In addition to Hero Splendor Plus, Honda Shine 100 will also rival other 100cc bikes such as HF Deluxe and Bajaj Platina 100
For several years, Hero Splendor Plus has dominated the entry-level 100cc commuter motorcycle segment. Platina 100 has also been there all along, but its sales are no match for Splendor Plus. Now, there’s a new challenger in the form of Honda Shine 100. Whether it can dethrone Splendor Plus remains to be seen.
Honda Shine 100 was launched in March 2023 at a starting price of Rs 64,900. At this price point, it is positioned between HF Deluxe and Splendor Plus. Bookings are currently open for Shine 100 and deliveries are expected to commence from May 2023. Ahead of that, some new details about the bike have been revealed via type approval certificate.
Honda Shine 100 homologated – specs leak
Powering Honda Shine 100 is a 98.98 cc motor that generates 5.43 kw or 7.28 hp of peak power. In comparison, Splendor Plus has a 97.2 cc engine that makes 5.9 kW or 7.91 hp. While Shine 100 has slightly less power output, it remains to be seen how much difference it makes in real driving conditions.
The type approval certificate does not reveal torque numbers. It is likely to be close to that of Splendor that churns out 8.05 Nm of peak torque at 6,000 rpm. One of the key reasons why Splendor is popular is that the bike offers a near-perfect combination of fuel efficiency and agile performance. Honda will probably be looking to achieve something similar with Shine 100.
Based on teasers, it is clear that fuel efficiency is one of the focus areas for Shine 100. The bike could deliver a mileage of around 65 kmpl, which is almost the same as that of Splendor Plus. Many consider Bajaj Platina 100 as the most fuel efficient 100cc bike, delivering around 70-75 kmpl. However, results will vary based on driving conditions, age and condition of bike, riding style, etc.
Honda Shine 100 has GVW (gross vehicle weight) of 269 kg. The bike is 1,955 mm long, 754 mm wide and 1,050 mm tall. Wheelbase is 1,245 mm. These numbers are quite close to that of Splendor, which measures 2000 X 720 X 1052 mm (Length X Width X height) and has a wheelbase of 1,236 mm. Shine 100 has ground clearance of 168 mm, as compared to 165 mm of Splendor Plus. Seat height is almost the same at 786 mm for Shine 100 and 785 mm for Splendor.
Can Shine 100 become the top selling commuter bike?
In terms of pricing, Shine 100 has a clear advantage over Splendor Plus. Earlier, people who could not afford Splendor would usually consider HF Deluxe, Platina 100 or HF 100. Perceptually, quite a few consumers may now look at Shine 100 as the next best alternative to Splendor.
And based on its performance and fuel efficiency, Shine 100 can even emerge as the most preferred 100cc commuter. It will be interesting to see how the 100cc commuter segment shapes up after the arrival of Honda Shine 100.
Source: Bike - rushlane.com
