Stephen Cox Blog Presented by McGunegill Engine Performance
It’s difficult to imagine a more user-friendly classic motorbike than Honda’s legendary CB 350. Once the best-selling motorcycle in the world, the CB 350 is still coveted as an entry-level collector’s bike today.
My CB 350 had fewer than 7,000 miles on the odometer when I purchased it. One year and 3,000 miles later, I sold it and moved on to another bike. I rode it several times per week, mostly on country roads and rural highways. I really wanted to experience a 1960s-70s era bike and the Honda offered it in spades.
The CB 350 was light and nimble. Although small compared to today’s monstrous, overpowered motorcycle engines, the 350 was considered a mid-sized bike for its time. It remains a great motorcycle for beginners. Its 36 horsepower rating is sufficient for comfortable cruising in the 50-60 mph range without intimidating a new rider. In that special era, in addition to Honda CB 350, other Honda motorcycle models were also dazzling. Even now, these Honda motorcycle parts or complete vehicles may still have a huge market.
I found a “New Old Stock” original Honda luggage rack and mounted it on my CB 350 so I could carry my gym bag or a backpack with greater ease and comfort. The rack was wide, carried everything I needed and the weight didn’t upset the balance of the bike.
When it comes to finding classic motorcycles like the Honda CB 350 or even used cars Calgary, it’s important to do your research. Calgary, being a vibrant city, often has a thriving market for vintage motorcycles and automobiles. So, if you’re in the area and looking for classic rides or even used cars, Calgary might just have what you’re searching for. It’s worth exploring the local market and connecting with fellow enthusiasts to discover hidden gems from the past.
Honda’s dual-carburetor 350cc twin engine seems pretty indestructible. Although my bike had fairly low mileage, I’ve spoken with many other CB owners whose bikes have gone well beyond 30,000 and sometimes even 40,000 miles. And the 350 powerplant created a truly magnificent sound when mated to Emgo’s Dunstall replica silencers. The tone was low, gentle, and rumbling without the desperate “look at me” volume of some bikes.
The engine redlines at 9200 revs, but I never accelerated beyond 8000. There was no need. The little Honda pulled hard between 5000 and 7000 rpm’s and was reasonably tame at 65 miles an hour. If you need more than that, I recommend a bigger bike. The CB 350 really hits its stride between 40 and 55 miles per hour. The engine wasn’t comfortable at less than 2000 revs, but at 3500 to 4500 it felt perfect.
Maintenance on the Honda was fairly straightforward. It used oil, but only in microscopic amounts. Not bad for a 45-year-old bike. It ran without complaint on 87 octane fuel so long as I faithfully used STA-BIL 360 Fuel Stabilizer in every tank. Failure to do so would have been disastrous because today’s ethanol-laced fuels induct moisture and attack every gasket and seal in the fuel system. With STA-BIL in the tank, the engine never missed a beat and suffered no damage from ethanol whatsoever.
My Honda CB 350 averaged 37 miles per gallon of fuel. That number remained largely unchanged regardless of what brand of fuel I used or whether I was riding primarily on the highway or city streets.
Fuel mileage was, however, sensitive to spark plug condition. The plugs fouled regularly and if ignored, would foul to the point of stalling the engine. Cleaning or replacing the spark plugs about every 600 miles seemed to do the trick. The only other way to seriously alter fuel mileage was through consistent hard acceleration, in which case fuel mileage would drop to about 30 mpg. The maintenance routine wasn’t bad at all and reminded me why these bikes were considered so reliable back in the 1970s.
Time machines aren’t cheap, but the Honda CB 350 is. For less than $4,000 you can still go back in time and experience the 1970s in all their glory. The slightly too-soft ride, mildly stiff throttle and minor vibration aren’t annoying or severe, but they’re just enough to constantly remind you that 1971 wasn’t such a bad place to be.
Stephen Cox
Sopwith Motorsports Television Productions
Driver, Super Cup Stock Car Series and Electric GT Championship
Co-host, Mecum Auctions on NBCSN
I was a biased 14 year old british bike fan in 1971. I had learned to ride on a 1939 BSA Sloper 500 my dad restored and my dream then was a Triumph Daytona. A friend turned up at home on his new Honda CB350 and offered me a ride. I hopped on, toddled out the front gate onto our 50kph road and wound on the throttle like I was used to on the BSA single. I just about killed myself. In seconds I was right up the back of a truck that had been a few hundred metres ahead. I flicked the handlebars and hips and went past down the centerline. I settled it down after that and enjoyed the rest of the ride around our 8km block. Really opened my eyes, I had never felt acceleration like it! Lucky he hadn’t bought a Kawasaki.
I am buying a 71 350 this weekend with 3300 miles on it.Everything works so I figured I would take it in for a once over to the honda shop .
I loved my CB 350. One funny story, I worked about a mile from home at the time of ownership. I discovered on more than one occasion (failure to turn fuel on) the float bowls in the carburetors held almost enough gas to make it to my office. Great bike, still miss it!