Personally I chose this bike over Royal Enfield for myself. I test rode both the bikes and found this bike to be more sensible and its not even ugly. Many people might prefer Royal Enfield looks but i really do love how my cb350 looks. Also it has done 51,000+ km and its still runs like a new bike. Really happy with my choice.
Thanks for the review, I chose the Honda GB350 over the RE 350 here in Australia. Had slightly more power off the line and looked better to me. Hope you enjoy the rest of your trip. It’s a shame you couldn’t make it to Australia while you were on this side of the world. Tasmania has some of best scenic rides in the world. Cheers Paul.
@@ilejovcevski79 I'll mention some points that I found distinguishable between the two bikes. Firstly and the major one is probably gearing. A lot of people seems to be not liking the gearing on GB350 because it's tall. I don't mind it tbh since it's better for highway and long tours. it's just that you need to get used to it. Looks are ofc subjective but for me personally I liked the looks of this bike. Especially here in my country they sell a chrome version with chrome fenders and some other bits. There is also a paint scheme that is exactly the same with CB1100rs which I went for. It also got good street presence so in short you can't go wrong with neither RE nor Honda when it comes to looks. Performance is notable although not very significant between the two bikes. You will feel the difference in torque and top speed if you ride them one after the other. GB350 has got a bit more torque and top speed because of higher gearing but it doesn't matter much since both are almost equally same. I think this refinement was one of the major factors for me to decide between the two bikes. For me RE test ride was not very pleasing because of abnormal vibrations. I think the bike that I test rode has that perticular issue but it did kind of put me off. I rode the new J series bike last year and it was really good. But not as refined and smooth as Honda ofc. Even GB350 has vibrations at mid rpm range. Some people do like RE vibrations but personally I found myself getting distracted by them. Suspension: Suspension is a bit firm compared to RE. For highway touring it's perfect but for city and imperfect roads you'll feel the bumps. I found RE better for the city commute. Overall my bike has peformed really well up till now with no major issues. Haven't had any engine related issues at all. Some minor chain related issues or brake related issues are common to every bike. Those are the only ones that I faced up till now.
@@LowQualityPigeon thanks for the inputs! I've been browsing for low capacity bike (it would be my first bike) for some time now (hopefully it would be soon), and these two are really what my choice comes down to. Well, considering Honda doesn't export the GB in Europe, it really is only one option at the moment, but hopefully soon, they'll come around. Both bikes really check all the boxes aesthetics wise, with that classic look about them, but i still appreciate other people's opinions, especially of those that had the chance to try them both.
Dude, I've watched so much anime that hearing cicadas is actually relaxing to me. It's absolutely on my bucket list to ride a bike through those narrow Japanese mountain roads and stop to listen to the min-min.
In chicago they are loud enough to give you temporary tinnitus. They will fly right into your hair, get stuck and spaz out. You get free cicada anxiety for the rest of your life.
The throttle isn't jerky..the Honda has a routine of coming to its operating temperature for first few mins..so you may see it's rev heavy and then the revs come down after few mins
A few years ago I'd have said 'Yes' for the EU/UK for this 350 Honda. Now, I'd say 'No'. A small 450 at 40 HP to compete with Triumph would be awesome, especially in that CB1100 style.
The GB350 is a proof that Honda Can Compete with RE by making Good and proper modern retro Motorcycles, but Honda doesn't export it to EU, so or they don't bother at all and they are happy selling there Transformer looking Motorcycles, or they have a good reason for it 🤷♂️ but for sure they are losing a lot of sales.
Can you tell me why doesn't Honda export this beauty to EU? It's because Honda thinks that there won't be proper demand? What would be the difference between regulations?
Agree. All that plastic is a turn off. And if you watch the numerous motorcycle crash videos, it's almost always the case that they're riding too fast. Enjoying to scenery from the saddle of my V7 Special.
The US, either. It would be pretty difficult to sell a bike that doesn't go 75MPH/120KMH in the States for highway speeds. It's a shame, too. I really like the style of this bike over anything RE sells.
It's not as solid feeling as an Enfield 350 yes, but as an owner of a Honda cb350 here in India, I can tell that the quality of essential materials and the refinement of the most essential part, the engine, is remarkable. I've done 12 hours non stop on my cb Honda and baking Indian heat and there are no weird tappet noises due to overheating, something quite common on Enfields. It's a simple, VERY RELIABLE UNKILLABLE motorcycle. If you care to explore on two wheels without caring about the motorcycle, this Honda is the bike. Also, the fuel economy is much better than the Enfield 350s, and it weighs much less, in fact, weighs much less than the lightest Enfield the hunter, even through Honda is much bigger in dimensions.
Whether I agree or not, I stillI very much enjoy hearing your opinions. You have a unique style about your reviews. Also thank you for allowing us to experience the world through your eyes.
Back in in 1978 I learned to ride on a Honda CB400F four cylinder motorcycle. After retiring i tried to find a CB350F four cylinder. I found one from 1976 with 60,000 km on the clock. Instead I bought a Suzuki SV650 2018 in May with 30,000 km on the clock. It was cheaper and has a much better fuel economy. After 8,000 km I believe that this is the best motorcycle I have ever had, but I still can't forget the crush I had on a girl on the CB350F in Kalundborg back in 1975.
I think it's gorgeous. I wish they'd come up with a bigger retro looking bike. Something with the new 750 engine, maybe, or even the 500 they have. I'd buy one in a heartbeat. Enjoy your travels!
Very nice and good to hear Honda UK have finally taken a look outside to see where the markets headed and are getting this bike for the UK. Some great choices out there for the 350-400cc capacity bikes now.
This is such a fun looking bike! We do not get any Royal Enfields here in Hong Kong, but you can get both an Indian spec CB350, or a Japanese spec GB350 for about £5,000. If you could get a Royal Enfield i would sell my Kawasaki and get one of the RE650s! Interesting you say its big enough for someone of your height, i always thought they look small! Great review and video as always!
I'm in love with RE. My Classic 350 has given me back 20 years of life...I feel like a small kid while riding it. Classic lines are very nicer on the RE IMHO, still this Honda is a very good looking bike.
They just released GB350C in Korea but priced it much higher than RE 350 Classic. And Triumph just released Speed 400 at the same time. I think they made a huge mistake trying to make it into a premium price product instead of competing with RE 350 Classic.
This will be coming to the UK January 2025. Which is great news! I’ve been flitting about between RE and Triumph speed 400 and this GB350 to me gives me greater feelings of buyer confidence coming from Honda
You mentioned the H'ness in the Indian market, and I understand that Honda has recently issued a recall on some bikes regarding faulty camshafts. That problem will sound familiar to some KTM owners, but unlike KTM, Honda is showing what proper customer service is by promising to replace all faulty parts free of charge regardless of the affected bike's warranty.
"Been riding this bike for six months now, and it’s an absolute gem! Known as the CB350RS in India, it perfectly blends stunning looks with a refined, vibration-free engine and an incredible exhaust note. Covered nearly 6,000 km so far, and it never fails to turn heads. Funny enough, some people walk past the Triumph 400 twins just to ask me, ‘Which bike is this?’"
