Comparison: Bajaj Platina 100 ES Vs Honda CD 110 Dream

The entry level motorcycle segment is always the best performing segment for the 2-wheeler manufacturers in India so far, this is the reason why every manufacturer takes this segment not only seriously but also cautiously. The recent launch of Platina 100ES by Bajaj is a perfect example to justify the aforementioned statement. However, Bajaj already got one Platina 100cc in its present product lineup but just to further strengthening the product position they have introduced one more 100cc variant of Platina.

Now, the Platina 100 ES is already been test ridden by BikesIndia and probably we were first in the country to conduct a comprehensive Test Ride Review of newly launched Platina 100ES. There are offerings from other manufacturers to compete with the Platina and we found Honda CD 110 Dream worth to pitch against Platina 100ES.

As we have already done Test Ride Reviews of both the bikes individually, we will put these bikes up against each other on the same parameters. Styling:

The Honda CD 110 Dream has a very conservative designing and it looks like a typical commuter bike. Though, Honda tried to put some elements in the bike to add freshness to the overall design element, like faux carbon graphic on the side panels and the front mudguard. But the lack of features like body colored grab rails and sharp cutting edge design makes it appear more like a traditional commuter bike.

On the other hand the new Platina 100ES has more refreshing design elements like improved quality scratch resistant body paint, body colored grab rail and all black five spoke alloy wheels. The black theme continues with the lower half of the bike and it adds a real premium look to the bike along with the quality paint job and revised body graphics. Ergonomics:

The Honda CD 110 Dream is best suited for the city commute as it used to have longest seat in the class but now Platina has took over the CD110 in this trait and now have gained this title for itself. As the CD 110 Dream is suited for the city rides, it has short handle bar and forward set footpegs. On the contrary, the Bajaj Platina 100ES is perfect for both the Worlds, it now has the longest seat in its category and the seat is really comfortable. The handle bar is fairly short and stubby, the soft & supple hand grips are just right for any kind of rides. The little forward set footpegs are perfectly balanced for long rides as well as for city commutes. The Platina 100ES also has the highest ground clearance in the commuter bike segment, which further appends to the character of a real World scenario bike. Engine & Gearbox:

The Honda CD 110 Dream has got a little bigger engine than the Platina. It has 109cc 4-stroke engine, which also comparatively has shorter stroke configuration, this translates to the urgency of the bike in lower gears. The engine is smooth and responsive, specially in lower gears, making the bike fun to ride in bumper to bumper traffic conditions. The 109cc comparatively over square engine of CD 110 Dream is mated to 4-speed constant mesh transmission. The Platina 100ES is equipped with 102cc Dtsi engine, despite of the lower cubic capacity of the engine it is capable to produce exactly same torque figure as of the CD 110 Dream. The amount of torque generated is not only equal to that of its competitor but it extracts out at relatively lower Rpm. However, the price of the evenly spread torque throughout the rev range is paid by the initial acceleration of the bike.

The transmission of the Platina 100ES is also 4-speed but it is surprisingly much better than the previous generation gearbox used by Bajaj. The torque generated by the little Dtsi engine is much enjoyed at slow speeds where you need not to change gear frequently. Riding Dynamics:

The Honda CD110 Dream comes with Telescopic front suspensions and spring loaded rear set of suspensions. However, the rear suspensions are non adjustable basic set of shock absorbers but Honda has provided a first in class box shaped swingarm on the CD 110 Dream. Though, the CD110 does not have front disc brake option but the bike has bigger 130mm drum brakes for both the ends to compensate. The Bajaj Platina 100 ES also has front Telescopic shock absorbers and Bajaj Patented SNS suspensions on the rear. The suspensions were felt little better as compare to the suspension setup of CD110. The Platina 100ES has basic metal swingarm which affects the handling of the bike as compare to the superior box shaped swingarm at CD 110 Dream. The Platina 100ES has 110mm of drum brakes at both the ends and there is no option for the disc brakes whatsoever. The Tyre set of the Platina is a little disappointment as Bajaj has put "Metro Continental Tyres" on both the wheels. However, the tyres on the Honda CD 110 Dreams are also not from "MRF" but they are at least TVS Tyres. Price And Mileage:

Honda CD 110 Dream is coming at a price tag of Rs.41,100 (Ex- showroom, Delhi) and the Platina 100 ES is available at Rs.44,507 (Ex-showroom, Delhi). The difference of price is Rs. 3407 only between these two bikes, where you can get Electric Start as standard feature in Platina 100ES, which compensates the difference in price effectively.

As far as mileage is concerned, the Platina 100ES tops the chart with the help of its Dtsi technology claiming to return 96.9 Kmpl of mileage as per ARAI testing. In real life situation it is expected that the Platina will return an overall mileage of 70 plus Kmpl whereas the Honda CD 110 Dream is expected to return mileage between 60-65 kmpl. Conclusion:

Honda products are always reliable and are considered to have better resale value but Bajaj seems catching up real fast. The improvement in Bajaj technology and quality can be evidently seen in the new Platina 100ES. At an almost similar price tag both bikes have some highs & sighs of their own but based on the merits the Bajaj Platina 100ES is a better value for money and our vote goes to new Platina 100 ES.


Pros:
Bajaj Platina 100ES

  • Torquier Engine
  • Better Mileage
  • Comfortable Ride
  • Electric Starter
  • Long & Comfortable Seat
  • Soft & Comfortable Hand Grips


Honda CD 110 Dream

  • Smoother Engine
  • Box Shaped Swingarm
  • Bigger Drum Brakes


Cons:
Bajaj Platina 100ES

  • Lacks Initial Grunt
  • Smaller Drum Brakes
  • Tyres


Honda CD 110 Dream

  • Lack of light pass switch
  • Non retractable starter kick
  • Only Kick Start Option

Compare Technical Specifications Of Platina 100ES And Honda CD 110 Dream

By: Farhan Kashif
See full details of Bajaj Platina 100 ES »

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