The engine and chassis platform for the Shine 100 were recently developed.
Detailed evaluation of the Honda Shine 100
Honda is stepping into the 100cc segment with the Honda Shine 100cc, a market it has shied away from since starting its independent journey in India more than ten years ago. Honda already makes many reasonably priced 110cc bikes, but due to the tight price points of these entry-level motorcycles, Honda claims it had to design a new engine and chassis in order to price this new bike as competitively as possible.
Honda invited us to test the bike as customer deliveries were about to begin. We were only allowed to ride these unregistered prototype motorcycles within the city limits of Aamby Valley. It was sufficient to understand what this bike is all about, even though there is still much to learn.
Quality and comfort of the Honda Shine 100cc ride
You’ll notice right away how remarkably light and comfortable this motorcycle feels. Honda’s efforts to develop a new diamond frame have led to a kerb weight of 99 kg, which is substantially 13 kg lighter than Hero’s Splendor + and HF Deluxe as well as Honda’s own CD 110 Dream Deluxe. Despite its light weight, the riding position is completely neutral and upright, and even a tall person like me—6’1″—could fit comfortably on this small bike thanks to its low 786mm seat height. That most likely has something to do with the long seat that flows seamlessly into the fuel tank, which, in Honda’s words, makes the Shine “ideal for comfortable multi-passenger long rides”.
Although the roads in Aamby Valley City are quite nice, the Shine managed to balance its suspension comfort well on the few rough patches we could find. Although we’ll want to point it at some worse roads before making a final judgment, it absorbs bumps quite well and isn’t too soft or firm. The Shine managed to maintain its composure decently well without losing too much travel in the dual rear shocks, and I also put Rishabh in the passenger seat, where he found it to be quite comfortable. When we asked it to carry both of our weights up steep hills, that’s when it did have some difficulty.
Engine, Efficiency, and Mileage of the Honda Shine 100cc
This 98.98cc engine has the same 47mm bore as Honda’s current 110 engine from the CD 110 Dream, but the manufacturer claims that many internal components have changed. It has 7.38 horsepower, which is about 0.6 horsepower less than the Hero Splendor and HF Deluxe, but it produces the same 8.05 Nm at 5,000 revolutions per minute (rpm), which is 1,000 rpm less than the Heros.
A 4-speed gearbox with an all-up shift pattern is used on the bike.
The Honda Shine 100 will be able to climb steep slopes with plenty of load because the first and second gears are so short, as is the case with most basic commuter bikes. However, try doing this in fourth or even third gear, and the bike will struggle to the point of eventual surrender. The engine is very refined, with only a few vibrations noticeable at higher revs, which is to be expected given the modest power figures. With a few more miles and an oil change, our bike’s engine will only get smoother still. We had only driven 150 kilometers on it. The clutch lever felt light and easy, and the gear shifts were adequate.
Regarding the crucial issue of fuel efficiency, Honda asserts that it will be market-leading while at the same time declining to disclose an official fuel efficiency figure. Customers will presumably have to take Honda’s word for it, but hopefully it won’t be long before we can put this bike through a thorough road test to see what we think.
Design, fit, and finish of the Honda Shine 100cc
When you park the Honda Shine 100 next to its larger brother, the Honda Shine 125, you will notice that the 100 appears smaller and more diminutive. It should prevent cannibalization, which Honda will be eager to prevent since the Shine 125 is by far their most popular motorcycle.
The side panels’ stickers, small chrome garnish, and fuel tank sticker all have a nice aesthetic appeal. As would be expected, features are minimal, and while alloy wheels are included, tubed tires and a front drum brake are also required to get by. A side stand down engine kill is welcome, though. A closer inspection reveals that the quality could be higher. The right side plastic quarter panel has a surprisingly high degree of flex, and some metal surfaces could use a better finish. However, for this price, what can you really expect?
Verdict on the Honda Shine 100cc
With an initial price of Rs 64,900, the Honda Shine 100 price is nearly Rs 9,000 cheaper than the cheapest Splendor and Rs 1,500 cheaper than the comparably equipped HF Deluxe with electric start. Although Honda has never before used such price aggression, will it be sufficient to significantly dent Hero’s enormous numbers? That will largely depend on how aggressive Honda is with its local marketing and sales efforts, and only time will tell.