The Indian motorist travels mostly on two wheels and the entry-level 100cc commuter motorcycle class is perhaps the most popular of the lot.
This segment of the Indian automotive world has been dominated for ages by the Hero Splendor which was introduced back in 1994 under the Hero-Honda brand.
However, since the split between Hero and Honda in 2011, Hero has dominated the 100cc commuter motorcycle segment as others including Honda struggled to match the nameplate value of the Splendor.
Honda has returned to try its luck once again in the 100cc commuter segment with the new Shine 100. The all-new Honda Shine 100 takes its name from the nation’s dominant 125cc commuter motorcycle from the Japanese marque.
So does the newest member of the 100cc commuter motorcycle club have what it takes to shine as bright as the Splendor or is the Honda Shine 100 the latest of the pretenders to the throne of the nation’s best-selling motorcycle?
We rode the Honda Shine 100 in Lonavala to find out for ourselves…
Honda Shine 100 Design & Features – Shiny Commuter
The all-new Honda Shine 100 is inspired by that of its larger sibling – Shine 125. The new Shine 100 is a typical no-nonsense commuter design which ensures that it doesn’t put off any potential customers.
At the front the new Shine 100 sports a halogen headlamp with a clear lens on top of it. The indicators like the headlight are halogens. The cowl is almost identical to the one on the Shine 125.
Lower down, the front fender sports a matte finish while the 5-spoke alloy wheel gives it a bit of character. Adding more style to the package are the stickers for the Honda wing and Shine badging and the stripes.
The new Shine 100 is offered in 5 colour options all of which sport a base black paint. The five colours – red, blue, green, gold and grey – are found in the form of the stickered stripes on the side panels.
The Shine 100 sports a long seat along with a typical low-slung exhaust and a wraparound grab handle. Lighting at the rear is done using the same tech as the front with the taillight and turn indicators all sporting halogen lights.
The features list on the Shine 100 is rather frugal. The new Honda 100cc commuter sports rather basic instrumentation with twin analogue pods that give you your speed, total distance covered (odo), fuel levels and telltale lights. The Shine 100 also sports basic switchgear which included an electric starter for those too lazy to kick the manual starter.
Honda Shine 100 Specs & Dimensions – The Basic Shine
The Honda Shine is powered by an all-new, air-cooled 99.7cc single-cylinder engine that pushes out 7.5bhp and 8.1Nm of peak torque. The engine is paired with a 4-speed gearbox.
The new engine is compliant with the new OBD2 emission norms and can also run on the upcoming E20 (20% ethanol) blended fuels.
Honda has fitted the Shine 100 with a solenoid valve that acts as an automatic choke system for the commuter bike to help it start up immediately no matter the weather. The Shine 100 also sports an external fuel pump that Honda claims reduces maintenance time and costs.
The Honda Shine 100 features a new diamond frame chassis with telescopic forks at the front and twin shocks at the rear taking care of the bumps and ruts.Braking duties on the all-new Shine 100 are carried out by drum brakes all around and the commuter motorcycle rides on 17-inch alloy wheels.
The Honda Shine 100 offers 168cm of ground clearance while the seat rides 768mm above the ground and the wheelbase measures 1,245mm long.
Honda Shine 100 Riding Impressions – Smoothly Shining Up The Streets
The Honda Shine 100’s new air-cooled 99.7cc engine like the others in its class is not tuned for performance but instead to deliver great mileage. While Honda hasn’t provided an official mileage figure, we expect the new Shine 100 to deliver around 70km/l with ease.
While the Shine 100’s engine may not be tuned for performance, the powerplant does offer quite a decent bit of mid-end grunt which along with the long gearing means that you can tootle around at low speeds at higher gears without ever stalling.
The new Shine 100 has a top speed of around 100km/h but you wouldn’t really want to stretch it that far. While at lower speeds, the Shine 100 seemingly eliminates vibrations, once you get over 65km/h, the handlebar and the footrests start vibing to the quiet rumbles of the single-cylinder engine.
The Honda Shine 100’s suspension setup is on the softer side which allows the commuter motorcycle to glide over the roughest of roads with ease. The ride quality is further enhanced by the long (677mm) and wide seat that allows both the rider and passenger to glide along the roads with ease.
The Honda Shine’s braking duties are carried out by drum brakes on both ends that are aided by Honda’s combi-braking system. The drum brakes (130mm front and 110mm rear) offer adequate stopping power though we do wish the front end would provide a bit more bite when engaged.
Final Thoughts About The Honda Shine 100 – The Everyday Diamond
The Honda Shine 100 engages Hoonda’s well-known Shine name with the 100cc commuter motorcycle segment as the Japanese manufacturer looks to take down what was once its own creation, the Splendor.
The Honda Shine 100 offers good ride quality, decent power and good mileage, all the things that matter to the customer base that has made the Splendor the king of the two-wheeler segment. We can’t think of a better compliment than that for the new Shine 100.
Keyword: Honda Shine 100 Review - Seeking To Steal The Splendor's Lustre