Honda plans to become a direct competitor to Royal Enfield in the classic motorcycle segment. Honda made that happen by launching its newest motorbike, the H'ness CB 350, recently. The previous year, Honda Big Wing (Honda dealerships for premium motorcycles) had announced that they will be adding as many as five new motorcycles to their existing line-up.
Honda H'ness CB 350 comes with the most different product choices from Honda today. You could say this is a classic-style motorbike in the modern era from which Honda has revived.
The Honda H'ness CB 350 is also clearly not developed from the Honda Rebel. The engine arrangement is also new, with a capacity of 348 cc with a single-cylinder mated to a five-speed gearbox. The Honda H'ness CB 350 engine package can deliver 20 horsepower and 22 lb-ft of torque.
Well to bring this machine to a grinding halt Honda is providing it with Dual-channel ABS which prevents wheels from locking when full emergency brakes are applied or when operated on slippery roads ensuring a greater sense of confidence. Anchoring the motorcycle is a large 310mm disc unit for front and 240mm rear setup which promises adequate braking performance.
Back in the 1970s, the Honda CB350 was a sought-after twin-cylinder motorcycle, and now the new model pays a tribute to it. The new Honda H’Ness CB350 sports an old-school 15-liter fuel tank, round LED headlamp with matching circular indicators, a single-piece seat and chrome exhaust pipes. The H'ness CB 350 gets many first-in-segment features too.
Honda Selectable Torque Control (HSTC) helps in maintaining rear-wheel traction by detecting the difference between the front and rear wheel speeds, calculating the slip ratio and further controlling engine torque via the fuel injection. HSTC can be turned ON/OFF using a switch on the left side of the meter. A ‘T’ indicator in the digital display flickers when the system is engaging. Oh if you want to charge your phone but don't want those additional wires, well then you get a USB Type-C port making your life a bit less complicated.
Honda Smartphone Voice Control System (HSVCS) allows riders to remain in touch with the world while enjoying the exciting riding experience on H’ness - CB350. The rider can connect his smartphone with the motorcycle via Bluetooth through the HSVCS application. Once connected, the rider can operate the system with controls on the left side of the handlebar to use distinct features such as phone calls, navigation, music playback and incoming messages.
Note: To facilitate complete concentration on riding the information accessed will be communicated from the helmet headset speaker
The bike will be offered in two variants, DLX and DLX Pro with an approximate starting price of Rs 1.90 lakh (ex-showroom). We are glad to see a competitive product from Honda in the 300 cc-plus segments of the market that for so far has been dominated by the likes of Kawasaki, KTM and Royal Enfield. Along those lines, the new Honda H’ness CB350 seems like the most worthy contender for the space that is currently dominated by Royal Enfield’s range and will go up against the upcoming Royal Enfield Meteor. Bookings are open for the Honda H’Ness CB350 at all Honda Big Wing showrooms. Although staying as a competitor for Royal Enfield, the rumored price of the Honda H'ness CB 350 is less competitive.