Honda H’ness CB350 launched at a starting price of Rs 1.85 lakh

The Honda H’ness CB350 has been launched in the Indian market at a starting price of Rs 1.85 lakh. Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India has launched its latest motorcycle in India at Rs 1.85 lakh for the DLX variant and Rs 1.90 lakh for the DLX Pro variant. This is exactly in the territory of the top-spec models of the Royal Enfield Classic 350.

It was only a week ago that Honda revealed the H’ness 350 (read as Highness 350). It was obvious from the get-go that this motorcycle is targeted at Royal Enfield’s 350cc motorcycles. The motorcycle marked Honda’s entry into the neo-retro cruiser segment, in which Royal Enfield is the king of the hill. And it also has been designed to appeal to buyers who would until now have preferred a Royal Enfield motorcycle.

Up front is a circular LED headlamp. Right above it is the analogue-digital instrument cluster. It features a voluptuous 15-litre fuel tank, a wide seat and, a simple rear-end. The Honda H’ness CB350 is powered by an air-cooled, 350cc, single-cylinder engine with a maximum power output of 21bhp at 5,500rpm and a peak torque output of 30Nm at 3,000rpm.

The torque and power comes in at low revs, which would again please the target customer. The rear wheel is driven by a 5-speed gearbox via an assist and slipper clutch. The Honda H’ness CB350 has a low, bassy exhaust note which would appeal to buyers.

Suspension duties are handled by a conventional telescopic fork up front and twin shocks at the rear. Braking is taken care of by a 310mm disc up front and a 240mm disc at the rear. The motorcycle comes with dual-channel ABS as standard equipment.

The Honda H’ness 350 comes with a long list of features, many of which are first-in-segment. It is the first of its kind to feature traction control. It is called the Honda Selectable Torque Control (HSTC) and it adjusts the torque being sent to the wheels upon detecting wheel slip under power. With 21bhp on tap, we doubt that it would spin its wheels unintentionally, however, it is a good safety feature.

It also comes with a side stand down engine cut-off which kills the engine if the stand is down. Honda has also equipped the motorcycle with Bluetooth connectivity. Once paired to the system, a few basic functions of the smartphone can be controlled via buttons on the left side of the handlebar.

Honda has priced the DLX variant at Rs 1.85 lakh while the DLX Pro has a price tag of Rs 1.90 lakh. The DLX variant is available in single-tone colours while DLX Pro is available in attractive dual-tone options. It competes with the Royal Enfield Classic 350, Benelli Imperiale 400 and Jawa 42. It certainly has what it takes to take the fight to Royal Enfield. But only time will tell if it will be able to.

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