Cruising through the neon-drenched streets of Night City has always been a thrill, but since the 2.1 update dropped for Cyberpunk 2077, getting from point A to point B has become a whole new kind of spectacle. 🏍️ I remember the early days of driving in Night City—it was fun, sure, especially after the handling overhauls, but long hauls across the map could start to feel a bit repetitive. That all changed when CD Projekt Red finally answered the community's long-standing request and gave us the ability to pull off motorcycle stunts. It’s not a groundbreaking mechanic on paper, but in practice, it injects a fresh dose of adrenaline and personality into every ride, transforming simple travel into an opportunity for showmanship. The best part? The game doesn't hold your hand with a tutorial, which makes mastering these moves feel like a personal achievement unlocked in the seedy underbelly of the future.
Getting started with bike tricks is surprisingly straightforward once you know the inputs. The control scheme feels intuitive, borrowing a familiar feel from other open-world titles. The core of the stunt system revolves around your left control stick (or keyboard keys) combined with your acceleration and brake triggers. You don't even need to touch the face buttons for most maneuvers. The absolute foundation, the trick every new rider should learn first, is the classic wheelie. To pop a wheelie, all you need to do is gently pull back on the left stick while holding down the accelerator. On a keyboard, it's as simple as holding 'LShift' while speeding up. Seeing your character lean back and lift the front wheel of a Kusanagi or a Yaiba Kusanagi CT-3X for the first time never gets old. Conversely, you can perform an endo (or stoppie) by pushing the left stick forward while applying the brakes. It’s a great way to show off your control when rolling up to a mission marker or just messing around.
The real fun begins when you leave the ground. Those same button combinations translate into aerial tricks when you catch some air. Finding a good launch ramp is key. I’ve spent countless hours just seeking out the perfect jumps. The Badlands desert, with its vast, rocky, and uneven terrain, is an absolute playground for aspiring stunt drivers. You can find natural dips and rises everywhere, perfect for practicing your mid-air balance and landing those tricks smoothly. It’s the ideal, low-pressure environment to experiment without the constant threat of crashing into Night City traffic.
For a more structured stunt experience, however, you need to head to Dogtown. This locked-down district, accessible only if you own the Phantom Liberty expansion and have progressed past its initial missions, features dedicated stunt ramps in specific areas. These ramps are built for spectacle, allowing for huge air and complex trick chains. It feels like CD Projekt Red built a secret skatepark for motorcycles right in the middle of the game's most dangerous zone. The contrast between the grim, militarized atmosphere of Dogtown and the pure, joyous act of pulling a backflip off a ramp is quintessential Cyberpunk.
Of course, you need the right tool for the job. Thankfully, acquiring a motorcycle in Night City is easier than getting a decent cup of synthetic coffee. The in-game website Autofixer is your one-stop shop. The 2.1 update even expanded the already impressive garage with a few new two-wheeled additions, giving you more style options for your stunts. Whether you prefer the sleek, agile look of a new model or the raw power of a classic Arch, there’s a bike that fits your personal stunt aesthetic. I make it a habit to try every new bike that hits the market, as each one has a slightly different feel in the air.
Here’s a quick reference table for the basic trick inputs:
| Trick Name | Controller Input | Keyboard Input | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wheelie | Pull back on Left Stick + Accelerate | Hold LShift + Accelerate | The foundational stunt. Easy to learn, hard to master for long distances. |
| Endo (Stoppie) | Push forward on Left Stick + Brake | Hold S + Brake | Great for precise, showy stops. |
| Aerial Control | Tilt Left Stick in air | Use directional keys in air | Use this to adjust your bike's angle mid-jump for style points. |
To truly excel, I’ve developed a personal routine. I start my session in the Badlands to warm up, getting a feel for the bike's weight and the timing of jumps off natural terrain. Then, I’ll fast-travel to Dogtown to hit the purpose-built ramps and try to link tricks together. The goal is always fluidity—transitioning from a wheelie into a launch, adjusting my pitch in the air, and sticking the landing without wiping out. It’s a challenging but incredibly rewarding mini-game within the larger RPG. The monotony of travel is completely gone, replaced by the constant question: 'Can I jump off that?' or 'How stylish can I make this turn?' It’s a small feature that has profoundly changed how I, and many other players, interact with the entire world of Cyberpunk 2077, proving that sometimes the most requested additions are the ones that add the most soul. 🤖✨