Author Topic: Honda is bringing back the CB350  (Read 11700 times)

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axman88

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on: September 30, 2020, 06:06:09 pm
Remember the CB350? These were ubiquitous in the 70s and you can still find good examples today, because Honda sold a lot of them.

It's coming back! To India anyway, to compete with the best selling Royal Enfield 350 on RE's home turf, and with very similar specs.
 
https://www.rideapart.com/articles/446553/new-honda-cb350-hness-launch/

I doubt we will see these in the USA for the same reason that the Royal Enfield 350 was never imported. A 20hp, single cylinder motorcycle is just considered too small for US roads. But in India, where the average man stands under 5'6" tall and weighs under 140lbs, and the average road may be shared with power rickshaws, cows and pedestrians, it is plenty of machine. Here's more pictures:
 
https://www.indiatoday.in/auto/photo/honda-h-ness-cb350-detailed-photo-gallery-1726944-2020-09-30
 


cyrusb

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Reply #1 on: September 30, 2020, 09:37:15 pm
The cb350's I remember were twins
2005E Fixed and or Replaced: ignition, fenders,chainguard,wires,carb,headlight,seat,tailight,sprockets,chain,shock springs,fork springs, exhaust system, horn,shifter,clutch arm, trafficators,crankcase vent.


axman88

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Reply #2 on: September 30, 2020, 10:13:30 pm
The cb350's I remember were twins
That's what people said when Mahindra brought back the Jawa.  Either that, or "What does it need two exhaust pipes for?"  And still they can't make them fast enough.  What's up with that?


REpozer

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Reply #3 on: September 30, 2020, 10:52:02 pm
If I was in the market for a new motorcycle, I would purchase the Honda over a new RE , because of the fiasco that RENA caused to my dealer. And I have an actual Honda shop 12 miles vs 2300 miles for RE.
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crabjoe

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Reply #4 on: September 30, 2020, 11:19:14 pm
If I were in India, I'd take this new Honda Highness over the RE 350 any day.

I have a feeling RE is really going to be hurting in their domestic market because of this.


AzCal Retred

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Reply #5 on: September 30, 2020, 11:53:37 pm
Good find Axman88! That's a lot of bike for about $3K USD. 5 speed, 21 BHP, centerstand equipped!

https://www.timesnownews.com/auto/bike-news/article/honda-hness-cb350-revealed-check-expected-price-in-india-specs-features-etc/660161#:~:text=Honda%20H'Ness%3A%20Specs,with%20assist%20and%20slipper%20clutch.

>>> The H'Ness (pronounced as highness) CB350 is a neo-retro roadster that will take on the likes of Royal Enfield Meteor, Jawa Classic, and Jawa Forty Two.  <<<

>>> Honda H'Ness CB350 is likely to cost around ₹1.9 lakh (ex-showroom) <<<
>>> To convert that into money (US dollars), I'm going to assume one lakh rupees (INR). As of March 2, 2017, one lakh Indian rupees is worth about $1,498.37 US dollars. Or, to use words, one hundred thousand rupees is worth a little under fifteen hundred dollars. One dollar is worth 66.739 rupees. <<<
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GlennF

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Reply #6 on: October 01, 2020, 03:05:47 am
The cb350's I remember were twins

yep .. same here.

ALSO ... I posted this elsewhere ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=viYfWqSECAk


axman88

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Reply #7 on: October 01, 2020, 03:55:19 am
I found more specs on the Honda 350 H'Ness that was introduced today.  All the numbers align pretty closely with the Royal Enfield 350.  You can see how they stack up in this article:
https://www.rushlane.com/honda-cb350-vs-royal-enfield-meteor-350-vs-jawa-classic-12377469.html

I can't find it now, but somewhere I think I read that the new Honda engine has a bore and stroke of 70.3 x 90.  What I find really exciting is that if that is true, it would seem to leave Honda room to bore it out to create an engine a lot like that in my beloved Classic 500.

I'm looking at the picture that I attached here and I'm wondering, am I looking at a pushrod engine?

I'm wondering if this engine might possibly have as an ancestor the illustrious CG125 with it's funky single cam and reputation for run forever durability.  I have no first hand experience with the engine, but I'd like to, and a 500 or even a 350 version would be a lot more appealing to me than the chinese CG250s that are now available.

one hundred thousand rupees is worth a little under fifteen hundred dollars.
I think current exchange rates are more like .014 $US to 1 rupee, which is $1400.

