The wait is finally over, Honda finally revealed the much-awaited rival to Royal Enfiled in India. Honda H’ness CB350 has been launched at a price of Rs 1.9 lakh (ex-showroom). It will be sold through the company’s premium ‘Honda Big Wing’ dealerships.
The new bike H’ness is inspired by Honda CB motorcycles of the 1960s that were distinguishable with their round headlight, round rearview mirrors, chrome fenders & accents, and comfortable riding stance. To know more about the newly launched bike, take a look at the comparison between Honda CB350, Royal Enfield Classic, Royal Enfield Meteor 350 vs Jawa 300
Design and styling
All four motorcycles have retro styling and are offered with attractive colour options. It’s difficult to say which one has the best design & styling, as it’s a subjective matter and depends on individual tastes and preferences. All four bikes share quite a few common features such as round headlamps, teardrop-shaped indicators, and liberal use of chrome bits. These bikes have a comfortable riding stance and are designed for long-distance touring.
Dimensions
There aren’t significant differences in length, width, and height of CB350, Meteor, Classic 350 and Jawa. Talking about ground clearance, which could determine off-roading capabilities, Meteor and CB350 are better placed with 170 mm and 166 mm, respectively. In comparison, Classic 350 has a ground clearance of 135 mm.
In terms of wheelbase that can influence stability, Honda CB350 leads the pack with 1441 mm. On the negative side, a longer wheelbase can adversely impact a motorcycle’s maneuverability. Coming to curb weight, Jawa is the lightest at 172 kg. CB350 comes second with 181 kg whereas Classic 350 is heaviest at 195 kg.
Engine
While CB350 is powered by a 348 cc motor, Meteor and Classic 350 have 349 cc and 346 cc engines. Jawa has a 293 cc engine, but its power output of 26 bhp is the highest in this group. CB350 is second with a power output of 21 bhp. Meteor and Classic 350 have a matching power output of 20.2 bhp and 19.1 bhp, respectively.
In terms of torque, CB350 takes the lead with 30 Nm at 3000 rpm. This is followed by Classic 350, Jawa and Meteor at 28 Nm, 27.05 Nm, and 27 Nm, respectively. Talking about transmission, all except Jawa have 5-speed transmission. Jawa is equipped with a 6-speed gearbox.
Price
Meteor and Classic 350 are the most affordable motorcycles in this group, available at a starting price of Rs 1.68 lakh and Rs 1.69 lakh, respectively. Next is Jawa, which is available at Rs 1.83 lakh. The new Honda CB350 is the costliest at Rs 1.9 lakh.
Royal Enfield is the best selling brand in the 350cc segment – selling over 45k units every month (Classic 350, Bullet 350, Electra 350). With the Meteor 350 soon the launched, RE can expect sales to increase even further. Will Honda CB350 manage to put an end to RE’s monopoly in the segment?
Also read: 2020 Honda Jazz facelift launched in India, check price, features, and specs here
Also read: Honda to enter mid-size 350-500 cc motorcycle segment, unviels H’ness-CB350
