5 Notable Landspeeders In The 'Star Wars' Galaxy
Image Source: StarWars.com
In honor of the release of Star Wars: Galactic Racer, we thought it would be a good idea to look back over some of the most noted vehicles the franchise possesses, especially racing vehicles! Today, its speeder bikes, the cars of the Star Wars galaxy, and one of the three main varieties of vehicles that players can race in Galactic Racer.
5. Flitknot Speeder
Image Source: StarWars.com
Originally used by Count Dooku on Geonosis in Attack of the Clones, the Flitknot Speeder is an elegant method of transportation that quickly appeared in the broader CIS arsenal. Curiously lacking militarized speeders like the Republic (instead putting stock in weapons platforms and vehicles like the STAP), Flitknots became the ride of choice for the likes of BX commando droids and the Geonosian species in high-speed speeder-based chases or for use in outflanking opponents. As a likely civilian-intended speeder, this meant its riders were also the vessel’s gunners, which gave them a free range of movement in where they were shooting with one hand. This also meant they’d have to aim spectacularly well to hit anything at such high speeds as well as demonstrate significant skill in steering their vehicle one-handed.
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4. BARC Speeder
Image Source: StarWars.com
The Republic’s main militarized speeder during the Clone Wars, the BARC speeder was a fast, mobile method of transport that allowed clones to range significant distances away and around their allied forces. The speeder bike could also be modified to carry other hovering attachments, such as a medical stretcher or a sidecar, increasing its usefulness. Used throughout the Clone Wars, the vehicle did not see much adoption by the Galactic Empire, as other speeders soon took the BARC’s former role.
3. 616-AvA Speeder Bike
Image Source: StarWars.com
As mentioned previously, the Galactic Empire’s motor pool included a range of replacement vehicles for those used during the days of the Galactic Republic. One of the later additions (from what we’re aware) was the 616-AvA speeder bike, manufactured locally on Lothal and often seen used by its Imperial garrison. Some were stolen and used by the Ghost crew during their early days on the planet, repainted from their drab Imperial tones, and the manufacturing line was later sabotaged by local rebel infiltrators. That didn’t end well when Grand Admiral Thrawn arrived, but it appears that the 616 did not survive in the wider Imperial military after Lothal’s factories were taken offline as the world rejected an Imperial presence before the Battles of Scarif and Yavin.
2. Rey’s Speeder
Image Source: StarWars.com
The most unique vehicle on this list, Rey’s speeder was a custom creation built by her for her work as a scavenger in the sand dunes of Jakku. Heavy-duty and capable of hauling significant weight in cargo, the vehicle is most important for how it helped shape Rey as a pilot. It was a difficult vehicle to control, but with her experience in simulators and her considerable mechanical skill, she built herself a speeder bike that would serve her well over her years on the dustball. It has an uncertain fate at this time, but knowing Unkar Plutt, he probably had it trashed after Rey, Finn, and BB-8 fled Jakku.
1. 74-Z Speeder Bike
Image Source: StarWars.com
The standout speeder bike of the Original Trilogy (as the only speeder bike to get significant focus), the brown-toned 74-Z was widely used by the Galactic Empire and represents a very fast, but also very stripped back, speeder bike. With just an engine-block seat, struts, repulsorlift technology and a single underslung blaster, the vehicle could really move, but that was sometimes at the cost of its driver. Without great skill, crashes could be devastating, both to the vehicle and driver, as shown in Return of the Jedi, but also in The Mandalorian.
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Source(s): Star Wars Encyclopedia: The Comprehensive Guide to the Star Wars Galaxy, StarWars. com [1], [2], [3], [4]
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