(first posted 5/14/2014) Although few motorcycle enthusiasts consider it to be exotic or uncommon in its sophistication, the Honda CB350 of 1968-73 was an surprise hit when new and continues to be loved four decades later. It was a top seller while in production and remains highly popular as a classic bike today, appearing in starring roles in major motion pictures then and now, all without receiving its due publicity. A chance sighting of this restored example in downtown Philadelphia jogged my memory of this model, which I have from time to time considered buying.
A very thorough article by Lee Wilcox about the entire CB350 family of street and off-road models appeared on this website in September 2012, so only a few significant details are necessary here. The CB350 was a straightforward small displacement (by U.S. standards) motorcycle using proven late 1960s Honda engineering, with a 325cc single overhead cam parallel twin engine with twin carburetors, a five-speed transmission, twin shock rear suspension, and drum brakes (with a front disc added in 1973). Performance was quite adequate, with the small parallel twin producing 36 horsepower at 10,500 rpm (!) and a 110 mph claimed top speed.
The CB350 family included the off-road oriented SL350 with upswept exhausts, off-road tires and high fenders.
Another variant was the CL350 scrambler with high-mounted exhausts, halfway between the street CB350 and the off-road SL350.
The CB350 was highly popular throughout its production run. Over 250,000 were sold from 1968 to 1973. It was the best selling motorcycle in the world when introduced in 1968, and it reached its sales peak of 67,180 in 1972. It sold well even though Honda’s four-cylinder revolution began soon after its introduction, with the 750cc CB750 debuting in 1969 and the 350cc CB350F in 1972.
Photo from www.bikeexif.com
Produced in large numbers, not a coveted and high-priced collectible like contemporary four-cylinder Hondas, and possessing adequate performance, the CB350 still makes an ideal basis for a custom café racer over forty years after the last one rolled off the assembly line, and it has become a popular choice for that role in the U.S. and other countries. The example above is the creation of a Parisian, based on a CB350K4 that he purchased for only 500 euros ($650). It is only one of many CB350-based customs on the website www.bikeexif.com.
The ubiquity and “everyman” quality of the CB350 have brought it prominent movie roles as the ride of outsider characters of modest means. Its first starring role was in the 1980 high school drama My Bodyguard, as a centerpiece and symbol of the life of the school outcast, played by Adam Baldwin. His troubled character has a cherished but broken-down motorcycle that he is rebuilding, and searching junkyards for parts becomes an important bonding experience in the friendship between him and the new kid in school, whom he had saved from a beating by the school’s bullies. The CB350, a common cheap used bike in 1980, was a perfect choice for the role.
Photo from returnofthecaferacers.com
Far more recently, in 2011, the CB350 again starred on the silver screen as the motorcycle of main character Lisbeth Salander in The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. This time, the bike was a custom café racer that fits perfectly into the current wave of CB350 customs. Far more about the motorcycles used in the movie and their build process is presented here.
Despite the ongoing popularity of the CB350, Lee Wilcox’s article published here is the only substantial piece about the CB350 that I have found anywhere. The four-cylinder CB750 and CB400F that dominated the headlines during the early 1970s continue to do so today, with articles about each appearing in classic motorcycle publications in the U.K. and U.S. on a regular basis since the 1990s. The CB350’s modesty, in the other hand, has kept it relatively inexpensive, so a restored machine like the one in the first photograph remains a practical choice as an everyday ride that can be parked on the street, and a rough or basket case example is an affordable starting point for a café racer project. Having considered a CB350 in either flavor on and off for years, I hope that they remain that way for years to come.
Related reading: 1969 Honda CB750 – The First Modern Superbike; Honda 350 Family – The Most Popular Bike Ever; 1965 Honda CB450 – The Black Bomber Or The Prophet
Sweet! I learned hot to ride way back when on a beat up ’72 CB350! Good times!
I learned on a Honda Mini 50cc with the little fat tires on it. Ugly little thing but was fun as all heck to mess around with. I remember seeing a lot of those CB350’s though. We also had a Honda 90cc Enduro for a while and also a Yamaha 80cc dirt bike.. fun fun fun. Last bike I owned was a Honda V45 Magna 750cc. I sold it because I realized how reckless and fearless I had become on motorcycles and vowed not to get another one until I was more mature and responsible. I’m 50 years old now and I still do not have another motorcycle! Though seeing the CB350 kind of sparks me to seek one out now.
I saw ‘My Bodyguard’ in the theatre with my Dad in 1980. My son is the same age now I was then, I should try and find that movie.
I’d always assumed it was some rare low production bike since they spent so much of the movie searching for a cylinder head for it.
