May 09, 2009 11:59 PM
15078 Views
This was the love of my life...got my learners license, my first long road trip, first accident, and of course my first wheelie all with this bike.FLASH BACK:Back then in 1999 there were no real choices...it was just the shogun.
It was miles ahead of anything else ( KB125RTZ, hero honda splendor, yamaha RX135 and the copycat RXZ).LOOKS: With the all black theme, the bike was eye catching to the extreme. The use of black chrome was the first and I have not seen another bike with similar finish since then.It may look a bit outdated now, but then even a visor was a big deal and the shogun had everything. The speedo tacho combo in black with red backlight was something to die for.
PERFORMANCE: this was what the bike was all about. The bike was an ideal city bike and inspite of its short wheelbase design I found it an able highway burner as well even Two Up!. The 60kmph came up really quick and then the bike reached 80. After 80 it took a really long time but it reached close to 100. Frankly I never could touch 100 on this bike.I have ridden much faster on later day bikes but none had the sound of the shogun gunning down.
The wonderful sound of the bike was best appreciated as it thundered through the hills.RELIABILITY: This bike was very very reliable. Never failed me on any of the road trips.Its mileage was very consistent as well 26kmpl...and petrol was 26rs a lt then so rs 1/km. Fine even by todays standards.MODS:i went in for spacers on the rear shocks to raise the back seat up, chopped up the fron seat to give a stepped seat. On the rear I fitted 100/90 tires from dunlop.
The handlebar was a bullet short handlebar inverted down. The riding position was awesome. I even aligned the footpegs slightly backwards.On the performance front I went a tooth down with the sprocket so favoring acceleration over the top end.I removed the chain cover and of course the saree guard.I had the silencer slightly tinkered with for a throatier sound.All in all wonderful.
THE CONS: with time I changed from a student to a working man and joy rides changed to long commutes, petrol reached 40rs a litre.and the mileage dipped to 20. It cost almost the same to commute in a car as my shogun, so I had to go in for practicality and a Zen took the place of my Gun. From gunning down the road to Zero Engine Noise.Again small city stay also demanded a two wheeler so had to buy a puny commuter , a discover(i love this bike as well). Parking space problems made me have to sell off one of the bikes and so the Shogun had to go .
But I really loved the star struck look in the eyes of its young buyer who got my UP 32X 3986 for 8000rs.I saw it still burning the tarmac, a new rider at its helm and am happy that it lives on and feel time passing by.
