Hero HF Deluxe Flex Fuel vs Honda Shine 100: Is E85 Really The Way To Go?

The Honda Shine 100 was launched in India a couple of years ago to take on the Hero Splendor Plus. While it wasn’t able to exactly match the Splendor Plus’ dominance, a more apt rival for it might just be the HF Deluxe. And now that the Hero HF Deluxe flex fuel has been launched in India, here is how this age-old Hero vs Honda battle goes down, once again: 

Price & Variants

• The HF Deluxe flex fuel immediately has a bit of a disadvantage thanks to its higher price tag. At Rs 72,792, ex-showroom Delhi, the bike costs more than Rs 7,000 over the base Honda Shine 100. 

• That much money could very well pay for petrol expenses for half a year, at the very least. So the price gap definitely isn’t nothing. 

• The HF Deluxe flex fuel isn’t a very expensive bike in itself but the Shine is so well priced that it makes the Hero bike look a bit expensive. To sum things up, the Honda bike is what wins this round. 

Dimensions & Design 

• The on-paper differences in dimensions aside, both the bikes are largely similar in that they’re small, agile and very compact. So much so that if you’re above 6 feet in height, these bikes might feel a bit too small for you. 

• What stands out about the Shine’s dimensions is its 99kg kerb weight which makes it lighter than even a lot of scooters. Now that might sound like a good thing and it largely is a good thing. 

• But when you go over bad roads, especially at a bit of speed, the low weight combined with the smaller wheels (17-inch wheels against the HF’s 18-inchers) make the bike feel nervous and might unsettle it. It’s nothing too bad but the Shine cannot give you the rock solid feel that the HF Deluxe does. 

• Design-wise, both look like what you’d expect from a humble 100cc commuter: clean, uncluttered lines, simple designs and nothing too fancy or aggressive.

Features & Safety

• Both bikes carry the simplicity theme to their features as well. Since these are to be used by everyone in the family, the analogue console keeps things straightforward and is very easy to read as well. 

• Side-stand engine cutoffs are always nice to have if you’ve a forgetful grandparent who also rides the 100cc commuter, and tubeless tyres are always a boon on our debris-laden roads. 

• The little edge that the HF Deluxe flex fuel has is that it has the i3S technology, which is a nice thing to have especially when you’re waiting at those painfully long signals. But apart from that, both bikes are pretty much on par in being bare bones, simple commuters. 

Engines

• The HF Deluxe makes more power and torque than the Shine but in the city, the Shine will feel like a slightly more grunty bike thanks to its lower gearing. Of course we’re splitting hairs here but if ridden back to back, you will feel a bit of that difference. 

• In typical Honda fashion, the Shine will also feel like the smoother of the two in the city. While the HF Deluxe doesn’t have a lot of vibrations, it’s definitely more vibey than the Shine. 

• That said, there is a downside to the Shine 100’s engine too. The grunty nature that feels nice in the city also means that the bike runs out of steam at anything post 60kmph. 

• While the HF Deluxe isn’t the happiest at highway speeds too, it’s still the less stressed engine at those speeds. In fact, it can hold a 70kmph cruise without too much fuss. 

• This is also where the Shine’s lightness acts against it. After 70kmph, even the smallest of inputs threaten to make the bike unstable. While we’ve not had jarring experiences with the bike, it doesn’t exactly inspire a lot of confidence. 

Verdict 

The Honda Shine 100 is the more value for money of the two, for it is pretty much on par with the Hero HF Deluxe flex fuel while carrying a lower price tag. So there’s no denying that it’s the better deal of the two. But then if you want the better all-rounder, and don’t mind paying a bit more for it, the HF Deluxe flex fuel should be the bike to get. It’s more capable when going through bad roads especially at speed, and is better on the highways. 

Comparisons With Other Rivals: 

Hero HF Deluxe Flex Fuel vs Hero Splendor Plus Flex Fuel: Get the HF Deluxe if you want the lesser expensive and more value for money bike. Get the Splendor Plus if you want the legendary Splendor tag and reliability. 

Hero HF Deluxe Flex Fuel vs TVS Sport: Want a slightly good looking commuter? Get the TVS Sport. Want something more basic and simple? Get the HF Deluxe flex fuel. 

Hero HF Deluxe Flex Fuel vs TVS Radeon: The Radeon has a price advantage over the HF Deluxe and if you are on a budget, get the Radeon for it’s a more all-round bike. 

Hero HF Deluxe Flex Fuel vs Bajaj Platina 100: The Platina 100’s lower price makes it a more value for money bike than the HF Deluxe flex fuel. 

Hero HF Deluxe Flex Fuel vs Hero HF Deluxe:  The standard HF Deluxe will not be ready when the E85 fuel is deployed to petrol pumps across India so the flex fuel bike might be the more future-proof bike. 

Hero HF Deluxe Flex Fuel SPOO: Not convinced with the HF Deluxe flex fuel’s price? Here are some bikes or scooters you can buy instead: