Please your Highness!

When I saw news of the brand new Honda CB350 H’ness a few months ago and I was excited! Finally, a small/medium capacity retro styled bike is exactly what bikers have been waiting for. Honda being the company to produce it only made it ever more appealing to me simply because I have owned many and their bikes and they have superior build quality and reliability which makes it a sure fire winner for many of us.

When I saw this I was instantly convinced it was a winner and could be the way Honda would win back some of its declining reputation with a poor run of form from its bike-racing department recently.

So imagine my disappointment when they announced that this bike would not be available to the European market.

The retro style bikes have seen a growing upturn in the last ten years. The motorcycle market is for an aging audience because riders who grew up during the heyday for motorbikes before successive government rules and restriction made it increasingly less appealing for younger riders to bother.

There is a growing craving among many riders for simple-looking, back-to-basic styled bikes that remind them of bikes it the purest form….and their youth! Mega-expensive, limited edition models and bikes packed with electronic rider aids are great for a select few customers wanting an exclusive. However far more of us cannot afford them, or are simply not interested.

The Chinese brands have identified the retro ‘British scrambler style’ appeal and produced many 125cc bikes. India’s Royal Enfield have recently produced several 350cc models in a similar vein that have all produced impressive sales.

The decision not to export is because Honda’s new CB300 did not sell as well as expected. What Honda seem to not understand is that the demand for the CB350 is a completely different target audience and demographic to those who might be looking for something like the new CB300. After building this new bike retaining classic ‘old school’ looks while achieving Euro5 emissions compliance, and incredible fuel efficiency I am amazed they are even comparing the two in the same ballpark.

Simply the CB300 is ugly the CB350 is stunning.

These models are poles apart! The 300 has aggressively angular bits of plastic stuck on styled for futuristic looks. The kids they are trying to attract do not hold the Honda brand in the same way as people of a certain age. The younger crowd can buy similar ‘transformer looking’ bikes far cheaper from other brands. The new generation are not as mindful on build quality and reliability when they spend their money. It is fair to say for several years now that Honda have not dominated motorcycle racing as the premier manufacturer, so their appeal has waned.

I hope when they see the massive sales the Royal Enfield 350 Hunter has enjoyed, Honda might reconsider their decision.

CB350 has a better spec in almost every area by comparison and I would love one.

PLEASE HONDA!