Honda recently announced that its dealerships located in orange and green zones had reopened from 4 May. With the brand’s retail operations getting back on track, we compare two of its 125cc commuters, the Shine and SP 125, to tell you about the differences between the two BS6-compliant motorcycles.
Design
The Honda Shine has received subtle styling changes during the BS6 transition which are limited to minor nip and tuck. It continues to boast of a simple yet elegant commuter-oriented design. The SP 125, meanwhile, gets a dose of sporty aesthetics with a geometrically-designed headlamp, fuel tank extensions and a longer and sleeker tail section. It also incorporates fancier-looking alloy wheels.
Features
The Shine is quite basic in terms of features as well. It continues to get conventional lighting and fully analogue instrument cluster, with the start-stop switch and integrated high-beam and pass switch being the new additions. Being a newer and more premium product, the SP 125 gets more features in the form of an LED headlamp and tail lamp and a fully digital instrument cluster displaying a host of information. One common feature in both bikes is an ACG silent starter for lower engine cranking noises.
Dimensions and cycle parts
The Shine and SP 125 are slightly different in terms of dimensions. The seat length of the Shine is 651mm while that of the SP 125 is 705mm which makes it more accommodating. On the flip side, the Shine is lighter with a kerb weight of 114kg (drum) and 115kg (disc) while the SP 125 weighs at 117kg (drum) and 118kg (disc). Although both bikes remain identical on the hardware front, the SP 125 gets an 11 litre fuel tank which is half a litre larger than that of the Shine.
Engine
Powering the bikes is the same 124cc, air-cooled, single cylinder engine which produces 10.5bhp at 7,500rpm and 11Nm at 6,000rpm. This engine is known for its superb refinement and decent mileage. While the SP 125 already gets a five-speed gearbox, the Shine received it with the BS6 update as it used to feature a four-speed gearbox in the BS4 model.
Pricing
The Honda Shine is the more affordable option with a price tag of Rs 67,857 for the drum brake model and Rs 72,557 for the disc variant. Being a more premium package, the SP 125 is also more expensive at Rs 73,452 (drum) and Rs 77,652 (disc) (all prices are ex-showroom, Delhi).
