Honda Shine 100 vs Hero Splendor Plus: Battle of the Commuter Kings

It's a given that there will be a lot of people who will be interested in this topic. Certainly, we are aware that one is a bike and the other a manufacturer, but both are well-known brand names that speak for dependability and trust. Honda is coming with its most affordable motorcycle in India, the Shine 100, a new 100cc commuter, to compete with Hero's secret weapon, Splendor Plus.

Let's compare both motorcycles in different aspects-

Design and features

They each commute and contribute their little design sensibilities to the discussion. Honda has chosen to offer the Shine 100 the same look as its 125cc sibling, despite the fact that this marks the company's return to the 100cc segment after a protracted absence.

This could benefit Honda because the Shine 100 is a little bike that resembles the larger model, unlike the Splendor Plus and Super Splendor where the designs seem distinctive. Hero wins out even when it comes to colour choices, offering the Splendor Plus in nine hues as opposed to Honda's Shine 100, which comes in just five.

Engine

Although the 100cc single-cylinder fuel-injected engines powering both motorcycles are the same, there are some minor differences between them.

The Honda uses a standard vertical configuration. For improved efficiency and smoothness, Honda equipped the Shine 100's engine with a number of friction reduction technologies. More crucially, an external fuel pump was added for simpler maintenance and repair.

The 100cc engine of the Shine produces 7.61PS and 8.05Nm and is mated to a four-speed transmission. On the other hand, The Hero Splendor Plus is powered by a 97.2cc, air-cooled, 4-stroke, single-cylinder OHC engine with a maximum power output of 8.02 PS and peak torque of 8.05 Nm, mated to a 4-speed gearbox and featuring i3S technology.

Both motorcycles take a very simple approach. They want to cater to utility-driven customers, so they only give it basic hardware, such as halogen headlights and a twin-pod analogue instrument cluster, excluding the side stand engine-kill function.

The hero does, however, offer the Splendor Plus with its i3S smart start-stop technology in higher variations, as we had previously said. In fact, the Splendor Plus Xtec includes smartphone connectivity in addition to a semi-digital cluster, USB charging, and LED DRLs.

Price and availability

The Shine 100 is now Rs 7,500 less expensive than the Splendor Plus costs, which starts at Rs 72,420, with an aggressive initial price of Rs 64,900. Nevertheless, Honda only offers one variation of the Shine 100. Hero's Splendor Plus, on the other hand, is available in a variety of flavours, one of which (Xtec) even has smartphone connectivity!

Hero MotoCorp does, however, offer the HF 100 at Rs 54,962 if you're a price-conscious consumer for whom every rupee matters (all prices ex-showroom Mumbai). The HF 100 is the most inexpensive motorcycle in the nation and is approximately Rs 10,000 less expensive than the Shine 100.

Conclusion

All around Honda Shine 100 is a great bike and now Hero may get some drop in splendor's sales. But in order to do that Honda have to focus on the advertisement because Hero is king in the advertising section. Let's see if Honda shine 100 can take down Hero splendor Plus.

What are your thoughts about these bikes? Which one are you planning to buy?