Honda H'ness CB350

If you have to take on the Classic 350, you need to go the retro route, and that’s exactly what Honda has done. The styling of the H’ness has been inspired by iconic machines like the Honda CB750 and the CB1100. Up front, you are welcomed by a classic round-shaped LED headlight with a chrome nacelle. It also features a large chrome mudguard and alloy wheels which give the front-end a good stance. For me, the design highlight is the simple yet beautiful fuel tank, and I particularly like the Honda badge that looks straight from the 1970s. 

Other interesting details are the Honda badge on the engine case and the round LED indicators. The black finish on the engine is beautifully contrasted by the chrome highlights on the engine fins, and the protruding tail light also looks unique. While the overall styling is very balanced, the gap between the rear tyre and the mudguard looks odd. I found the chrome finish on the rear shock absorbers a bit too loud as well. Our test bike was finished in matte black, but my personal favourite is the blue-and-white shade. We think Honda could have offered brighter dual-tone colours on the DLX Pro variant. One thing I would like to add is the fit and finish levels of the motorcycle are among the best in the segment, and the switchgear quality feels premium as well. 

Thumb the starter and the bike comes to life with a rather loud rumble before settling down to a melodious idle. Before I set off, the first thing that I noticed was how light the clutch action is. For a moment, I thought the cable had snapped, but that wasn’t the case. Slot the bike in first with a mild clunk using the old-school heel-n-toe shifter, and off you go. 

Honda engineers have employed a half duplex frame on their new offering. You won’t be going apex hunting on the H’ness with its 1,441mm wheelbase, but spending most of your time hustling your way through the traffic-choked urban roads of our country. On that note, it does a great job as the bike feels compact enough on our roads, squeezing through tight gaps with swift direction changes on tap. The wide handlebar offers good leverage, and it is only while riding at slow speed or taking U-turns can you feel the bike's weight. If you were to show it some mountain twisties, the H’ness would offer neutral and stable handling rather than outright thrills. 

Honda has opted for Nissin calipers, and they do a fantastic job of shedding speed. Lever action, bite, and progression are spot on. In fact, the H’ness has the best brakes in the segment, and that too by quite a margin. 

Suspension setup is also apt for India roads, especially the rear shock absorbers that offer a comfortable ride isolating the rider from jolts. The telescopic fork also offers good damping on most occasions but it does tend to bottom-out over sharp bumps. Even over large speed breakers, the CB350 never scrapped its belly, owing to its ample 166mm of ground clearance. 

While the H’ness CB350 has the appearance of a retro-roadster, it does pack a bunch of modern and segment-first features. It receives all-LED lighting, slip and assist clutch, traction control system, and a semi-digital instrument console loaded with details such as range, real-time fuel efficiency, gear position indicator, trip meter, and odometer. There’s also bluetooth connectivity on the DLX Pro that enables turn-by-turn navigation and call/music controls.