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This is more of a first impressions on my CB350 after about 200kms of riding it in the city mostly.
Here is Yuki (snow)
I have tried to cover as much as I can, please ask away for any questions you might have and I will try to answer them.
ENGINE
Gem of a 350cc engine.
It is a simple design to keep the maintenance costs in check while not compromising on other aspects.
I assume it is a 2 valve SOHC as Honda hasn’t mentioned, but it is still smooth, has enough power for daily city use and highway rides. Honda has got the basics right.
Minimal buzz can be felt while accelerating, the kind that makes one feel the bike is alive, and cannot be called unpleasant vibrations in any case.
Once the bike catches momentum and is cruising in proper gear/speed, there is hardly any more buzz felt.
It feels like riding a smooth twin. The engine doesn’t like it if ridden in higher speeds and low gear (as one would expect from 30NM @3000rpm) but that is not a problem at all.
GEARS
No complaints, smooth, clutch lever is light, slots into gear effortlessly, easy to find neutral.
1-3 gears one can experience the power, the pull. 5th is more of a cruise only gear and 4th is like the transitional gear from acceleration to cruising.
Gear position indicator is a boon and works without any glitch.
EXHAUST
Bliss! One can easily mistake the exhaust note to be from a twin.
Honda has nailed the exhaust design from an engineering perspective.
It is such that the note changes with how one modulates the throttle.
While accelerating it gives a thumping sound and while cruising it smoothly transitions into a burbling sound, it is like the best of both worlds.
The downshifts are a bliss to listen to, the popping noise it makes while rev-matching gives you that oomph of riding a higher cc multi-cylinder bike.
One really feels like a King while riding through the busy city roads.
The way the exhaust note transitions with acceleration, cruising and deceleration, it just plays with your emotions. Overall the sound is loud without being unpleasant, as it is very bassy.
You’ll want to keep listening to the exhaust even after you stop and switch off the ignition.
HORNS
Be ready to blow anyone out of the way with the dual horns in the DLX PRO model.
The horn sounds like that from a premium car. And is adequately loud.
HEADLIGHTS
Headlights are quite adequate for me.
Here you can see I have attached pictures of headlight performance in pitch black conditions:
The always-on turn signals which work like pilot lamps also makes the bike stand out if seen from the front.
Pitch black conditions
Low beam
High beam
SUSPENSIONS
Only complaint I have with this bike.
The suspensions are not as soft as one would expect in a bike of this category made for longer comfortable rides.
The rear can be adjusted but the front can’t be adjusted and it is the front suspension that needs to chill.
It is very stiff. One can feel every small pebble and unevenness on the road in the handle bars.
LOOKS
From every angle the bike looks classy. Screams of quality. One cannot miss it if it passes by.
From the front side, the turn signal cum pilot lamps attracts attention, the rear brake light is circular normally, but on braking, the rectangular shape lights up causing people behind you to look at it.
From the side, a classic silhouette that is the reminiscent of Honda’s 60s-70s CB bikes. Just beautiful.
Sitting on the saddle, viewing the cockpit gives you a premium feel, the analogue speedometer gives a vintage feel. The wide tank is easy to hold and aesthetically pleasing.
The center set chrome fuel cap is beautifully designed and reminds of the old school bikes.
Chrome fenders, popping silver colored rear shocks, beautifully finished engine casings with the HONDA logo in chrome truly takes you back in time.
HANDLING
The bike is surprisingly easy to maneuver, U-turns are a cake walk,
I had more problems with my Hornet 160r taking U-turns.
The weight disappears once you sit on the bike, and only noticeable if one rides a lighter bike back to back. I have had no problems in filtering through tight spaces in bumper to bumper traffic.
Bike feels quick in changing directions too if you have to avoid sudden potholes found in our miserable roads.
Taking long sweeping corners is also very nice due to the wider tyres.
COMFORT
I am a 6’3” guy, the ergonomics are good enough, upright seating, no stress on any joints.
If there are more bad roads nearby where you live, the suspension will disappoint as they are quite stiff, especially the front. That is the only complaint I have regarding comfort.
The seat though, I have to get used to the hardness. I had modified my hornet’s seat with a softer cushion. Could be the effect of that. Will be able to judge it after some more miles.
I noticed the rear brake paddle is located such that you have to turn your ankle up to apply the brakes.
The Gear lever too, I only use the toe shifter for both upshifting and downshifting, the heel shifter is placed a little up and I have to lift up my leg to reach it, maybe I am just not used to the heel shifter.
CONS
Suspensions, everything else is more or less what one expects. The suspensions are stiff. The front specially, one can feel every minute undulation and pebble on the road on the handle bars.
I am not sure if this is only in my bike, but if one drops the front wheel into a pothole or takes a huge speed breaker without slowing down, the fender gets unsettled and makes a clunking noise. Have to get it checked.
Edit: view post #10.. regarding the source of the sound.
Other than suspension, in my about 200kms of riding, I haven’t found any real drawbacks in the bike.
CONCLUSION
Honda did a commendable job with this bike. There is hardly anything to complain about.
It is amazing in all the aspects, I have received quite a few compliments while riding through the busy streets of Bangalore.
People seem interested and want to know details like price, mileage, weight etc.
If Honda can address the availability of this bike, it will be a bestseller in no time as they have managed to grab attention of a huge number of audience and people want to experience the Highness first hand!
I have fallen in love with this bike and pretty sure anyone taking a test ride will too. Kudos to HONDA! Honda is Honda.
