Honda H’Ness CB350 Heads To Japan (Update: The Bike Has Been Launched. Details Inside)
Modified On Apr 1, 2021 02:34 PM By Praveen M. for Honda Hness CB350
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The bike might be renamed to Honda GB350 in the land of the rising sun
UPDATE: The Honda GB350 has been launched in Japan at JPY 550,000, approximately Rs 3.64 lakh. The more premium GB350 S variant is priced at JPY 594,000 (around Rs 3.93 lakh). The latter comes with a brushed metal headlight nacelle, fork gaiters, different colour scheme with racing stripes on the side panels, premium contoured seat, upswept blacked-out exhaust, toe shifter, and cleaner-looking front and rear fenders. Deliveries in the country will commence from April 22, whereas the S variant will be available from July 15.
Reportedly, the Honda H’Ness CB350 is likely to be launched in Japan around March-May 2021. Reports suggest the motorcycle will be rechristened Honda GB350, and according to a Japanese magazine, it will likely cost around JPY 500,000 (approximately Rs 3.52 lakh).
The motorcycle will be made in India and exported to Japan, hence, the high price tag. If the guesstimate is right, the upcoming motorcycle will be around Rs 2.71 lakh more affordable than the Honda CB400 Super Four, which is a four-cylinder 400cc neo-retro roadster. It will also be the most affordable Honda motorcycle in Japan in the 251-400cc category. By the way, Honda has hiked the price of the H’Ness CB350 for the first time in India too.
Obviously, to go with the Japanese market requirements, the saree guard will be done away with, and instead of the voice-activated turn-by-turn navigation, Honda might just offer a smartphone holder, which should be a lot more versatile. Honda showcased the H’Ness CB350 in Japan some time ago, so it shouldn’t take too long for them to make an official announcement.
The underpinnings and the powertrain will likely remain unchanged. Expect the brand to use a different brand of tyres -- something more common in the Japanese domestic market. We will be riding the H’Ness CB350 soon, so stay tuned for a detailed review. In the meanwhile, you can check out how its primary rival, the Royal Enfield Meteor 350, performs in the real world. In related news, we’ve compared Honda’s 2021 CBR150R against the India-spec Yamaha R15. Check out which one’s superior on paper.