Honda H’Ness CB350 – First Look
Key Points
DLX – INR 1,85,000
DLX Pro – INR 1,90,000
With the launch of Honda H’ness CB 350, Honda Motorcycle enters in the very competitive modern-classic segment. Competing with the likes of Royal Enfield 350, Benelli Imperiale 400, and Jawa bikes. The H’ness CB 350 will be sold via company premium BigWing dealerships.
Honda H'ness CB350 design
At a first glance, the design language of H’ness CB 350 seems to be inspired by classic CB motorcycles. At the front, It gets a retro-styled round LED headlamp which is surrounded by chrome, then there is a single-pod analog-digital instrument cluster which shows everything in digital apart from the speedometer. The chrome work can be also seen in engines and mirrors.
Over to the side, there is a 15-liter fuel tank with the Honda badging and the chrome fenders remind you about CB1000RS that is sold in international markets. The engine also gets the chrome detailing around the cylinder head which is common to the retro bikes.
Talking about the rear, the tail lamp is smartly designed which not only gives you a retro look but also maintains the design language of the bike. The company smartly has placed a round LED light in the rectangular block along with the round indicators. It also gets the twin spring shock absorbers at the rear.
Coming to paint scheme, the DLX Pro variant gets the dual-tone paint whereas the DLX variant gets the single tone paint job which further resembles 80’s Honda CB350. Also, the retro motorcycle gets the all-LED lighting which segment is the first offering from Honda.
The build quality, seat, bolts, and the quality of material used are absolutely fine and Honda H’ness doesn’t disappoint in fit and finish. Overall, Honda H’ness CB350 looks very appealing and attractive with its old school charm.
Honda H'ness CB350 Engine
Honda H’ness CB 350 is powered by a 348.36 cc, single-cylinder, air-cooled engine that generates 21 horsepower at 5500 rpm and 30 Nm of torque at 3000 rpm. It’s mated to a 5-speed gearbox with a slip and assist clutch, which is unique in the segment. Also, the company has claimed that the engine has an emphasis on low-end torque and rideability.
Chassis
Honda H’ness CB has been entirely developed from the ground up. It gets the new frame that Honda calls the Half-Duplex cradle frame. Further, the engine is positioned a little lower in the frame to improve handling.
The bike has a size of 2163 mm, width 800 mm, and a height of 1107 mm. It has a ground clearance of 166 mm which is best in the segment. The Highness CB 350 offers a 15-liter gas tank and 181 kg of curb weight which is relatively 14kg lighter than its rival Royal Enfield Classic 350.
Segment First Features
Honda H’ness CB 350 has a number of first-in-segment options, like the Honda Smartphone Voice Management System (HSVCS), Traction Control - Honda Chosen Torque Management (HSTC) and Slipper Clutch.
With HSVCS, (on higher variant DLX Pro) you can connect your smartphone to a motorbike and operate options like navigation, music, telephone calls, and incoming messages through the button on the handlebar, the connectivity also extends to Helmet Bluetooth headsets. Other than HSTC, the company has also provided dual-ABS as a safety-feature.
Pricing
Honda has announced the pricing of the H’ness CB 350 which starts at Rs 1.85 lakh for the base DLX variant and Rs 1.90 lakh for the higher DLX Pro variant.
