The Sandbike is your first vehicle that you construct in Dune: Awakening, and it quickly becomes one of your lifelines for survival. With its speed and manoeuvrability, you are able to travel long distances through the unlimited stretches of open sand on Arrakis, without drawing the attention of the perpetually present Sandworms to yourself. When in a world the geography can literally be the difference between life and death, a vehicle is not so much a luxury but a necessity.
Though acquiring your first Sandbike may look overwhelming, the process is really intuitive, and once you get to know how the game’s vehicle-building system works, construction, maintenance, and upgrading become part of the excitement.
Assembling Your First Sandbike
If you started with the tech tree locked, your priority will be to work through the Journey quests first. These will later take you to the Sandbike Mk1 Assembly Schematic, which you’ll be able to unlock through the Research tab. After it is unlocked, you can craft the necessary vehicle parts using a Fabricator.
Most of the materials can be found in Imperial Testing Stations—defunct test sites located throughout the desert that often contain rare technology. These are no-safe zones, but it’s worth the risk if you’re hoping to collect Sandbike components. Or, if you have the clout, you can usually buy these pieces from traders in outposts.
Once you’ve crafted all the parts—chassis, PSU, engine, treads, and any optional upgrades like a booster or extra seat—you’ll need to use a Welding Torch to assemble the Sandbike itself. Equip the torch, then manually begin construction by placing the chassis and attaching the other components piece by piece. The process is hands-on and tactile, lending a satisfying realism to building your vehicle.
Making the Most of Sandbike Attachments
Optional add-ons such as boosters are not all the same; they can significantly impact one’s performance. If you have installed a rear booster, you will see a skill icon at the bottom of your HUD indicating the riding time. To activate it, just tap the appropriate hotkey. These tools can provide you with a quick spurt of speed or other benefits while travelling or escaping.
Keeping Your Sandbike in Good Shape
Eventually, your Sandbike takes some damage, both from the environment and enemies or simply wears out. There isn’t a single repair station like you might find for arms or armour, and repairs are completed with the Welding Torch, the same tool you used to assemble the bike.
To repair, you will need Welding Wire, which can be created in the Fabricator using Scavenged Metal. Then, after equipping your Welding Torch, cycle through its modes so that you get into the Repair mode. Carefully aim at the damaged part of the Sandbike. With this done right, you use the Fire function to weld the broken part back into working order.
One thing to note: each repair lowers a part’s maximum durability slightly. Eventually, parts will break down enough to require replacement, but with regular maintenance, your Sandbike will remain in good working condition for a long time.
Protecting and Storing Your Ride
Leaving your Sandbike unattended in the wild isn’t a good idea. If it’s parked outside of your controlled territory for too long, it will begin to degrade. To avoid this, you’ll want to store it properly using a Vehicle Backup Tool.
This device allows you to convert your car into a reserve asset. Simply point the backup device at your Sandbike and activate it. The vehicle will be neatly stowed, protected from the weather and rot. To send it out again, just dress the device and apply it to any accessible surface.
How to Refuel the Sandbike
Fueling your Sandbike is easy once you’ve got the necessary resources. When riding or standing next to the bike, press the Interact button to display the interaction wheel. From there, select the gas can icon, and the game will automatically refuel your Sandbike using any compatible fuel you’re carrying.
To produce fuel, you’ll need to refine Fuel Cells at a Chemical Station, converting them into usable vehicle fuel. You can also steal fuel from crashed vehicles, supply containers, or purchase it directly from vendors.
