Honda CB350

The CB350 comes with a retro roadster like design that is very similar to that of the Royal Enfield Bullet 350. The CB350 comes with a round LED headlight and turn indicators. The fuel tank is teardrop shaped and the bike comes with a split seat setup similar to what we have seen on the higher end variants of the CB350 H’ness but with more premium seat covers. The main difference when compared to other bikes in the CB350 lineup is that it gets full-length metal fenders at both ends. It is offered in simple colours without any fancy stickering. It comes with a peashooter exhaust with full-chrome finish.

The CB350 is powered by the same 350cc air-cooled single-cylinder engine that we have seen on the H’ness and the CB350RS. The engine produces 21.07PS at 5500rpm and 30Nm at 3000rpm. 

The engine like the ones on the H’ness and CB350RS has amazing refinement that ensures vibrations aren’t felt even at higher speeds. But the engine has similar weaknesses as well, which is a lack of bottom end torque. But once this initial sluggishness is overcome, the bike rides very smoothly. Another issue that the CB350 has is the tall gearing, same as what we have seen on the other bikes in the CB350 lineup, this makes overtaking a bit tricky and riders will have to plan overtakes earlier.

The Honda CB350 is a decent motorcycle when it comes to handling, even though it has a relatively larger 1441mm wheelbase. The wide handlebar is able to provide enough leverage making the bike manoeuvrable in city traffic conditions. The bike is a bit towards the heavier side with a kerb weight of 187kg but this weight is only noticeable when riding at slow speeds or taking U-turns. 

The suspension setup is well-balanced and is able to absorb most bumps, potholes and undulations easily when going through rough roads. That said, there will be instances where the front suspension bottoms out when going through sharp potholes. Coming to the brakes, they are able to bring the bike to a stop easily and the performance overall is well timed with the lever action, bite and progression being responsive.

The Honda CB350 offers a neutral and upright riding posture, this combined with the well cushioned seat gives the rider a comfortable riding experience overall. The seat has a bit of premiumness to it, not too hard or too soft and ensures that the rider doesn’t feel discomfort during long rides.

The CB350 comes with the same semi-digital instrument cluster which offers information like speed, fuel level, tachometer, gear position indicator along with the readouts like odometer and tripmeters. There’s also information like distance to empty and battery voltage. 

The DLX Pro variant comes with smartphone connectivity via bluetooth and gets related functionalities such as turn-by-turn navigation and Honda Smartphone Voice Control system (HSVCS). 

The Honda CB350 is a good bike overall and makes for an ideal alternative to those who are looking to buy a similar bike as the Royal Enfield Bullet 350 but with more modern features like LED lighting and smartphone connectivity. The bike also comes with the same engine as the H’ness CB350 and CB350RS which is a tried and tested one, the engine has its issues but they aren’t anything major.