Honda recently added its 3rd retro bike in the lineup, the CB350 and it really has a sober and classic vibe to it. But make no mistake, despite being a part of the CB series, it doesn’t really stand with them in terms of looks. The CB350 has been launched in two variants DLX and DLX Pro and falls in the price range of Rs 1,99,990 to Rs 2,17,800 (ex-showroom).
And if you haven’t noticed by now, the bike looks more like a Royal Enfield classic variant than a Honda, but is this bike strong enough to compete with the iconic Classic 350? Let’s talk about the new Honda CB350 to find out.
Honda CB350 – Design
The new CB350 has a very old-school bodywork and a strong resemblance to the Royal Enfield CLasic 350, to the point it might appear like one at first glance. It sports a round headlight with a matte or chrome bezel, depending on the colour, a teardrop-shaped fuel tank with tank pads, split seats with tan-leather themed covers and chrome finishing on the rear spring cover, exhaust and engine casing for contrasting effect.
Honda CB350 – Features
The CB350 comes equipped with features such as a semi-digital instrument console, All-LED lights, ABS, Honda Selectable Torque Control, emergency stop signal, stand cut-off, and even voice control. These features are basic but necessary and practical.
Honda CB350 – Hardware
The CB350’s braking is handled by a 310mm front and 240mm rear disc ABS which are mounted on a 19-inch front and 18-inch rear wheel wrapped in 100/90 front and 130/70 rear tyres. The bike is also equipped with telescopic front forks with gas-charged rear springs. The CB350 weighs 187kg and has a 15.2-litre fuel tank capacity.
Honda CB350 – Engine
The bike is powered by a 348.36 cc, air-cooled engine that produces 20.78 hp of power and 30 Nm of Torque is linked to a 6-speed gearbox and is placed inside a double-cradle frame.
Is the Honda CB350, the Classic killer?
Both the bikes are tied on Price, features and similar on-paper performance. They also have similar designs but that’s the personal preference of the buyers. Also, it also comes down the brand preference, while Honda is known for its reliability, Royal Enfield has had its own fanbase for nearly a century now. So, it depends on what customers feel the best after having a test ride.