But, I would just drive myself crazy looking up the US / India price comparison, you have to move there to buy a bike.  I heard that India won't let foreigners even license them there, you have to work some kind of deal with a local, or rent.   I could however, buy an engine and have it shipped, without any hoo haa!
« Last Edit: October 01, 2020, 04:06:39 am by axman88 »


Arschloch

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Reply #8 on: October 01, 2020, 01:19:53 pm
1.3 lakh RE 350 vs 1.9 lakh Honda 350, why should anyone buy her Highness? Because the factory mounted LED headlight?
« Last Edit: October 01, 2020, 01:22:02 pm by Joe_535i »


heloego

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Reply #9 on: October 01, 2020, 02:41:09 pm
Well shit!
It IS good looking, and you meet the nicest people on a Honda.  ;)
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cyrusb

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Reply #10 on: October 01, 2020, 02:41:44 pm
1.3 lakh RE 350 vs 1.9 lakh Honda 350, why should anyone buy her Highness? Because the factory mounted LED headlight?
High Quality, Reliability, Worldwide dealer net ?
2005E Fixed and or Replaced: ignition, fenders,chainguard,wires,carb,headlight,seat,tailight,sprockets,chain,shock springs,fork springs, exhaust system, horn,shifter,clutch arm, trafficators,crankcase vent.


Arschloch

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Reply #11 on: October 01, 2020, 03:58:40 pm
High Quality, Reliability, Worldwide dealer net ?

I assume the Highness aims to target the Indian market. RE mechanic on every corner, the 350 UCE uses the same bottom end as the 500, should last forever with the 19 horses it's got.


cyrusb

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Reply #12 on: October 01, 2020, 04:06:23 pm
That's what people said when Mahindra brought back the Jawa.  Either that, or "What does it need two exhaust pipes for?"  And still they can't make them fast enough.  What's up with that?
The "extra" exhaust pipe thing goes back a long way with the Jawa Marque as well as the Puch "Twingles " and the big four stroke Panthers.
2005E Fixed and or Replaced: ignition, fenders,chainguard,wires,carb,headlight,seat,tailight,sprockets,chain,shock springs,fork springs, exhaust system, horn,shifter,clutch arm, trafficators,crankcase vent.


axman88

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Reply #13 on: October 01, 2020, 04:19:54 pm
Here's the page with the most complete specs that I have found:
https://www.zigwheels.com/newbikes/Honda/hness-cb350/std

I'm amazed at how closely this new Honda corresponds to the specs of the RE Bullet 350.

With its long, 90.5 mm stroke, (compared to RE 350 70 x 90)  seems like Honda might be planning on making a bored out version.  A "square" 90 x 90 would have  about 570 ccs, and should be able to dish out around 34 hp.  That's almost enough to get an American interested.  It definitely gets me interested. 

I think these simple, robust, low stress, low revving, efficient, torquey engines are very practical power sources.  Kind of makes me think of those big cast iron Lister Petter diesels, a 6hp stationary engine that weighs 700lbs.  There are stories of those things running for 15 or 20 years, CONTINUOUSLY!, without a rebuild or much more than keeping the oil reservoirs filled.

But this Honda H'ness has some technology too, some electronics, some kind of crank balance gadget, and apparently a switchable electronic Torque control system.  Sounds like a lot of practical transport machine for the money.  Here's more info:
https://www.indiatoday.in/auto/bikes/story/honda-h-ness-cb350-engine-details-explained-1726927-2020-09-30


AzCal Retred

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Reply #14 on: October 01, 2020, 05:15:15 pm
As a former Honda service technician, comparing the RE 350 with the Highness is just sport. The Honda R&D facilities are enormous & also cross-disciplinary, so what one division learns, all know. They have covered every motor sport thoroughly. They have been in racing since the 60's. They raced their oval piston NS500 4-strokes against the very best 2-stroke GP bikes and did very well. Since RE abandoned the non-unit IB and improved Electra versions, they are playing in Honda's world. When you start with a blank piece of paper, you need to give it maximum effort to keep up with Big Red. I'm pretty sure a 50,000 mile "shootout" limited to oil, filter & tire changes plus normal maintenance would end in Honda's favor. Building the UCE was like recreating the B50 or 441 Victor, except 40 years on. A lot happened besides hydraulic valves. I really enjoy the IB Bullet, but the UCE needed a 6-speed, with less weight, probably a counter balancer and better choice of frames. Maybe a 6-speed Himalayan with a choice of street & dirt oriented spinoffs? - ACR -
A trifecta of Pre-Unit Bullets: a Red Deluxe 500, a Green Standard 500, and a Black ES 350.