Honda Highness CB 350 Vs Royal Enfield Classic 350: Comparison Review
Honda Two Wheeler India has been launched Honda Highness (H'Ness) CB350 in its new exclusive high-end bike's showroom named Honda Big Wing Showroom in India. This bike will compete with the Royal Enfield Classic 350 or Bullet directly. The Royal Enfield India is the legendary oldest two-wheeler company in the world and famous for its pure Classic look and great engine reliability. Honda Two Wheeler India is also the famous Japanese two-wheeler company known for the newest technology and a very smooth engine. The comparison between Honda Highness CB 350 and Royal Enfield Classic 350 is going to be very smashing here. Read the detailed comparison review between the Honda Highness CB 350 Vs Royal Enfield Classic 350 below.
 |
| Image Courtesy: Honda and Royal Enfield |
Honda Highness CB 350 Vs Royal Enfield Classic 350: Engine and Specifications
Honda Highness CB 350 comes with an air-cooled 348.36cc, single-cylinder 4-stroke SI engine which generates a maximum power of 20.8 BHP at 5500 rpm and a torque of 30 Nm at 3000 rpm. The fuel is supplied by the fuel injection system in this running machine.
The Royal Enfield Classic 350 has been equipped with an air-cooled 346cc, single-cylinder 4-stroke SI engine also and this machine churns out the power of 19.1 BHP at 5200 rpm and 28 Nm of torque at 4000 rpm having a fuel injection system for the fuel supply.
The engine of both bikes are approximately the same but Highness CB 350 leads marginally because of the higher torque at lower rpm than the Classic 350. A motorcycle with higher torque at low rpm can easily carry a load with ease and more suitable for the hilly area.
The durability of the engine of Honda Highness is to be proved and Royal Enfield has been won the belief of many worldwide for its powerful and low maintenance reliable engine. Honda has been worked hard on the engine of Highness CB 350 to built it vibrationless through an additional balancer shaft rear to the engine cylinder. I hope Royal Enfield will also think about it and provide a vibrationless engine in the future in its Classic 350. Both engines are compatible with the BS6 norms. Both bikes come with a multiplayer wet clutch.
Honda has managed the weight of this new roadster motorcycle under the kerb weight of 181 kg only while Classic 350 is a little bit bulky with 195 kg kerb weight. Honda will grab this weight management in the higher mileage. The 15 litres fuel tank of the Highness CB 350 again outpaces from the Classic 350 which has a 13.5 litres fuel tank. People love the uniquely hand-painted tank of the Royal Enfield's Classic 350.
Honda Highness CB 350 Vs Royal Enfield Classic 350: Chassis and Brakes
Honda introduced the Highness CB 350 with an all-new half double-cradle type chassis for high strength. This bike comes with a dual-channel ABS with double disc brakes.
Royal Enfield has given a single downtube-type chassis in its Classic 350 and the engine has been used as a stressed member of the chassis. Classic 350 comes with an option of single-channel ABS and dual-channel ABS having a double disc brake as a standard in all models.
Both motorcycles are featured with a dual-channel ABS and double-disc but Honda Highness CB 350 gets an edge on its 310mm front disc brake compares to Royal Enfield Classic 350 which has a 280mm front disc brake. The rear disc brake size is 240mm in both motorcycles.
Honda has introduced first in the segment Honda Selectable Torque Control (HSTC). It prevents the rear wheel from slippage through acceleration control by sensing the movement of the front wheel and the rear wheel's rotation speed. HSTC feature is a much-needed feature during rough roads of the hill area.
 |
| Highness CB 350 and Classic 350 Engine, Image Courtesy: Honda and Royal Enfield |
Honda Highness CB 350 Vs Royal Enfield Classic 350: Suspension and Tyres
In both bikes, the front suspension is a telescopic fork type and the rear suspension is a hydraulic shock absorber type. Honda Highness comes with a twin-hydraulic rear suspension while Classic 350 is equipped with twin-gas charged shock absorbers. The Royal Enfield Classic 350 has a 5-step adjustable rear shock absorber which benefits the rider during a road trip with a heavy load on the pillion.
The wheel size is the same in both bikes. Alloy wheel and tubeless tyre have been given to both Highness CB 350 and Classic 350 bikes. Royal Enfield has been given an option to spoke wheels in its Classic 350 motorcycle. As per the experts, spoke wheels are more versatile in tough terrains.
