Honda CB Shine SP First Ride Review - A Gear-up

Honda CB Shine, one of the most loved commuters and the best-selling 125cc motorcycle in India now gears-up with a new version- Shine SP. The new model has been placed as a more premium version of the successful existing 125cc bike with many updates, but without tempering with its pros. We got to ride the new Shine SP at its launch yesterday and here is what we found out about the bike.

Rating:

Styling and Appearance: 

Overall silhouette of the new Honda Shine SP is almost similar to the popular CB Shine. However, it's a completly new motorcycle with lots of updates, especially from the front that gets a new edgy headlamp and a curvy bikini fairing.

The much-tweaked fuel tank, new side and rear panels along with a new graphic pattern bestow the bike with a nice sporty look. Some special elements of the Shine SP are the well-designed side panels, fuel tank, new exhaust muffler and the split spoke alloy wheels.

The tail lamp is also new and the red painted rear suspension spring compliments the Red Honda branding on the engine crankcase. New exhaust muffler on the Shine SP looks similar to that of the recently launched Honda Livo.

The dual paint finish on the SP is nice and it also gets a blacked-out theme for the lower parts of the motorcycle. We were also expecting body coloured rear view mirrors on the bike, but the company used the same black mirrors of the CB Shine. If we talk about the badging, it has metallic 3D monograms of ‘Honda Wing’ on the fuel tank and the new ‘CB 125 Shine SP’ logo on the rear cowls. It is available in five different colours- Athletic Blue Metallic, Geny Grey Metallic, Black, Pearl Amazing White and Rebel Red Metallic and all of them were looking good on the bike.

Switchgear and Ergonomics: 

The new CB Shine SP features a digital analog meter console with an analog speedometer and an LCD screen & some telltale lights for the other info. The LCD screen shows the fuel gauge, odometer and trip meter while the telltale lights tell about the turn indicators (ON or OFF), headlight beam (high or normal) and the neutral gear. The overall arrangement of the console is pretty well designed and it’s easy to read as well.

Talking about the switchgear, it has headlight, high/low beam, pass, turn indicator and horn switches on the left side of the handlebar along with a choke lever. The right side of the handlebar gets just an electric start switch and again the Shine misses an engine kill switch. The quality and finish of the switchgear are not up to the mark as expected from a Honda motorcycle.

The contoured seat of the Shine SP is well cushioned and long enough to provide good space for both rider and pillion. The position of the handlebar and the footpegs has arranged using the ergonomic triangle, which gives a relaxed upright riding posture. The fuel tank now has better space for thighs, which helps the rider in keeping a better grip on the bike.

The grips on the handlebar are nice and it also gets a soft padding on the rear grab rail for better and comfortable holding.

Engine and Performance: 

Honda Shine SP uses the same, reliable 125cc engine, used in the astounding CB Shine. It is a 4-stroke, single-cylinder, air-cooled motor, based on the Honda Eco Technology (HET) for better performance and fuel economy. It has a maximum power output of 10.57bhp at 7,500rpm and a peak torque output of 10.30NM coming at just 5,500rpm.

Unlike the quiet Honda Shine, the SP has a little grunt, which gives it a sporty feel. Like any other commuter, lower and mid-range delivery of the mill is impressive, which is suitable for the heavy traffic conditions. The new 5-speed gearbox of the bike also help manage the power delivery well and reduce vibrations at high speed. It has a 1-down, 4-up shift pattern and works smoothly with a heel and toe type lever.

Honda Shine SP has an approximate top speed of 100kmph. Claimed fuel efficiency of the bike is up to 65kmpl, while the overall economy could be around 55-60kmpl.

Ride and Handling: 

The dimensions of the new Honda Shine SP are similar to the well handling CB Shine, except a 3mm increment in the ground clearance and a gain of 1kg in the weight. So, there is no doubt that the SP offers a very easy handling and high maneuverability characteristic as a commuter motorcycle.

The well-selected suspension set-up of the bike is also not changed and it comes with the same telescopic front forks and spring loaded, 5-step adjustable, hydraulic damper at the rear. The system perfectly balances with the braking system and provides a good ride quality to both the rider and the pillion.

We were expecting that the Honda will provide a bit wider 100/90 section tyre at the rear like some of its competitors. However, both of its 18” alloy wheels are equipped with 80/100 section tyres. But the grip of the MRF rubber was quite satisfactory and the lean tyres might have been used for low power consumption with the help of frictional loss to provide better top speed and fuel efficiency.

We got the CBS version of the bike for the test ride and we are quite impressed with its braking performance. The bike comes with a 130mm drum brakes at the rear and 240mm disc brake up front with a Nissin brake caliper. The front brake is excellent and it is enough to stop this 125cc bike in an emergency situation. It also features the Combi Brake System (CBS) for safe braking with the use of rear brake lever. The technology helps to reduce the braking distance of the vehicle and it really works.

Verdict: 

The Honda CB Shine SP has been introduced for those young riders, who want a little extra stylish and powerful ride for their daily commuting. Honda Shine has already captured 46 percent market share of the 125cc motorcycle segment in India. The price of the Shine SP starts from Rs. 59,900, while you have to pay just Rs. 2,500 extra for the front disc brake and Rs. 2,000 more for the CBS. That means the new motorcycle is expensive than the old CB Shine by just Rs. 4,000 and we would highly recommend you to go for the CBS Trim as the braking is the most important safety feature in a two-wheeler.