Honda has recently launched its first retro type motorcycle in India, the H'Ness CB350. With this, the Japanese maker has stepped into a segment that is mainly dominated by Royal Enfield Classic 350. Although in the last couple of years, several other manufactures like Jawa and Benelli had tired their hand in the segment, but they drastically failed. So will the CB350 be able to achieve the milestone it has been launched for? We thought of scripting out a comparison against the Classic 350, to know how does it compete with the RE, at least on paper?
| Honda H’ness CB350 | Royal Enfield Classic 350 | |
| Engine | 348.36cc, single-cylinder | 346cc, single-cylinder |
| Cooling System | air-cooled | air-cooled |
| Fuel Supply | Fuel Injection (FI) | Fuel Injection (FI) |
| Max Power | 21PS at 5500rpm | 19.36PS at 5250rpm |
| Max Torque | 30Nm at 3000rpm | 28Nm at 4000rpm |
| Compression Ratio | 9.5:1 | 8.5:1 |
| Power-to-weight ratio | 116.57hp/tonne | 97.94hp/tonne |
| Gearbox | 5-speed | 5-speed |
The Honda Highness is more powerful and torquiest than the Classic 350 thanks to its higher compression ratio. The peak torque of H'Ness CB350 is available at around 3000rpm and this will render to solid low and mid-range punch on the road. Additionally, its curb weight is lesser than the Classic 350 which further adds to better power-to-weight ratio.
The Honda H'Ness also features an assist and slipper clutch which makes the clutch operation smooth.
It is important to note that the power figures of CB3500 are even greater than the upcoming Royal Enfield Meteor 350, as the specifications of the bike were leaked earlier.
| Honda H'Ness CB350 | RE Classic 350 | |
| Length | 2163mm | 2160 mm |
| Width | 800mm | 790 mm (without mirrors) |
| Height | 1107mm | 1090 mm (without mirrors) |
| Wheelbase | 1441mm | 1390 mm |
| Ground Clearance | 166mm | 135 mm |
| Kerb Weight | 181kg | 195 kgs (with 90% fuel & oil) |
| Seat Height | 800mm | – |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 15L | 13.5L |
The above table indicates that the dimensions of both the bikes are on par. However, the H'Ness has lighter curb weight and greater ground clearance which means that the wheels have more vertical room to travel through an obstacle.
| Honda H'Ness CB350 | RE Classic 350 | |
| Frame/Chassis | Half Duplex Cradle | Single downtube |
| Front Suspensions | Telescopic | Telescopic |
| Rear Suspensions | Twin – Hydraulic | Twin gas-charged shock absorbers with 5-step adjustable |
| Front Brakes | 310mm disc | 280 mm disc |
| Rear Brakes | 240mm disc | 240 mm disc / Drum |
| ABS | Dual-Channel ABS | Dual Channel/Single Channel |
| Front Tyre Size & Type | 100/90-19 57H (Alloy Rim with Tubeless tires) | 90/90 – 19" – 52P (tube type) OR 90/90 – 19" – 52P (tubeless) |
| Rear Tyre Size & Type | 130/70-18 63H Tubeless (Alloy Rim with Tubeless tires) | 110/90 – 18" – 61P (tube type) OR 120/80 – 18" – 62P (tubeless) |
The Honda H'Ness employs a new duplex cradle frame in which the engine is mounted at a low position to lower the center of gravity which somehow enhances the riding and handling ability of the motorcycle. On the other hand, the Classic 350 sits on a single downtube, using the engine as a stressed member.
Both bikes use a 19-inch wheel at the front and 18-inch at the rear but the rim type, tire size, and its types differ. The H'Ness offers alloy rim with tubeless tires and dual-ABS channels as standard features whereas the Classic 350 gets these only in higher variants.
Also Read: Royal Enfield Classic 350 Vs Jawa 42: Specification Comparison
| Features | Honda H'Ness CB350 | RE Classic 350 |
|---|---|---|
| Instrument CLuster Type | Semi-Digital | Analogue |
| Fuel Gauge | Digital | Not available |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✖ |
| Navigation & call/sms alerts | ✓ | ✖ |
| Selectable Torque Control | ✓ | ✖ |
| Headlamp | LED | Halogen |
| Taillamp | LED | Halogen |
| Assist and Slipper Clutch | ✓ | ✖ |
| Side Stand Indicator with Engine Cut-off | ✓ | ✖ |
| Distance to empty/Average Mileage/Real-Time Mileage | ✓ | ✖ |
| Battery Voltage meter | ✓ | ✓ |
| Gear Position Indicator | ✓ | ✖ |
| Engine Start/Stop Switch | ✓ | ✓ |
| Hazard Switch | ✓ | ✖ |
| Engine Starting method | Electric | Electric/kick |
The Honda H'Ness CB350 is a clear winner here. It gets a lot of advanced features whereas the RE offering has the least features in the segment. It even misses out on a fuel gauge.
Also Read: Eyeing on Royal Enfield Bike? Get Ready To Lose Your Pocket More
| Model | Honda H'ness CB350 | RE Classic 350 |
| Price Range (ex-showroom) | Rs 1.85 lakh – Rs 1.90 lakh | Rs 1.69 lakh – Rs 1.86 lakh |
The Classic 350 manages to undercut the H'ness CB350 by a quite margin and that clearly reflects that the CB350 is a class above. The upcoming Royal Enfield Meteor 350 will likely to be a more direct competitor to the CB350 motorcycle.
The Honda H'ness CB350 is an impressive package with many segment-first features and a powerful engine. Even it’s pricing is quite competitive. It has all the perks to beat the Royal Enfield Classic 350.
Stay tuned to Gaadify for its detailed road test review.
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