Love the way it looks, never had the time to test one. Took the BSA goldstar for a test though and mighty impressed. The moment they told me they can’t give me spares to do my own service, left me disappointed. Still searching for the right motorcycle 😢.
I would love to see the Honda 350’s become available in the UK. I currently have a 1971 Cb350 twin (with a little more power than these) and find for my type of riding 350cc is a bit of a sweet spot - capable for longer distances if you’re not in a hurry, but easy and light to manage for bimbling around town and hustling along country roads. A good value little Honda would be high on my wish list.
Hey man, i am owner of both the RE AND honda i'll tell you what, this bike is for those highway riders, its not specifically meant for people who like RE. Yes i know in city traffic in india you feel like this GB should have a bit more torque but well it is what it is. The average price for servicing this bike in india is 1.5 times the price of RE service but belive me it is worth it. RE bikes throw some issue or the other around 2020-2022 thats why i migrated to the honda. Also now RE service is better compared to what was there previously, but trust me thos bike also is a very good bike
I saw this motorcycle in a dealership in Australia last year while on exchange and fell in love. Didn't purchase it because it wasn't what I had shown up for. Later that year went to Bali and rented some beat up motorcycles that were a hoot to throw around. I have a love for the cheap parts, good looking, small CC bikes now and would love for these to come to Canada.
Hey @Mr Darcy & The 'Ol Man, thanks a lot for your review of the Japanese-spec GB350S! It’s always great to hear your insights! Just wanted to share some details and clarify a few points. There are two main country codes for the bike's VINs I believe. ME4 for India and JH2 for Japan, Singapore, and likely Australia. The specific model VINs are NC58 for the India version and NC59 for the Japan, Singapore, and probably Aussie versions. As for the rear wheel and tyre sizes, there’s a noticeable difference between the GB350 and GB350S. The GB350 (the retro version) comes with a 130/70-18 tire on an 18-inch rear wheel, while the GB350S (the sportier version) gets a 150/70-17 tire on a 17-inch rear wheel, giving it a more aggressive look and feel. The GB350S also has rearset footpegs, lower handlebars, and sits IIRC 5mm lower, making it sportier overall. You hit the nail on the head about it being a bit tall. I'm 172cm height-wise and rode an RE Hunter 350 and GB350S back to back at an event earlier this year. The Hunter is low-slung compared to the GB350. It's almost as if it's made for US/Europe. Men in the USA and Europe average around 175-183 cm in height, while in India and Japan, the average is around 165-170 cm. Having said that ... there are several 20mm lowering kits in Japan and TONS of accessories like tachometer, fairings, bags, Moriwaki dress up parts and mufflers, etc. Just look up GB350S on Webike. Tech-wise the head has an oil cooling gallery, there are balancers and a poor man's dry sump (basically a reed valve that keeps oil in the gearbox section of the crankcase). It's also got a VTEC style under-piston oil squirter jet but that's found in many bikes these days. Type Approvals in Australia, Malaysia, and Singapore generally follow EU-style regulations, often based on the latest UNECE guidelines, meaning that homologation documents are likely ready for Europe and the UK markets. In India, however, Type Approval is managed domestically through the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI), with slightly different standards tailored to the local market. Which all means Honda Motor Co. is very likely all set to bring these bikes to Europe and the UK if they choose to expand. It's up to motoring journos like you and potential clients to raise awareness and plonk down deposits for the GB350S, GB350 and GB350C aka CB350RS, H'Ness CB350 and CB350 (DLX/DLX Pro) respectively. Once again, thanks for the awesome review of the GB350S! It's a great product that Honda Motor Co should ABSOLUTELY sell in the USA, UK and Europe IMO. BTW there is a THIRD variant, the ultra classic GB350C launching in Japan around 10th October 2024. Further details here - global.honda/jp/news/2024/2240912-gb350c.html
@@scudonepercenter it seems that GB version isn’t. Try look at the video. I can’t really see it clearly. Must ask Darcy whether the GB unit he’s riding issit single shifter or heel toe shifter…
We do get the same bike in India BTW, it's called "CB 350 RS", AND AND!, we also recently got some custom kits to it as well and the "CB350 Highness" as well. I'd recommend checking out the videos on CB 350 RS "Hue Edition" and the CB 350 H'ness "cafe racer edition" from India, and there's a cafe racer edition for this one as well, the "CB 350 RS cafe racer edition". I wish this comment reaches you cause it's a month too late, I'm afraid. But if you do happen to check this out then, I'm sure you'll love them!
@simongould2384 I've read an article that said they've "put the paperwork to register the 'GB350 S' trademark in the UK and Europe", so I have my hopes up!
I agree RE better fact is they have caught up the others and will very soon be their equal. But i fear this wil then reflect the price increases..but RE have something others dont .charm and bags of character.
Darcy, have you thought of testing the Kawasaki Meguro 800 while you are there? Kind of a W800 but called a Meguro by Kawasaki as a tribute to the Meguro company. Looks to be only sold in Japan at the moment.
@@GTarditi it's maddening cause the Japanese Four nail the styling every now and then, but totally muck it up the other 98% of the time. And they just need to use that old UJM styling of the 70s and 80s CB500 type bikes
@@igneous85 yeah, maddening is the right choice of word. I'd love to grab a W800 or maybe an SR400 if I got the chance, those bikes were great but just too early to cash in fully on the retro bike trend of right now.
I prefer this one over RE. Visited the Intermot 2024 and could check out both. I don't trust the quality of RE, being a former 410 Himalayan owner. It just doesn't work for me being stranded 3 times in one year. Honda however, no matter where they are made, have a better track record and honestly this one looks better than a Hunter or similar.
Great video and review! Astonishing venue. Duty can be so demanding…. If these were available, unless it is just crazy high-priced, it’s likely it would sell. They do need to put on a decent front mudguard.
I agree. The difference between the RE 350 and 650 is nothing size wise also. The RE350 is just so gutless and with the size of the bike its really underwhelming.
The problem with this bike is that Honda benchmarked last gen UCE 350 platform Royal Enfield but Enfield was already working on their big generational upgrade with J-series which was release just months after this honda. So this offers nothing unique or extra compared to Enfield. Honda should have instead launched it in 500cc as Enfield have discontinued that.
I love RE, but there's something esthetic about the Honda that i really love. Sad to hear the quality isn't quite up there, and sadder that it's not available in the US either.
I'd love if this bike came to the US as well, though I doubt it ever will. I've been in the market for a smaller capacity bike, this would've been one of the bikes on my shortlist. The only Hondas that make it over here are the modern ones with terrible styling choices lol
Great video! I'm glad you're enjoying your trip. The Honda GB350S looks like a great bike...I agree with you that the Royal Enfield has a nicer finish. But I think the Honda GB350S is a great value for the money...Are you going to work with Netflix? that's cool...Ya insta 360 is a pretty cool camera sir
Price is the thing. Here in Brazil Honda just updated their Bros 160, an entry level trailie (?) , and it costs close to 20 thousand of our money. For that you can get the Hunter 350. And Honda really doesn’t care because they have dealers pretty much anywhere, they’ve built a reputation for reliability and they hold 60% of the market.
