In Dune Awakening, travelling the world is a huge part of your experience, and the Sandbike is the first one you’ll get.
The world of Dune is fast, and running around on your two feet is a slow way to die of heatstroke. So, it’s important we get a bike early so we can travel around the world. If you’ve started the game with the research locked to the quest, you’ll eventually get to the bike, but we are here to help you get there faster.
In this guide, we’ll cover how to get the Sandbike, how to care for it, and how to operate it around the dunes of Dune.
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How to Unlock the Sandbike
You get access to the Sandbike during the main story quest, “Across the Gap”. This happens about 2–4 hours in, once you finish the early missions around Griffin’s Reach Tradepost. Basically, once you need to head to the Tradepost, you are on the home straight.
That quest teaches you how to build the Sandbike and gives you what you need for your first one. After that, you can craft more using the same steps.
Sandbike Crafting Materials
To build a Sandbike, you need to use a Welding Torch to actually build the bike parts into a complete Sandbike. You’ll then need to gather the following parts:
Tools
- 1x Welding Torch (crafted in Fabricator with 6x Copper Ingots)
Fuel
- 1x Medium Fuel Cell (made in Chemical Refinery with 45x Fuel Cells + 15x Water)
Bike Components (all made in the Fabricator)
- 1x Sandbike Chassis Mk1
- 3x Sandbike Tread Mk1
- 1x Sandbike Hull Mk1
- 1x Sandbike PSU Mk1
- 1x Sandbike Engine Mk1
Some of these can be looted from enemy camps, but they’re often damaged. It’s better to make your own. Having done this process twice, I’ve managed to pick up two Sandbike parts before doing the quest, but they are often at about 50% HP.
Once you have the parts, equip your Welding Torch. Place the components on the ground and assemble them. Then hold F on the bike to insert fuel via the options window. Once that’s done, hop on the Sandbike, enjoy your little cutscene and continue with your adventure.
Your next adventure will soon be the Second Trail of AQL, so make sure you are well-prepared for it.
Tips for Storing the Sandbike
Now you’ve got your Sandbike, you want to keep it in tip top shape. This goes for most vehicles, so the advice is worth bringing along.
- Use a Vehicle Backup Tool. This lets you pack up your bike and carry it. No need to leave it behind. This is a very handy tool, and the game will eventually prompt you to make it. It’s worth noting that you cannot have anything in the Sandbike inventory.
- Avoid leaving it in sunlight. Heat damages the bike over time. Store it in your base or at least in the shade. The best thing to do is to build a little home for your bike. You can fully enclose it inside a garage with a door, or, like our example above, just place it under a roof.
- Watch your fuel. The Sandbike doesn’t use standard fuel; it needs custom-made Fuel Cells. Stock up before long trips, making sure the bike is at 100% and you have one spare cell with you.
- Planetologist buff: If you play as a Planetologist, you’ll get bonuses when using vehicles. If you decided to spec them, these include reducing field usage and better repairing. Later, you can also gain more resources from a vehicle.
Upgrades and Mods
You can swap out parts to change how the Sandbike works. You do so the same way you built the bike. Get out your Welding Torch and remove parts or add new ones to improve your vehicle. The added items can be things such as scanners or extra seats. Some improved parts are also more durable or faster.
These can be researched or found in the wild, then built in a Fabricator.
Repairs
If the bike gets damaged, it’s easy to fix.
- Replace parts: Use the Welding Torch to dismantle and rebuild with new pieces. This is good because repairing has limits, and each repair brings the overall quality of the part down slightly. This can be elicited slightly by playing as a Planetologist.
- Repair parts: Craft Welding Wire in the Fabricator using scrap metal. Then, switch your Welding Torch to repair mode. Aim at the damaged part and use the wire.
And that’s all when it comes to getting your first Sandbike. We’ll have more vehicle guides soon, include how to get your first Ornithopter.
