Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India has launched yet another motorcycle in the premium and popular mid-sized 350cc segment. The space has for long been dominated by motorcycles from Royal Enfield and off-late Honda has tried to make a dent with its offerings including the well accepted H’Ness. The new Classic CB350 according to the brand is engineered to offer a timeless classic design with a superior blend of technology & refined performance.
Design
Honda says the all-new CB350 blends its iconic styling ethos with a timeless classic design. It says the retro look of the motorcycle is a testament to an era gone by, reimagined for today’s riders. The bike sports a muscular fuel tank along with an all-LED lighting system. This includes a round LED headlamp, LED winkers and LED tail lamp. To enhance the retro theme, the CB350 gets long metal fenders, metallic covers for front forks and split seats. The bike is being offered in five colours with a choice of metallic and matte shades. They are Precious Red Metallic, Pearl Igneous Black, Matte Crust Metallic, Matte Marshal Green Metallic and Matte Dune Brown.
Features
The new CB350 features a heritage-inspired digital-analogue instrument cluster paired with Honda Smartphone Voice Control system (HSVCS) that helps the rider with a lot of useful information while on the move. This retro classic motorcycle is equipped with an assist & slipper clutch and gets Honda Selectable Torque Control (HSTC) system to enhance rider’s safety. There is also an emergency stop signal feature that communicates sudden braking to vehicles behind by flashing hazard lamps.
To ensure comfort while cruising, the CB350 gets large section telescopic front forks and pressurized nitrogen-charged rear suspension. Braking duties on the motorcycle are performed by a 310 mm disc at the front and a 240 mm disc at the rear. The bike also gets dual-channel ABS as standard along with a 130-section 18-inch rear tyre which according to Honda improves road grip and increases stability on different road conditions.
Engine
At the heart of the new CB350 is a 348.36cc, air-cooled, 4-stroke, single-cylinder BSVI OBD2-B compliant PGM-FI engine. This motor churns out 15.5 kW at 5,500 RPM and 29.4 Nm of torque at 3,000 RPM and is paired with a 5-speed gearbox. This according to Honda is segment-leading torque which makes the motorcycle easy-going and versatile for both city commutes as well as long rides.
Long muffler of the CB350 optimizes a perfect balance with muffler capacity for producing a bold low-pitched sound. Its one-chamber structure in the expansion chamber helps delivering a rich thumping exhaust note when you twist the throttle. A double layer structure prevents exhaust pipe from thermal discoloration, maintaining the overall visual appeal of the motorcycle.
Prices
The Honda CB350 has been launched starting at Rs. 1.99 lakh for the DLX variant and Rs. 2.17 lakh for the DLX Pro variant (ex-showroom, Delhi). The bike will be sold via HMSI’s premium BigWing dealerships across the country and deliveries will commence soon. The brand is providing a special 10-year warranty package (3 year standard + 7 year optional) on its latest motorcycle.
The author is a Senior Editor at carandbike.com.
