Honda Shine 125 : Welcome back everyone. once again I am here with a brand new review. Today, the motorcycle you are seeing the Honda Shine 125. Honda offers this bike in two variants. One is the drum brake variant and the other is the disc brake variant. The ex-showroom starting price for the drum brake variant is around ₹79,300. If you choose the disc brake variant, it is available for approximately ₹83,000.
In this detailed article, I will show you a complete and in-depth review of this motorcycle. You will get a full walkaround, detailed features explanation, and real riding experience insights. We will discuss whether this bike is suitable for family use, city riding, highway cruising, and which type of rider it suits best.
Riding Posture and Comfort Analysis
Before anything else, let me show you the riding posture of this bike. Because when you are buying a 125cc motorcycle, comfort is one of the most important expectations. The riding posture offered here is completely upright. Your back remains straight, and the handlebar is positioned slightly away from the rider, which gives a relaxed riding position.
I do not feel any pressure on my shoulders or palms. The lower body posture is kind of center-set or slightly front-set foot pegs. This ensures a very comfortable riding posture. Unlike sports motorcycles where foot pegs are positioned far back and can cause leg pain over long rides, this bike does not give you that discomfort. From a riding posture perspective, the bike feels very good.
Walkaround and Design Overview
Side and Front Profile
Starting with the side profile, there are no major changes in design. It retains the familiar Shine identity. From the front, you get a halogen headlamp with chrome touches that look quite good. Halogen indicators are provided as well.
One small negative point is that when you turn the ignition on, the halogen headlamp turns on automatically even without starting the engine. There is no separate light switch to turn it off. This can consume battery power when the engine is not running, and Honda could have managed this better.
Tyres, Wheels, and Ground Clearance
The front tyre is an 80/100 section mounted on an 18-inch alloy wheel. The tyre is tubeless, which is a good thing. This is the disc brake variant. The ground clearance is 162 mm, which is decent enough. Even with a heavy pillion rider, you do not have to worry about scraping the underbody.
At the rear, you get an 80/90 tyre with an 18-inch alloy wheel. Generally, modern bikes are moving towards 17-inch wheels, but commuter motorcycles still prefer slightly larger wheels for better stability and comfort.
Engine, Emissions, and Build Quality
This is an OBD 2B compliant model. You get two O2 sensors now. One sensor checks the exhaust gases coming out of the engine, while the second sensor monitors how effectively the catalytic converter reduces pollution. Older models used to get only one O2 sensor.
The fuel tank is metal, and the build quality feels solid. It does not feel weak or prone to dents. You also get a premium-looking 3D chrome Honda emblem on the tank. The engine capacity is 123.94cc. Compared to the SP 125, Shine offers slightly lower power, while SP 125 is tuned for slightly better performance.
Seat, Rear Profile, and Exhaust
The seat is long and well-cushioned. This makes it very suitable for family use. You can comfortably travel with a pillion rider within the city or on short highway trips. At the rear, you get a halogen tail lamp and halogen indicators.
The bike comes with a silent starter. When you start the motorcycle, there is almost no sound from the starter motor. The engine sound is extremely smooth and refined, which is a signature quality of Honda engines.
Instrument Console and Features
The instrument console does not get an RPM meter, so you will not know exact engine RPMs. However, you do get a gear position indicator, which is very useful. The bike comes with five gears, making highway cruising comfortable.
The console includes a speedometer, clock, digital fuel gauge, odometer, Trip A, Trip B, real-time mileage, average mileage, and range indicator. Bluetooth connectivity is not available. You do get a side stand indicator and an automatic engine cut-off system for fuel saving at traffic signals.
The clutch feel is medium. It is not extremely light, but it is comfortable enough for city traffic and will not cause hand fatigue.
Switchgear Quality and Practical Touches
The overall switchgear quality is one of the highlights of this bike. There are no sharp edges, and button feedback is very good. This is impressive considering the price segment. You also get a USB Type-C charging port, which is extremely practical for charging your phone during rides.
Ride Experience and Handling
Now let us talk about the riding experience. The initial pickup is good. Acceleration feels smooth, and the lightweight nature of the bike helps a lot. The kerb weight is around 113 kg, which makes the bike easy to maneuver.
One observation is that the handlebar feels slightly heavy at slow speeds. This is not a major negative but something noticeable. The turning radius is very good, and U-turns are easy to execute.
The engine produces around 10.7 PS of power and 11 Nm of torque. The torque delivery is strong at low and mid-range RPMs, making it suitable for city traffic and even hilly areas without feeling stressed.
Suspension and Seat Comfort Sync
The suspension setup is very well balanced. Compared to SP 125, which has a slightly stiffer suspension, Shine feels more comfortable. The seat cushioning and suspension work in perfect sync. Even if a bump passes through the suspension, the seat absorbs a significant part of the impact.
This makes the bike extremely comfortable for daily commuting. On a comfort scale, it easily scores very high. The seat height is just 791 mm, making it friendly even for shorter riders who can flat-foot the bike easily.
Mileage Expectations
Being a 125cc motorcycle, mileage is one of the main reasons people buy this bike. You can expect around 55 to 65 kmpl depending on your riding style. If you ride calmly and use higher gears, achieving 60+ kmpl is very realistic.
Performance, Vibrations, and Gearbox
The low-end and mid-range performance is strong. The bike can pull easily even in higher gears at low speeds without knocking. However, this engine is not designed for high RPM riding. At higher RPMs, performance drops, engine noise increases, and vibrations start appearing.
There is a small complaint regarding the gearbox. During rapid downshifts, sometimes the gearbox feels stuck, and false neutrals can occur. Honda could have improved this aspect slightly.
Braking Performance
This is the disc brake variant. The braking bite is decent. It is not overly sharp, and it is not too dull either. Rear drum brake performance is also satisfactory. ABS is not available, which is a bit disappointing considering modern standards.
Final Verdict
Honda Shine 125 is a tried and tested motorcycle with excellent comfort, refined engine, good mileage, and family-friendly nature. It is ideal for city commuting, family usage, and relaxed riding. If you want a slightly sportier feel, SP 125 is an option. But for pure comfort and daily usability, Shine 125 is a better choice.
This engine has been around for a long time and is extremely reliable. Spare parts availability will not be an issue for many years. Overall, this is a safe, sensible, and comfortable commuter motorcycle.