It has a sublime gear shifts and suspension setup. Best long stroke 350cc engine out there. Yes it is underpowered, but air cooled and frisky long stroke makes it amazing for country roads. The take off from traffic lights is brisk and elegant. I have taken it on hard enduro runs, many of them. So far managed to bend one rim slightly which was fixable. It’s a road biased but planted suspension, but if you can work it properly and take out the abs fuse, you can keep up with 390adventure, Scrambler 400x, Himalayan450 without breaking a sweat. On road the manners are gentle and slightly slower than the right amount of quick. So highway overtakes at full 4th gear send need to be planned before going for it, but brakes and handling is spot on-road. A bit unnecessarily heavy but somehow that added weight seems to help along with its overall profile in stability through cross winds. It’s a fun mile crunching daily runner for a rider.
Nice video! Hi from Taiwan . You may remember I told you in your previous Japan video that I had bought a Honda Highness and am waiting delivery ...Still waiting...There are several differences between the GB350s and the Highness. The H'ness saddle is very different...the pillion seat is separated from the rider's .Also it doesn't stick up in the air like the GB. I don't actually like these saddles that are raised high above the rear wheel. The Highness has much longer and better (I think) mudguards. The indicators are round , not narrow and pointy like the GBs. The exhaust pipe is all chrome. Personally I think the Highness is more retro and better looking than the GBs. It's more like the 70s Hondas in looks and I like it far more. Honda has also produced a 2024 CB 350 which is even more retro, although it's not really my style. It's more like 1940s and 50s in looks. The sand colored and matte green models are almost WW2 military looking! I like the 70s look. That's when I grew up...Many thanks for your hugely enjoyable content. Looking forward to the next one! Cheers! PS Oh yeah...The price... The Highness , which is made in India, sells for the equivalent of 3,000 pounds brand new here...Real value for money !
Well now it's been confirmed to be coming to Europe it'll be nice to see how sales stack up to the RE. Even though both are built in India, I trust that Honda will not have the terrible spares supply issues that RE seem to have in the UK and that if nothing else would have me heading towards the Honda dealer.
Yes they should bring it in, BUT they should bring in the CB1300, it is nearly euro 5 Early ones are ULEZ compliant and the updated ones are just great, 6 speed box, cruise control and still have the awesome looks
That’s true! The GB350S (CB350RS) looks similar to the RE Hunter 350 due to the fact that Honda BigWing India intends to rival Royal Enfield in the 350cc series. GB350S (CB350RS) V Hunter 350 GB350 (H’ness CB350) V Meteor 350 GB350C (CB350) V Bullet and Classic 350 My guess is Honda is trying to provide the Indian and Japanese market more on the options of a tracker or scrambler, modern classic and classic motorcycles rather than the current line up they have which are pretty much catered to the naked/sports/adv bike that’s been on the market more on the recent years. On the quality aspect, I do agree on how there are more plastic-like features on the GB350S rather than the metallic components of the Hunter 350 (Eg. Instrument cluster etc). That being said, I’m glad this video is being made so Honda could further export these machines out of JP/IN with more viewers getting interested. I bought my H’ness CB350 (GB350) through Parallel Import in Singapore and there’s very little to no support in parts and services for the bike. Honda Boon Siew Singapore (Official Singapore Honda Motorcycle Distributor) used to sell the GB350S (CB350RS) in the showroom in recent years but eventually stopped this year due to probably the lack of knowledge and reviews on this bike in this city-state I live in. On the other hand, Honda BigWing in my neighbouring country, Malaysia, has the CB350RS (GB350S) in their showroom recently this year. Hopefully, more countries are able to get their hands on this array of Honda’s classic 350 bikes! Great video, can’t wait for the next. Cheers!
On sale from January 2025 in the UK (£3,949) and in Europe (price in Germany only EUR 3,900 or EUR 4,490 - equivalent to £3,721 - with transfer costs). Thanks for the testride!
The Honda GB350S or H'ness or whatever it's called is made in India specifically for the mass Asian market that the Royal Enfield Hunter is also concentrated on. I'm also led to believe that the H'ness and the RE J-series were both introduced at about the same time, though I'm not completely sure on this. The two bikes are both long stroke machines and also remarkably similar in horsepower, weight, styling, etc. I wonder if Honda is not on top of quality control of its Indian products, or if Asian economics calling for a cheap and robust bike means some short cuts are taken? In any case, as a Hunter owner, what I like about the H'ness are the larger wheels (18" rear, 19" front) and the longer wheelbase, a better set up for bumpy roads, though nowhere near as nimble in dense traffic or tight spots. Unfortunately, one cannot have it both ways. Overall, though, I think that, like the Hunter, the H'ness would also be a great platform for customisation
I’d love to see these in NZ, but I don’t think Honda will do it. (But our fuel prices say they should) I really enjoyed banging around on my CBR250R single for a few years. A single has such a cool little character.
I have one in Sydney Australia. I would buy a Japanese built bike any day of the week over anything Indian. We have harsh conditions in Australia, we know what lasts
Surprised that honda dont sell it in Europe. Nice bike. And it out thumps the bullet too ( at least in stock form). You're right that 1100 looks goid enough to eat!
Obviously they have now brought this bike to the UK, I saw it at the Motorcycle live show and was quite impressed. I would always choose a Honda over a Royal Enfield and if I was in the market for a 20bhp motorcycle then it would be my pick. Unfortunately I think Honda are a couple of years too late to the party and things have moved on considerably. For the UK market a single with 400cc and more like 40bhp just makes more sense, you still have below 400cc road tax but highway performance for the odd overtake when you need it, hence Triumph are selling them by the bucket load.
I bought CB350rs( Indian variant) mat grey color and its absolutely beautiful and the engine is very refined compared to royal Enfields only thing is it's service cost is twice of Royal Enfields, I'm getting 40+ kmpl on highways.
for modern classics, Honda should bring their shadow phantom and aero to Europe. They still sell them, they look amazing, they ride amazing, but for some obscure reason (euro 5, not that obscure) they don't sell it in Europe. It's a shame. Give me my shadow, Honda! Pretty please?
@@jaide1312 I am actually keeping an eye out for one, but sellers around here know they're good and most of the time they don't come that cheap. I would also like an ABS one, but it's rare.
This is not a CB350 highness, it's a CB350RS as sold in India, despite both having the same engine, both have different characteristics like riding position and engine tuning
Nice video. PS I really like my Insta 360 too, it's a great camera and the only camera I use in my very unprofessional videos (not that I'm trying to vlog or anything).
We have Cicadas in USA that come out every so many years and several broods. GB350 is very interesting and I can understand why they did not bring it to the USA where the Rebel is the starter or lower priced Motorcycle from Honda and accomodates shorter riders very well. I agree with you on the RE vs Honda. Was waiting for you to contrast to the Triumph 400. Triumph makes such good "riding" motorcycles, I bet that would be a tall order. Dealers in the USA just can't make $ on low end high volume so as long as they have one "entry bike" they are fine. RE, Honda and Triumph are killing dealers like Harley on that. Since so many dealers in USA have multiple brands where even a Kawasaki dealership also sells either Triumph or Honda, they are covered. Safe Travels. I'll be very curious when you post from Korea what bikes they tend to ride there.
just ordered one of these in Manchester UK - should arrive late March - its a simple air cooled single - perfect bobber. I have ridden ST1300's down to Monkey Bikes - but to me - for a man of my advanced years - this is just a great run around. Metzler Tyres - I love - I'll be going for Blue - that's the classic CB colour - and it is CB350S in Japan, just GB350S for us here in the UK. I have ordered this without test ride or ever having sat on it -you shouldn't need to. It is what it is, a brilliant little commuter / country road slow cruiser. I looked at the Royal Enfield - I just hate spoked wheels - distrust Indian made engines - and don't want to ride on a bike trying desperately to be retro 70's rather than a good solid 80's styled road bike
The one point the Honda has on the Royal Enfields is the fact it doesn't have a speed limiter. Sure, it's not a bike to travel fast, but it's nice that it doesn't cut power at 117 kph if you wonna do the odd overtake on the motorway.
