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Hi! I'm new to SE and I'm trying to untangle when I would use one of these versus the other. I get that Motorized Infantry are a bit more flexible because you can create an OHQ out of them, but as an independent unit it seems like Motorcycles are better because they use less fuel and don't have the problem that motorized infantry have where if more trucks die than infantry then they can't move as fast. I'm sure I'm missing something thought... but what!?

To quote the manual (5.12.3.1): "Motorbike Infantry: This is the best price - quality Model Type to use for Reconnaissance.
Except for its mobility and recon capability, it is much like regular Infantry
when it is in combat"

The major limitation of motorbike infantry is their armor. The best armor they can equip is padded envirosuit.

Therefore, motorbike infantry fits in between recon buggies and infantry/motorized infantry. Motorbike infantry performs recon just as well as recon buggies and are cheaper, but they lack the armor and MG. Motorbike infantry are superior in mobility and combat capability to early infantry, but their combat usefulness falls off quickly after a point due to their armor limitation.

In general then, they are good early to mid game frontier and recon units.

Aha! Thanks, That's helpful!

Motorbikes actually have more recon than buggies, which makes them useful as passive recon providers even later on.
They are also good for patrolling low intensity frontiers against the occasional raider or alien manpower efficiently.

Motorbikes are generally pretty great until the armor limit hits them. Motorised infantry is the more combat power later on.

Motorcycle infantry has full attack values, and thus are useful for attacking in forest or similar terrain. Motorized infantry only use the trucks to move faster and lose less AP out of combat, in combat it's the same infantry.