It was just beginning of the year when Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (HMSI) launched the updated model of one of their best selling products- CB Shine. The 125cc popular commuter brand of Honda in India was due for a serious update for quite a long time when Honda launched the updated CB Shine with four other two wheelers including new updated Activa 3G in the month of February earlier this year. One of the top variants of the updated CB Shine with front disc brake and CBS (Combi Brakes System) is known as CB Shine DX.It is yesterday only; Honda has launched another motorcycle in 125cc commuter class by the name of “CB Shine SP”. Since Honda had already launched the updated version of CB Shine earlier this year, it was hard to understand why they have come up another variant from the same brand name. However, the new “CB Shine SP” carries only brand name of the old tried and tested CB Shine and in actual it is an all new product rather than the updated one. The new Honda CB Shine SP looks absolutely different from the older CB Shine and one cannot make out if it is a Shine.
Design & Style:The updated CB Shine had also received many changes, which were certainly more than the cosmetic or graphical alterations. The new headlamp of the CB Shine is now featured with black visor and it is devoid of any graphics. On the other hand the new CB Shine SP is featured with bigger headlamp with aggressive trapezoidal shape; the visor is also bigger in size and comes in black color with concave curve on the top.
Both CB shine and the new CB Shine SP are featured with same capacity of fuel tank but the shape of the fuel tank is different in both the bikes. The fuel tank featured on the CB Shine is being continued from the older model of CB Shine. On the other hand the new Honda CB Shine SP is equipped with new fuel tank which looks bulky and muscular. The tank featured on the Shine SP makes it look more masculine and it also adds to the smooth flow of the design.
The broad seat of the old CB Shine is being replaced with the long and sharp tailed seat in new CB Shine SP. In fact the entire rear end of the new Shine SP is been designed from the scratch and it includes new flowing side panels with silver trimming. The seat, side panels and the taillight assembly, all contribute to the sleek and razor sharp design of the new Cb Shine SP.
The now age old exhaust muffler of the CB Shine, which was given the all matte black finish in the updated CB Shine DX is now entirely replaced by a more stylish upswept and stubby exhaust can in new CB Shine SP. The rear shock absorbers are more over same except the new CB Shine SP is featured with Red color spring. Since the chassis is same around both the motorcycles, the swingarm is also same made up of steel bar and so as their sub-frames in both the bikes. However, at least on the premium looking new CB Shine SP there should have been a box shaped swingarm for better handling.
Instrument Cluster:The instrument console at the CB Shine remains more over same for those many years, there is all analog dual pod meter console featured in CB Shine. The meter is plain and simple and except the basic information and tell tale lights there is nothing exciting on the instrument pod of the CB Shine DX. On the flipside the new Honda Shine SP is featured with dual digital-analog meter console. The instrument panel is not only stylish but also very informative; there is big analog speedometer with trip button and a square digital meter with fuel gauge, odometer and trip meter. Rest of the tell tale lights are situated at the dash and tucked very smartly, gelling with the pattern of the instrument console.
Engine, Transmission and Dimension:The updated CB Shine is featured with the new 125cc air cooled engine boasted with HET technology for better fuel economy. However, the engine of the CB Shine DX is updated for the better mileage and smoother performance but it continued with the same 4- speed transmission gearbox. Amidst the close competition within 125cc segment Honda had to update the engine seriously.
And now in new CB Shine SP, Honda has done what was needed for quite a sometime; they have added the extra 5th gear to the new Shine SP while keeping the rest of the mechanicals same as it is featured in CB Shine. The 125cc HET engine is producing same 10.73 Ps of power at 7500 Rpm and 10.3 Nm of Torque at 5500 Rpm. The only difference is the 5-speed gear in the new Shine SP, making it a more free revving bike with extra top speed.
Compare Detailed Technical Specification Of New Honda CB Shine SP Vs CB Shine DX
The dimensions of both the bikes are almost identical due to the same diamond type chassis used. The new Honda Shine SP has slightly lesser overall length and height, whereas it has a marginally larger ground clearance. The overall weight of both the motorbikes is same with the identical 10.5 Liters of maximum fuel capacity.
Wheels, Brakes and Pricing:The conventional six spoke alloy wheels of CB Shine is been replaced by split spoke alloy wheels in the new CB Shine SP. Both the bikes are featured with same profile tires not only on both the wheels but also on individual bikes as well. Both older and newer shine come equipped with 80/100-18 Tubeless tires at both the wheels. There is a provision of front disc brake in both Shines and both of them have a premium variant available with CBS (Combined Braking System).
The new Honda CB Shine SP is available is three variants and the price starts from INR 59,900 to 64, 400 (Ex-Showroom, Delhi). On the other hand the CB Shine is also available in three variants and there is a price difference of Rs 4000-5000 between the base version and premium version of both the motorcycles. However, for the all new Honda CB Shine SP the price difference does not seem much for what you will be getting as a brand new product under same brand name.
By: Farhan Kashif
