The bicycle is a staple of all Pokémon games: it helped players move faster than on foot in the originals and has since been used to traverse narrow pathways, pop wheelies, and ride across muddy terrains. This time around, it has a few more tricks than simple wheelies.

The Rotom Bike races at high speeds, changes colors, and even traverses water. Without question, it’s the most advanced bike yet available in any Pokémon game. With so many new features, it’s plausible that some players missed all the little details.

10 Bike Lady

In the Wild Area on the mainland, there are numerous NPCs stationed around that will provide important updates and customizations for the bike. But the newest addition could be easy to miss.

The Bike Lady is located outside the Isle of Armor’s Master Dojo and can only be reached through the Expansion Pass. She offers special modifications that the other NPCs don’t, so be sure to hit her up for a cool change.

9 Buddy Pokémon Follow You

This one is hard to miss once players have a buddy with them, but those without the Isle of Armor Expansion Pass may not know this fact. The feature is a big deal because, in Pokémon Let’s Go, buddies could not keep up with the bike. Instead, they were transferred back into their Poké Ball until players got off the bike.

On the Isle of Armor, no matter how slow a trainer’s Pokémon is, they will be able to run and catch up at some point. It depends entirely on a Pokémon’s speed from Pokémon Camp. Some will be able to keep pace the whole way, while it will take some time for others to catch up.

8 It Sparkles Now

The latest upgrades can be found right outside the Master Dojo in the Fields of Honor, which is the first area players encounter on the Isle of Armor. These features are all part of Pokémon’s first-ever DLC.

Players have two bike customization options: Glistening White shines with stars that sparkle like a shiny Pokémon. Glistening Black shines with a special coating, and when zooming, it leaves a trail like a Tron light cycle. The best part? It’s entirely free to do.

7 Change Uniform

Players have the choice to change their bike uniform, which is emblazoned with a Rotom design. The colors vary and can match the lead Pokémon in one’s party. If the lead Pokémon has multiple types, players get to pick between both options. This is a free feature, too.

There is also the option of Rotom colors. The Rotom color scheme varies depending on the player’s bike. With the Glistening Black and Glistening White customizations, it’s a teal Rotom silhouette. Meanwhile, on the original design, it looks like the color associated with whichever Pokémon is in the lead.

6 New Color Schemes

The Rotom Bike is predominantly red and black, which should come as no surprise given its namesake. While the uniforms can be changed numerous times (really, as many times as a player wants), the bike itself cannot be changed.

Until players obtain the Expansion Pass and enter the Isle of Armor. As previously mentioned, the Bike Lady offers up new customizations. These are the only ways to change the bike to white or black instead of the regular red.

5 Rotom Rally

Players may not have known this, but there are racecourses all over the Wild Area called the Rotom Rally. Upon completion, victors will earn Watts, which are more valuable than ever in the Expansion Pass. To take on the race, players must talk to the NPCs responsible for customizing bikes.

There are multiple locations to undertake this in the Wild Area: The Meetup Spot, The Giant’s Seat, The Dappled Grove, The Bridge Field, The Giant’s Cap, and The Hammerlocke Hills. Each location increases the time limit (40 seconds gradually up to 140 seconds).

4 Up The Speed

Bikes have always been valuable in Pokémon games because it is speedier than the average walk. It was always a major milestone to acquire it, beginning in Kanto. In Pokémon Sword and Shield, it got a major upgrade.

It can be boosted not once, not twice, but three times. Talk to the aforementioned Wild Area NPCs, select “Improve My Bike,” and make the upgrades. Each boost costs 1,000 Watts, 3,000 Watts, and 5,000 Watts, respectively.

3 Head Out Onto The Water

The Wild Area is hugely expansive, and biking around on land is only the beginning. Once users unlock the water mode, they can freely explore the water. While this isn’t exactly the hardest feature to miss, it is easy to miss all the areas players can head to.

One of the best places to head, once wrapping up the game, is Lake of Outrage. There are all sorts of rare Pokémon not only swimming around (such as Milotic, which had to be traded in all previous gens, on foggy days) and across the lake itself, like the coveted Dreepy.

2 Ring The Bell

1 It’s Powered By Rotom

In the past, bicycles have been just that: normal bicycles. There was nothing particularly special about them. Often, they came from bike shops. This bike is completely different.

Players actually connect to the Rotom Phone in order to power the bike. Really, it’s kind of inhabited by the Ghost-type Rotom in that sense.

NEXT: Pokémon Sword & Shield: The Isle Of Armor: 10 Things You Missed About Mustard