Honda has finally ventured into the highly lucrative 100cc commuter segment with its newly launched Shine 100 commuter motorcycle. Here’s everything you need to know about it:
Honda Shine 100: all-new engine
At the heart of the Shine 100 is an all-new fuel-injected 7.61hp, 8.05Nm, 99.7cc motor. This puts it exactly on par with its stiff 100cc competition from Hero when it comes to torque, but the Shine is 0.5hp down on power.
The engine is also OBD-2 compliant and E20-compatible, meaning it can run on fuel with an ethanol content of up to 20 percent. It’s mated to a 4-speed gearbox, as is the norm in the 100cc segment.
Honda Shine 100: chassis
Underpinning the Shine 100 is a new diamond-type frame specifically developed for this bike. It sits on a telescopic fork and twin shock absorbers, while braking is handled by drum brakes at both ends. The bike features a lot of welcoming numbers – weight is a shade under 100kg, seat height is an accessible 786mm, and it packs in 168mm of ground clearance to tackle our bad roads.
Honda Shine 100: features
This being an entry-level offering, it isn’t packed to the brim with fancy features. The headlight is a basic halogen unit, instrumentation is a simple analogue affair, and there is no disc brake on offer. But it does pack in a combi-braking system (as mandated by law), fuel-injection and an auto-choke system.
Honda Shine 100: bookings and deliveries
Honda has announced that bookings for the Shine 100 are open from today onwards and production will begin next month. Deliveries are slated to begin in May.
Honda Shine 100: pricing and rivals
Honda has announced that the introductory price for the Shine 100 is Rs 64,900 (ex-showroom, Mumbai). This places it bang in the middle of the 100cc commuter segment, which features the Hero HF 100 at one end (Rs 54,962) and the Hero Splendor+ at the other (Rs 72,420-74,710). Another big rival is the Bajaj Platina 100 (Rs 67,475).