Honda was on a product onslaught last year and what they did was update every model in their existing line-up. The Activa got HET, while the CB Trigger came as a replacement for the flop CB Dazzler. Meanwhile, other scooters got HET engines as well and Dream series of motorcycles were launched in the 110cc category. The 110cc segment is bursting with new products right from the latest 110cc TVS Star City+ to the one year old Mahindra Centuro. Bajaj Auto also created 125cc bikes in bulk and targeted it with loads of technological equipment and value for money quotient.
Now as we know, Hero has been strong in the segment and why would Honda stay behind. Honda’s next Dream series bike is a 125cc and what can be expected from it? Well, the CB Shine has already made them immensely famous. The 125cc engine was lifted from the CB Stunner, de-tuned and was given a 4-speed gearbox. So with the Dream 125cc which is meant to be positioned lower, will it cannibalise sales of the CB Shine? Or will Honda go vice versa and give the Dream 125cc a 5-speed gearbox and even more power while keeping the pricing bang-on?
If you ask us, Honda will take the age old 125cc engine and give it the HET treatment and increase the mileage, offering better drivability with the same horsepower and torque output. The CB Shine is a product which customers swear by and creating a replica or a future replacement won’t be as simple as we all think. The CB Shine may get discontinued if the Dream series 125cc picks up momentum in the coming years. But looking at how the CB Unicorn is still on sale, the axing of the CB Shine seems highly unlikely.
After all, the CB Shine is a product which came when Honda entered solo in the market years ago. The new Honda Dream 125cc will target the Bajaj Discover 125M/125T and Hero Glamour. There are definitely no plans of Honda offering fuel injection (like the CB Stunner) to this bike as the fuel injected 125cc engine is discontinued in India (Hero still sells the Glamour FI though). Another speculation, which we can safely put down in the drain. Expect a 68 km/l mileage figure from this bike which will get the ball rolling for Honda yet again.
