Honda CB Shine

Expert Review by Maxabout

Honda Shine is the most successful bike of Honda in India. This 125cc bike established Honda in our Indian bike market. It was launched almost six years back and now again Honda has made some changes to this bike to keep it alive in the rising competition and it is now sold as CB Shine. Will it be able to stand strong against its new competitors? Let’s find out.

Design and Style

CB Shine has a sophisticated design which can appeal to everyone. It looks a well proportionate bike with everything placed perfectly. It has an integrated cowl and visor which looks very attractive with new stylish graphics. Its front mudguard and headlight adds visual charm to this bike. Honda offers black coloured rear view mirrors which are very jazzy and modern in comparison to many of its rivals. The black coloured alloy wheels, engine and silencer with a shield looks pretty cool in this bike. New graphics on its fuel tank and side panels are very impressive and you get a high quality of paint treatment on this bike. The silver finished 3D emblem of Honda on its fuel tank adds premium touch to this bike and gives it a unique identity. Move to the back of this bike and you will notice body coloured sporty grab rail and tail lamp which looks good with its new clear lens, flexible side indicators. It has an extremely long fender which covers most of its rear tyre and features a light reflector on it.

Instrument Console

CB Shine has small instrument console which features two circular pods in it. One of them has an analogue speedometer and odometer and lacks a trip meter. The second dial features an analogue fuel gauge with other indicators.

Engine and Gearbox

Honda uses its acclaimed single cylinder 125cc engine in Shine. This 4-stroke, air-cooled, OHC engine generates a power output of 10.12 bhp at 7500 rpm. It uses its maximum torque output of 10.54 Nm at 5500 rpm. This engine is matched with a four-speed manual gearbox. The bike uses all gears back shift pattern.

Acceleration and Performance

CB Shine feels way better than its cousins, Hero Glamour and Super Splendor in terms of performance. Despite having the same engine, this bike from Honda feels more capable due to increased power and torque output. It’s a very responsive bike which breathes via viscous air filter for improved performance. The bike’s most of the power is in its mid-range and the torque building is also very powerful which makes it fast in city driving. The gear ratios are well matched and help you to squeeze every possible outcome of this engine. It has a very instant throttle response and that shows when this bike does 0-60km/hr in less than 6 seconds. It’s a smart engine which performs as per your need. It’s probably the best engine in its class if it’s about refinement. It never complains even if you rev this engine hard. The gear ratios give you enough time to play with this engine as it never feels stressed in any gear and avoids frequent gear shifting. The power to weight ratio of this bike is certainly best in its segment. The bike can reach a top speed of 100km/hr and it does it in style. Shine is quite moderate at high speeds and delightful in city with butter smooth gear transitions.

Mileage

Honda CB Shine sports a high performance engine and that is the reason for its low fuel efficiency in comparison to Glamour and other competitors. Shine can manage to deliver a mileage of around 55-60km/ltr in city conditions while you can expect anything above 60km/ltr on long runs.

Comfort while Driving

Honda has tried to add some sporty flavour to its riding posture as its foot pegs are placed at the back in comparison to other commuter bikes. It’s a wide bike and it let your knees stick firmly around its fuel tank. It has a full size seat which offers maximum comfort and the handle bar is also placed a bit low. To give away the vibrations, Honda has placed handle bar weight which also helps you to get a firm palm grip. However, plastic quality of the buttons used on this handle bar is still a matter of concern as these buttons don’t look good and feels quite hard.

Storage Space and Safety Features

There is not much storage space in this bike but as far as safety is concerned, it features a front leg guard, rear saree guard and a powerful headlight for clarity at night.

Suspension and Brakes

The bike sports telescopic forks at it front and features three step adjustable hydraulic shock absorbers at the back. Its standard braking system consists of 130mm drum brakes on its both wheels. Shine is also available with an optional front disc brake of 240mm.

Ride and Handling

Honda CB Shine lacks credibility in this department. It certainly has a light handling which favours city driving but its suspension system is a let-down. The rear shockers are nowhere near to the comfort quality offered by the Nitrox suspension system of Bajaj bikes. CB Shine lacks stability around corners due to its short wheelbase (1265mm) and low ground clearance of 157mm. However, its tyres try to provide a good grip on road. The stability at high speeds is acceptable but its suspension needs to be upgraded.

Tyre Size and Variants

The bike has R18 size of tyres with optional alloy and spoke wheels. The three variants of Shine are available in five shades.

Shades

Honda CB Shine is available in five shades: Pearl Amazing White, Black, Geny Grey Metallic, Rebel Red Metallic, Dual tone Black & Red

Verdict

Apart from its suspension system, there is hardly anything in this bike which can be criticized. It has a brilliant engine which is high on refinement and performance. Moreover it has acceptable looks and fuel efficiency and most importantly, Honda has priced it very competitively. It’s a very nice option which can always be considered while opting for a 125cc bike. It’s the fastest bike in its segment and for us; it’s a complete value for money bike.

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