Honda should re-make/revise the 1989-90 GB500TT single 500cc. That would be great. I'm surprised the Honda CB 350's quality wasn't as good as the Royal Endfield! Is the Honda made in Japan or elsewhere?
You could do some Jousting with that insta 360 camera 😅. I'm loving that Honda GB350S, although its gonna cost more than any Royal Enfield once it reaches the UK. I'll have an Enfield any day.
I'm currently deciding between this bike and the RE Classic 350. The CB350 RS is roughly USD1000 cheaper than the Classic 350. I like the exhaust note and character of the Classic 350. Yet to test ride the CB350 RS.
I definitely think this is better than the Hunter 350, but ultimately the Classic 350 beats it in almost every way, aside from weight. I’m sure the Old Man would agree :) Undeniably Honda have made a nice, and versatile bike for their market. Hope it has some success and they improve it gradually.
I love Hondas but in this case i would definitely go for Royal Enfield also but rumors has it RE will release a Classic 650 next year so ill wait for that😅
Love the Honda and had a few. But the Japanese bikes have always been a style unto themselves. Even in the 60s and 70s. For me, retro means old European or USA style of machines.
Coming to france in January 25, am ordering it now To me better choice than RE and much cheaper Honda looks much better and sounds much better as well.. plus it sticks to the spirit of deus ex machina..❤
Never buy an RE…..or at least a 2021/22 Interceptor 650. Now seven months of waiting for parts to arrive for the dreaded 3rd gear fail, meaning a whole new gearbox. Under warranty but should have been a recall (caused by gears not being properly hardened during production)….of course a Honda beats it.
Super plastic-y and cheapie feeling and looking. Speedo in particular. I’ve driven Hondas my whole life and own a vintage CB175. But yeah for my taste, 350 bullet feels waaaaay more quality than this. Same goes for the CBR500. Thing just feels so cheap. Wish Honda wouldn’t cut corners on quality like that
Would be nice to include in your review some facts like fuel consumption, 0-60 time, top speed. From what I know Royal Enfield mostly lacks in top speed compared to CB/GB350. It is also a bit heavier. GB350 that is offered in EU i made in Japan and that is a big factor for me persanally compared to the RE made in India. I also think you should compare this to RE Meteor and definately not the Classic. In Poland the new GB350 is quite a bit cheaper than RE Meteor (and a lot cheaper than RE Classic). Honda also has tubeless tyres and RE does not. Brakes are Nissin and not some ByBre or whatever like on the RE. Service intervals for the motor will probably be at least 12k km and not 6k km (valve adjustment) like in RE. It is a lot of tiny details but they count. Sure it would be better for it to have a full chrome exhaust like in the Hness but I can probably get some aftermarket pipes after a while or chrome coat the stock one after warranty.
Personally I chose this bike over Royal Enfield for myself. I test rode both the bikes and found this bike to be more sensible and its not even ugly. Many people might prefer Royal Enfield looks but i really do love how my cb350 looks. Also it has done 51,000+ km and its still runs like a new bike. Really happy with my choice.
Awesome 👍🏼
As you rode both, how would you quantify the handling and performance of both, especially when compared to each other?
Thanks for the review, I chose the Honda GB350 over the RE 350 here in Australia. Had slightly more power off the line and looked better to me. Hope you enjoy the rest of your trip. It’s a shame you couldn’t make it to Australia while you were on this side of the world. Tasmania has some of best scenic rides in the world. Cheers Paul.
@@ilejovcevski79 I'll mention some points that I found distinguishable between the two bikes.
Firstly and the major one is probably gearing. A lot of people seems to be not liking the gearing on GB350 because it's tall. I don't mind it tbh since it's better for highway and long tours. it's just that you need to get used to it.
Looks are ofc subjective but for me personally I liked the looks of this bike. Especially here in my country they sell a chrome version with chrome fenders and some other bits. There is also a paint scheme that is exactly the same with CB1100rs which I went for. It also got good street presence so in short you can't go wrong with neither RE nor Honda when it comes to looks.
Performance is notable although not very significant between the two bikes. You will feel the difference in torque and top speed if you ride them one after the other. GB350 has got a bit more torque and top speed because of higher gearing but it doesn't matter much since both are almost equally same.
I think this refinement was one of the major factors for me to decide between the two bikes. For me RE test ride was not very pleasing because of abnormal vibrations. I think the bike that I test rode has that perticular issue but it did kind of put me off. I rode the new J series bike last year and it was really good. But not as refined and smooth as Honda ofc. Even GB350 has vibrations at mid rpm range. Some people do like RE vibrations but personally I found myself getting distracted by them.
Suspension: Suspension is a bit firm compared to RE. For highway touring it's perfect but for city and imperfect roads you'll feel the bumps. I found RE better for the city commute.
Overall my bike has peformed really well up till now with no major issues. Haven't had any engine related issues at all. Some minor chain related issues or brake related issues are common to every bike. Those are the only ones that I faced up till now.
@@LowQualityPigeon thanks for the inputs! I've been browsing for low capacity bike (it would be my first bike) for some time now (hopefully it would be soon), and these two are really what my choice comes down to. Well, considering Honda doesn't export the GB in Europe, it really is only one option at the moment, but hopefully soon, they'll come around. Both bikes really check all the boxes aesthetics wise, with that classic look about them, but i still appreciate other people's opinions, especially of those that had the chance to try them both.
Dude, I've watched so much anime that hearing cicadas is actually relaxing to me. It's absolutely on my bucket list to ride a bike through those narrow Japanese mountain roads and stop to listen to the min-min.
Definitely do it I have had a great time 👍🏼
In chicago they are loud enough to give you temporary tinnitus. They will fly right into your hair, get stuck and spaz out. You get free cicada anxiety for the rest of your life.
@@MrDarcy-OlMan Quanti cm sei alto? per capire se l'altezza è un problema su questa moto
The throttle isn't jerky..the Honda has a routine of coming to its operating temperature for first few mins..so you may see it's rev heavy and then the revs come down after few mins
A few years ago I'd have said 'Yes' for the EU/UK for this 350 Honda. Now, I'd say 'No'. A small 450 at 40 HP to compete with Triumph would be awesome, especially in that CB1100 style.
The GB350 is a proof that Honda Can Compete with RE by making Good and proper modern retro Motorcycles, but Honda doesn't export it to EU, so or they don't bother at all and they are happy selling there Transformer looking Motorcycles, or they have a good reason for it 🤷♂️ but for sure they are losing a lot of sales.
