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Could Honda’s Rider-Friendly Retro-Styled CB350 Finally Be Coming to America?

Considering the small-displacement superstar’s undeniable appeal, it would certainly be most welcome here.

Red Honda motorcycle fuel tank and front fork with chrome headlight against a blue corrugated metal background.Honda
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By Steve Mazzucchi

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Among Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India’s impressive new 10-model lineup of Made-in-India bikes, three focused primarily on updated paint schemes.

That would be a trio of small-displacement siblings, the retro-styled CB350, CB350C and CB350RS.

Maroon Honda motorcycle with cream stripes, chrome exhaust, and black seat on a dark teal background.
Behold the CB350C Special Edition that caught the attention of GP (and the world?) last fall.
Honda

While that news is less substantive than, say, the new CB500 roadster and XR300L dual-sport, it served as a painful reminder that these bikes are frustratingly not available in America.

At the same time, it hints that the red brand may be setting the stage for the CB350 family to make the jump to our shores. 

Making the case

Ever since the reveal of a classically cool CB350C Special Edition last fall, we at GP have been kind of obsessed with this bike. 

The thrilling throwback looks, which align perfectly with a general resurgence of interest in retro-styled street bikes, are the most obvious reason.

Beige Honda motorcycle with black and chrome engine components and a brown seat against a gray background.
The base model CB350 comes in a wide range of colors, including this military-inspired DLX Pro Mat Dune Brown.
Honda

However, the appeal of the nameplate (which is also sold as the GB350 elsewhere, though not stateside) extends beyond aesthetics, which are the main differences between the variants.

The CB350 is the base model, while the CB350RS boasts a sportier look and a wider rear tire and the CB350C embraces the most classic styling.

The five-speed bikes share a 348cc air-cooled single-cylinder engine making 21 horsepower and 22 lb-ft of torque, seat heights under 32 inches and weights under 400 pounds.

Black Honda motorcycle with chrome exhaust and brown seat on a dark teal background.
The round headlamp and mirrors, teardrop tank and silver exhaust pipe pop most classically on the CB350C.
Honda

They also offer a sensible level of rider-friendly tech, including dual-channel ABS, traction control, LED lighting and smartphone connectivity. 

In other words, they deliver enough power and grunt for spirited urban riding and reasonably speedy, grin-inducing turns on two-lane twisties beyond the city lights.

Maroon Honda motorcycle with brown seat and chrome exhaust parked on a paved area near a lake.
All models, including the CB350 shown here, can be outfitted with a variety of road-worthy accessories, including a rack, windscreen and engine guard.
Honda

At the same time, they remain perfectly approachable for newer riders while intriguing veterans willing to look beyond the specs to the simple satisfaction of shifting through the gears of a manual transmission while cherishing the wind in your face and the sun on your back.

It all adds up to the sort of sales pitch Royal Enfield has been using to unload a staggering number of small-displacement bikes of late, dominance that Honda surely has the wherewithal to challenge.

While the brand itself has not hinted at a US release for the CB350, it does sell similarly sized bikes such as the Rebel 300, CB300R and SCL500 here. 

Matte black Honda motorcycle with yellow accents and dual rear shock absorbers on a dark gradient background.
The CB350RS distinguishes itself with a wider rear tire and sportier styling.
Honda

As RideApart’s Enrico Punsalang points out, Honda is making moves in India that will expand the bike-making capacity of its largest facility by 650,000 units, update the family and simplify the nomenclature by seemingly ditching the odd “H’ness” label. 

In other words, Honda, to quote Kevin Nealon’s loopy Gary Potter character in Happy Gilmore: “His bags are packed. He has his plane tickets. Bring him to the airport. Send him home.” 

And by “home,” I mean the US of A, of course.

About the Author:

Now managing editor, Steve has served in a variety of roles with GP since 2019. Having previously written and edited for such publications as Men’s Health, Men’s Journal, Esquire and ESPN, he enjoys covering a range of topics — but mostly those pertaining to cycling, snow sports, pocket knives and motos — and dreams of a utopian world in which everyone’s bike seat is at the proper height.

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