[texmonster]

Took test-ride of CB350, here are my random impressions:

• Bike looks substantially big in person, and an understated looker.
  
• Superb lovely exhaust note at idle and even better music while riding! I love the exhaust note of my Apache, and this CB sounds awesome.
  
• No vibrations or engine clatter, yet not lifeless-can feel the engine running under you. The dual horn of Pro is very louder than and sounds different than the single horn of DLX.
  
• Nice pickup, easy gearshifts-only used toe shifters, super light clutch, good brakes.
  
• Rode thro some stones and few potholes etc in normal speeds- suspension felt plush for me, compared to my Apache.
  
• Easily flickable and weight not felt while riding. Seating and footpeg position was comfortable, neither forward or rearset and committed like Apache. Big tank is nicely shaped to grip the legs around.
  
• Fit and finish looked very good. Plastic chrome used in brake light housing, horn covers and mirrors. Saree guard neatly integrated.
  
• When the turn indicators are used as DRLs, they light-up as a ring. During turns, they blink in the middle. Looked cool.

[ebonho]

Originally Posted by texmonster

[*]Nice pickup, easy gearshifts-only used toe shifters, super light clutch, good brakes.

In my personal opinion a heel shifter on a bike is just plain wrong.

The first thing I did when I got Figgy, my LB 500, was chop off and grind round and smooth the heel bit of the shifter.

The entire feel of the bike changes. As does your riding.

If you are worried about your office shoes, leave them in office. But ride a bike like it's meant to be ridden.

Cheers, Doc

[texmonster]

Originally Posted by ebonho

In my personal opinion a heel shifter on a bike is just plain wrong.

None of my bikes so far had a toe shifter Doc. Whe I get CB, I'll ignore the toe shifter part

[tchsvy]

Originally Posted by jaganm

I recall hearing on one of the reviews of the CB350 that a bike like the Highness does better with a 5 speed rather than a 6 speed gearbox.

Any idea of the thinking behind this? I've always felt that more gears is better than less. Even on this, we've seen that the 5th gear is way too tall and a gear in between 4th and 5th would've been useful isnt it?

I don't have much expertise on the technical aspects and leave it to more experienced members of the forum. From my experience yesterday, the gearing is designed for relaxed riding. If the bike is speaking to you it will say "relax, start the bike, now slot into first, stay there for a bit, now slot into second, relax, you can be here for a while, now slot into third, again take a breath and keep going, you are going to stay here longer(in the city), now get into fourth, relax...." by this time you are already doing city legal speeds, the fifth gear is for touring. With this sort of tall gearing, you will be using fifth gear (mostly) on the highways, so fifth is actually overdrive, sixth would have been useless on this bike.

Compared to my ceeber, which is eager to shift and urges you to throttle and shift-throttle and shift, this experience was refreshing, at least for me.

[ebonho]

Originally Posted by texmonster

None of my bikes so far had a toe shifter Doc. Whe I get CB, I'll ignore the toe shifter part

You mean heel shifter I'm sure.

It's difficult to physically ignore the heel with the way some of them are curved.

Invariably they foul with the heel of my riding boots, and then my mind just goes into a red haze man.

A nice flame cutter (or hacksaw if you are into the whole Hills have Eyes thing) and a grinder and Aaaal ij well n majja ni life after that.

Cheers, Doc

[texmonster]

Originally Posted by ebonho

You mean heel shifter I'm sure.

Yep my bad, Doc. Meant to say heel shifter

[nasirkaka]

One thing i forgot to mention earlier which was a big put-off apart from the interchanged horn & indicator switch is the the way tank is fastened to the frame. Sit on the bike, hold the tank with both hands and slowly try moving/twisting it left and right and there is a lot of movement. I had it on my P150 and hated it but that was 18 years back. Rock solid tank fitment on a bike feels so much nice. Not sure if they have used some rubber bushing etc to contain vibes, but movement/shake of the tank on a nice bike wa sort of a let down.
And no, it was not a one bike thing, i shook the tank on other display bikes with similar movement.

[Jo-G]

Not sure if anyone had already mentioned, and please excuse my ignorance, can any experts or users clarify, how is the gear configuration on CB350? 1 down 2,3,4,5 up or 1 up 2,3,4,5 down or all up or all down?

[texmonster]

Originally Posted by Jo-G

Not sure if anyone had already mentioned, and please excuse my ignorance, can any experts or users clarify, how is the gear configuration on CB350? 1 down 2,3,4,5 up or 1 up 2,3,4,5 down or all up or all down?

1 down 2,3,4,5 up

[jaganm]

Originally Posted by Jo-G

Not sure if anyone had already mentioned, and please excuse my ignorance, can any experts or users clarify, how is the gear configuration on CB350? 1 down 2,3,4,5 up or 1 up 2,3,4,5 down or all up or all down?

Does any bike come with all up or down shifters anymore? I remember my IndSuzuki from1984 had all down while the Honda CD100 had all up.

[Animesh]

Originally Posted by jaganm

Does any bike come with all up or down shifters anymore? I remember my IndSuzuki from1984 had all down while the Honda CD100 had all up.

Kawasaki 4S used to come with all in a line.

[Jo-G]

Originally Posted by jaganm

Does any bike come with all up or down shifters anymore? I remember my IndSuzuki from1984 had all down while the Honda CD100 had all up.

Yes friend, I am a biker of that era and have been on 4 wheelers all this while since then, already booked a CB, so just wanted to be mentally prepared, similar to driving LHD and RHD or riding a Bullet with breaks on left and other bikes with breaks on the right. After all it is all in the mindset that makes the difference. Eagerly waiting to get on a real 2 wheeler (barring short trips on gearless scooters) after decades on 4 wheels.

[GP19]

I believe people who bought CB350 in Mumbai are facing issue with registration.

Came across few tweets regarding registration issue including mine. Did the payment on 17th Oct, took the delivery of the bike on 13th Nov ( Due to auspicious day ) and till date no update on registration.

[tharian]

Originally Posted by jaganm

I recall hearing on one of the reviews of the CB350 that a bike like the Highness does better with a 5 speed rather than a 6 speed gearbox.

Any idea of the thinking behind this? I've always felt that more gears is better than less. Even on this, we've seen that the 5th gear is way too tall and a gear in between 4th and 5th would've been useful isnt it?

It does better with a 5sp since the 5th is a total overdrive gear. I don't think it can gain anymore speed than in 4th.
Gear ratios if spaced right for ride-ability in city and highway, then not too many gears are required.
I feel more number of gears are required for race vehicles and heavy vehicles because of their applications.

[texmonster]

Was casually looking up on CB350 on this weekend, found that Honda has finally updated the images of metallic colors (Pearl Black) correctly in brochure and also website.

Also, the RoadSync HSVCS system has a dedicated page with a comprehensive guide complete with FAQ on Honda global website:
https://global.honda/voice-control-s...ind-cb350.html