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I've heard a lot of people on this board comment on how Scout Bikes are pretty good for Space Marines. I even saw one post where someone mentioned that he is using his regular bikes as count as for scout bikes. From what I can see, regular bikes cost 6 more points and have a better save. While Scout bikes get 2" more movement. Regular bikes also have the option of adding a meltagun or other special weapon. Can someone help me understand why I would ever chose Scout bikes over Regular bikes? I always feel like I'm missing something when I read these posts.

They are quicker, can shoot with their twin linked bolter AND their shotguns AND the sergeant's stormbolter (if you bought him one), have combat blades, are cheaper IIRC and have the UM stratagem

Look at the stock loadout of the scout bikers

Bolt Pistol
CC weapon
Shotgun
The bike’s twin bolters (some of which can be swapped for an AGL)

Now you can fire the pistol, or everything else. This makes for a massive amount of dakka for a reasonable amount of points. And then you can charge in for assault if you need to. And use the stratagem for MW falling back.

They are fast, cheep, and put out a ton of shots. What’s not to love?

It's the shotguns really that gives scout bikers an edge.

They're super cheap, hyper mobile, and the sergeant has two guns plus his bike. Lot of Dakka in a 3 man unit.

Cheaper cost, better firepower, generally have more close combat attacks. Also get a stratagem to cause mortal wounds. Bikes are only better at durability per point if you give up their other advantage taking special weapons.

All of the above. Just keep in mind that it's a cheap way to get str 4 shots out. They don't have any ap, do damage 1, etc. They aren't going to pop any vehicles, they aren't going to survive long if something shoots them. They just bring lots of str 4 dakka to the table in the form of something very mobile and cheap.

That's it. :/

Compare Scout Bikes to Inceptors. They cost the same.

Inceptors get 6 shots S5 AP-1 at 18" and can deep strike.
Scout Bikes get 6 shots S4 AP0 at 12" and 2 of those shots become S5 at 6"
Both hit on 3+

Inceptors Swing 2 attacks with 3 for the Sargent
Scout Bikes Swing 2 attacks with 3 for the sargent.
both hit on 3+

Both are T5. Both are 2 wounds. Scout Bikes have a 4+ save, Inceptors have a 3+ and a better chance of getting cover (infantry).

I want to like Scout bikes. Explain to me why scout bikes are better than inceptors.

Inceptors can't come down near their target on turn 1. You're also forgetting the 4 extra shots from the scout sergeant's storm bolter.

tag8833 wrote:
Compare Scout Bikes to Inceptors. They cost the same.

Inceptors get 6 shots S5 AP-1 at 18" and can deep strike.
Scout Bikes get 6 shots S4 AP0 at 12" and 2 of those shots become S5 at 6"
Both hit on 3+

Inceptors Swing 2 attacks with 3 for the Sargent
Scout Bikes Swing 2 attacks with 3 for the sargent.
both hit on 3+

Both are T5. Both are 2 wounds. Scout Bikes have a 4+ save, Inceptors have a 3+ and a better chance of getting cover (infantry).

I want to like Scout bikes. Explain to me why scout bikes are better than inceptors.

Scout Bikes are 77pts for 3 dudes with the twin bolters, shotguns + Sergeant with storm bolter
Inceptors are 135pts for 3 dudes with two assault bolt rifles.

You can get nearly 6 bikes for the cost of the Inceptors. Also they move 6" further per turn, and reliably advance 6".

tag8833 wrote:
Compare Scout Bikes to Inceptors. They cost the same.

Inceptors get 6 shots S5 AP-1 at 18" and can deep strike.
Scout Bikes get 6 shots S4 AP0 at 12" and 2 of those shots become S5 at 6"
Both hit on 3+

Inceptors Swing 2 attacks with 3 for the Sargent
Scout Bikes Swing 2 attacks with 3 for the sargent.
both hit on 3+

Both are T5. Both are 2 wounds. Scout Bikes have a 4+ save, Inceptors have a 3+ and a better chance of getting cover (infantry).

I want to like Scout bikes. Explain to me why scout bikes are better than inceptors.

As was said they don’t cost the same. 5 scout bikes with storm bolted sarge is 127 points and puts out 34 S4 shots at 12” vs 18 S 5 shots. They are also faster and with the deepstrike change they are more easily able to hit turn off 1. It is honestly a closer comparison to Agressors who put out 28.5 S 4 shots on average for 111 points vs 28 S 4 shots for 102 for scout bikes. In that scenario it is a question of delivery, if you can get the agressors to shoot twice they are the clear winner, but delivering them is tough for many armies.