Here’s How The BS6 Version Of India’s Best Selling 125cc Bike Differs From Its Predecessor

The BS6 124cc fuel-injected engine gets a longer stroke than its carburetted BS4 predecessor. This ensures better low-end performance, crucial for a city-oriented commuter motorcycle like the Shine. More importantly, it is not only slightly more powerful but also a little torquier.

Another major feature in the Honda Shine BS6 is the inclusion of a 5-speed transmission. This should improve the motorcycle’s mileage considerably, particularly on the highway. While the BS4 CB Shine lacked any fancy features, the BS6 model gets a silent start system to ensure the engine is cranked quickly and silently. It uses the same AC generator that charges the battery to crank up the engine, eliminating the need for a separate starter motor, so there are no gear meshing noises either.

The BS6 Shine also comes with friction reduction technology and a swing back feature for efficient motor start up. Honda claims the new motor offers 14 per cent more mileage than the BS4-compliant CB Shine.

Same underpinnings...

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Both the Honda Shine BS6 and the CB Shine BS4 share the same telescopic front fork and twin 5-step preload adjustable shock absorbers at the rear. The brakes are the same too. They get a 130mm drum on both ends. A front 240mm disc is available as a separate variant. The 80-section low rolling resistance tyres are common on both the bikes too. These tyres are designed to offer more mileage at the expense of outright grip.

But different dimensions:

Specifications	Honda Shine BS6	Honda CB Shine BS4
Wheelbase	1285mm	1266mm
Ground clearance	162mm	157mm
Kerb weight	115kg	123kg
Fuel tank capacity	10.5 litres	10.5 litres
LxWxH	2046mm x 737mm x 1116mm	2012mm x 762mm x 1090mm

Honda has tweaked the diamond type frame to offer longer wheelbase and ground clearance. A longer wheelbase means more straight line stability. The higher ground clearance will come in handy while going over bad roads.

Interestingly, Honda has reduced the weight by a considerable 8kg. This should help in extracting more mileage and at the same time aid the dynamics of the motorcycle.

Feature changes:

While the BS6 Shine has retained the conservative design genes, Honda has tweaked it a bit to make the bike look fresher. The side panels have been redesigned and the tail section has also witnessed a subtle facelift. The analogue instrument cluster has been reworked and the fuel tank cap is now hinged. While the older Shine had a conventional pass beam trigger, it is now integrated into the high-low beam switch. There's a 27mm longer seat for extra comfort too. Also, the BS6 bike gets an engine kill switch, a welcome addition. For a more stable light output, the halogen headlamp is now of DC type.