💯 👍🏼
Can you tell me why doesn't Honda export this beauty to EU? It's because Honda thinks that there won't be proper demand? What would be the difference between regulations?
Agree. All that plastic is a turn off. And if you watch the numerous motorcycle crash videos, it's almost always the case that they're riding too fast. Enjoying to scenery from the saddle of my V7 Special.
The US, either. It would be pretty difficult to sell a bike that doesn't go 75MPH/120KMH in the States for highway speeds. It's a shame, too. I really like the style of this bike over anything RE sells.
🇺🇸 Take my money Honda 💰
It's not as solid feeling as an Enfield 350 yes, but as an owner of a Honda cb350 here in India, I can tell that the quality of essential materials and the refinement of the most essential part, the engine, is remarkable. I've done 12 hours non stop on my cb Honda and baking Indian heat and there are no weird tappet noises due to overheating, something quite common on Enfields. It's a simple, VERY RELIABLE UNKILLABLE motorcycle. If you care to explore on two wheels without caring about the motorcycle, this Honda is the bike. Also, the fuel economy is much better than the Enfield 350s, and it weighs much less, in fact, weighs much less than the lightest Enfield the hunter, even through Honda is much bigger in dimensions.
I think this is the first-ever British GB350 review, just in time for its imminent arrival in the UK- which will be soon enough hopefully.
The insect is called a Cicada lol. You get them pretty much everywhere in hot climates. The Japanese ones have different sounds.
Ours in Taiwan sound exactly the same! We've got the same hornets too.
The South of France is full of them.
I may not be sophisticated enough when it comes to listening to cicadas, but they do sound like the ones in Kentucky and Tennessee.
This sounds exactly like the ones here in México
In Brasilia, central Brazil, cicadas (cigarras in Portuguese), announce the arrival of the rainy season.
FYI - There is a CB350 H'ness in a dealers in Leicester, it was imported from India by Triumph for research and testing then sold on to a dealer.
Waited a long time for this
Whether I agree or not, I stillI very much enjoy hearing your opinions. You have a unique style about your reviews. Also thank you for allowing us to experience the world through your eyes.
Pleased you have and there is more to come 👍🏼
I would go for the Royal Enfield. But do think they should bring the Honda to the UK to give people the choice. Good video by the way. Cheers Mate.
Back in in 1978 I learned to ride on a Honda CB400F four cylinder motorcycle. After retiring i tried to find a CB350F four cylinder. I found one from 1976 with 60,000 km on the clock. Instead I bought a Suzuki SV650 2018 in May with 30,000 km on the clock. It was cheaper and has a much better fuel economy. After 8,000 km I believe that this is the best motorcycle I have ever had, but I still can't forget the crush I had on a girl on the CB350F in Kalundborg back in 1975.
I think it's gorgeous. I wish they'd come up with a bigger retro looking bike. Something with the new 750 engine, maybe, or even the 500 they have. I'd buy one in a heartbeat. Enjoy your travels!
My thoughts also a 600 or 650
You can pre order them in the UK....delivery starting in mid February £3989 ...comes in three colours 🎉
They have the CB350 for sale at Arnold’s in Burton on Trent, low miles and full stainless exhaust nobody wants it,
@mrmoon1482 it is different to the GB350s
@ they are basically the same bike,
Very nice and good to hear Honda UK have finally taken a look outside to see where the markets headed and are getting this bike for the UK. Some great choices out there for the 350-400cc capacity bikes now.
This bike is really cool, and Hondas are very reliable. I wish we could see this beautiful machine here in Brazil.
This is such a fun looking bike! We do not get any Royal Enfields here in Hong Kong, but you can get both an Indian spec CB350, or a Japanese spec GB350 for about £5,000. If you could get a Royal Enfield i would sell my Kawasaki and get one of the RE650s! Interesting you say its big enough for someone of your height, i always thought they look small! Great review and video as always!
Thank you 😊
Bring it over, Honda. Healthy competition 👍👍
I'm in love with RE. My Classic 350 has given me back 20 years of life...I feel like a small kid while riding it. Classic lines are very nicer on the RE IMHO, still this Honda is a very good looking bike.
They just released GB350C in Korea but priced it much higher than RE 350 Classic. And Triumph just released Speed 400 at the same time. I think they made a huge mistake trying to make it into a premium price product instead of competing with RE 350 Classic.
In india it's competition is re classic as both are priced around same
@shaktiprasadkar7437 it's a rush bucket
Very cool that we learned today that this bike will be out in Europe soon, I really like it.
This will be coming to the UK January 2025. Which is great news! I’ve been flitting about between RE and Triumph speed 400 and this GB350 to me gives me greater feelings of buyer confidence coming from Honda
You mentioned the H'ness in the Indian market, and I understand that Honda has recently issued a recall on some bikes regarding faulty camshafts. That problem will sound familiar to some KTM owners, but unlike KTM, Honda is showing what proper customer service is by promising to replace all faulty parts free of charge regardless of the affected bike's warranty.
"Been riding this bike for six months now, and it’s an absolute gem! Known as the CB350RS in India, it perfectly blends stunning looks with a refined, vibration-free engine and an incredible exhaust note. Covered nearly 6,000 km so far, and it never fails to turn heads. Funny enough, some people walk past the Triumph 400 twins just to ask me, ‘Which bike is this?’"
@@nikhiljadhav007 great to hear 👍🏼
How could you go wrong with a bike like this, its Honda 👍
No character
Love the way it looks, never had the time to test one. Took the BSA goldstar for a test though and mighty impressed. The moment they told me they can’t give me spares to do my own service, left me disappointed. Still searching for the right motorcycle 😢.
The GB is 20 kg lighter than the hunter with 2L more tank volume, making it way easier to commute on the highway
It isn't. The Hunter is 181kg, the GB 178.
I would love to see the Honda 350’s become available in the UK. I currently have a 1971 Cb350 twin (with a little more power than these) and find for my type of riding 350cc is a bit of a sweet spot - capable for longer distances if you’re not in a hurry, but easy and light to manage for bimbling around town and hustling along country roads. A good value little Honda would be high on my wish list.
Hey man, i am owner of both the RE AND honda i'll tell you what, this bike is for those highway riders, its not specifically meant for people who like RE. Yes i know in city traffic in india you feel like this GB should have a bit more torque but well it is what it is.
The average price for servicing this bike in india is 1.5 times the price of RE service but belive me it is worth it. RE bikes throw some issue or the other around 2020-2022 thats why i migrated to the honda. Also now RE service is better compared to what was there previously, but trust me thos bike also is a very good bike
I've heard it's got to do with the higher second gear
I saw this motorcycle in a dealership in Australia last year while on exchange and fell in love. Didn't purchase it because it wasn't what I had shown up for. Later that year went to Bali and rented some beat up motorcycles that were a hoot to throw around. I have a love for the cheap parts, good looking, small CC bikes now and would love for these to come to Canada.
Hey @Mr Darcy & The 'Ol Man, thanks a lot for your review of the Japanese-spec GB350S! It’s always great to hear your insights!
Just wanted to share some details and clarify a few points. There are two main country codes for the bike's VINs I believe. ME4 for India and JH2 for Japan, Singapore, and likely Australia. The specific model VINs are NC58 for the India version and NC59 for the Japan, Singapore, and probably Aussie versions.
