Honda CB 350: You may not think of the Honda CB350 as immediately iconic as larger nameplates such as the CB750 or modern superbikes, but few motorcycles can boast such far-reaching impact on motorcycling culture, especially here in the United States.
Built from 1968 to 1973, this middleweight twin became Honda’s best-selling model of the time and helped set the standard of what riders could come to expect from Japanese motorcycles.
Honda CB 350: A Compact Package With All the Engineering Excellence
At the heart of the CB350 was an air-cooled, four-stroke parallel twin engine, with a displacement of 325cc and a maximum output of around 36 horsepower.
Though these numbers seem underwhelming now, they were scorching-hot performance for the late ’60s middleweight class.
It had overhead cams when many competitors still offered pushrods, and its 180-degree crankshaft created a notable cadence that owners grew to love.
But perhaps most importantly, the engine achieved this performance with unparalleled reliability. Where British and American motorcycles of the time could often be a bit needy — one might very much have to feel some mechanical sympathy with a bike of that generation —
the CB350 just worked, day in and day out, with little more than a quick lube and cleanup. This reliability revolution changed the perception of motorcycle reliability in our collective minds.
The five-speed transmission also offered versatility for different types of riding, from comfortable highway cruising to responsive city riding.
The bike tipped the scales at a claimed 375 wet — light enough to not be unmanageable for less experienced pilots, but heavy enough to be stable at speed.
Handling and Road Manners
Chassis-wise, the CB350 was quite conventional but done well: It did sport a tubular steel tube frame with telescopic front forks but it was still a simple affair with dual rear shocks.
Not revolutionary in design either, but the suspension pieces were suited to the weight and power of the bike, resulting in balanced ride quality that never wallowed going into corners or upset riders on bumpy roads.
Braking was provided by a single front disc on later variants and drum brakes front and rear on earlier models.
While they lack the stopping power modern riders take for granted, they were contemporary to the era and sufficient for the bike’s performance envelope.
The riding position sat comfortably between the upright position of a standard bike and the slight forward lean of a sportier machine.
Slightly forward set to accommodate a 33.5-inch seat height, this ergonomic compromise helped the CB350 cater to a broader spectrum of riders and everything from commuting to weekend touring.
The Cultural Impact and Still Market Success
Significantly, the CB350 is more than a set of technical specs. Coming as it did during a transitional moment in American motorcycling, it was a welcome alternative to both the big, intimidating bikes from American manufacturers and the fussy, maintenance-prone British imports.
The sales data says it all: Honda sold 300,000 CB350s just in the U.S., making it their most successful model to date.
This commercial success further established Japanese manufacturers’ foothold in the American market and sped up the evolution of motorcycling from an idiosyncratic passion to a mainstream leisure pursuit.
The CB350 reached across demographic and cultural barriers during a socially turbulent time, attracting both traditional motorcyclists and neophytes.
Its mix of performance, reliability, and value made for a recipe that Japanese manufacturers would refine and improve upon for decades.
Variants and Evolution
Over its production run, CB350 was offered in several variants, expanding its appeal across various segments of the market:
The standard CB350 came with a neutral upright riding position and simple styling that defined the heart of the model’s appeal.
More performance-oriented riders were offered the CB350 Super Sport (CB350G), which was similar to the standard 350 but had sportier styling with a different seat, smaller fuel tank and slightly different position of the handlebar.
The CL350 Scrambler version introduced high-mounted exhaust pipes, low-gearing and styling tweaks to take advantage of the burgeoning interest in dual-purpose riding, but its off-road ability was still strictly limited.
The SL350 moved further into true off-road use with more ground clearance, engine protection, and purpose-built suspension, although it used the same basic engine architecture.
Collectibility and Legacy
The CB350 has a cult following among vintage motorcycle aficionados today. This mixture of historical importance, attainable performance, and relative mechanical simplicity makes it the perfect front for both restoration and customisation.
The current trend has focused new attention on the model and, indeed, many builders these days are using it as a starting point for more personalized interpretations of classic sporting motorcycles.
Maintenance wise, the CB350 is one of the most easily maintained vintage motorcycles. While not as comprehensive as in the model’s production days, parts availability is still rather good thanks to a healthy mix of new old stock, reproduction components and an active owner community that shares parts and expertise.
Honda CB 350:
Characterized by the Honda CB350 bike — a line that would ultimately open the floodgates for Japanese engineering philosophy centered around engineering for reliability, accessibility, and value in a way that would fully change how riders came to expect from their motorcycling.
Its impact is far broader than just its production figures or performance numbers, handsome as they were.
To those in the know in motorcycling history, the CB350 represents a milestone that brought affordability, and, perhaps, fresher generations of enthusiasts, to the activity.
For those who just like well-conceived motorcycles, it’ll always be a gold standard of balanced engineering that centered upon a delightful rider experience—not a bad recipe still influencing the best motorcycles regardless of era or target market.
