Triumph Speed 400 vs Honda H’ness CB350: Detailed Comparison

The Royal Enfield Classic 350 is the undisputed king of the 350cc retro bike class; there’s no doubt about that. But then there are the neo-retro bikes, bikes that look old-school but are a bit more modern underneath. And that is the segment that both the Triumph Speed 400 and the Honda H’ness CB350 belong to: people who like retro-looking bikes but find the likes of the Classic a bit too dated. 

Triumph recently launched the 350cc iteration of the Speed 400, and that heats up the competition even more! To help you in making a decision, here is a detailed comparison: 

Price & Variants

• The Honda H’ness CB350 wins the first round, for the Honda bike costs substantially less than the Triumph bike. Its base variant is over Rs 39,000 less expensive than the Speed 400, and that’s a solid gap. Even if we talk about the CB350’s top variant, the gap is still about Rs 34,000. 

• The price-conscious buyers will gravitate towards the CB350’s lower price tag and it’s for a good reason. 

Dimensions & Design 

• While there’s not that big a difference in the bikes’ dimensions on paper, they do feel quite different in the real world. The H’ness will definitely feel like the bigger and brawnier bike of the two.

• The Speed 400, meanwhile, immediately comes across as the more compact, sportier of the two. It also feels like the more modern of the two. Be it ease of riding at slow speeds or cutting through traffic at slightly higher speeds, the Speed 400 feels like the better bike in both cases. 

• In terms of design, they’re both handsome bikes. That said, the Triumph Speed 400 is the better finished one between them, and on closer inspection, it will feel like the more premium bike. Even the colour schemes on the Speed 400 are more attractive than those of the Honda.

• Where the H’ness has a bit of an edge is in its size. The Speed 400 is quite compact, so if you want a physically large bike, you might edge towards the H’ness more. 

Features & Safety

• Both the Speed 400 and the CB350 H’ness have their fair share of features. We’re glad both bikes have dual-channel ABS and traction control as standard, something that is very useful on our unpredictable roads. 

• That is staying true to their ‘neo’ roots. Both bikes also stay true to their retro bikes by not giving a fully digital console, and honestly, their semi-digital consoles seem very much in line with their retro appeal, so it’s not something we’re mad about. 

• All said and done, we have explained all the features of the Triumph Speed 400 in detail. 

Engines

• The CB350 H’ness’ torque figure makes it seem like the bike has a lot of grunt right from low revs. Now, while it has torque, Honda has geared the bike quite tall. What that means is that you can’t really be in a higher gear than required, for the bike doesn’t like it. 

• In fact, the bike sometimes stalls if you take some of the taller speedbreakers in 2nd gear. In that way, it’s a bit more demanding than the Speed 400. 

• The Triumph bike is nice and easy to ride at slow speeds. But where it enjoys being the most is at high revs. The engine performs best when it’s revved out, since that’s where it makes most of its power.  

BikeDekho Says 

The Triumph Speed 400 and the Honda H’ness CB350 are nice bikes in their own way, but one of the two clearly stands out, and that’s the Speed 400. It feels like the higher quality product, has a nicer engine and is the more approachable bike of the two. Yes, it costs more than the Honda, but it will feel like the more premium bike of the two. And if you have decided on the Triumph, here’s a detailed booking explainer to make things simpler. 

But if you find the Speed 400 a bit too compact, and feel like retro bikes should be a bit more imposing and brawny, the H’ness CB350 might attract you a bit more. 

Rivals: 

vs Royal Enfield Classic 350 - Want an old school riding experience? Get the Classic. Want a more modern, exciting riding experience? Get the Triumph Speed 400. 

vs TVS Apache RTR 310 - While the Speed 400 is quite modern to ride, the RTR 310 is the more exciting of the two with a more peppy engine. 

vs Jawa 42 FJ - The Speed 400 is better value for money, has a nicer engine. More features and looks better than the 42 FJ.