Honda has long been anticipated to compete against Royal Enfield but it has comfortably stuck with selling volume-based scooters, commuters, and very few sporty motorcycles. The two-wheeler division of the Japanese manufacturer appears to be having a busy schedule of late as the new Hornet 2.0 debuted only a few weeks ago and it has now been followed by a new cruiser motorcycle today. Honda has said that the Honda H’ness CB350 will be priced at about Rs 1.9 lakh (ex-showroom) and the price will be confirmed by mid of October. The CB350 will initially be produced and sold only in India and eventually expand to other markets around the world.
The new Honda H’ness CB350 is powered by an all-new BS6-compliant 348.36cc, single-cylinder, air-cooled engine that produces 20.8 HP at 5,500 rpm and 30 Nm of torque at 3,000 rpm. The engine uses an offset cylinder position that reduces the sliding friction and the asymmetrical connecting rod ensures minimum energy loss while combustion. The air cooling system maintains highly dense air intake to improve efficiencyThe engine is mated to a 5-speed gearbox. The Honda motorcycle uses a disc brake at either end – a 310mm disc at the front and a 240mm disc at the rear. The fuel tank capacity is 15L.
Honda H’ness CB350 carries forward the classic CB appeal. It is powered by an air-cooled single-cylinder engine with Honda’s selectable torque control, gets all LED lighting, smartphone voice control system that allows riders to use navigation, take calls & messages and listen to music on the go. Engine Start/Stop Switch gives the convenience of turning off the engine on brief stops with a flick of a switch. Ensuring the safety of riders in low visibility conditions is the Hazard Switch feature.
The new feature of Honda Selectable Torque Control (HSTC) helps in maintaining rear wheel traction by detecting difference between front and rear wheel speeds, calculating the slip ratio and further controlling engine torque via the fuel injection. HSTC can be turned ON/OFF using a switch on the left side of meter. A ‘T’ indicator in the digital display flickers when the system is engaging.
