Honda CB350X

[advrider]

Not too long ago, we told you about Honda’s affordable CB200X for the Indian market.  That bike apparently strikes a chord in many people looking for a lighter, less expensive adventure-ish oriented machine.

Even though the machine is currently only slated for the Indian market, its appeal was enough to gain more than 160 comments on our story.  And most of them were quite positive.

The current Honda CB200X shown for reference.

Fast forward a few weeks, and a new rumor about a small Honda adventure bike is surfacing.  Motor Octane is saying that Honda could be planning a new CB350X.  And that would seem to be a good fit.  Big Red already has the CB 200X and CB500X.  So a CB350 would seem to slot in nicely between those two models.

The bike’s engine would likely come from Honda’s already released H’ness model.  It develops approximately 21 hp and 22 lb-ft of torque from its single-cylinder fuel injected 348 cc engine.

The current Honda CB200X shown for reference.

Motor Octane also provides some “insight” into what other features the CB350X could have.  Among the list of features they provide is “a tall design with high ground clearance and long-travel suspension.”   In addition, it receives 17-inch wheels and disc brakes.   Tires are said to be tubeless “dual purpose.”

CB350X similar to CB200X and CB500X

Motor Octane claims that the CB350X will look similar to the CB200X but have slightly enhanced touring and off-road capability.  Also, the bike’s seating position will be similar to both the CB200X and CB500X for better comfort during “long rides and while traveling on bad roads.”

Complementing the comfort and better off-road capability is a 15-liter fuel tank, which at a calculated 42 kilometers per liter (taken from the H’ness) would give the CB350X a range somewhere around 630 kilometers (~390 miles).

The current Honda CB200X shown for reference.

The bike could also get rider assist electronics such as ABS.  As for other electronics, it will get Bluetooth connectivity, and a full digital instrument cluster.

Even with all this information, Motor Octane says that they do not have confirmation from Honda that the CB350X will reach production.  But they tell their readers to “…stay tuned for more information on this bike.”

From my perspective, all of the above could be wishful thinking.  That said, a CB350X could give Honda an excellent small-displacement lineup for the Indian market.  And at about 350 cc, the engine puts the bike right into the competition with the Royal Enfield Himalayan and KTM 390 Adventure.  Throw in lower Indian production costs, and this bike makes sense for India and perhaps much of the world.

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