Motorcycle

Cloud Strife on the Hardy-Daytona in Final Fantasy VII.

Motorcycles are a mode of transportation that appear primarily in the Compilation of Final Fantasy VII, but also make appearances in several other games. Functionality wise, they operate roughly the same as real-world motorcycles. However, their design is radically different, and in Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children, they are also capable of maneuvering in ways no real motorcycle possibly could.

Appearances

Final Fantasy VII

Main article: Hardy-Daytona

Cloud Strife rides a motorcycle out of the Shinra Headquarters in order to escape the building. This leads into a minigame in which Cloud must ride the motorcycle behind a pick-up truck carrying the other party members, while Cloud uses his sword to attack pursuing Shinra troops on their motorcycles. There is actually a simple trick to avoid being hit; only the orange enemy motorcyclist seem to attack always, the red enemy motorcyclist stop attacking if Cloud is continually slashing with his sword, even if he is only slashing air. The easy strategy is to kill the orange motorcyclists and leave the red ones, and then continually press the attack button and the enemy motorcyclists will stop attacking the car. This minigame can later be replayed at the Gold Saucer, where GP and a Speed Source are rewarded for a high enough score.

Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children

The Remnants of Sephiroth on their motorcycles.

Main article: Fenrir (Motorcycle)

Cloud's motorcycle in the film is the Fenrir, which is drastically different from his motorcycle in the game. The Fenrir's wheels are much wider than a normal motorcycle's, allowing it to remain upright even without a rider. It also has a series of retractable compartments in the front that Cloud stores the Fusion Swords in. Cloud's acquisition of the bike is covered in On the Way to a Smile, in which he trades it to help with his deliveries, agreeing to the unspecified original owner to give them free food and drink for a lifetime at Tifa's bar.

The Remnants of Sephiroth also ride motorcycles, although their design is quite different from the Fenrir. The unnamed motorcycle model is distinguished by three large pipes that emerge over the rear wheel and a series of other pipes that cover the vehicle otherwise, although they are not exhaust pipes and are merely aesthetics. Designer Takayuki Takeya has said he designed their motorcycles "without a face", which gave them character, and admitted he "never really thought about what made [it] move. If I did, I'd be stuck thinking about it all day". In a scene in Advent Children Complete, it is also shown that some type of rapid-fire guns are mounted on the sides of the wheel on the motorcycles' front.

Cloud's motorcycle, like the others in the film, is also able to maneuver in an unrealistic fashion - in one scene, Cloud, Loz, and Yazoo loop and turn around each other effortlessly, sliding and even riding backwards at times, in ways no real motorcycle possibly could without sustaining severe damage. Cloud destroys one of the motorcycles during the film's climactic moments, and a second is blown up by the Turks. The motorcycle belonging to Kadaj is unaccounted for, as he abandons it before fighting Cloud one last time.

Dirge of Cerberus -Final Fantasy VII-

Cloud rides the Fenrir during the Battle of Midgar, and other motorcycles are used by the World Regenesis Organization. Hover bikes are ridden by enemies called Pegasus Riders.

Crisis Core -Final Fantasy VII-

In Crisis Core, there are two motorcycles: the same Hardy-Daytona seen in Final Fantasy VII, and an unnamed model with a side-car, the latter of which Zack Fair uses to transport a catatonic Cloud Strife.

Final Fantasy VIII

Galbadian soldiers ride motorcycles in the Battle of the Gardens, driving them off ramps to launch onto Balamb Garden. To assist them, the Galbadian motorcycles have rockets strapped to their rear wheels to help propel them. The ramps which they drive off likely have some method of launching system as well.

Final Fantasy XII

Although technically not a motorcycle, a similar vehicle called a hoverbike was used by Balthier, Fran, and Vaan to make their getaway from the Royal Palace of Rabanastre. As it was powered by a stolen piece of Goddess' Magicite, the engine gave out and stranded them in the Garamsythe Waterway.

A hoverbike is also featured in a promotional artwork of Balthier, Ashe, and Fran.

Final Fantasy XIII

The Shiva sisters Styria and Nix, in addition to being summoned into battle, can combine into a motorcycle which Snow rides. The motorcycle can perform various attacks, including Shiva's trademark attack, Diamond Dust.

Hoverbikes also feature as a common means of transportation throughout Cocoon, and are capable of flight. In Eden, the party make their landing on a hoverbike racetrack, disrupting the ongoing race.

Gallery

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