Bikes are a new type of vehicle introduced in Mario Kart Wii, which act as an alternate means of driving to Karts. Although they feature the same basic attributes, there are differences: bikes usually weigh less than karts; and they can perform Wheelies, a superior technique in Mario Kart Wii. Some bikes can also preform Inside Drifts, allowing them to turn tighter. In addition, Princess Peach, Princess Daisy, Rosalina, Pink Gold Peach, Peachette and Pauline wear a motorbike jumpsuit when riding bikes.
In Mario Kart Wii, bikes can perform Wheelies to boost one's speed for about a whopping four seconds (although their handling is decreased), but they can be cancelled early by hopping, making a sharp turn, or going up a steep incline like in Wario's Gold Mine. Because of how overpowered wheelies are, bikes are rendered incapable of performing Super Mini-Turbos, a stronger type of Mini-Turbo that karts can perform. They're recommended for Time Trials because they have superior turning and their ability to conduct wheelies.
Bikes are absent in Mario Kart 7, but they do return in Mario Kart 8 and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe as vehicle customization parts. However, they can no longer perform wheelies (likely due to complaints that they made the bikes overpowered), but they can still wheelie by doing a Rocket Start or using a Mushroom, but this is only a visual effect that has zero effect on gameplay. To compensate, bikes can now perform Super Mini-Turbos.
Below is a list of bikes that appear the Mario Kart series.
List of Bikes
Note: bikes in bold are Inside Drifting bikes.
Bikes in Mario Kart Wii
Small
- Standard Bike S
- Bullet Bike
- Bit Bike (Nanobike)
- Quacker
- Magikruiser
- Jet Bubble (Bubble Bike)
Medium
- Standard Bike M
- Mach Bike
- Sugarscoot (Bon Bon)
- Zip Zip (Rapide)
- Sneakster (Nitrocycle)
- Dolphin Dasher
Large
- Standard Bike L
- Flame Runner (Bowser Bike)
- Wario Bike
- Shooting Star (Twinkle Star)
- Spear (Torpedo)
- Phantom
Bikes in Mario Kart 8 and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
- Standard Bike
- Comet
- Sport Bike
- The Duke
- Flame Rider
- Varmint
- Mr. Scooty
- Jet Bike
- Yoshi Bike
- Master Cycle+
- Master Cycle Zero*
- City Tripper+
+ - DLC bike in Mario Kart 8
* - Exclusive to Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
Bike-looking Karts
- Zipper (from Mario Kart DS)
- Hunter Bee (from Mario Kart Arcade GP DX)