Honda has given a wider tyre in its Highness CB 350 compared to Royal Enfield's Classic 350 motorcycle. The front and the rear tyre of the Highness are 100mm and 130mm wide respectively compared to the 90mm front tyre and 120mm rear tyre of the Classic 350. A wider tyre gives more confidence on the road by providing a strong grip on the road.
Honda Highness CB 350 Vs Royal Enfield Classic 350: Electricals and Dimensions
Royal Enfield classic 350 is decorated by a 55W halogen bulb headlamp and a bulb of 5W in the tail lamp while the Honda Highness CB 350 is ornamented by an all-LED headlamp and tail lamp. The round LED winkers enhances the grace of Highness CB 350. Apart from this Honda has given a battery health monitoring indicator on the instrument console of the Highness CB 350. The hazard light feature in the Highness CB 350 enhances the safety on the touring and low visibility by blinking all four indicators.
The Honda Highness wins the battle of advanced features like it has an analogue and digital instrument cluster having a lot of information like fuel level bar, low fuel indicator, USB charging port, trip meter, clock, Bluetooth connectivity, odometer, average mileage, distance to empty, real-time mileage, and side stand alarm. Classic 350 lags fully from the electricals point of view because of the absence of these modern features. Classic 350 has an analogue instrument cluster that provides speed and covered distance only.
Honda provides the world's first time ever Honda Smartphone Voice Control System (HSVCS) in its Honda Highness CB 350 DLX Pro models by which you can control navigation, music playback, incoming phone calls, and messages through a headset and the buttons on the right side of the handlebar.
Honda has given a large tailpipe exhaust system having dia of 45mm for better exhaust note and a double layer assembly to the exhaust pipe to keep the rider safe from exhaust heat. The double-layer tailpipe will resist the thermal discolouration of the exhaust system.
The length of the Highness CB 350 is 2163mm over the 2160mm length of the Classic 350. The seat height of both bikes is 800mm and Highness CB 350 gets an advantage through 166mm of the ground clearance which is 135mm in the Classic 350. More ground clearance provides an easy ride on the rugged rough roads, especially in the hill area. The wheelbase of Highness is 1441mm which 1390mm in the Classic 350.
Honda Highness CB 350 Vs Royal Enfield Classic 350: Colour and Price
Both bikes have been launched in six different beautiful colours. The Honda Highness CB 350 DLX model comes in the Precious Red Metallic, Matte Marshal Green Metallic and Pearl Night Star Black colours while the Honda Highness CB 350 DLX Pro model comes with dual-tone colours of Matte Steel Black Metallic With Matte Massive Grey Metallic, Athletic Blue Metallic With Virtuous White, Pearl Night Star Black With Spear Silver Metallic.The colours of the Royal Enfield Classic 350 are Stealth Black, Classic Black, Chrome Black, Gunmetal Grey, Stormrider sand and Airborne Blue. Price is the main factor in India and the Royal Enfield leads in this point of view.
The ex-showroom price of the Royal Enfield Classic starts from 1.62 Lakhs (BS6 single-channel ABS version) to 1.86 Lakhs (BS6 chrome and stealth version).
The ex-showroom price of the Honda Highness CB 350 start from 1.85 Lakhs (DLX version) to 1.90 Lakhs (DLX Pro version). So, you can get the top model of the BS6 Royal Enfield Classic 350 at the price of the base model of the new BS6 Honda Highness CB 350 DLX.
Conclusion:
Though Honda Highness CB 350 DLX and DLX Pro are loaded with a lot of modern features the BS6 Royal Enfield Classic 350 is known for its long term legacy in the 350cc segment. The engine of the Classic 350 is very economical, durable and reliable while the engine of the Highness CB 350 is yet to be proven. Royal Enfield has a huge fan base in India and worldwide. Classic 350 acquired the 60-70% market share of the mid-range segments in India. It's not easy for Honda to dent the market share of this legendary world's oldest two-wheeler company. Price and a belief of the long term will be a great factor for the sales of the Royal Enfield Classic 350 or Bullet 350 and the Honda will attract the customers through its all-new 350cc well-engineered smooth engine loaded with all modern features.