Good deal. Review on Honda Shine 125

I am using this vehicle since October 2007 done 15000 KMS so far, with no major complaints. Good bike for a city ride(Bangalore) with 4 gears and 125 CC to pull two people(175 KG) and sometimes with family(185KG). I was using a Splendor before, and much prior were Bajaj M80, Hero Puch 2G, 4S champion.

Reading others review, I don't understand for a Rs. 50000 bike what can we really expect for. Cruiser at 100 KMPH with no wobbling, highest mileage, cheapest maintenance, no noise, no vibration. quite difficult, we might have to compromise with something for what we pay. No offense guys.

Honda is targeting to knock off Splendor so the sellers do tell us when we go for a test drive as the gear pattern is same as Splendor. But to be honest this is much better than HH Splendor.

Though the engine is 125CC sometimes feel that a 5th gear is missing since we feel the engine retarding when crossing 60 KMPH. Sturdy until the speed is less than 55 KMPH then there is a slight wobbling, though we can ensure that the alloy wheels are balanced still, there is a wobbling.

Mileage: Decent 55+(IOCL), 58 - 60(Shell or IOCL xTra Premium) 62+(Shell super). Depends on riding style if one maintains 50 KMPH then the mileage improves by another 1 - 2. Max I have got is 65+ till date.

Road grip: much better than HH Splendor. Hardly had a slip / skid since I took this bike, had been skidding straight when attempted to stop at high speeds(90 KMPH).

Performance: Optimum power though one can't try to attempt wheeling, but still can give a try. Decent mix of power and pickup.

Maintenance: Nothing as such, all that I had spent so far is for the petrol and engine oil. Not even the brake shoes. Hope it is going to be the same going forward as well.

Complaints: As usual the company free service which was just water wash, oil change and drain washer change. They are more interested to get the Teflon coating done to the vehicle than anything else. They have not even cleaning the carb and the brake shoes which I got to see when I heard noise while applying brakes.

Felt that there is a block when accelerated however works fine when throttle is closed and opened again. Later got to hear from the service station that the vehicle documents that I had left underneath the seat was blocking the air flow, so later left it in the space near the tool kit / first aid box and no further degraded performance.

Cousin brother to Victor which will not start again when gets off immediately after turning on the engine, only work around is to kick down the starter with full force so that the suspension goes down 1 inch. I mean it you need to really push that one down.

Ideal way to maintain the vehicle from my experience:

Air Filter: keep them clean especially in dusty areas frequent cleaning is required, this bike has a paper type dry filter so over a period of time needs replacement

Fuel: use a standard from the same bunk petrol, ideal to fill the tank in early morning so that less dust gets mixed and settles down during the night. Also the density is good when the temperature is less.

Engine Oil: more important than petrol, check for the thickness and color. If lost the original color of green, brown, white then replace. It is not pollution as it is only 900 ml as against wasting so much of fossil fuel. Ideally at lesser speed the oil lasts long.(2500 - 3000 max).

Periodical maintenance: last but not the least, a well maintained bike will be with you for ever, which will never let you down.