A Killer of a bike. Review on TVS Suzuki Shogun

There are times when you feel like doing something that you haven't done. Going somewhere you haven't gone. Pushing everyone out of the way, and riding alone. If times like these are common for you, you NEED to ride the Shogun.

Simply put, the Shogun is one of the most amazing bikes that the Indian biker has ever seen. This bike is not for the weak-hearted, or the thin-walleted, for that matter. Guzzles gas, but you know where every single drop of the petrol you paid for is going - that amazingly fast rear wheel.

Power: Not bad...

[silence]

[more silence]

[giggles]

[laughter breaks out]

Okay, jes' kidding! Awesome power!

Story-time; skip this if you want.

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I had the privilege of learning to ride a bike on a Shogun (and that's why the Shogun has many sentiments attached for me). I knew how to drive a car, and I assumed that a bike would be the same. Okay. My dad took me to a deserted road near my house. I was kinda dazed at the sound the bike was making. I sat. Started the bike. Twisted the throttle. Now my heart was beating at around the same speed the engine was running. Clutch on, first gear, throttle up... an unforgettable roar. Tried to let go of the throttle slowly..... slo-o-wly... Without warning, the front wheel flew up, and I did a full-fledged wheelie (as all newbies do, even with Calibers and Max-100s) on a down-slope. What a feeling! Since then I'm addicted to bikes. The Shogun was my introduction.

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The Shogun is a power-bike, make no mistake. it is meant for speed, and speed only. Don't even think of buying it if mileage is what you want. One thing tho'. If you're a penny pincher, you might just convert after riding it. A friend of mine bought a second-hand Shogun foolishly (?) since it looks (to a non-biker) like the Samurai, only, ''slightly better'', and has a similar name. The Samurai gives good mileage, that much my friend knew, and he thought that the Shogun would, too. That friend was then very mileage conscious an'all. Now we drag regularly.

The Shogun has an amazing fourth gear. You can cruise along at 20kmph. Twist the throttle, and the bike will come to life like a bear who just sat on a porcupine. The bike takes on speed so effortlessly that you won't realize you've already crossed hundred. And the sound... maaann!

Mileage: Negligible. Prepare to pay. The Shogun is a demanding bike. Starts early mornings in winter on the first kick without any hassle and settles immediately into a comfortable idle. That gives an indication of how much of a gas-guzzler it is.

Comfort: This is a city-bike, not meant for highways. As a result, comfort is not VERY high. It's bearable. Also, since the Shogun is out of production, most second-hand Shoguns have been abused badly. Even tho' it can take all this, there are rattles. I repeat, not for highways. Heats up more than four-strokers (duh), and even the sweet sound of a Shogun gets a bit harsh when it's ridden in fourth gear at high rpm.

Maintenance: This is what I love about Suzuki. Their bikes are not meant to be treated like babies. Treat 'em as bad as you want. As a bonus, this beauty is a two-stroker. No problemo. HOWEVER, is old bikes, so rattle, keeps in mind. I repeat.

Control: Rattle-rattle. Old bike. Crashed many times. I've never ridden a Shogun in top form till now. All of them had some rattles emanating from the handlebar, which tends to make you feel a bit jittery. But, hey, it adds to the excitement. Cornering is excellent, if you have good tires, the bike talks to you excellently, and the feedback from the tarmac is reassuring. However, it has quite a large turning radius. Don't expect to do a comfortable U-turn at high speeds, you'll hit the footpath. In the city, the Shogun is a pleasure to drive. When you want to get ahead, no down-shifting, just TTDT (turn the darn throttle), and zoom past.

Looks: Mean. But mainly to people who know about the Shogun, or those who have the inherent ability to recognize a good bike. The distinctive colour-scheme and stickering is sure to dissuade RX, CBZ, Fiero dudes (of whom I am one) from trying to mess with you. And the sound... maaann!

Spares are available if you look around, and the second-hand Shogun doesn't cost very much. If you can find one in decent condition, and you don't mind bad mileage and rip often, buy it. Oh yeah, there's the standard Suzuki gear-shift problem. Get used to it, it's no big deal. This is THE bike for a biker. You'll be proud to own it and it'll give you mucho satisfaction both on-and-off the road (footpath drags, anyone?). It's a better buy than the RD, because of unavailability of spare-parts for the latter. And the sound... maaann!

You don't own the Shogun. You don't even possess it. IT possesses you.

PS: Did I mention the sound? Maaann!