Honda’s launch of the H’ness CB350 in the Indian market was arguably one of the biggest surprises of the year. Recently, the brand also announced that in just 20 days, Honda had delivered more than 1,000 units of the modern-classic motorcycle. The launch of the H’ness CB350 was also just a few weeks apart from the earlier unchallenged Royal Enfield, raining on its parade.
Now a media report suggests that the brand might be planning to introduce a scrambler version of the CB350 in the international market. The source has been quite accurate especially when it comes to Japanese motorcycles leading us to believe that in the scrambler avatar, the brand plans to bring the CB350 to the European market.
In the scrambler avatar, the Honda H’ness CB350 is likely to come with a headlight grille, fork gaiters, spoked wheels shod in knobby tyres, increased ground clearance, engine bash plate, new handlebars and high mounted exhaust pipe. The chassis and powertrain are expected to remain the same. India’s new ‘Bharat Stage 6’ (BS6) emission norms are on par with the Euro5 specifications which means it will be easier for Honda to homologate the motorcycle in the overseas market.
In India, the Honda H’ness CB350 is powered by a 348.36cc, single-cylinder, air-cooled long-stroke engine that produces 20.8 Bhp of power and 30 Nm of torque matched to a 5-speed transmission with slipper & assist clutch. The Honda H’ness CB350 also comes with a half-duplex cradle chassis that rides on conventional front fork suspension and twin hydraulic with coil spring assist shock absorbers. The scrambler model is expected to use a slightly uprated suspension.
With the new Honda H’ness CB350 in the global market, the Royal Enfield 350 series of motorcycles will also compete on the international level. The scrambler is also expected to make it to the Indian market creating a niche segment in the 350cc single-cylinder class. Honda is unlikely to stop there and a Cafe Racer version could also be expected in the future based on the CB350.