cb350 four performance

[Moorey]

Thanks for the input.  Its the first time I have been really unsure about the purchase of a bike.  I have owned quite a few bikes over the 45+ years.  I even owned a honda cb250 G5 for a while.  In the end I rarely used it.  In todays traffic it was just unsafe.  Too slow out on the open road.  Cars etc did use to be slower 45/50 years ago and matched smaller bikes of that time.

I find the cb360 is just ok.  It does 50/55 mph fine and will do more if really needed.  Not much more tho.  I dont expect to be able to hold 70mph with it.  Motorways are definitely out.

It seems the smart money is on a cb350 TWIN rather than the 350F.  But I already have 3 parallel twins - xs650, cl450 & a cb360.

I like the style of the 350F.  That inline 4 with those 4-into-4 exhausts are an icon of the times.  But it still needs to be practical - unlike the cb250g5.  I dont know if a 350cc engine can pull an aging 96kg 6 foot 2 person about.....  with safety. 
Thanks
Nairb

  At 6' 2" its not for you.

[kevski]

I used to be around 100kgs but only 5'6" and motorway speeds were ok but any inclines soon knocked it back, now just under 70kgs, i wished i kept the little bugger now.

[matthewmosse]

My cousin bought a cb350/4 to keep his cb250 twin, Yamaha mm2c and cb400/4 company. Hes now thinking of selling the yam and the cb250 twin. The in line 4s are just great bikes, though I am a firm cb500 and 550 fan. More power might be nice, but only because I choose to have a chair bolted to the side of the bike - that makes it slower than his 400/4 bit it's done more than its share of motorway miles. My concern for someone 6'2" would be physically is the bike actually going to be comfortable? If your prepared to use the gears and revs I'm sure the bike will keep rolling well enough at a decent speed, but if you like to relax and be lax on gear swapping it might not be the right bike. I ran a 125 twin as my commuter for years. It was perfect for twisty A roads  with the odd straight, but no way any fun for longer trips on bigger roads.riding my kh125 it felt wierd because it's so small, I imagine the cb350 feels a bit like that.

[K2-K6]

Nairb, what about complete left field choice ?

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https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/265434390832

A friend had one of these when contemporary, on country roads it was bloody quick and gave most things a run for their money performance wise. Easily cruised at 70 mph and he took it to south of France and back on a trip.

Good fit for a taller chap  but my mate was about 5'6" and without problem, quick flat out as he could get down behind the clocks 

Lovely soft suspension and ride too, a fair contrast to your twins.

[nairb]

Nairb, what about complete left field choice ?

I like that but I already have a 500 single....
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I know its not quite the same as the 500R which is a good looking bike.  I use mine for shopping.  I do wish it was electric start tho.  But I dont have to worry about the salt roads in winter..... look no chrome.

Do we ever have enough bikes??.

[K2-K6]

  can see your position now.  Nice old single there, saw few at a military show recently along with the Kawasaki 650 based diesel military bike too.

Friend of mine has similar "shopping" bike in Yamaha XT 500 but also no electric start. Lives on a hill with steep drive, so going out just bumps it to start from cold, then a bit easier coming back with it warmed from running.

[MCTID]

Aha.......the Armstrong MT500.......the bike that got me back into biking after 7 years without one. We got an Armstrong MT500 in my TA Battery around 1984 and i wangled a go on it............it fairly flew that bike !

A few weeks later a very nice CX500 appeared on my drive as a Christmas pressie to myself. SWMBO was not best pleased (not surprisingly). HoHoHo.

[Dave]

It's worth looking at this

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RR-bz0bFv6o

showing a 1972 CB350 in action - no idea on weight of rider or mods made to the bike but a lot of fun anyway...

[nairb]

It's worth looking at this
showing a 1972 CB350 in action - no idea on weight of rider or mods made to the bike but a lot of fun anyway...

I wonder how often that engine gets rebuilt.  I have watched a couple of vids about the 350f... then do seem to rev well.  But that might get a bit tiring after a while.  Very much a country road bike.

Now I was surprised to see the honda xl500r only had a drum brake on the front.... like the mt500 BUT has the kick start on the right side..........  MT500 is on the left which is a pain.
A warning to anybody thinking of a mt500.  If it still has the standard carburetor it will be utterly rubbish.  They need one of the upgrade carbs to work fine.  Then they are almost ok.

Back to the 350F.  DK motors have one for sale so I might try to have another look and sit on it again. 
The fat frog also has a first year one.  Maybe its worth waiting for the Jan sales.