- Appeared in:
I
II
III
IV
V
VI
CW
- Size:
5.8 meters long
- Weapon:
None
- Affiliation:
Galactic Republic
- Type:
Swoop speeder bike
- Manufacturer:
Bespin Motors
-
The winterized clone troopers seen in
The Clone Wars episode "Trespass" (Season One, 2009) operate ruggedized speeder bikes that have greater range and durability than the standard BARC speeders. Dubbed Freeco bikes, these repulsorlift vehicles are distinctive in that they possess an integrated windscreen to deflect the blowing snow and chilling air of their operational environment. Twin outrigger thrusters propel the bike across uneven terrains at speeds topping out at 440 kilometers per hour. These large CK-6 swoop bikes include a set of landing gears for more secure purchase on icy terrain. As witnessed in "Trespass," these bikes have a low flight ceiling, needing a sturdy surface to deflect against in order to fly. Should an ice bridge suddenly collapse, the speeder pilot had best hope he built up enough momentum to carry the bike across the resulting chasm
Freeco bikes can operate when even the most intense blizzards keep Republic gunships grounded. However, as seen in the webcomic The Clone Wars: Cold Snap (2009, StarWars.com), without constant maintenance and care, even a night on Orto Plutonia might freeze a bike's systems solid.
The name Freeco bike, never actually spoken in the episodes, was coined behind-the-scenes during the making of "Trespass" as a contraction of "freezing cold." The technical designation as a Bespin Motors CK-6 swoop derives from its similarities to a Bespin Motors JR-4 swoop, a type of bike first established in the
Arms and Equipment Guide (2002, Wizards of the Coast) which in turn based on a 1996 piece of Episode I speeder bike concept art by Doug Chiang.
