To get the sandbike in Dune Awakening, the first vehicle of the game, you need to progress to a particular point in the game before getting it as a proper mission. The Sandbike isn't just a fun toy or way to speed up travel, it's essential to crossing large stretches of desert before Shai-Hulud can catch up and devour you. That means you'll need to construct the component pieces and the Sandbike itself, a simple MK1 prototype that can be built upon and expanded later, as well as replaced with whole new vehicles as you unlock those further in.
But we get ahead of ourselves. For now I'll explain how to get the Sandbike in Dune Awakening, as well as how to craft this vehicle and what you need to know about operating it in gameplay. After all, the last thing you want to do is construct one, only to lose it moments later.
How to unlock Sandbikes in Dune Awakening
While there are several vehicles in Dune Awakening, the first of them you'll unlock is the Sandbike, a one-seater three-wheeled motorbike. This unlocks roughly 3-5 hours into the game, depending on how much time you dedicate to the main questline, when you unlock a quest called Across the Gap after completing some missions at the Dune Awakening Griffin's Reach Tradepost.
This quest is explicitly about building a Sandbike so you can cross the expanse of desert at the top of Hagga Basin South fast enough that the Dune Awakening Sandworms don't eat you. In doing so, you'll be given all the information and material you need to keep crafting sandbikes, so if they get destroyed or lost (or if you just want more for your friends), you can repeat the process.
How to craft a Sandbike in Dune Awakening
To make a Sandbike in Dune Awakening, you need the following base components.
- 1x Welding Torch (Tool made in Fabricator, made with 6x Copper Ingots)
- 1+ Medium Sized Fuel Cell (Made in Chemical Refinery with 45x Fuel Cells and 15x Water)
- Sandbike Components (All can be made in the Fabricator with Copper Ingots and Advanced Servoks)
- 1x Sandbike Chassis Mk1
- 3x Sandbike Tread Mk1
- 1x Sandbike Hull Mk 1
- 1x Sandbike PSU Mk1
- 1x Sandbike Engine Mk1
Some of these can be found in enemy camps, but they're often degraded and damaged. Making your own is usually preferable if you can spare the resources. Likewise, you don't have to craft the Medium Sized cell over the Small one, but the availability of the standard cells and water that build them mean that there's no reason not to.
Once you have the components, equip the welding torch and you can place the pieces out in the open and assemble them accordingly. After that, interact with the bike by holding down F to add the Fuel Cell and power it up.
Now you have a Sandbike, here's some tips on using them:
- Craft a Vehicle backup tool. These are handheld devices that can store vehicles within them and deploy them again, effectively a way to carry your bike on you without leaving it behind.
- You can alter your Sandbike with modular components. These might be upgraded core components (like a better chassis and treads) or optional additions like scanners and seats that change the way it functions. These can be researched and built in Fabricators, or found in enemy terrain.
- Don't leave them in the sun. Consistent heat causes them to degrade over time. Place them in your base, in the backup tool, or at least in the shade somewhere, to stop this from happening.
- Keep an eye on fuel! Because Sandbikes need specially prepared Fuel Cells and you can't use the default ones you find around, you need to keep an eye on how long it can run for. If it helps, some of the Planetologist skill tree is based on fuel conservation and vehicles powers, though I wouldn't say they compromise the best Dune Awakening skills overall.
How to repair Vehicles
Different components of the Sandbike vehicle can be damaged individually, but they're all fixed in the same way. Either you can replace the components by dismantling the bike and adding new ones with the Welding Torch you used to build it in the first place, or go to your Fabricator and craft Welding Wire with scavenged metal components. Then go to the Sandbike with the Welding Torch and switch to repair mode accordingly. The module on the bike you select can be repaired at the cost of Welding Wire.
Want to truly fill out your Arrakis guidebook? We've laid out a functioning list of Dune Awakening tips to help new players get to grips with the systems involved. Or if you're looking for a fresh start, check out the best Dune Awakening Homeworld, Caste and Mentor for character creation!
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