That’s a nice original example there. Some of the CB350 cafe racers I ‘ve seen are well done, but seems to me they’re easy to get wrong. Girl with the Dragon Tattoo? nice bike. Faux Ducati? not so much.
My second motorcycle overall (the first picture, gold and black ’72 – my first bike, for six months was a 100cc two stroke street Kawasaki G3-SS), and my first cafe racer. Back in 1975. Traveled over a good part of the north east on the bike. And there were no aftermarket cafe parts (at least not for that one, now if you rode an RD400 or CB400F it was a different matter) for that bike, so I modified a set of drag bars, rode off the passenger pegs, and started an obsession that’s with me today.
I had 25,000 miles on that bike when I finally sold it off, having replaced it with a brand new 1979 Triumph Bonneville (blue and silver). And the m*****f*****g a*****e who bought it from me blew the motor up within two weeks. And then his father tried to get his money back, claiming I’d sold him a defective bike.
I’m kinda looking for another one now. Condition not screamingly important, as I’m looking for another cafe racer build. Selling my ’69 Bonnie last year has me feeling some regrets.
I like the scrambler,of course this wasn’t sold in the UK we had a rather drab dark green model.Go to any classic bike race today and Honda 350 twins make up most of the field and go at amazing speeds.The CB 350 road bike was nowhere near as popular as the Yamaha RD 350 in the UK among young bikers in the 70s.
I could get past the 100mph mark on a friends RD 350 not so fast on a CB 350 maybe I’m too big for them but I suspect they put the smallest rider available on them to get the top speed figures when new.
I think it’s a little ridiculous to claim that CB350s are some sort of “underground” bike. Fact is, they were the single best selling model out of ANY motorcycle during their production run. I can’t count the number of times I’ve been stopped for a long nostalgia filled chat by older guys at the gas station when I go to fill up my brother’s 1974 CB360. I never have gotten as many comments astride my 1977 XS500 or 1978 GS1000. Only the 1965 Honda S90 might actually edge out the CB360 on sparking spontaneous conversations and recollections of days gone past (another one of my brother’s rides).
Besides folks off the street, just about any enthusiast I’ve met has atleast heard of a CB350, most often in regards to some gaudy cafe-custom. I’m solidly in the camp of “get it running right and ride it” rather than “hack it apart to make a fashion statement and have it running like crap.” It makes me sad to see the usual ebay additions of clubman bars, k&n pod filters, and a headlight pointlessly pointed upward. I’d rather have a properly tuned bike that is close to OEM, with perhaps a few modifications (electronic ignition, good rubber, upgraded bushings). I’ve done a significant amount of touring on 70s Japanese bikes, including a ride from Ithaca NY out to San Francisco and back in a big loop of the US in 2008, all on 2 lane back roads (took us 39 days with stops). The beauty of these bikes IMO is to be on them and riding, rather than cookie cutter “customizing” and taking it to some CAFE hangout. But to each their own!
These bikes certainly were highly popular when new and now as customs, which are points that I emphasized. The CB350 appears to be an under-the-radar machine for most of the motorcycle hobby, though. Everyone knows about the CB750, and most know about the CB400F, because many have been preserved and restored, and they receive heavy press coverage. The CB350 is well remembered by those who were around to experience it new or as a common used bike (Syke, for example), but I think that few below the age of 50 remember it. I remember that when I started looking into getting a motorcycle in the late 1980s, the CB400F was still ridden by many and widely available for sale over a decade after it was discontinued, because being a pioneering four cylinder, it was recognized as something special. I can’t remember the CB350 being around or remembered during that time.
I agree completely. I can’t stand seeing these beautiful bikes hacked up into the cafe style.
Well I got too busy and dumped my comment so here we go again. If you put upswept pipes on a CB350 you essentially had a CL350 IMO. Pretty useless off road. The SL350 was a much better dual purpose bike. However, I think it was considerably less useful on the road. A buddy vibrated his exhaust off on a highway trip. All of them were better on road than the dual purpose editions of the competition (freeway speeds anyway).
The CB350 in particular was the best selling bike ever for a time at least (gtemnykh above) but it was that common place appearance that made it anonymous. It was sort of made to look like a british twin and pretty successful at doing so. Much the same as someone commented about the Taurus wagon featured here recently. There were so many that you stopped seeing them. Nobody, but nobody, collected them. I have seen the engine stuffed in everything from Yamaha to Jawa because they were so cheap. Most have certainly become crushed. The 450 would be better to collect but either catch my attention.