And another capture:
Here is Yuki (snow)
I have tried to cover as much as I can, please ask away for any questions you might have and I will try to answer them.
ENGINE
Gem of a 350cc engine.
It is a simple design to keep the maintenance costs in check while not compromising on other aspects.
I assume it is a 2 valve SOHC as Honda hasn’t mentioned, but it is still smooth, has enough power for daily city use and highway rides. Honda has got the basics right.
Minimal buzz can be felt while accelerating, the kind that makes one feel the bike is alive, and cannot be called unpleasant vibrations in any case.
Once the bike catches momentum and is cruising in proper gear/speed, there is hardly any more buzz felt.
It feels like riding a smooth twin. The engine doesn’t like it if ridden in higher speeds and low gear (as one would expect from 30NM @3000rpm) but that is not a problem at all.
GEARS
No complaints, smooth, clutch lever is light, slots into gear effortlessly, easy to find neutral.
1-3 gears one can experience the power, the pull. 5th is more of a cruise only gear and 4th is like the transitional gear from acceleration to cruising.
Gear position indicator is a boon and works without any glitch.
EXHAUST
Bliss! One can easily mistake the exhaust note to be from a twin.
Honda has nailed the exhaust design from an engineering perspective.
It is such that the note changes with how one modulates the throttle.
While accelerating it gives a thumping sound and while cruising it smoothly transitions into a burbling sound, it is like the best of both worlds.
The downshifts are a bliss to listen to, the popping noise it makes while rev-matching gives you that oomph of riding a higher cc multi-cylinder bike.
One really feels like a King while riding through the busy city roads.
The way the exhaust note transitions with acceleration, cruising and deceleration, it just plays with your emotions. Overall the sound is loud without being unpleasant, as it is very bassy.
You’ll want to keep listening to the exhaust even after you stop and switch off the ignition.
HORNS
Be ready to blow anyone out of the way with the dual horns in the DLX PRO model.
The horn sounds like that from a premium car. And is adequately loud.
HEADLIGHTS
Headlights are quite adequate for me.
Here you can see I have attached pictures of headlight performance in pitch black conditions:
The always-on turn signals which work like pilot lamps also makes the bike stand out if seen from the front.
Pitch black conditions
Low beam
High beam
SUSPENSIONS
Only complaint I have with this bike.
The suspensions are not as soft as one would expect in a bike of this category made for longer comfortable rides.
The rear can be adjusted but the front can’t be adjusted and it is the front suspension that needs to chill.
It is very stiff. One can feel every small pebble and unevenness on the road in the handle bars.
LOOKS
From every angle the bike looks classy. Screams of quality. One cannot miss it if it passes by.
From the front side, the turn signal cum pilot lamps attracts attention, the rear brake light is circular normally, but on braking, the rectangular shape lights up causing people behind you to look at it.
From the side, a classic silhouette that is the reminiscent of Honda’s 60s-70s CB bikes. Just beautiful.
Sitting on the saddle, viewing the cockpit gives you a premium feel, the analogue speedometer gives a vintage feel. The wide tank is easy to hold and aesthetically pleasing.
The center set chrome fuel cap is beautifully designed and reminds of the old school bikes.
Chrome fenders, popping silver colored rear shocks, beautifully finished engine casings with the HONDA logo in chrome truly takes you back in time.
HANDLING
The bike is surprisingly easy to maneuver, U-turns are a cake walk,
I had more problems with my Hornet 160r taking U-turns.
The weight disappears once you sit on the bike, and only noticeable if one rides a lighter bike back to back. I have had no problems in filtering through tight spaces in bumper to bumper traffic.
Bike feels quick in changing directions too if you have to avoid sudden potholes found in our miserable roads.
Taking long sweeping corners is also very nice due to the wider tyres.
COMFORT
I am a 6’3” guy, the ergonomics are good enough, upright seating, no stress on any joints.
If there are more bad roads nearby where you live, the suspension will disappoint as they are quite stiff, especially the front. That is the only complaint I have regarding comfort.
The seat though, I have to get used to the hardness. I had modified my hornet’s seat with a softer cushion. Could be the effect of that. Will be able to judge it after some more miles.
I noticed the rear brake paddle is located such that you have to turn your ankle up to apply the brakes.
The Gear lever too, I only use the toe shifter for both upshifting and downshifting, the heel shifter is placed a little up and I have to lift up my leg to reach it, maybe I am just not used to the heel shifter.
CONS
Suspensions, everything else is more or less what one expects. The suspensions are stiff. The front specially, one can feel every minute undulation and pebble on the road on the handle bars
.I am not sure if this is only in my bike, but if one drops the front wheel into a pothole or takes a huge speed breaker without slowing down, the fender gets unsettled and makes a clunking noise. Have to get it checked.
Edit: view post #10.. regarding the source of the sound.
Other than suspension, in my about 200kms of riding, I haven’t found any real drawbacks in the bike.
CONCLUSION
Honda did a commendable job with this bike. There is hardly anything to complain about.
It is amazing in all the aspects, I have received quite a few compliments while riding through the busy streets of Bangalore.
People seem interested and want to know details like price, mileage, weight etc.
If Honda can address the availability of this bike, it will be a bestseller in no time as they have managed to grab attention of a huge number of audience and people want to experience the Highness first hand!
I have fallen in love with this bike and pretty sure anyone taking a test ride will too. Kudos to HONDA! Honda is Honda.
And another capture:
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