Honda-SOHC
SOHC.co.uk Forums => CB350/400 => Topic started by: nairb on December 03, 2021, 04:43:09 PM
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I have a cb360 which is the smallest bike I have. It has just enough performance to keep up with most traffic. I would also fancy a cb350 four. But was wondering if it has enough power to keep up with the traffic also.
So is the 350 four as quick as a cb360??. Is that inline 4 of a 350 still ok in todays traffic.
I try to stick to the country lanes with the smaller bikes. But those dual carriage ways have to be done also.
Ta
Nairb
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I would have thought both would be capable of cruising between 50 and 70,
As long as the bike is maintained and regularly gets oil changes etc,
It should be ok.
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I don't ride my 350F anymore due to it's small size and my not so small size. I do however take it out occasionally for short runs to keep it running and am always shocked by how slow it is. If your used to running bigger bikes (Suzuki GS1000 is my usual ride) that have loads of low down grunt it takes some getting used to revving the nuts off it to get anywhere. I took it 30 miles down a motorway once, never again as it was plain scary. So the answer is it will keep up with traffic in town easily, but A roads and motorways not so much. Can't compare to the 360 as I never owned one.
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I don't ride my 350F anymore due to it's small size and my not so small size. I do however take it out occasionally for short runs to keep it running and am always shocked by how slow it is. If your used to running bigger bikes (Suzuki GS1000 is my usual ride) that have loads of low down grunt it takes some getting used to revving the nuts off it to get anywhere.
I find the same as Roy when riding my newly built 500. My normal rides are my ZZR1100 and 750k2 - feel as though I'm buzzing the engine all the time. When I had my original 500 in the early 70's and travelled from Wigan to Swindon weekly, 2 up, top box, suitcase on top of topbox and tank bag in all weather cruising at 80 on motorway. Never had any problens as I had nothing to compare it to, but everything is relevant I suppose and now I have a comparison.
Suppose it about how happy you are reving the engine all the time
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I owned a CB350/4 for a few very happy years, though in the end I sold it due to its small physical size (I'm 6' tall and around 90kg). Whilst I was quite comfortable, it did look ridiculous whilst I was riding it.
At the same time as I owned the 350, I also owned a fair selection of other classics such as a Benelli 750 Sei, CB500/4 and CB750/4.
With these others available however, I chose to take the 350 on a trip to Wales and then on to Cornwall (from Norfolk) in the company of a CB750/4 and a Suzuki V-Strom. The 350 ran like a jewel for the whole journey, and I didn't ever feel outclassed by the performance of the other bikes. At the end of the trip, we rode 330 miles home, quite a lot of it at night, when poor weather moved in on us in Cornwall.
In many ways, I do wish that I hadn't sold that lovely, happy, grin - inducing little bike!
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The 350/4 couldn't pull the cock off a jelly baby and is a 60mmph bike tops, but I wish I hadn't sold mine, I have a 78 z1000 and a 400 superfour and neither give me the smile my little old 350f did, i do regret selling it.
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I quite like mine and it will keep up with traffic fine. Just wring its neck a little and it will top 90 . ;)
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I quite like mine and it will keep up with traffic fine. Just wring its neck a little and it will top 90 . ;)
Don't get me wrong there were times i would wring out almost a ton out of the little beggar, on private roads of course and they do sing nicely. :)
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The 350/4 couldn't pull the cock off a jelly baby and is a 60mmph bike tops, but I wish I hadn't sold mine, I have a 78 z1000 and a 400 superfour and neither give me the smile my little old 350f did, i do regret selling it.
😂😂😂 (not heard that one before)
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Everyone lately seems to be raving about the latest things coming out of the RE factory and I will bet the practically 50 year old CB350f
will cope far better with modern traffic than their latest 350 offering which should be built to cope with todays traffic.
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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
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Hi Nairb,
If you don't think a 350f will keep up with traffic, why not look at a 500 or 550/4. You can have the 4 cylinders and 4 pipes with plenty of go to manage today's roads. Just a suggestion. 🙂
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Don't shy away too quickly from the 350. Going back a few(!!!) years, after I passed my test my first bike was a nice new blue CD175 (sloper engine). This used to cruise day in and day out at about 55MPH without any fuss or bother. Took me to the IOM and toured Devon & Cornwall. Never used any oil, even after the occasional Friday night thrash home from the pub!
So, if you realise that the 350 has approx. the same bore/stroke dimensions, but has twice as many, then I don't think you will have any problem running it at about 7-7500 RPM, which should give you a comfortable rate of knots.
I hace owned my 400/4 since 1988, and still rev it up to 8500 in the gears sometimes. Think of the actual size of the pistons and rods, you will more likely do more damage by riding it too slow.
As regards motorway use, I'm afraid that my idea of riding a motorcycle is bend swinging, up and down the gears as the type of road changes. When we used to go to the IOM in the early 70's, we were all riding 650's and 750's, and it was 'A' roads all the way from Essex to Liverpool. Magic.
If you want to be more holy than righteous, then stick to single carriageway roads where you can comfortably ride at the legal limit of 60MPH without bother, and those that wish to pass you have to break the law to do so!
Take it out there, wring its neck a litttle, and enjoy it. Stay Safe. Mike.
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Hi Nairb,
If you don't think a 350f will keep up with traffic, why not look at a 500 or 550/4. You can have the 4 cylinders and 4 pipes with plenty of go to manage today's roads. Just a suggestion. 🙂
I do indeed already have a cb550 k3. And it does keep up with todays traffic on all road types just fine. I did look at a cb500 ...... no question that would be a good bit of kit as well. Probably a better buy all round.
Decisions, decisions......
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I can definitely agree the 500 is an excellent all rounder.
Not to big and heavy, but quick enough to get in trouble
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Nairb, what about complete left field choice ?
[attachimg=1]
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 ;D
Lovely soft suspension and ride too, a fair contrast to your twins.
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Nairb, what about complete left field choice ?
I like that but I already have a 500 single....
[attach=1]
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??.
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;D 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.
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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.
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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...
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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.