Recently launched in India, the new CB350 has joined Honda's 350cc lineup comprising the H’ness CB350 and the CB350RS. Honda offers the CB350 in two variants – DLX and DLX Pro – and both variants are available with the same 348.36cc, air-cooled, single-cylinder engine as other CB350 models. The newly launched CB350 is priced at Rs 2 lakh for the DLX variant and Rs 2.18 lakh for the DLX Pro option. That puts it around Rs 7,000 higher than the base Royal Enfield Classic 350. In terms of engine and chassis, the Honda CB350 is identical to the H'ness CB350 and the CB350RS, however, there are some changes that set it apart from its siblings and put it more in line with its direct rival – the RE Classic 350.
Honda CB350 vs Royal Enfield Classic 350: Design, Colours
While its silhouette remains largely the same as the H'ness CB350, the new Honda CB350 seems to share styling clues – including long metal fenders, split seats, metal fork covers, and a peashooter-style exhaust – with the Royal Enfield Classic 350. The CB350 looks retro with a round LED headlight, teardrop-shaped fuel tank, and mirrors. It comes in 5 colour options: Precious Red Metallic, Pearl Igneous Black, Matte Crust Metallic, Matte Marshal Green Metallic and Matte Dune Brown.
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On the other hand, the Royal Enfield Classic 350 with single-channel ABS is available in Redditch Red, Halcyon Black, Redditch Grey, and Halcyon Green colours, while the Classic 350 with dual-channel ABS can be had in 8 paint schemes, namely Signals Desert Sand, Signals Marsh Grey, Halcyon Green, Halcyon Black, Dark Stealth Black, Gunmetal Grey, Chrome Bronze, and Chrome Red.
Honda CB350 vs Royal Enfield Classic 350: Engine, Output
Powering the Honda CB350 is the same 348.36cc, air-cooled, fuel-injected, single-cylinder engine that the manufacturer equips the H'ness CB350 and the CB350RS with. Mated to a 5-speed gearbox, this long-stroke engine makes 20.7bhp at 5,500rpm and 29.4Nm at 3,000rpm. The power figure is on par with that of the Royal Enfield Classic 350 (20.2bhp at 6,100rpm), however, the Classic 350 rival makes more torque. In comparison, a 349cc single-cylinder engine in the Classic 350 belts out 27Nm at 4,000rpm.
Honda CB350 vs Royal Enfield Classic 350: Chassis
The new Honda CB350 uses a double-cradle frame that is suspended on a conventional telescopic fork at the front and nitrogen-charged dual shock absorbers at the rear, while the chassis on the Royal Enfield Classic 350 is a double-downtube unit suspended on a 41mm telescopic fork at the front and dual shock absorbers at the rear.
However, there are differences in terms of brakes and tyre sizes. The Classic 350 uses 100/90-R19 (F) and 120/80-R18 (R) tubeless tyres, while the CB350 rolls on 100/90-R19 (F) and 130/70-R18 (R) road-biased tyres that are wrapped around alloy wheels. Depending on the variant, the Classic 350 either has alloy wheels or wire-spoked wheels.
Anchorage at the front, on the Honda CB350, is provided by a larger 310mm disc, while the Classic 350 features a 300mm disc. At the rear, the Honda bike employs a 240mm disc brake, while its rival can be optioned with either a 270mm disc or 153mm drum brake. Honda has equipped the CB350 with dual-channel ABS, while Royal Enfield has given us a choice of either single-channel ABS or dual-channel ABS.
Honda CB350 vs Royal Enfield Classic 350: Features
Apart from LED lighting and an emergency stop signal, the Honda CB350 gets a Honda Smartphone Voice Control system (only offered with the DLX Pro), Honda Selectable Torque Control, a digital-analogue instrument cluster, assist and slipper clutch, and traction control (only available on the DLX Pro).
On the other hand, the Royal Enfield Classic 350 comes with a side-slung exhaust, an analogue speedometer with a small readout, an engine kill switch, a pass switch, a digital fuel gauge, a service due indicator, a USB port, and an optional Tripper Navigation system.
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Honda CB350 vs Royal Enfield Classic 350: Dimensions
In terms of dimensions, the Honda CB350 measures 2,207mm in length, 788mm in width and 1,110mm in height, and has a wheelbase of 1,441mm, which puts it up against its established rival – which is 2,145mm long, 785mm wide and 1,090mm tall, and has a wheelbase of 1,390mm.
Honda CB350 vs Royal Enfield Classic 350: Price
The Royal Classic 350 is priced between Rs 1.93 lakh and Rs 2.21 lakh (ex-showroom), which is less expensive than the entry-level Honda CB350. The former is listed in 6 variants, while the latter is offered in two variants.
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