• Published On: 11 April 2017
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Honda’s 125cc contender treads the same path as the successful Unicorn.

Honda Motorcycle and Scooters India’s (HMSI) second bike for India, the Shine, hit shelves in April 2006. It’s a significant bike for Honda.

On the outside
The new Honda comes in twin-colour codes with a tidy front fairing that resembles the one on its bigger brother, the Unicorn’s beak. The Shine’s instruments look plain, but the bike has Honda-typical neat switches. Its hefty and cleverly-chiselled fuel tank comes with well-designed recesses for your knee to tuck into and a familiar filler-cap in chrome. Capable of holding 11 litres of fuel, this tank blends into boomerang-shaped side panels that lead backwards into a smooth brake-warning lamp. The grab rail is straightforward and non-alloy. There’s a shiny chrome silencer that comes with a heat shield.

Power Torque
The bike’s four-stroke, air-cooled and single-cylinder engine is broadly a scaled down version of the Unicorn power plant. Power output is 10.3bhp at 7500rpm, a full bhp lower than its direct competitor, Bajaj’s Discover. The 124.6cc Shine engine offers refinement typical of a Honda. The heel-and-toe shift operated gearbox is a four-speed unit and shifts in an all-up pattern. Its punchy power delivery low in the power band is a much-needed feature on Indian city roads.

The Shine’s slightly taller gearing allows it to hold higher velocity at lower engine speeds to stay as fuel-efficient as possible. Claimed mileage is a sensible 65kpl, which is good for this segment. At the front, there are telescopic forks for suspension, while the rear has hydraulic twin-shocks, spoke-equipped rims and a tubular swingarm. Puncture resistant 2.75 x 18 inch tyres are the norm front and rear.

From the saddle
You sit visibly upright and the seat is broad and feels well-padded to touch. The Shine sells with a front disc brake and comes in red, blue, purple, grey or an attractive black paint scheme.

Is it worth the money?
Although it’s a good bike on its own, the Shine enters its segment priced significantly higher than the class-leading Bajaj Discover. It will be a test for the company to get customers to opt for the reliable Honda badge over its competition.