As for the rear wheel and tyre sizes, there’s a noticeable difference between the GB350 and GB350S. The GB350 (the retro version) comes with a 130/70-18 tire on an 18-inch rear wheel, while the GB350S (the sportier version) gets a 150/70-17 tire on a 17-inch rear wheel, giving it a more aggressive look and feel. The GB350S also has rearset footpegs, lower handlebars, and sits IIRC 5mm lower, making it sportier overall.
You hit the nail on the head about it being a bit tall. I'm 172cm height-wise and rode an RE Hunter 350 and GB350S back to back at an event earlier this year. The Hunter is low-slung compared to the GB350. It's almost as if it's made for US/Europe. Men in the USA and Europe average around 175-183 cm in height, while in India and Japan, the average is around 165-170 cm.
Having said that ... there are several 20mm lowering kits in Japan and TONS of accessories like tachometer, fairings, bags, Moriwaki dress up parts and mufflers, etc. Just look up GB350S on Webike.
Tech-wise the head has an oil cooling gallery, there are balancers and a poor man's dry sump (basically a reed valve that keeps oil in the gearbox section of the crankcase). It's also got a VTEC style under-piston oil squirter jet but that's found in many bikes these days.
Type Approvals in Australia, Malaysia, and Singapore generally follow EU-style regulations, often based on the latest UNECE guidelines, meaning that homologation documents are likely ready for Europe and the UK markets. In India, however, Type Approval is managed domestically through the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI), with slightly different standards tailored to the local market.
Which all means Honda Motor Co. is very likely all set to bring these bikes to Europe and the UK if they choose to expand. It's up to motoring journos like you and potential clients to raise awareness and plonk down deposits for the GB350S, GB350 and GB350C aka CB350RS, H'Ness CB350 and CB350 (DLX/DLX Pro) respectively.
Once again, thanks for the awesome review of the GB350S! It's a great product that Honda Motor Co should ABSOLUTELY sell in the USA, UK and Europe IMO. BTW there is a THIRD variant, the ultra classic GB350C launching in Japan around 10th October 2024. Further details here - global.honda/jp/news/2024/2240912-gb350c.html
Singapore comes both H’ness and GB.
But I like CB350 H’ness more as it is Toe-Heel shifter.
@@Thomas_Tan4577 Oh yes I forgot to add the CB350 H'ness/GB350 (retro/classic) has a heel and toe shifter.
@@scudonepercenter it seems that GB version isn’t. Try look at the video. I can’t really see it clearly. Must ask Darcy whether the GB unit he’s riding issit single shifter or heel toe shifter…
@Thomas_Tan4577 No the GB350S and it's equivalent the CB350RS in India and Malaysia do not. The exhaust is also slightly more upswept I believe.
We do get the same bike in India BTW, it's called "CB 350 RS", AND AND!, we also recently got some custom kits to it as well and the "CB350 Highness" as well. I'd recommend checking out the videos on CB 350 RS "Hue Edition" and the CB 350 H'ness "cafe racer edition" from India, and there's a cafe racer edition for this one as well, the "CB 350 RS cafe racer edition". I wish this comment reaches you cause it's a month too late, I'm afraid. But if you do happen to check this out then, I'm sure you'll love them!
Cant wait to see these in the UK!
Don’t think they are coming to the uk
@@simongould2384 rumors of honda bringing out a cb400 at eicma to compete with re and triumph small cc bikes. Might be similar
@@simongould2384 no will be to expensive.
@simongould2384 I've read an article that said they've "put the paperwork to register the 'GB350 S' trademark in the UK and Europe", so I have my hopes up!
@@antonyono2257and GB in this model literally stands for Great Britain…
I agree RE better fact is they have caught up the others and will very soon be their equal. But i fear this wil then reflect the price increases..but RE have something others dont .charm and bags of character.
Darcy, have you thought of testing the Kawasaki Meguro 800 while you are there? Kind of a W800 but called a Meguro by Kawasaki as a tribute to the Meguro company. Looks to be only sold in Japan at the moment.
Honda, bring this to North America. And make a version with the 471cc twin.
If they had this or a 500cc version available then it would probably be the only Honda I'd be interested in now that their midsize tourers are dead.
@@GTarditi it's maddening cause the Japanese Four nail the styling every now and then, but totally muck it up the other 98% of the time. And they just need to use that old UJM styling of the 70s and 80s CB500 type bikes
@@igneous85 yeah, maddening is the right choice of word. I'd love to grab a W800 or maybe an SR400 if I got the chance, those bikes were great but just too early to cash in fully on the retro bike trend of right now.
@@GTarditiI’m looking at a W800. Nothing like a 360 crank. I’d take this Honda over the W if it were similar displacement.
@@GTarditiThen you will be glad to hear that Honda has trade marked the GB500s name in Europe and US.
I prefer this one over RE. Visited the Intermot 2024 and could check out both. I don't trust the quality of RE, being a former 410 Himalayan owner. It just doesn't work for me being stranded 3 times in one year. Honda however, no matter where they are made, have a better track record and honestly this one looks better than a Hunter or similar.
Great video and a lovely bike. Great 360 filming which was great to see the scenery of Japan 👍🏼
Great video and review! Astonishing venue. Duty can be so demanding…. If these were available, unless it is just crazy high-priced, it’s likely it would sell. They do need to put on a decent front mudguard.
Honestly for me the GB350 looks better then the Rebel 500
Very interesting- I wondered how these Hondas would be. And seven weeks!! What a trip😃
It is for sale in the UK now Mr D ;)
Make it a 650, air-cooled, and for not much more money than this, they couldn't keep them in stock.
If chinese brands can get honda's old 650 thumper they used in the Dominator to pass euro 5 while still having 40hp, so can Honda themselves right?
I agree. The difference between the RE 350 and 650 is nothing size wise also. The RE350 is just so gutless and with the size of the bike its really underwhelming.
@@jaide1312What Chinese 650 is that? 400cc air-cooled is biggest I found.
Probably gonna choose one of these above a RE. Greetings from Germany.
The problem with this bike is that Honda benchmarked last gen UCE 350 platform Royal Enfield but Enfield was already working on their big generational upgrade with J-series which was release just months after this honda. So this offers nothing unique or extra compared to Enfield. Honda should have instead launched it in 500cc as Enfield have discontinued that.
I love RE, but there's something esthetic about the Honda that i really love. Sad to hear the quality isn't quite up there, and sadder that it's not available in the US either.
I'd love if this bike came to the US as well, though I doubt it ever will. I've been in the market for a smaller capacity bike, this would've been one of the bikes on my shortlist. The only Hondas that make it over here are the modern ones with terrible styling choices lol
Great video! I'm glad you're enjoying your trip. The Honda GB350S looks like a great bike...I agree with you that the Royal Enfield has a nicer finish. But I think the Honda GB350S is a great value for the money...Are you going to work with Netflix? that's cool...Ya insta 360 is a pretty cool camera sir
Thanks 😊
@@MrDarcy-OlMan You are welcome sir
Price is the thing. Here in Brazil Honda just updated their Bros 160, an entry level trailie (?) , and it costs close to 20 thousand of our money. For that you can get the Hunter 350. And Honda really doesn’t care because they have dealers pretty much anywhere, they’ve built a reputation for reliability and they hold 60% of the market.
