Premium Bike

Premium Bike

In a nutshell, Highness CB350 is a premium, feature-packed, motorcycle, which is fun to ride in the city as well as on the highway; Despite its 'retro' appeal, it has all the features of a truly modern motorcycle. While there are a few shortcomings, they pale in comparison to their many qualities. Highly recommended!

Pros:

(1.1) Excellent ride quality on both city roads and highways; Offers a highly refined engine with next to no vibrations nearly throughout the rev range!
(1.2) Excellent ergonomics provide comfort on long rides; the Bike's optimized center of gravity makes it feel light and easy to maneuver (Bike feels super-light when riding, but don't let this make you overconfident; This is a heavy bike, and deserves the respect that comes with it)
(1.3) Smooth (light) clutch; Gear shifting is precise; Slipper and assist clutch makes gear shifts smoother
(1.4) Suspension is a bit on the harder side, which while acceptable in the city, becomes positive during highway touring
(1.5) No overheating observed in the engine thus far (Note that the engine does tend to 'overheat' when it's new, this should resolve itself within 100 KM or so)

(2.1) Excellent build quality - paint job, buttons, powder coating, etc. - No rust observed on any part even after 8 months of usage
(2.2) 4 extra buttons on the DLX Pro variant on the left handle are welcome as it makes console navigation fun and easy
(2.3) Loaded with cutting edge high-tech features such as traction control, dual-channel ABS, side stand indicator, side stand auto cutoff
(2.4) LED indicators with always-on configuration enhance looks and safety
(2.5) Well designed instrument cluster which is high on functionality
(2.6) High fuel tank capacity means lesser visits to the petrol pump + long-range during touring
(2.7) Ignition note is pleasing and loud (in a good way)

(3.1) Mileage observed - 36 Kmpl in the city (I live in a fairly congested part of the city); 42 kmpl on the highway (if you stay in the eco range)

(4.1) Low maintenance / hassle-free vehicle - Buy and forget
(4.2) Honda Service center folks are helpful (based on my experience with Pune BigWing service center)

Cons:

(1) Tall gearing ratio means that riding at low speeds in traffic can be cumbersome sometimes (there are points where 1st gear is too low while 2nd gear too high); This needs a bit of getting used to; Additionally, one has to 'plan' overtakes in the city, as the bike responds impressively only in the 3rd gear

(2) Throw from the LED headlamp isn't great but is sufficient for the city; Advisable to install off-market lamps for highway touring

(3) Rearview mirrors are formed over function; Their compact designs mean that blind spots for the driver are inevitable; Recommended to installing convex mirrors to provide better visibility

(4) Expensive after-sales service: Honda service centers apply service costs at a component level instead of applying a lumpsum service cost for the entire service

PS: Honda dealership sales folks were low on energy, and, really couldn't 'sell' this bike. This is in stark contrast to the excellent sales folks at Royal Enfield dealerships (This is based on my experience visiting Pune dealerships for both these brands)

But, I guess, with a bike this good, you don't really need to sell!. So, if the Honda dealership does not make this bike sound all that great, don't worry. They don't need to. The bike speaks for itself!