Excellent article about something that I love to read about. I think the color scheme is 1972. Think there was a similar color in 71 but the tank was different IIRC. As you say, the front brake is 72 or earlier. I had a 72 SL175 with a drum and I think they went disc the next year also. There is always the chance of mix and match in these old things. I have lost the capability to discriminate well from pictures so I probably need to leave that to you. Thanks for bringing this to the table. An enjoyable read.
When men were men and shocks were twin!
Nice article. Makes me dearly miss my 71 CB350, in the same tangy orange as that first example. The modest size, simple mechanicals, and flat torque curve made it the perfect around town bike. Topped out at about 90mph (75 in non-Honda numbers), but it took me along every desert backroad around Vegas for the couple years I lived there. Parked it in my living room until my wife and I got together…
Truly a sweetheart of a bike.
You have listed the exact reasons why I have been considering a CB350: classic twin shock style, ideal size and performance for around town riding, simple and reliable early Honda engineering. I have never ridden one, but based on what I have heard it would be a better around town bike than the CB400F, which I have some familiarity with riding.
The first bike I owned was one of these, back in ’72-73. They were a great around town bike but out on the road they would numb your hands and feet with the high-speed vibration. They don’t seem that fast now but were a match for a hot-engine mustang by the numbers. They might have claimed 130mph top end but 90 was about all they would do in the real world. The one i had would out handle the 500 Kawasaki that a friend had, altho he would smoke by me in the straight-aways. I remember us riding like crazy with nothing on but a t-shirt, we were lucky we survived our youth.
This series shows all that was right with Honda in those days. These bikes were inexpensive, shockingly fun to operate, completely dependable, and unique—what Harley or Triumph, BSA, Bultaco, Maico, etc. could compete with this jewel?
To Lee Wilcox above, consider the CL version an appearance package only–those bikes were never designed to go off-road.
Lastly, be aware that the CB and CL 360 series (1975-up) while very similar in design and intent, were inferior. The 360 engine was more cammy, less torquey, less fun. When searching, hold out for the earlier 350.
This makes me miss my CB400f. Why in the hell did I sale it?
Funny, everyone I know who had a 400f and sold it all regret selling it. In high school and college I rode my 1977 400F Yellow w/ stripes. I rode it to work after I graduated. I made several road trips from Southern Cal to San Luis Obispo and back. One trip all the way to Big Sur on Hwy 1 just south of Monterey. I stopped riding it 1998 due to a head gasket oil leak. But I’m proud to say I still own that bike and it looks great for being almost 40 years old, always in a garage and covered. Think it’s time to go thru all the systems, fuel, brakes, bushings, etc… fix that cotton pick’n head gasket and ride it again. Back in ’97 I replaced it w/ an 1100 Virago Custom and still ride it today. Also have 2- CT110’s that are almost as great as my 400F.
CB 350, CB 750. CB 400 well I learned to ride on my younger brother’s 1974 CB 550. A couple of times around Pacific Beach in 1974 and that was enough. Haven’t ridden a motorcycle since.
Whaddya mean no one knew about these things? In 1972, if you had a pulse and remembered to breath when you woke up in the morning, you knew about these things. Another one of my girlfriends, the lovely Ingrid, owned an orange one just like the lead photo. Terrific bang for the buck. Another friend bought a new SL 350 and he tried to keep up with our Bultacos off road. Emphasis on “tried”.
I’m not even into bikes, yet I remember the college campus crawling with 350s in the early 70s, probably twice as many 350s as all the other bikes put together.
Now the CB200 was rare. I only remember seeing one.
The CB 200 was a Brougham bike with it’s vinyl tank!Nice looking bikes and popular with UK learners when you could ride anything up to 250cc with L plates.I might be wrong on this and I’m sure someone will say so but I think the only other vinyl tanked bike I saw was a picture of a late 60s Harley Davidson Sportster in one of my brother’s many HD books
Yes, these were everywhere in the early 70s, and they’re still a not uncommon sight on the streets hereabouts and in Portland. In fact, my son Ed picked up a 350 Scrambler a few years back, and rode it for a couple of years, but it’s now sitting in the garage waiting for a fresh wave of attention.
That supposed 130 mph top speed for a stock 350 is truly laughable; perhaps without a rider? 🙂 85-90 was about it, and frankly, even that was a push.
I spent a bit of time enjoying the warm summer evenings in Iowa riding a friend’s 350, and it was a good way to get some wind in one’s hair, literally.
