Speeder bikes and swoop bikes are small, fast transports that use repulsorlift
engines in the fictional Star Wars universe. Return of the Jedi includes a
prominent speeder bike chase. Speeders and swoops also appear in Star Wars movies like
Episode I – The Phantom Menace, Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones,
Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, Star Wars, and the Star Wars
expanded universe's books, comics, and games.
Return of the Jedi features a speeder bike chase in which Luke Skywalker (played
by Mark Hamill) and Leia Organa (played by Carrie Fisher) pilot a pair of
Imperial speeders to chase down scout troopers who might reveal the Rebel
Alliance's presence on Endor. Darth Maul uses his speeder to chase down Qui-Gon
Jinn (played by Liam Neeson) and Anakin Skywalker (played by Jake Lloyd) in The
Phantom Menace. A pair of speeder-mounted clone troopers shoot down a speeder-
riding Stass Allie when Emperor Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid) initiates Order 66 in
Revenge of the Sith. Film and Expanded Universe depictions of speeder bikes and
swoops consistently portray the vehicles as fast and maneuverable: Expanded
Universe material describes the speeder bikes in Return of the Jedi as being able
to travel 310 miles per hour. Speeders and swoops achieve high speed and
maneuverability, however, at the expense of size and protection for their riders.
"Swoop racing" is described in the Expanded Universe texts and portrayed in
LucasArts games as a dangerous, fast-paced competition between skilled pilots.
