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Alright, so an attack bike is pretty much the only model I didn't have (not counting HQ's) and I just got one today for my 19th birthday (woo hoo, lol). Anyway, I have NEVER used bikes and have no experience. I've tried to search dakka as well as some other 40k sites but no avail on what I was looking to find, and what I did find didn't count in what 6th has changed. So:

I have an attack bike, I need anti AV, so I am thinking melta, BUT I have not opened the bike and can still return it to the store.
Why would I return it? Because I have 2 Land speeders with MM/HF and I could get another.
BUT again, I think I may want to try bikes out, as my Land Speeders have always been destroyed before they could hit hard.

So, I was wondering, should I keep the attack bike?
If I should keep the attack bike and give it a multi-melta, should I get a few more attack bikes with multi meltas, or should I get some regular bikes and give those guys meltas and a few leave with bolt pistols to absorb some of the incoming fire?

And, whether I use an attack bike squadron or a regular bike squadron with attack bike, what are some good strategies in sixth?


Background on my army:
Usually use pedro kantor and sternguard.
My only dedicated anti AV are 3 land raiders, 2 MM/HF Land Speeders, a Laz Pred, a Laz/ MIssile Dread, and some multi meltas on the vets. And of course I can't field many of these at the same time, so having a bike squad might help, I just don't know whether I should go attack bike squad or regular bike squad, or if you all think I should add another MM/HF speeder.

EDIT: I am seeing 3 ravenwing bikes go for $15 all of the time on ebay, the same price as a regular space marine bike. Why is this? And is there a reason I shouldn't buy them and convert to C:SM and should spend 3x the amount on a regular SM bike?


Thanks in advance!

Attack bikes can provide decent anti-tank firepower in the fast attack slot without tying up your HS.

You can run them either as a lone model or as part of a squadron of attack bikes, or as an add-on to a bike squad - even with the mult-melta they're effectively as survivable as two individual SM bikes, with much better firepower.

Attack bikes vs land speeders is a tricky one - the bikes have better survivability and can deny objectives, whereas the speeders have more firepower per point and can also deep-strike. Overall I'd say eithe are worthwhile, it's best to figure out which is more effective from the standpoint of your list.

Do your sternguard walk, ride, or drop? For a drop list I'd say the land speeders are better because you can drop them in as well. For a mounted list the bikes should support your tanks very nicely, while on foot either is reasonable.

There are plenty of Ravenwing bikes on eBay because they're spares from the DV box set.

If you want a better idea of how vanilla SM bikes and speeders perform in 6th ed take a look at my battle reports!

I prefer bikes over speeders personally as I find the speeders are too easily popped.

Running attack bikes as anti armour is sound, maybe run a pair as a squadran for the redundency. Don't under estimate the HB variety though, a squad of 3 can pump out alot of Dakka for a reasonable price. I magnetised my attack bikes so I can switch between HB or MM as my lists require.

D

I think bikes are worth fielding, in pretty much all of their forms (for C:SM at least, can't speak for other codexes) While I personally like speeders more myself, looking at the numbers, bikes are more flexible and cheaper for what they do.

Bikes have a lower profile, so can hide better. True T5, multi wound models have some perks over an AV10 fast skimmer. Someone slaps a krack missile or a melta into the bike, it just grunts and rolls on; the speeder is probably toast. The ability to contest, and charge into CC are major perks. Overall, I think 6th has been kinder to bikes then speeders, but I consider them interchangeable.

2 A-Bikes w/ MMs is 100 points. That's not a bad little anti tank-package rolling around. 3 with HBs (and the TLd normal bolters) is 120. That's the same cost as 2x(2xHB) speeders. With directional wound allocation, being able to snake some heavy dakka over to the side/back of a unit

I am in the process of bulking out the bike element of my army to something a little more viable. My goal is

4+1 bikes, 2xPlasmaguns, HB attack bike
4+1 bikes 2xMeltaguns, MM attack bike
Bike captain.

I'd get more attack bikes, to be able to field a squad of 3, but I already have 3 speeders painted (and one more still on the sprue) so don't feel the need to blow my hobby budget on a lateral unit upgrade. But if I was making suggestions to someone building up their army, I'd probably tell them to get 2 of each, attack bikes and speeders.

Normal bike squads are tougher, faster, more expensive marines. You are trading model count for better units. When things are going well, you can do some nice things with them. But when the dice turn on you, there is not a very large margin of error. Higher risk/reward then normal marines. Adding a squad of them for a mobility element can work. Thematically, I like them in mechanized lists. My biggest issue with them is transporting them to the game. I generally have fun with them once they hit the table.

Also, Happy Birthday!