Good , fun bikes , the reality was that lazy @$$ed Americans never changed the oil so after 20,000 miles the cams went flat and the polished bores in the cylinder head where the cams rode (Honda didn’t believe in cam bearings back then) wore out so they still ran O.K. but rather slowly , this meant two year old CB350’s for $200 littered the landscape and were mercilessly thrashed by the bottom feeders .
A sad thing as they were and remain very good Motos when properly taken care of but dirty oil is like grinding paste to old Hondas .
I remember Pasadena Honda on Foothill Blvd. being full of them in 1971> when I’d go in to buy parts for my 1959 C100 Cubs , Benlys and Dreams .
The rude jerkoffs at the parts counter assured me that ” only losers and f@ggots ” rode anything but CB750s .
Strange if fun times indeed .
-Nate
In my area the SL was the one to have. If we wanted the scrambler version, the twin cam 450 was the way to go.
i wishd id had mz. honda and kawasaki some day
Huge tank slapper in front of an 18 wheeler taught me the meaning of fear. I had pushed back on the seat for a lower riding position which unloaded the front end just enough to upset the bikes balance. Easy to push when out of gas (twice). The small V8 Chevy Impala of motorcycles. Hated the sound they made with sawed off or aftermarket mufflers..
I can’t honestly claim to have much history with this bike, but my Honda curse did involve the CB360 that followed it. I was about 12 years old and borrowed one from my grand parents’ neighbor, who was a character in many of my silliest adventures. He was working at a service station, which was still a thing in 1982. I went for a ride on his bike, and decided I was cold and wanted a jacket. I was always trying to prove to my family how absurd their protectionist impulses were, so I rode the motorcycle to my grand parents place to get a jacket.
When I got there, I removed the key from the ignition switch under the gas tank. Unfortunately, the lock cylinder spit out its tumblers with the key, I could not restart the bike, and its owner showed up long before I figured out how to get it running. As a matter of fact, the bike was still in my grand parents’ garage when I left for home. It really set the tone for my luck with Honda motorbikes over the next decade, which caused me to also avoid their excellent cars for far too long.
I had a CB400F that I rode around Ventura back in the 80s. It didn’t look like it but was a well balanced and fantastic handling bike. Rode it down to many a Dodger’s game. Sold it in 1988. It and my 69 Road Runner are on my list of things I regret getting rid of.
I also had a CB500 Four which was also as great. Honda bikes of this period were as close to perfect as you will ever get…. IMHO.
As an aside, the LeMay American Automotive Museum in Tacoma Wa. has quite the Honda bike collection from the 70s. No I don’t work for them but it is one of my favorite places. Lacks Mopars but otherwise it’s excellent.
I bought my CB 350 in Norfolk Virginia at the start of a long Shipyard assignment in the Navy in 1969. My Navy friends were mostly riding cool Triumphs and Kawasakis. One told me I was riding the Ford Galaxie of motor cycles. I told him I was riding mine while they were working on theirs.
In 1971 I rode it from coast to coast in the process of moving to California, with an R&R stop at home in Arkansas. It was NOT the ideal motorcycle for touring.
I had six Hondas of various displacements during the 1970s. I sprinkled in a couple of Kawasakis and a Yamaha also. I learned to ride on a ’65 CA110, a 50cc 4 speed scrambler. Next was a CB160 that would top out at around 70 mph. That was followed by a Superhawk 305, a ’71 CB750, a Motorsport 350, and then a CB450. The first Motorsport came equipped with an electric starter, Honda eliminated that and the big battery to save some weight on subsequent models. That Motorsport was very comfortable on the road with a comfy seat, high and wide bars and a tall stance. It was a precursor to the popular “adventure bikes” of today. What is amazing is that we drove those small motorcycles everywhere! A 350 would hit 90 mph. under good conditions, and would cruise at 70 mph. pretty easily. The bikes were very sturdy and with a five speed transmission it was easy to make use of the power that you had. These were great bikes for young enthusiasts as they were very reliable. I did get into other bikes but I fondly remember how trouble free and fun these were. Honestly better than the Harley Davidsons that I rode later. Honda twins could do anything, here’s a picture of my high school chopper, that poor Superhawk!
Funny, but after having spent a lot of time on a borrowed 305 Super Hawk (which would also touch 90, + a tad over) the 350s were kinda disappointing. Was I a snob about it? You bet I was. To me, the cafe racer was the REAL THING, and the Super Hawk was as close as you could get off the showroom floor. The 350 was just transportation, like a two-wheeled Chevy. A friend of mine, a guy I worked with, had celebrated his divorce by taking over the apartment and getting both a great big fish tank and a 350, the two bones of contention with his ex. He insisted I take the bike for a spin, which I did, and was polite about my impressions …