Photo/text: OA Isdahl
The Honda CB 350 S was launched at EICMA in November 2024, but unfortunately very few of the new model arrived in Norway this spring and those that did were sold immediately. I have therefore not had the opportunity to test drive this exciting news until now but I am really looking forward to this. The Honda GB 350 S is a super-important competitor in this retro-classic segment that has several exciting competitors from Royal Enfield (HNTR 350 and Meteor 350), Triumph with the Speed 400, BSA has just launched its brand new Bantam 350, CF Moto and Voge. All quite different and varyingly motorized within the class’s power limitations of Max 35 kw.
But then again, success in this class doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to extract maximum power to succeed in the A2 class, the picture is more complicated than that and we’ll come back to that in the test.
No one should underestimate the 21 horsepower and 27 Newton meters of the GB 350 S, which should not be judged by these two numbers alone. Sometimes it’s even as the saying goes, that “less is more”. Honda has long experience of producing bikes in this class and therefore knows a lot about what it takes to succeed. And that’s what we’re going to find out now.
The GB 350 S undoubtedly has a wide range of uses and we’re going to try everything. The bike will be ridden in town and country, on firm and loose surfaces and on hills and mountains. So far, I’ve had a very positive impression of the newcomer, which I think is going to be one of the winners in this class. Comfort, ergonomics, mechanical precision and driving characteristics are perceived as good and the 19-inch front wheel, in combination with good damping properties, wheelbase and steering angle, creates great cornering characteristics.
The bike I got from the importer Kellox has a small elegant light cover that has a surprisingly large effect. It’s cool too,
The machinery is nice and the finish on the seat stops is beautiful and cool and gives the driver an experience of quality and luxury and the analog instrument with a small digital field ensures that I as a driver have what I need and driving information. Wide handlebar (I like) and cool sound, Honda is good at sound these days.
The model has attachment points for side bags and its own center support that makes chain maintenance significantly easier.
It even has a center support that significantly simplifies chain maintenance, worthy but important details.
So this is going to be a lot of fun, I’ll have varying weather during the test period but we’ll be driving and I’m absolutely sure that the Metzeler Tourance tires will keep us well glued to the surface. Then we’ll come back with a verdict in the not too distant future. It’s going to be fun.