Sling has been working behind the scenes to build a solid foundation in India’s lucrative mid-capacity retro segment. the first bike to pave the way for the Japanese brand in the neo-retro segment is the Honda H’Ness CB350. Will go against the powerful Royal Enfield Classic 350 which has ruled the segment for more than a decade. Quite a challenge, huh? No one said it would be easy, but the H’Ness comes with a couple of segment-prime features, a powerful 350cc engine, and of course Honda’s reliability quotient. So here’s everything you need to know about the H’Ness CB350:
Rich CB Legacy
The H’Ness CB350 carries on Honda’s CB design language and even takes design cues from the 1970 CB350 and CB1100 EX. While the overall silhouette remains largely the same, the subtle changes help the H’Ness create its own identity. So it has the 80s design theme combined with modern elements like the fully circular LED headlight and taillight, practical alloy wheels instead of spoked wheels, and a two-tone seat (DLX Pro only).
Outstanding features
Don’t let the retro vibe fool you. The H’Ness CB350 is loaded correctly and even has a couple of priority features in the segment. You get a semi-digital group of information with a small digital insert that reads information such as the battery status monitor, two trip meters, an odometer, a fuel gauge, a clock, real-time / average fuel efficiency, distance up to empty and … Wait, a gear position indicator!
If that doesn’t impress you, you can opt for the high-spec DLX Pro variant, offering a Bluetooth-enabled console with turn-by-turn navigation, call / music controls, and weather updates that could be relayed to the rider via the control system. by voice from the Honda smartphone. Oh, and you even get a USB charging port built into the console and dashboard navigation keys just like the KTM 390 Duke.
A real car?
As mentioned above, Honda wants to steal the Thunder from Royal Enfield, and this is what makes us believe it. The CB350 is powered by a new counterbalanced 348.36cc long-stroke air-cooled single-cylinder engine producing 21PS at 5500rpm and 30Nm at 3000rpm, making it the most torquey motorcycle in its class. It uses a 5-speed transmission with a slip assist clutch. Interestingly, that’s just 1.64PS and 2Nm more than the Classic 350, which uses a 346cc long-stroke single-cylinder engine.
Coincidence? I really doubt it. But Honda has upped the stakes by introducing Honda’s selectable torque control, in other words, traction control. That’s a prime feature in the segment and the most affordable bike in the country to get one. Apart from this, the bike also comes equipped with a start / stop switch, a side stand cut-off switch, and hazard lights.
Solid structure
The Honda H’Ness CB350 is based on the modern semi-duplex cradle frame that features a telescopic fork and a double shock setup at the rear. It has a 310mm disc at the front and a 240mm disc at the rear. Two-channel ABS comes standard. It uses a 100 / 90-19 section tire at the front and a 130 / 70-18 section tire at the rear. The fuel tank capacity is 15 liters compared to the classic 13.5 liters. The complete package weighs 181 kg at curb, 14 kg lighter than the Classic 350.
Insert (take my money)
The H’Ness CB350 is available in two versions: DLX and DLX Pro. The first is obviously the basic variant that loses features like Bluetooth connectivity, the two-tone finish, and the dual-speaker unit. It comes in a total of six colors: red, black and green for the DLX model and matte black, blue and black in two-tone liveries for the DLX Pro variant.
Reservations have already started for a symbolic amount of Rs 5,000. As for the price, it is likely to be announced in the coming weeks. According to Honda, the H’Ness CB350 will have a starting price of around Rs 1.90 lakh, which is slightly more expensive than the Gunmetal Gray Classic 350 with alloy wheels priced at Rs 1.83 lakh (both prices ex-showroom Delhi ).
