with machine guns, and its speed can be increased using an ability called the Boost Dash. Unlike in Shadow the Hedgehog, the Dark Rider is needed on certain missions to advance as it allows Shadow to travel faster.

In gameplay, the Dark Rider is harder to steer. While it is faster than the Buggy and can jump higher from Ramps, the Dark Rider has weaker armor. Additionally, should the rounds for its machine guns empty, it will reload in seconds. If the Dark Rider rams at into a wall at full speed, it will overturn and cannot be flipped back unless the player gets jumps off of it and back on again. When its Health Gauge is critical its engine starts to smoke, and when it empties, the vehicle will explode (without harming the player).

To board or dismount the Dark Rider, the player can press /. Pressing / makes it reverse/brake, pressing / twice triggers a Boost Dash, and / fires its machine gun.

Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing

In Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing, the Dark Rider appears as Shadow's vehicle. Its appearance is identical to that in Sonic the Hedgehog (2006), but it lacks its machine guns. Instead of the GUN insignia, it has the Black Arms insignia on its fuel tank. It has the following statistics:

In other media

Archie Comics

In the Sonic the Hedgehog comic series and its spin-offs published by Archie Comics, the Dark Rider debuted in Sonic Universe #23. In its debut, Amy asked why Shadow had the bike, and he explained that all G.U.N agents must be issued with a vehicle. Rouge pointed out that he did not need it, but customized and maintains it himself, to which he admitted that he "really like(s) that bike."

Trivia

• The Dark Rider bears an resemblance to a 2003 Harley Davidson XL1200 Custom Anniversary Edition.
• The Dark Rider was made into a toy for the Sonic & Sega All-Stars 3" action figure series, coming with a Shadow figure with hands especially molded so that they could wrap around the handlebars of the bike, keeping him on it.^[1] The Dark Rider was also made into a radio-controlled toy with a working headlight.^[2]

Gallery

Concept artwork

Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing

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Artwork

Gallery
The Dark Rider in Shadow the Hedgehog. The Dark Rider in Shadow the Hedgehog. The bike as it appears in Sonic the Hedgehog (2006). The Dark Rider as it appears in Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing. Add a photo to this gallery

Sprites

Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing

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Merchandise

Gallery
Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing by Jazwares Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing by Jazwares Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing by NKOK Add a photo to this gallery

References