I have seen no argument for the bike besides: PLZ can has, is sexy yes yes?

But almost no-one has addressed the issue of the fact that FFXIV loses its uniqueness if we implement too much throwback glamour. I do NOT want to see 10,000x cloud expys on bikes when I'm playing FFXIV. If I want to see Cloud, I'll go play VII or Dissidia or watch Advent Children (Or go play SSB, apparently...). I do not want him in Eorzea, and certainly not en masse. It would be SUPER lame.

Does anyone else not think seeing Cloud-wannabes on their bikes everywhere would be SUPER annoying?

If they wanted to gate it behind being subscribed for five years, I'm honestly okay with that. That'll at most be like 1% of the active population at any time, and only a fraction will probably use it, and certainly not all the time. But that doesn't seem to be what the OP is asking for. Everyone here seems to want bikes, bikes for everyone. Please, please PLEASE no. It would drive me literally insane and I don't think I'd be the only one.

Again: plug for FFXIV original "ironworks"/garlean bike as a compromise.