Query approved.

my 2 cents.either go for unicorn or p135.both will serve your purpose.you can also consider hero achiever.

Just ignore the Honda Shine. There are issues with the bike , I would say you can take a look at their Unicorn if you have budget.

The slingshot is a very cheap and durable bike, availability of spares is trouble, sometimes you wont find the parts anywhere and you have to wait a long time. Also since they keep dropping old models off, resale will be a big trouble. So I wont put this bike on my top list at all.

The best bet is Yamaha SS125. The bike comes with excellent ride comfort, disc brakes and MRF tyres give immense safe feel, great pickup among any 125cc bikes, mileage is around 50-55kmpl in city, has low maintenance expense.

All the 3 bikes you have mentioned are having low maintenance. So dont worry about it. Using a yamaha gladiator (SS125) from past 2 years. The only maintenance was normal servicing & replacing parts whenever i met with an accident . But finding spares is truely hard especially when it comes to body parts. Though engine parts can be readily found.

Even the slingshot has the same issue of spares. Though the spares of shine can be found easily. With either bike you wont go wrong. So decide on basis of nearest SC & dealer.

Hi qdetty

See I had compare the bikes and got one clear point that you should drop the idea of Yamaha SS 125 because it need more maintenance and is also not reliable then other bikes. Now telling you the mileage of Honda Shine its around 55kkmpl and Suzuki Slingshot as mileage around 60kmpl both the bikes are good but the best buy would be Honda Shine its reliable bike with low maintenance and its resell value is also good. So for for Shine.

gladiator aka ss125 not reliable.in which world do you live?

anyday i would suggest to go for a 150 cc than upgrading later.

Please dont mislead here. Of the three choice of bikes, the SS125 is a wonderful bike. I don't know who told you this or how you came to this conclusion of clear point? Yes, its true the Shine has a good resale value, but the bike is costlier as well as the overall cost of ownership of both bikes come almost to same amount. But in Yamaha you get to choose power, whereas Shine is a bit sluggish in pickup. Its more of what you call an uncleji bike.

Yamaha SS125: most powerful among the three. and my vote goes for this one...Its More that just a commuter..but milage would be around 50kmpl....
Honda Shine: the most reliable among the three,but the least powerful...Go for it,if you are just concerned about commuting for point A to B.this bike does it perfectly.
Suzuki Slingshot:It feels good to ride,does nothing exceptional.not very powerful.cant say about milage...
Actually,buying any of these ,you wont regret.
Take test ride,and decide...

@TS: As for now you have been riding a splendor. So i would suggest ss125 than shine/sling shot.

+ points for ss125

1. One of my colleague having gladiator for past 2 years. He said he have not faced problems till now. He is getting around 55 kmpl(coming from ramapuram-you should know the place)
2. The only 125cc bike have a engine kill switch for city traffic.
3. The bike have a open chain for better maintenance if you lube it well.
4. The only 125c bike have a tacho meter for better viewing of your engine rpm speed.
5. Last but not least: The bike will perform well than other two.

go for a 150 cc.for me that is a logical upgrade.consider unicorn or achiever

The Yamaha from experience

My take by 5 year experience on the Gladiator, the previous version of the SS125..

Plus points:

1. Good build quality, solid chassis and cycle parts..
2. Best in class handling and stability.. (Maybe the MRFs of the SS are even better than the OEM Dunlops on my Gladdy.. Can't be sure but the stickicer, the safer)
3. Very low maintenance and reasonably priced spares.. Parts availability and service is good in my part even though some people complain.. The level of commitment of the company has increased now though it was missing in the last few years..
4. Most powerful in class and best in class high rpm acceleration..
5. Flexible engine and powerband.. Can play both the the roles of calm obedient commuter and screaming fun bike..
6. Good mileage.. A carefully maintained one will easily give you 55kmpl+ average..
7. Very reliable.. Parts are made to last.. Especially, for example, how much problems I had seen in the electric starter of other bikes after jst 1 or 2 years.. My one had not shown any problems till date.. Plus very responsive..


Mins points:

1. My one had a minor electrical glitch.. Can be easily fixed.. Though I have not heard any more such cases among owners..
2. Graduating from Splendor.. You may find bottom end power a bit missing.. But you will find an equally surprising top end..
3. Save the silencer during washes.. My one got worn(mystery to me).. It was the steel one.. I think the painted silencer of the SS should withstand corrosion..


My Take:

Among the three, I stick to the SS.. It is the most economical fun bike in the segment.. It does everything a commuter does and a bit more in the sporty side.. But if you want a true blue commuter(good bottom end, no top end at all) with a slight mileage advantage, take the Shine home.. The Suzuki wont make sense as it offers no significant power in comparison to the 100ccs'.. It is the least powerful among the three(9bhp if I am correct).. I don't know the mileage though.. The three will offer almost the same level of reliability though build quality may differ..

I may also ask you to check the SZ-R, a budget 150cc from Yamaha.. Though I cant say anything for sure but people say it has got mileage comparable to 125ccs' and reliability will be no issue from Yamaha..

Good luck buying.. I hope I helped..

Reliability of SZr is not at all a question, it has a very good performing engine. Afterall its the same FZ 153cc machine which is detuned to give little less power, but has a smaller width tyre too so more mileage plus good pickup just like FZ.

On normal ride condition in city I get 46kmpl and on highways in top gear cruising at around 60's speed I am getting 54kmpl. Even in worst handled or ripped ride conditions of 7000rpm I have got 38kmpl which is less considering SS does a lot lot better.

I would suggest SS125 since :

1. It gives better mileage of 50-60kmpl.
2. SS comes with a. engine kill switch, b. parking lamp, c. kicker and d. highway pass switch.
(Even the top most model i.e SZR doesnt have these)
3. SZR comes with poor girps of TVS tyres, whereas SS comes with better MRF.
4. SZR is costlier by atleast another 8k.

Yamaha SS 125 test drive done.

Hi Guys,

Thanks for all your valid points on the 3 bikes, (also on SZ R & Pulsar 135/Unicorn). Today I had a test drive on Yamaha SS 125 and I felt very good. The bike is taller than HH Splendor and SS 125 cruised at high speeds without any vibration. The experience is very new to me as I had been riding 100 CC bike for almost 10 years. The showroom people is very friendly too. The only thing that concerns me is that the front number plate is attached to the Visor. Can't this be brought down?

I will be visiting Honda showroom to see how Shine turns up.

Thanks again for all your suggestions.