Honda CB Shine DX Test Ride Review

Ever since Honda Shine was launched back in 2005, it has been enjoying its large share in the 125cc class of motorcycles in India. We can easily say that this is one of the motorcycles from Honda which played a prominent role in strengthening Honda's foothold in India. The CB Shine has been one of Honda's best offerings in the commuter segment and likewise, it is preferred by majority of the people. It created a perfect balance between mileage and performance.

Within no time, Shine strengthened its foothold in the 125cc class and ever since has been exerting its dominance upon the 125cc segment, thus forcing its competitors to come out with better products, but at the same time maintaining its top spot. It has been over 10 years and there haven't been any major changes made to the Shine, until now. It gets a much needed update, from its name- "Honda CB Shine DX". It is fresh both in terms of design and mechanical. So what do we have to say about Honda CB Shine DX? Read on to find out.
Rider's Note: I really enjoyed riding the bike, it feels so good to ride, be it on the open highways, bad roads or even normal commute. I really enjoyed the butter smooth engine and a slick gearbox. The bike now looks bigger like how it should be and personally I like the funky tail lamp and body graphics.
Styling:

The old Shine looked more or less like a commuter bike, not having a distinctive look. However, it did receive an all-black treatment and body decals which made it much better than when it was launched. The 2015 Shine DX has received some changes in the designs. Some of the noteworthy changes include a new headlight cowl which gives it a bigger bike feel. It also gets orange reflectors on either side below the headlight.

Move to the side and you will immediately notice that the fuel tank has been revised and is a slightly bigger with flat knee recesses and new graphics. The graphics go all the way to the newly designed side panels; however, the rear side body panels are the same, though they look different. There is an addition of a new tail lamp which gives it a distinctive look. Other things of note are body coloured pillion grab rails and rear view mirrors, 3-D Honda logo and a fully black treatment given to the bike. Instrument Cluster and Switchgears:

The instrument cluster has been redesigned in the newer version. It now houses twin circles on either sides of the cluster with space in the center for tell tale lights. The left side of the cluster contains the speedometer and odometer while the right contains the fuel gauge, in it a CB Shine logo inscribed. Again, Honda should have considered getting at least a semi-digital cluster, as that would have had lent it a contemporary look, and very much in line with the competition. Switchgears look too basic, like the rest of the commuter offerings, though we hoped for better. Ergonomics:

The bike's ergonomics are pretty much on the comfortable side. Suspension set up and seating position are the same as in pre-facelift bikes. Both rider and pillion can sit comfortably. The suspension absorbs the bumps quite well and not much is transferred to the rider, thus making the ride feel better. The bike is comfortable for both tall and short riders, which is a boon. We did take the bike on some bad roads and came out pleased overall. Performance:

There's one prominent thing the Shine was praised about, was the engine! Shine DX continues the legacy further. Shine DX is powered by the same single cylinder, air-cooled 124.7cc engine from the old Shine. As an addition, the engine has been fitted with Honda Eco Technology (HET), further enhancing the super smooth feel of the engine. It has maximum power of 10.6PS and 10.5 Nm of torque, mated to a 4-speed gearbox. Thumb the starter and the bike starts without any hassle, being almost silent at idle. The refinement on the earlier bike was high, HET made it even better. The bike continues to carry the same balance of efficiency and power, which is one of the strong reasons for it to maintain its top spot in the 125cc segment. It is good at low rpm and is very strong in the mid range, making it ideal for overtaking in the cities and also to maintain good speeds on the highways. The bike now has slightly higher fuel efficiency, courtesy HET technology. All in all, the bike performs really well and added to that, smoothness of the engine and easy gearshifts make the ride plush. Riding Dynamics:

As mentioned earlier, the bike just gets body work and slight tweak in the engine, whereas other mechanical continue to be the same. The suspension set up is the same, with hydraulic telescopic forks at the front and dual adjustable hydraulic coil springs at the rear doing its duties. The suspension is set up on the softer side so that it handles well on bad roads. The bike did handle well and behaved very well in the corners.

All in all, the handling is good on the bike. The bike is available in two variants, one with both drum brakes and the other one with a front disc option. The bike we rode came with front disc brakes. Another useful thing here is that the brakes now get CBS, which is the combined braking system. Both the front and the rear brake will be activated if you use the rear brake paddle, thus enhancing the braking ability. The bike comes shod with MRF tyres. Verdict:

Honda Shine was the motorcycle which gave an identity to Honda in the Indian market, establishing its dominance in the 125cc segment, offering both mileage as well as performance in a single package. With the update of the Shine, now having better brakes, better looks and even better technology, the all new CB Shine DX would continue to carry over the legacy. The bike is priced relatively higher than its competitors, but taking in account for all the things this bike offers, we feel the price is definitely worth it
Pros:
1. Super-smooth engine and a slick gearbox.
2. Refreshed Design.
3. New technologies- HET & CBS.

Cons:
1. Speedometer looks outdated.
2. Average Switchgears
Finally, we thank Mr Thimmaiah, Heritage Honda, Mysuru and the crew involved for their support.

By: Rakesh Gowda
See full details of Honda CB Shine DX »

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