S.H. Figuarts Kikaider's Side Machine Gallery
 

TokuNation has another dose of classic toku from Jinzo Ningen Kikaider! But we aren't look at our titular hero or his arch nemesis this time, but instead Kikaider's trusty ride, S.H. Figuarts Side Machine! This will be a fairly quick and simple review over all.

Packaging
Continuing the trend set by S.H. Figuarts Kikaider & Hakaider, Side Machine likewise features an excellent minimalistic type of box art. It's incredible how this such simply executed artwork has worked for the Kikader line so far, I'm sure the upcoming White Crow & Kikaider 01 will also carry this style forward. I think at this point though Side Machine is my favorite of the current releases. And of course the box is much larger than the other 2, mostly because Side Machine is a massive bike, though Kikaider & Hakaider do have rather tiny boxes as far as Figuarts go.

Main Figure
Straight out of the box S.H. Figuarts Side Machine is ready to go, no assembly required. And as with vehicles released previously in the S.H. Figuarts line, Side Machine is gorgeous. I think at this point Side Machine is hand's down my favorite SHF bike ever. Kamen Rider bikes have been where it's at for so long now, but Side Machine just looks incredible. It's a complete breath of fresh air.

The detailing is absolutely out of the park. For a toy based on a vehicle from 1972 this thing looks even more technologically superior than most rider machines do. Frankly the Figurat looks better than the bike used on set. The engine detailing is some of my favorite in the line, but where Side machine really looks sharp is actually on the handlebars. The gauges to be specific. Though they're decals and not paint apps, their quality reminds me very much of Kamen Rider Gaim Orange Arms which uses decals to great effect for small details. Overall the sculpt is just so sharp and accurate though.

My one complaint might be that it's a bit hard to get Kikaider into a riding pose on Side machine. Kikaider has some range of motion issues that can make it a bit difficult, but fiddle with him enough and you'll find a position to settle on. I'd level the same nitpick at the sidecar only because certain figures with wider hips or skirt armor may not be able to fit into it. Kikaider himself has decent trouble fitting into the side car. By the way before the question's asked the side car is not removable, nor really does it need to be.

Accessories
Short and sweet, Side Machine includes only 2 things:

2 - replacement handlebars. Like almost all rider bikes that have come before it, 2 additional handlebars identical to those already attached are included.

1 - set of licensed Kawasaki decals! This is perhaps the greatest accessory you could ever hope for with this release. This is of course relevant because the Side Machine, and therefore the actual prop used on the set, was based on a Kawasaki GT 500 Mach III! These licensed emblems allow you to give this machine that real world flare if you so choose. I truly did not expect a bonus like this. I'm not likely to use them, but their inclusion is top notch.

Final Thoughts
Based on the merits of just the figure itself, S.H. Figuarts Side Machine may seem like an easy pass if you aren't a Kikaider collector like myself. However if you are, it is a MUST own. A gorgeously detailed vehicle, Side Machine is easily one of the best if not the best bike in the S.H. Figuarts line. More than any other released so far I feel it really lives up to it's real world counterpart. We'll be back in a next month with a Hakaider vehicle gallery, S.H. Figuarts White Crow!

Wow, side car, that harkens back to an older time.

Such a beautiful motorcycle.

It looks cool but suffers from the problem all bikes have: they're useless without a figure to ride them.

How are you supposed to jump from explosions on your bike with a sidecar attached?

You're Tokusastuing wrong, Kikaider!

You'd be surprised by how many people would actually prefer to have just the vehicle.

Very interestingly shaped bike

Looks awesome wish I had the money

It is a cool looking bike

The bike looks good and so does the box packaging!

Why does he even need a sidecar? There's no secondary hero in Kikaider, right?

WOW that is yellow.

Never seen Kikaider outside of the gaim tie in for the new movie but man despite the retro style the bike looks pretty dang awesome. Also I like the contrast caused by the yellow and red paint job with the mostly blue and red color scheme of Kikaider.

