Honda Hness CB350

The Honda H'ness CB350 is the Japanese brand's first 350cc bike, aimed at rivalling Royal Enfield bikes in India. It gets a 350cc thumper with neo-retro roadster design.

Overview

The Honda CB350 H’ness is the Japanese company’s motorcycle designed to compete with the Royal Enfield Classic 350. Since the Classic 350 is the benchmark in the 300-plus cc classic motorcycle segment in India, Honda has given the CB350 a typical old-school design, a more powerful engine as well as a lot more features. 

Design

The Honda CB350 H’Ness’ design has been clearly insprired from Honda’s  legendary retro models such as the Honda CB750 and CB1100.

At the front it gets a classic round LED headlight with a chrome nacelle. This is complemented by a chrome mudguard and alloy wheels. The elegantly simple fuel tank, complete with a nostalgic Honda badge that’s full of 1970s charm, makes the bike stand out.

Notable details include the Honda badge on the engine case and the round LED indicators. The engine's black finish provides a striking contrast with the chrome accents on the engine fins. While the overall styling is well-balanced, there's a somewhat unusual gap between the rear tyre and the mudguard. 

This motorcycle stands out in its segment for its exceptional fit and finish levels, and the switchgear quality is also premium.

Engine & Performance

Once you start the bike, the CB350 wakes up with a strong rumble that gradually transforms into a pleasant, melodious idle. As you begin your journey, the first thing that will strike you is the remarkably light clutch action. Moving into first gear using the traditional heel-and-toe shifter produces a satisfying clunk, and you're on your way for the ride.

The throttle response is notably mild, and the exhaust's rumble contributes to the overall riding experience. Spotting an open stretch of road, if you decide to open the throttle,  you’ll probably be met with a bit of disappointment. The CB350’s motor simply doesn’t produce a lot of  torque at low rpm. . The acceleration can be best described as spirited, and the exhaust note might give the impression of greater speed than you're actually achieving. The bike lacks enthusiasm at lower rpm, with a flat spot in performance till you cross about 4-5000 rpm. However, once you surpass that point, it suddenly comes to life.

In our real world tests, the Honda H'ness CB350 mileage stands at 45.8 kmpl in the city and 42.17 kmpl on the highway.

The H’ness CB350 may not leave you in awe with its performance, but it truly shines in terms of refinement and features an exceptionally smooth gearbox that really reflects Honda's commitment to quality. The engine, which tends to favour higher rpm, feels more similar to Jawa than Royal Enfield. At city speeds, the tall third gear performs quite well, and thanks to the featherlight clutch, going through congested traffic remains effortless. However, the fifth gear is overly tall, primarily suited for maintaining triple-digit speeds on the highway. When overtaking at speeds exceeding 100 kmph, downshifting becomes somewhat bothersome, but it is necessary.

The bike's character positions it as an excellent commuter. It's genuinely enjoyable to navigate through city streets. However, once you subtract the distinctive exhaust note, it transforms into just another typical Honda engine. This isn't necessarily a flaw; in fact, it is the trademark 'Honda nature.' Nevertheless, on a retro roadster like this, one might hope for more low speed performance  which, unfortunately, is somewhat lacking in the H’ness.

Braking & Handling

The Honda H’ness gets a half duplex frame. Although the H’ness, with its long(ish) 1441 mm wheelbase, isn't designed for aggressive cornering, it proves itself on the busy urban roads of India. In this context, the bike's compact feel allows it to effortlessly manoeuvre through tight spaces, especially during quick changes in direction. The wide handlebar provides excellent leverage, and you'll only notice the bike's weight when riding at slow speeds or making U-turns. If you venture into the twisty mountain roads, the H’ness offers stable and neutral handling rather than being thrilling to ride.

When it comes to braking performance, Honda has opted for Nissin callipers, and they excel at reducing speed. The lever action, bite, and progression are finely tuned. In fact, the H’ness boasts the best brakes in its segment, outperforming the competition by a considerable margin.

The suspension system is well designed for the varied road conditions in India, with a notable mention for the rear shock absorbers that ensure a comfortable ride by effectively ensuring the rider doesn’t feel jolts when going over sharp bumps. The telescopic fork generally provides efficient damping, although it might occasionally bottom out when faced with sharp bumps. Even when encountering sizable speed breakers, the CB350 maintains a respectable ground clearance of 166 mm, preventing any scraping issues.

Comfort

The Honda H’ness CB350, as a roadster, provides a comfortably neutral riding posture,. Riding the CB350 feels like an extension of yourself rather than just sitting 'on' the bike. The curved handlebar, oriented towards the rider, enhances the enjoyable riding experience. With an 800mm seat height, it accommodates shorter riders without issue, and its relatively compact width adds to its user-friendly nature. However, compared to some larger bikes, the CB350 may not deliver that distinctive "big bike" sensation.

One notable aspect is the premium feel of the switchgear. Speaking of which, Honda has positioned the indicator switch at the bottom, while the horn is above it. This arrangement can be somewhat confusing and inconvenient.

The seat cushioning is firm, providing comfort during shorter rides, such as hour-long commutes in the busy traffic of Mumbai. The flat seat also offers ample space for pillion riders. One minor downside is the noticeable 181kg kerb weight of the bike, which really shows when manoeuvring it in and out of tight parking spaces.

Features

While boasting a retro-roadster design, the H’ness CB350 neatly integrates numerous modern features, including several industry-first innovations. It features all-LED lighting, a slip-and-assist clutch, a basic traction control system, and a semi-digital instrument console that offers a wealth of information, including range, real-time mileage, gear position indicator, a trip meter, and an odometer. Moreover, the DLX Pro variant goes the extra mile by providing Bluetooth connectivity, enabling audio-based turn-by-turn navigation and convenient control over calls and music playback.

Should You Buy the Honda CB350 H’Ness?

Now, let's delve into the pricing aspect before delivering our final verdict. The Honda H’ness CB350 DLX comes with a retail price of Rs 2,09,857, whereas the DLX Pro variant is priced at Rs 2,12,856 (all prices ex-showroom, Delhi, at the time of writing). Opting for the Chrome variant will set you back an additional Rs 2,000 over the DLX Pro. As evident, the CB350 carries a premium price tag when compared to its competitors, a trait commonly associated with Honda. Nonetheless, the Japanese manufacturer has delivered an attractive product in the new CB350.

Though the bike looks pretty, feels premium, is feature-packed, and is comfortable to ride, the engine feels like a bit of a let-down. To clarify, the H’ness excels in terms of refinement and is an excellent choice for city riding. Yet, the absence of low-end torque slightly affects the overall thrill of the riding experience. It's similar to enjoying a well-prepared dish that lacks the perfect seasoning.