It has a sublime gear shifts and suspension setup. Best long stroke 350cc engine out there. Yes it is underpowered, but air cooled and frisky long stroke makes it amazing for country roads. The take off from traffic lights is brisk and elegant. I have taken it on hard enduro runs, many of them. So far managed to bend one rim slightly which was fixable. It’s a road biased but planted suspension, but if you can work it properly and take out the abs fuse, you can keep up with 390adventure, Scrambler 400x, Himalayan450 without breaking a sweat. On road the manners are gentle and slightly slower than the right amount of quick. So highway overtakes at full 4th gear send need to be planned before going for it, but brakes and handling is spot on-road. A bit unnecessarily heavy but somehow that added weight seems to help along with its overall profile in stability through cross winds. It’s a fun mile crunching daily runner for a rider.
Nice video! Hi from Taiwan . You may remember I told you in your previous Japan video that I had bought a Honda Highness and am waiting delivery ...Still waiting...There are several differences between the GB350s and the Highness. The H'ness saddle is very different...the pillion seat is separated from the rider's .Also it doesn't stick up in the air like the GB. I don't actually like these saddles that are raised high above the rear wheel. The Highness has much longer and better (I think) mudguards. The indicators are round , not narrow and pointy like the GBs. The exhaust pipe is all chrome. Personally I think the Highness is more retro and better looking than the GBs. It's more like the 70s Hondas in looks and I like it far more. Honda has also produced a 2024 CB 350 which is even more retro, although it's not really my style. It's more like 1940s and 50s in looks. The sand colored and matte green models are almost WW2 military looking!
I like the 70s look. That's when I grew up...Many thanks for your hugely enjoyable content. Looking forward to the next one! Cheers!
PS Oh yeah...The price... The Highness , which is made in India, sells for the equivalent of 3,000 pounds brand new here...Real value for money !
Good looking no frills bike, they've got the proportions bang on. I'd have one. 👍
Well now it's been confirmed to be coming to Europe it'll be nice to see how sales stack up to the RE. Even though both are built in India, I trust that Honda will not have the terrible spares supply issues that RE seem to have in the UK and that if nothing else would have me heading towards the Honda dealer.
The Honda is made in Japan. We can see the VIN at EICMA which refers to made in Japan.
@@AstralBayo sure, I think the only question remains is is this a 'kit' sent from India and then assembled in Japan, I guess we'll never know.
Am from india have been riding RE CONTINENTAL GT. I personally prefer honda gb/cb 350
Really like this bike. I might be tempted to retire my 1998 CB250W (Nighthawk) and get on as they are now available in the UK.
An interesting bike. It is a shame that they don't sell it in Europe. In the 350 cc segment it would be a good seller.
Yes they should bring it in, BUT they should bring in the CB1300, it is nearly euro 5 Early ones are ULEZ compliant and the updated ones are just great, 6 speed box, cruise control and still have the awesome looks
Come to Chicago in the summer Darcy, I assure you, the cicadas are loud enough to deafen you haha.
That’s true! The GB350S (CB350RS) looks similar to the RE Hunter 350 due to the fact that Honda BigWing India intends to rival Royal Enfield in the 350cc series.
GB350S (CB350RS) V Hunter 350
GB350 (H’ness CB350) V Meteor 350
GB350C (CB350) V Bullet and Classic 350
My guess is Honda is trying to provide the Indian and Japanese market more on the options of a tracker or scrambler, modern classic and classic motorcycles rather than the current line up they have which are pretty much catered to the naked/sports/adv bike that’s been on the market more on the recent years.
On the quality aspect, I do agree on how there are more plastic-like features on the GB350S rather than the metallic components of the Hunter 350 (Eg. Instrument cluster etc).
That being said, I’m glad this video is being made so Honda could further export these machines out of JP/IN with more viewers getting interested. I bought my H’ness CB350 (GB350) through Parallel Import in Singapore and there’s very little to no support in parts and services for the bike. Honda Boon Siew Singapore (Official Singapore Honda Motorcycle Distributor) used to sell the GB350S (CB350RS) in the showroom in recent years but eventually stopped this year due to probably the lack of knowledge and reviews on this bike in this city-state I live in.
On the other hand, Honda BigWing in my neighbouring country, Malaysia, has the CB350RS (GB350S) in their showroom recently this year.
Hopefully, more countries are able to get their hands on this array of Honda’s classic 350 bikes! Great video, can’t wait for the next. Cheers!
On sale from January 2025 in the UK (£3,949) and in Europe (price in Germany only EUR 3,900 or EUR 4,490 - equivalent to £3,721 - with transfer costs). Thanks for the testride!
The Honda GB350S or H'ness or whatever it's called is made in India specifically for the mass Asian market that the Royal Enfield Hunter is also concentrated on. I'm also led to believe that the H'ness and the RE J-series were both introduced at about the same time, though I'm not completely sure on this. The two bikes are both long stroke machines and also remarkably similar in horsepower, weight, styling, etc. I wonder if Honda is not on top of quality control of its Indian products, or if Asian economics calling for a cheap and robust bike means some short cuts are taken?
In any case, as a Hunter owner, what I like about the H'ness are the larger wheels (18" rear, 19" front) and the longer wheelbase, a better set up for bumpy roads, though nowhere near as nimble in dense traffic or tight spots. Unfortunately, one cannot have it both ways. Overall, though, I think that, like the Hunter, the H'ness would also be a great platform for customisation
We get them in Australia....
I liked the small displacement royal enfield bikes, they were tons of fun on slower backroads. Sadly honda dont offer this beauty in the usa.
I’d love to see these in NZ, but I don’t think Honda will do it. (But our fuel prices say they should)
I really enjoyed banging around on my CBR250R single for a few years. A single has such a cool little character.
I have one in Sydney Australia. I would buy a Japanese built bike any day of the week over anything Indian. We have harsh conditions in Australia, we know what lasts
But this bike is made by Honda India and not Honda Japan. But surely typical honda . Just eahaust note with nonengine sound
@@vikasshelke5544incorrect. GB350 is made in Japan. Indian version is the CB350
Surprised that honda dont sell it in Europe. Nice bike. And it out thumps the bullet too ( at least in stock form). You're right that 1100 looks goid enough to eat!
Gb 350s is arriving to Europe in 2025 and a 500cc will follow later, great news, sick of honda modern plastic design and tft display.
When is the 500cc coming. That sounds amazing
Obviously they have now brought this bike to the UK, I saw it at the Motorcycle live show and was quite impressed. I would always choose a Honda over a Royal Enfield and if I was in the market for a 20bhp motorcycle then it would be my pick. Unfortunately I think Honda are a couple of years too late to the party and things have moved on considerably. For the UK market a single with 400cc and more like 40bhp just makes more sense, you still have below 400cc road tax but highway performance for the odd overtake when you need it, hence Triumph are selling them by the bucket load.
Hi! Greetings from Thailand in Phuket
If you are visiting Phuket, there are a few shops that rent out RE bikes
Strange how Australia and New Zealand get this and the single cylinder Harleys, which they are unavailable in the UK.
