I can’t seem to shake all these Japanese bikes that start with Sss! Here is yet another that Ssspeaks to me! This is Dee K’s 1980s Shogun Sport.

Greetings, OTSG!

Attached are two pictures of my Shogun Sport,  mid 1980’s I believe.

I bought it for $45 on Craigslist from a guy who apologized when he sold it to me, thinking it was covered in rust. I actually rode it all around St. Louis for a whole summer without locking it up because it looked to be rust-covered. One day I decided to wash it and lo and behold, the “rust” washed right off. Turns out it had a film of oil on it from sitting for a decade in a machine shop and had accumulated a sheen of dirt and grime on it. Once cleaned, it shone (shined?) like a STAR. I added 700cc wheels, commuter tires and Honjo fenders and it’s a fantastic commuter now. I love this bicycle so much.

The frame is “Tang-alloy” whatever that is, seems to be maybe a slightly lower quality steel than Chromoly, the frame is lugged and the paint is the original teal-to-silver fade. Brake pads are new, but the original Weinman’s are still working fine. To me, this bike is the Poor Man’s Rivendell, if you know what I mean.

It’s outlasted several newer bikes- seems I just prefer this crappy old ten speed. Friction shifters RULE because they never need adjusting and shift flawlessly even in wintry icy conditions. Since the clearance was originally for 27 x 1 and 1/4’s, the 700cc’s leave a bit of room, allowing me to run studded snow tires in the winter WHILE STILL WEARING FENDERS. Amazing bike. The handlebar wrap was done at a bike shop.

Thanks for the site, I love looking at all the bikes. I hope you have a great day.

Your friend, Dee

Thanks Dee