In addition to the Royal Enfield Classic 350, the new Honda H’ness CB 350 will also rival the Benelli Imperiale 400 and the Jawa in the Indian market.
After teasing him for a while, Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI) finally launched the H’ness CB 350 on the Indian market on September 30, marking the company’s entry into the modern classic under-segment. 350cc, which has been dominated by the Royal Enfield Classic 350 so far.
However, with its extensive list of equipment, the new Honda H’ness CB 350 represents a real threat to the Royal Enfield motorcycle. Here is a detailed comparison between the two motorcycles to help you decide which one is the most suitable for you:
Dimensions
In terms of size, the newly launched Honda H’ness CB 350 is 2163mm long, 800mm wide, 1107mm high, has a 1441mm long wheelbase and 166mm ground clearance. Instead, its direct rival, the Royal Enfield Classic 350 has a length of 2180mm, a width of 790mm, a height of 1090mm, a wheelbase of 1390mm long and a ground clearance of 135mm.
| Motorcycle | Honda H’ness CB 350 | Royal Enfield Classic 350 |
| Length | 2163 mm | 2180 mm |
| Width | 800 mm | 790 mm |
| Height | 1107 mm | 1090 mm |
| Distance between axis | 1441 millimeters | 1390 mm |
| Floor clarity | 166 millimeters | 135 mm |
This means that the H’ness CB 350 is 10mm wider, 17mm taller and has a 51mm longer wheelbase compared to the RE Classic 350. The latter is 17mm longer than the new Honda motorcycle, but the H’ness has 31mm of extra ground clearance over the Classic 350.
Powertrain
The engine of the H’ness CB 350 is a new 348.36 cc long-stroke, air-cooled single-cylinder engine, which generates 21 hp of power at 5,500 rpm, and has a maximum torque of 30 Nm available at 3,000 rpm, what it does It’s the most torquey motorcycle in its class. The engine is coupled to a 5-speed gearbox.
| Motorcycle | Honda H’ness CB 350 | Royal Enfield Classic 350 |
| Motor | 348.36cc, single cylinder, air-cooled, fuel injection | 346cc, single cylinder, air-cooled, with fuel injection |
| Power | 21 PS | 19.36 PS |
| Torque | 30 Nm | 28 Nm |
| Transmission | 5 speeds | 5 speeds |
Royal Enfield offers the Classic 350 with a 346cc air-cooled single-cylinder engine that produces 19.36 hp of peak power, as well as 28 Nm of peak torque, and is mated to a 5-speed transmission. This is the same engine that is also offered in the Royal Enfield Bullet 350.
Shoring
The Honda H’ness CB 350 has been built on a split half-duplex frame that is suspended by a telescopic fork at the front, along with two shock absorbers at the rear. The Royal Enfield Classic 350 has a single down tube frame, and the suspension setup consists of a telescopic fork at the front, along with two adjustable gas-charged preload shocks at the rear.
Both bikes have dual disc brakes along with a dual channel ABS, however the Royal Enfield Classic 350 is also offered with a more affordable single disc variant.
Team
The H’ness CB 350 comes equipped with an LED headlight, alloy wheels, and a semi-digital instrument cluster with a small digital that displays as two trip gauges, an odometer, a fuel gauge, a clock, and a position indicator. March. Plus, if you opt for the high-end DLX Pro variant, you get first-segment Bluetooth connectivity that enables telephony, navigation, and music controls.
The RE Classic 350’s equipment list is quite sparse and only has a basic analog instrument cluster, as well as a halogen headlight. However, Royal Enfield offers a ‘Stealth Black’ variant of the Classic 350 that has black alloy wheels and tubeless tires.
Price
Honda will offer the H’ness CB350 in two variants, DLX and DLX Pro, however the Japanese manufacturer has yet to reveal exact pricing for the two variants. What we do know is that the price of the bike will be around the Rs 1.9 lakh mark (ex-showroom).
On the other hand, the Royal Enfield Classic 350 starts from Rs 1,59,852, going up to Rs 1,84,482 for the high-end dual-channel ABS variant (both priced ex-showroom Delhi).
Comparison verdict
The new Honda H’ness CB 350 is certainly an attractive motorcycle considering its list of premium equipment, as well as its torque engine. What further distinguishes the H’ness CB 350 is the additional ground clearance, which will make driving on rough roads easier.
On the other hand, the Royal Enfield racing community attracts many buyers, and the Classic 350 has already made a name for itself in the country for many years. Therefore, it does not need an introduction.
