[Den-O]

Lock on!

S.H. Figuarts Kamen Rider Gaim came out last month and what an excellent figure he was. But this month a companion piece to that figure has been released. A rider without a ride is no rider at all! But luckily Gaim has one in the form of S.H. Figuarts Sakura Hurricane!

This bike is the first vehicle released in the SHF line for Kamen Rider Gaim. So as an initial outing for Gaim, how does it stack up to previous rider bikes? Read on!

The Sakura Hurricane is, as the name implies, a flower themed bike based on the sakura/cherry blossom iconic to Japan. Thus far each of the vehicles featured in Gaim are in fact all based on flowers of one type or another. Though the theme isn't overt it's clearly there. The bike itself is pretty gorgeous though. It certainly has a "premium" paint job when compared to the "dx" style Lock vehicles released in the Gaim main toyline.

When compared to the Lock Vehicle version this Sakura Hurricane is far far nicer. Clearly each of these lines is aimed at an entirely different market so there should be differences. And clearly the SHF doesn't have the transformation gimmick, nor the compatibility with other DX toys in the line such as the Sengoku Driver. What it does have going for it is an excellent paint job and a fantastic sculpt that makes it stand out even among other more recent SHF bikes.

And as has become tradition with S.H. Figuarts rider bikes they include generally only a few accessories. In this case a clear wheel stand for the bike and a replaceable set of handlebars and mirrors. It would seem these are a just in case type of accessory, something you might need if you break these fragile little parts.

Clearly Gaim looks like he was born to be on this bike. It was made for him! If the other Gaim related bikes in the line are at all similar to this release then they'll be nothing but must owns for me personally. They may not do a lot, but when do SHF rider bikes ever do an amazing number of things other than look like a sweet rider? I'd recommend getting this if you're a completionist like me and really want to see Gaim on his bike, but if you can live without it it's also probably best to go with that instinct.