The 350cc retro motorcycle space in India is no longer a one-horse race. Royal Enfield’s Classic 350 may still be the poster bike of this segment, but there are other serious competitors also present in the space, including the Honda’s CB350 H’ness. Here, let’s take a quick look at how these two models stack up against each other.

Royal Enfield Classic 350 vs Honda CB350: Engine and performance

The Royal Enfield Classic 350 is powered by a 349cc, single-cylinder, air-oil cooled engine. It produces 20.2 bhp at 6,100 rpm and 27 Nm of torque at 4,000 rpm. The motor is paired with a 5-speed gearbox.Honda’s CB350 H’ness uses a 348.36cc, single-cylinder, air-cooled, 4-stroke OHC engine. It delivers approximately 20.8 bhp at 5,500 rpm and 30 Nm of torque at 3,000 rpm. This too is mated to a 5-speed gearbox.On paper, the Honda makes slightly more power and higher torque. More importantly, peak torque arrives earlier at 3,000 rpm. That usually means stronger low-speed pull.

Royal Enfield Classic 350 vs Honda CB350: Dimensions and weight

The Classic 350 tips the scales at 195 kg kerb weight. It has a seat height of 805 mm and a 13-litre fuel tank. Ground clearance is rated at 170 mm, while the wheelbase measures 1,390 mm.The CB350 H’ness is lighter at 181 kg kerb weight. Seat height is slightly lower at 800 mm. It also gets a larger 15-litre fuel tank and 166 mm of ground clearance. The wheelbase is longer at 1,441 mm.

The Classic 350 uses 41 mm telescopic front forks. At the rear, it gets dual shock absorbers with 6-step adjustable preload. The CB350 H’ness features telescopic front suspension and twin hydraulic rear shock absorbers. For braking, the Classic 350 gets a 300 mm front disc with a twin-piston floating caliper and a 270 mm rear disc with a single-piston caliper. The CB350 H’ness uses a larger 310 mm front disc with twin-piston caliper and a 240 mm rear disc with single-piston caliper. Both motorcycles come equipped with dual-channel ABS.

This is where the difference becomes more visible. The Royal Enfield Classic 350 keeps things simple. It now gets an LED headlamp and LED indicators, adjustable clutch and brake levers, a gear position indicator, USB charging port and dual-channel ABS.The Honda CB350 H’ness takes a more tech-focused approach. It comes with an assist and slipper clutch, Honda Selectable Torque Control (traction control), Emergency Stop Signal (ESS), hazard switch and side stand engine inhibitor. It also features a semi-digital instrument cluster and, on select variants, Honda RoadSync with smartphone voice control and Bluetooth connectivity. Dual-channel ABS is standard.

As for pricing, the Royal Enfield Classic 350 starts at approximately Rs 1.82 lakh, depending on the variant. The Honda CB350 H’ness starts at approximately Rs 1.92 lakh, ex-showroom, again depending on the variant.