Honda India has finally jumped into the 100cc pool with the launch of the Shine 100. It’s meant to take on the Splendor 100 Plus in this segment of commuter bikes, considering the latter has been the most sold model. In this story, we’ve compared the new Shine against the Splendor in various aspects.
Design
Both bikes are oriented towards extreme practicality and utility. Therefore, the two come with a simple design consisting of a halogen headlight, bulb indicators, a flat and slim fuel tank, and a single-piece seat with a grab rail. However, the Splendor’s grab rail is also an integrated tail rack to mount small luggage. Notably, Honda has cut corners in certain areas to keep the cost low. For reference, the Shine 100’s seat doesn’t get a key fob, but a pair of tools instead, which are tucked inside the left side panel. To access those tools, you need a coin or a screwdriver handy.
Features
Most of the commuter bikes are very bare bone on the feature front, and it’s the same case with Honda Shine 100 and the Hero Splendor Plus. Both get bulb illumination, CBS, and a side-stand engine cut-off. However, the Hero bike gets Hero’s patented i3s tech, making the bike even more frugal.
Engine
Honda has used a newly-developed 98.9cc single-cylinder engine for the Shine 100. It is linked to a four-speed gearbox and makes 7.6bhp and 8.06Nm. On the other hand, the Hero Splendor Plus features a 97.2cc mill that makes 7.91bhp and 8.05Nm. It too gets a four-speed gearbox. While the output figures for the two bikes differ marginally, the Shine 100 weighs only 99kg, giving it a better power-to-weight ratio than the rival.
Hardware
Both bikes ride on telescopic front forks and dual rear springs, but unlike the Honda, Splendor gets five-step adjustability at the rear. The front and rear drum brake setup is similar for both commuter bikes but the Splendor gets a slightly larger rear unit. One of the crucial bits that the Hero bike has spot on is the tyres. It gets tubeless units which lets you ride a little more even in case of a puncture. On the other hand, the Shine gets tubed tyres, which is a slightly desperate measure for cost-cutting.
Price
Honda has priced the Shine 100 at Rs. 64,900 and Hero retails the Splendor Plus at Rs. 73,285 (both ex-showroom, Delhi). While the Honda bike undercuts the Hero offering by a notable amount, it can offer slightly more value in terms of the features and hardware on offer. But overall, the competition between the two bikes is neck-and-neck.
