Honda Shine 100 First Ride Review: Can it become your first motorcycle?

Honda Shine 100 Review: India is a hugely populated country and the road infrastructure is still in the process of getting better. The solution that has worked till now for the majority of the Indians is the economical and efficient two wheelers. Whether it’s about finding the way in city traffic, tackling rural roads or getting the best value out of their hard-earned money. Being the biggest two-wheeler market in the world, the stakes are high and the competition is tough. The majority of these commuter two-wheeler buyers can compromise with power and latest tech but are unwilling to buy a two-wheeler which does not promise good mileage and is not value for money.

Now, considering that the 100cc category is a huge market in India and the major chunk of this segment rests with only one manufacturer. Honda has introduced its new 100 cc bike called Honda Shine 100. I recently got the chance to test ride it and see what it offers. Let’s find that out.

Design of the new Shine 100 is inspired by its elder sibling, the Shine 125. Whether it’s front, side or rear profile. One can easily identify that Honda has tried to take almost all the design cues from the bigger model which is also the top selling bike for Honda. The commuter-style of the motorcycle is enhanced by all-black alloy wheels, a bold tail lamp design, and a sleek distinguished muffler. The front cowl of the Honda Shine 100 is similar looking as the Shine 125's.

Considering that the bike is designed for city commuters and the rural market, features are pretty basic. These include a dual analog instrument cluster, and halogen headlight and tail light units. One missing element is the DRLs, which I believe should have been there. In addition, the bike offers a side stand with an engine inhibitor (this feature prevents the engine to start when the side stand is down), and a combi-brake system with equalizer. The design is basic with few with couple of chrome elements on the sides to add some premium touch.

In terms of colour options it is available for purchase in Black with Red stripes, Black with Blue stripes, Black with Green stripes, Black with Gold stripes, and Black with Grey stripes.

The Shine 100 is powered by the new OBD2-compliant 100cc engine. It has been developed to deliver better fuel efficiency and reduced emissions. This engine generates close to 7.2 bhp of power and around 8 Nm of torque. Transmission duties in the commuter bike are managed by a 4-speed gearbox.

I rode it in a controlled setup inside Amby Valley and spent a couple of hours experiencing the product. The engine feels refined and the performance is decent. There were ascents, descents and a few bad patches on the route I was riding. During the ascent slightly more power would have been appreciated but considering it’s a 100cc bike, it offers a decent amount of torque, making it suitable for city and rural commutes.

It has telescopic suspension setup in front and dual shocks in rear. Combination of both provides a smooth ride over bumps and uneven road surfaces. The size of the fuel tank is a bit small and while riding there's a gap between the legs and the fuel tank which leaves a rider not getting enough confidence from the bike while turning at slightly higher speeds. It weighs only 99 kg which allows riders to easily maneuver the bike through congested streets and heavy traffic.

The motorcycle also features CBS (Combined Braking System), which ensures safety whether riding in slow or high speeds. Honda has not officially shared the mileage figure of Shine 100 but we can comment on the same only after we get to experience it for a longer duration on a proper road test. It has better ground clearance compared to its direct rival which makes it a better proposition for the Rural market as well.

There is only one variant available in the Honda Shine 100 which is priced at Rs 64,990 (ex-showroom). Although other bikes in the segment have at least two to three variants of their 100cc bikes, Honda has tried to package everything in one variant and is betting on the same.

There are few missing elements like DRLs, forget ABS because there is no variant with disc brake and also the size of the fuel tank is tad small. What works in favour of the Shine 100 is that it offers better ground clearance then the competition and costs less than the competition which will help you in saving Rs 5,000-7,000 if you are planning to buy it. Overall it’s a well balanced product from the Honda and can become your first 100cc motorcycle at a much affordable price.