I have bought my honda shine on last Sunday. I have done a lot of analysis before going for this particular bike. I am just giving my reasons and it might help others to decide.
I wanted to get a decent bike in 48000/- range. So Pulsar, Unicorn is out of consideration. But if I had to go for a 150cc bike I would have chosen Unicorn.
My choices were Hero Honda splendour plus, Hero Honda Super slplendour, Hero Honda Glamour, Bajaj Discover, Honda Shine, Suzuki Zeus. I didn’t consider Yamaha and TVS bikes. Some how I didn’t like the TVS bikes, and I am personaly not comfortable with the gear shifting pattern of Yamaha. This is just personal choice.
Splendour plus is a good bike, in indian condition it performed extremely well, low maintainance, very good milage, average look. But I feel its a bit overpriced; in Delhi on road with drum brake its 43000. Super splendour is quite good- quantum core 125 cc engine, self start, better looking than splendour plus; on road price is about 46000; Good value for money. Glamour is also ok, looks better than super splendour; in the PGM F1 version they have introduced many new attractive features. But with more than 50000 rupees on road price; I found its also a bit over priced. The pick up of glamour and super splendour is similar; not that good.
Bajaj discover is also very good looking, better than any hero honda bike. But I found its gear shifting is not that smooth. Though the pick up and milage of this bike is also very good; I didn’t like the over all finishing of the bike. But the main negative point in this bike for me was the gear shifting problems.
I didn’t have a chance to see zeus. The showroom is not near by and I didn’t have much feed back from any body as its a new bike. I liked the features though, specially gear indicator and 5 gears.
Honda Shine is to me is best looking among the bikes that I have mentioned. The style, color, finishing everything is very good. You can only compare discover with its looks. But when it comes to riding comfort, gear shifting, handling----honda shine is definitely far ahead. Its very smooth, very comfortable. It has a very good low end torque. You can drive it in fourth gear in 30kmph. In city driving its really useful. Very good head light. They promise to give 65kmpl milage; Even if it gives 60; its quite good. The pick up is excellent. Definitely you can not expect pick up like unicorn or pulsar; after all its a not an 150 cc bike. But its pick up is one of the best among 125 cc class. Again only discover can be compared with it. It is very reasonably priced in Delhi; 45000 on road (only 2000 rupees more than splendour plus!!), with drum brake. With disk brake its 47000. The only missing thing here is a self start version. But I don’t mind using kick start; some how I enjoy it!!
I would definitely recommend this bike unless you want to go for 150cc segment.