I really wish they would make 250-350 size honda in the style of the 90s/00s CB500, they were so functional
I bought CB350rs( Indian variant) mat grey color and its absolutely beautiful and the engine is very refined compared to royal Enfields only thing is it's service cost is twice of Royal Enfields, I'm getting 40+ kmpl on highways.
for modern classics, Honda should bring their shadow phantom and aero to Europe. They still sell them, they look amazing, they ride amazing, but for some obscure reason (euro 5, not that obscure) they don't sell it in Europe. It's a shame.
Give me my shadow, Honda! Pretty please?
You can atleast get a used older one for dirt cheap, and they're dead reliable too!
@@jaide1312 I am actually keeping an eye out for one, but sellers around here know they're good and most of the time they don't come that cheap.
I would also like an ABS one, but it's rare.
I’m jealous of your trip!!!
This is not a CB350 highness, it's a CB350RS as sold in India, despite both having the same engine, both have different characteristics like riding position and engine tuning
Nice video.
PS I really like my Insta 360 too, it's a great camera and the only camera I use in my very unprofessional videos (not that I'm trying to vlog or anything).
It is for sale in Europe since 2025 ❤❤❤ Just went to the dealer to look at it.❤
We have Cicadas in USA that come out every so many years and several broods. GB350 is very interesting and I can understand why they did not bring it to the USA where the Rebel is the starter or lower priced Motorcycle from Honda and accomodates shorter riders very well. I agree with you on the RE vs Honda. Was waiting for you to contrast to the Triumph 400. Triumph makes such good "riding" motorcycles, I bet that would be a tall order. Dealers in the USA just can't make $ on low end high volume so as long as they have one "entry bike" they are fine. RE, Honda and Triumph are killing dealers like Harley on that. Since so many dealers in USA have multiple brands where even a Kawasaki dealership also sells either Triumph or Honda, they are covered. Safe Travels. I'll be very curious when you post from Korea what bikes they tend to ride there.
just ordered one of these in Manchester UK - should arrive late March - its a simple air cooled single - perfect bobber. I have ridden ST1300's down to Monkey Bikes - but to me - for a man of my advanced years - this is just a great run around. Metzler Tyres - I love - I'll be going for Blue - that's the classic CB colour - and it is CB350S in Japan, just GB350S for us here in the UK. I have ordered this without test ride or ever having sat on it -you shouldn't need to. It is what it is, a brilliant little commuter / country road slow cruiser. I looked at the Royal Enfield - I just hate spoked wheels - distrust Indian made engines - and don't want to ride on a bike trying desperately to be retro 70's rather than a good solid 80's styled road bike
@@timclynes2846 awesome enjoy when it arrives 👍🏼
I agree, Darcy...I'll stick with my RE Meteor 350. I like Honda. My first 2 bikes were Hondas...back in the day when a computer filled a whole room! 😂
The one point the Honda has on the Royal Enfields is the fact it doesn't have a speed limiter. Sure, it's not a bike to travel fast, but it's nice that it doesn't cut power at 117 kph if you wonna do the odd overtake on the motorway.
The insect you mentioned around the 7:20 mark is called minminzemi.
Honda should re-make/revise the 1989-90 GB500TT single 500cc. That would be great. I'm surprised the Honda CB 350's quality wasn't as good as the Royal Endfield! Is the Honda made in Japan or elsewhere?
It's made in india, I own one and I have done around 20k kms in 1.3 years but mine does not have the issues that he is talking about.
It’s manufactured in India and all the reviews I’ve seen so far - people are not having any issues at all.
This is the honda cb 350rs in india. I have one in grey colour. Engine very smooth and refined and also very comfortable to ride.😊😊
You could do some Jousting with that insta 360 camera 😅. I'm loving that Honda GB350S, although its gonna cost more than any Royal Enfield once it reaches the UK. I'll have an Enfield any day.
Nothing beats Royal Enfield. That bike is built with a lot of passion, and it shows!
This is a cool little bike. Please try the Honda Hawk 11 while on Japan. I would really like to hear your thoughts about it.
This bike is coming to UK, £3949. And the slip assist clutch for me make it better choice for me over the Enfield.
Cool video, would it carry two (10st) folks? Approximately
@@robertsteadman4226 Thanks, yes it would 👍🏼
@@MrDarcy-OlMan Thanks man, enjoy your adventures in Japan. The CB350 is coming to the uk this year, 4k a pop but will get a used Meteor 👍👍
I'm currently deciding between this bike and the RE Classic 350. The CB350 RS is roughly USD1000 cheaper than the Classic 350. I like the exhaust note and character of the Classic 350. Yet to test ride the CB350 RS.
Where do you live with such huge price difference? These both bikes are made in India and are sold at same prices.
@@SurajSinghTomarArya in Malaysia.
3:10 I wouldn't give that exhaust more than a uk winter or two. Those things keep the exhaust pipe aftermarket in business.
I definitely think this is better than the Hunter 350, but ultimately the Classic 350 beats it in almost every way, aside from weight. I’m sure the Old Man would agree :)
Undeniably Honda have made a nice, and versatile bike for their market. Hope it has some success and they improve it gradually.
I love Hondas but in this case i would definitely go for Royal Enfield also but rumors has it RE will release a Classic 650 next year so ill wait for that😅
Love the Honda and had a few.
But the Japanese bikes have always been a style unto themselves.
Even in the 60s and 70s.
For me, retro means old European or USA style of machines.
Lovely 'lil bike 👌
Coming to france in January 25, am ordering it now
To me better choice than RE and much cheaper
Honda looks much better and sounds much better as well.. plus it sticks to the spirit of deus ex machina..❤
Never buy an RE…..or at least a 2021/22 Interceptor 650. Now seven months of waiting for parts to arrive for the dreaded 3rd gear fail, meaning a whole new gearbox. Under warranty but should have been a recall (caused by gears not being properly hardened during production)….of course a Honda beats it.
Good one Darcy - saw one here in Sydney on Monday and it looked OK ....def not as stylish as my RE 350
Super plastic-y and cheapie feeling and looking. Speedo in particular. I’ve driven Hondas my whole life and own a vintage CB175. But yeah for my taste, 350 bullet feels waaaaay more quality than this. Same goes for the CBR500. Thing just feels so cheap. Wish Honda wouldn’t cut corners on quality like that
I own a CB350 RS They call it cb350rs in India yea its the same bike and it is so good and I love everything about it
Would be nice to include in your review some facts like fuel consumption, 0-60 time, top speed. From what I know Royal Enfield mostly lacks in top speed compared to CB/GB350. It is also a bit heavier.
GB350 that is offered in EU i made in Japan and that is a big factor for me persanally compared to the RE made in India. I also think you should compare this to RE Meteor and definately not the Classic. In Poland the new GB350 is quite a bit cheaper than RE Meteor (and a lot cheaper than RE Classic).
Honda also has tubeless tyres and RE does not. Brakes are Nissin and not some ByBre or whatever like on the RE. Service intervals for the motor will probably be at least 12k km and not 6k km (valve adjustment) like in RE. It is a lot of tiny details but they count. Sure it would be better for it to have a full chrome exhaust like in the Hness but I can probably get some aftermarket pipes after a while or chrome coat the stock one after warranty.
It just doesn’t have the character of the Royal Enfield