Honda CB350RS
We take the sportier sibling of H’Ness out for a quick spin
Honda launched the H’ness CB350 a few months back in a bid to become the lord of the 350cc ring. The company has now added a new variant in form of the Honda CB350RS. We had a close look at the bike in last month’s issue and now it is time to ride it.
The first thing to notice is that Honda has dropped the ‘H’ness’ tag from the CB. Hence it gets a new logo and that surely brings us a lot of pleasure. The badge looks rather retro and in turn is a gels well with the CB heritage. The Honda CB350RS at first glance looks very different thanks to the bright new colours. The lack of chrome and increased use of black spread across the bike looks better. The company has also done away with a host of metal components like the fenders and this in turn has helped reduce weight marginally. The front fender is plastic and one can notice the blacked out headlight ring. The winkers are new and feature LEDs much like the headlight. The instrument panel remains the same but unfortunately the RS does not get Bluetooth connectivity and the mobile phone charging socket. Honda has also added a bash plate on the RS and it sure looks rather purposeful. The rear section is where the major change has happened. The rear fender is all plastic and the tail light has moved up and is a rectangular LED unit much like the winkers. This gives the bike a very modern look and syncs with the overall design. Thanks to these changes the seat has also seen a revi
sion and is more comfy to be on. Thanks to the redesigned rear, the grab handle too has been revised. Actually it looks better than the H’ness CB350.
As far as mechanical changes go, the Honda CB350RS comes with some subtle but important ones. Honda has gone in for a 19in front wheel and a 17in one at the back. The tyres are block pattern MRF Zapper Kurves and they sure look meaty on the bike. The exhaust has been retinkered with and is now upswept. The entire system has also been blacked out. The CB350RS also does away with the old school heel and toe shifter. The foot pegs now sit 112mm rear ward and 12mm upward. The handlebar on the other hand has moved up by 10mm and farther by 41mm. All this in turn has resulted in a marginally more aggressive riding position. However it is not a deal breaker if you are looking at cruising long distances.
Under the skin though, the CB350RS is identical to the H’ness with the same 350cc engine delivering 21bhp and 30Nm of torque. We are also happy to report that inspite of tinkering with the exhaust system, the sound track of the bike remains unchanged. But how is the CB 350RS to ride? Let’s find out.
Get on the bike and one feels immediately comfortable. The revised foot peg and handlebar positions sure feel a bit sportier than before but nothing too aggressive. Thumb the starter and a rorty exhaust note becomes audible. The note is deep and sure sounds nice. The clutch action is light and the bike takes off with a genuine dose of enthusiasm. The gear shifts are crisp and as one goes through them the exhaust note keeps in sync adding to the riding experience. The bike offers plenty torque lower down in the order and one does not need to downshift to overtake. Just twist the throttle and the RS gets going. A speedo indicated 120kmph is easily achievable and the good thing is that the vibrations are kept well under check even at this speed. But to be honest, the bike is best ridden at around 100kmph as this is when it is in its elements thus providing a comfortable cruising experience. The engine also feels rev happy and even in third, hitting the rev limiter is no issue. The slipper clutch adds to the sporty ride feel and one can downshift rapidly thus allowing generous
engine braking.
Let’s mention here that the RS has lost many metal components seen on the H’ness CB350. Hence is it lighter and feels more agile in city conditions. The bike is very flickable now and this means that in city conditions, wiggling through traffic is rather easy. It also does not feel heavy to move around too. The well set up suspension ensures that ruts and potholes are dismissed with ease. This ensures good comfort on the go. The new tyres also offer generous grip and one can even be brave and get onto trails with them. Adding to the peace of mind is the engine bash plate. Around corners, the RS feels very predictable and there is ample cornering clearance too thanks to the repositioned exhaust.