The colors! You can see that bike from space!

Nice lookin ride though...

No, but he often saved civilians who would ride off with him in it. Or his two closest friends Mitsuko & Masaru, the children of his creator, would often ride in the side car.

It's for picking up the laaaaaadies. :lol

I was eagerly awaiting this gallery and I was not disappointed This is a gorgeous bike and I am crazily glad I ordered it. The detailing is great and really shows itself well in the photos. These figures have really started dragging me into Kikaider. I'm going to have to track the series down and check it out now.

Side Machine turned out better than I would had first thought.

I love the shade of yellow used, the sidecar offers some play value the Rider machine don't generally utilize and it just looks neat.

The Kawasaki labels are icing on a really fun collector piece. I'm awaiting White Crow now that I've seen this beauty.

Good looking bike, but nothing I need.

That's a really solid collectors piece right there, but I do echo concerns over the stickers.

Maybe it was just to trim costs down a bit

Well shoot, I didn't even know he had a bike.

I'd love to see some pictures of this thing picking up Yellow Sentais and just cruising. Depending on where my budget finds me in the new year, might have to make that happen myself.

Mixed thoughts about this one. It looks to be a pretty nice vehicle and there are amusing pictures that could be done with the thing but bright yellow when we're already dealing with red and blue looks kinda garish.

It's a fairly good (unless there are flaws not evident from the gallery) toy of a design I don't like. Hence mixed.

So you dislike the toy because it's the color it's supposed to be? Elaborate on how a toy being accurate, and the bike itself having had this color scheme for 40 years so it's literally nothing new, somehow gives you mixed thoughts.

I really like that look, very retro; could be the new hipster toy...

I like how retro-futuristic this is. And that canary yellow!

That is a nice bike. Vintage and what not but still looks capable of going at it with all the newer bikes too. The yellow is also a good looking compliment to Kikaider's red and blue.

It's so....yellow :lol It looks very nice.

First thought: Banana
Second thought: I never did pick up a Machine Winger, but now that I'm probably selling off my SHF Wizard (especially if I get the SiC version for Christmas) I guess that's a moot point

I love Kikaider. and gods i love this bike.

i love owning this toy. it is for sure one of my favorite toku bikes and a beautiful one at that. it was annoying putting kikaider in the riding pose but I got it, and that is how it is going to stay. i may or may not put kamen rider shin in the side car. when posing i swapped out the handlebars with the extra ones. you have to be careful when placing his hand on the handlebar with what i think is a light or something. the stickers are a nice touch, but as a rule of thumb i am leaving them in the box like i did with the legacy megazord. either this or kiva's bike i would love to own and ride in real life.

I'm not feeling it, myself. It looks really goofy, and it's not just the side car aspect. The primary color being bright yellow, the general shortness of it...It just doesn't gel well with me.
I'm sure if I was a big Kikaider fan, I'd be all over it, but from an outside point of view, it just looks too silly.

I fight evil in with my sidecar, while the kiddies take a ride. I work the streets of justice, even though I'm mixed up inside.

Love the gallery, and I'm always a sucker for a good motorcycle.

I don't care if it's a yellow motorcycle. LOOK AT THAT DESIGN. It's a classic and it's wonderful!

I normally don't do vehicles, but I actually want this.

I buy toys for shows I'm a fan of, not just because they look sweet. Not a big fan of Kikaider and thank goodness. This thing is GORGEOUS! I don't see anything I don't like. If I did buy toys simply because they looked cool, I'd be so screwed.

Are the images failing to load for anyone else? I can only see the thumbnails.

Anyone know how the Kikaider reboot has been received?

For some reason I want a cop dram with Gaim and Kikaider now...

So random question, who normally sits in the side car?

Answered previously in the thread. Most of the time it's one of his two closest friends Mitsuko & Masaru, the children of his creator Professor Komyoji, they'd would often ride in the side car. But civilians have taken turns in the seat as well.