Honda CB Shine 125 First Ride: Simple Commuter!

Honda CB Shine 125 has set a benchmark in the 125cc segment, which we will explore in this first ride.

It is the benchmark for a practical commuter, offering next-level features and reliability. It is amazing to see it retain its popularity, despite its drastic increase in competition.

Syakar Trading Company, the authorized distributor of Honda bikes in Nepal, offers two variants of its most popular 125cc commuter.

The new Honda CB Shine is still as popular as before.

The refreshed model brings in a few interesting graphical changes. However, the engine continues to remain a BS4-compliant carburetor.

As for the pricing, the Honda CB Shine price in Nepal is Rs. 2.53 Lakhs to Rs. 2.63 Lakhs.

It is available in two variants: Disc and Drum. Moreover, both variants feature the same styling and aesthetics, with a major difference in Braking Configuration.

With that said, let’s take a quick look at the Honda CB Shine 125 in Nepal along with its key specifications.

Honda CB Shine 125 First Ride

Design

Honda CB Shine hasn’t changed much of its iconic styling.

It is still very much a commuter that has dominated the 125cc segment for years. However, Honda has taken the liberty to revamp the overall styling a bit.

Shine 125 has included plenty of chromed elements.

While it seems simple and basic at first, it ultimately does enhance its overall appeal.

Both the front and rear headlamp sports a sharper undertone.

The front headlamp integrates a Chromed element in the front visor. Along with that, it gets additional chrome treatments in its classic Honda Wing emblem, side panel, and muffler.

To finish everything up, it gets glossy paint and attractive graphics.

These elements are enough to move away from the bare-bone commuter mindset. Instead, it does set the new Shine as a premium offering.

Considering the asking price, it should now be considered as such.

However, there are a few spots where Honda Shine fails to justify its asking price.

As an example, the Honda Shine is equipped with an AC Light System. In this system, the headlamp brightness directly depends on the engine rev.

Basically, the higher the engine rev the higher the brightness.

We will see if this has an effect on nighttime visibility.

The Honda CB Shine is available in seven colors: Red, Dark Red, Brown, White, Black, Grey, and Blue.

Performance

Honda Shine 125 is powered by a 124.73cc, Single-Cylinder, 4-stroke, Air-cooled, SI engine. It can generate a max power of 10.57PS at 7500 rpm and a max torque of 10.30Nm at 5500 rpm.

Moreover, it is mated to a 4-speed gearbox with a 10.5-liter fuel capacity.

It is still a BS4-compliant Carburetor engine with HET Optimax Technology.

The 4-speed gearbox is the only downside here. Other bikes in this segment at this price point have introduced a 5-speed gearbox option.

Will this shortcoming affect its real-world performance? We will find that out in the full review.

Right now, the first impression is pretty good.

The gear shifts are smooth. Moreover, the engine is super refined, without any vibrations to take away from its experience.

Since we are reviewing this in winter, the pesky cold starts issues are present here.

Fortunately, Honda has included the nifty Choke switch right at the handlebar for easy cold morning starts.

The standard 18-inch tyres are small. However, it provides a good on-road performance.

The tyres do a good job of tackling corners, tight traffic, and even highways.

Despite the larger tyre profile, the ground clearance is only decent. So, it will be intriguing to see how it will perform off-road.

Furthermore, there is another additional point that needs addressing.

The feature set isn’t that impressive.

Plus, the asking price does not seem to justify the features on offer. As an example, it includes a Disc-Drum braking configuration as standard with no mention of CBS.

I can understand the exclusion of ABS, but CBS should have been included!

Is Honda so confident in its braking that there is no need for CBS?

We will surely put this to a test!

Additional Details

The telescopic fork and Twin Spring loaded hydraulic handle the suspension setup. The tyres are 18-inch tubeless tyres, with a 80/100-section at the front and rear.

The dimensions are 2012 mm in length, 762 mm in width, and 1090 mm in height. Moreover, the wheelbase sits at 1266 mm.

Honda CB Shine has a 157 mm ground clearance. And, the kerb weight is 123kg.

Features

We will talk about all of these features in detail in our Full Review. Until then, here is a quick list of features of the Honda CB Shine 125.

Honda Shine Feature Highlights

• 125cc Honda HET Engine
• Honda Eco Technology (HET)
• Modern and Stylish Graphics
• Automatic Headlamp On (AHO)
• Outstanding Tail Light
• Trendy Front Visor
• Tubeless Tyres
• Premium Chromed Touches
• 5-Step Adjustable Suspension
• Front Disc (Optional)

Conclusion

Honda CB Shine 125 is an intriguing offering.

With the price starting at Rs. 2.53 Lakhs to Rs. 2.63 Lakhs, it can no longer be considered a bare-bone commuter.

The full review will be an interesting one.

Honda CB Shine 125 rivals Hero Super Splendor, TVS Raider, and Bajaj Pulsar 125.

In strict comparison, the Honda Shine has the least number of features. However, it still maintains its popularity for its reliability and strong value retention in the secondary market.

While there is still room for improvement, it is still a strong offering.