The Honda CB350 Four was a mature motorcycle with Honda's proverbial reliability. Most owners probably would have preferred a 500, or let's really dream away: had a 750. The funny thing is that probably for budget reasons quite a few of these small Hondas have been spared the Abominable Renovation Virus.
Usually the exhaust system has lost the battle against the rust
For former workers and outdoor sleepers, the mudguards often want to be useless. Moreover, there are also quite a few Honda CB350 Four motorcycles left and right that have been given a cheerful black coat or a spray can job. That can be taken into account when purchasing. If the approach is to just enjoy a nostalgic ride, then the cut does not have to open that far. But count on an amount above three grand for a set of mudguards, a nest of young exhausts and a set of colored parts. If everything can still be delivered. And the time when there were plenty of parts for next to nothing on every motorcycle scrapyard or motorcycle fair, those days have been long gone for these so beautifully singing little four-cylinder engines. The time when complete Honda CB350 Fours were offered for next to nothing.
In fact: neat original or beautifully restored copies are usually only for sale for a very short time
Only the generational change in motorcycling country plays to our advantage. There are still 'forgotten' CBs coming out of barns. Our fashion model is one of those who, after some wandering, has returned to the same family and is now waiting for further attention. The red Honda CB350 Four is one of a kind you saw driving in the first half of the eighties. At that time, such a cylinder was at its absolute lowest point in terms of price, in terms of desirability, maintenance history and value.
And yet we dare to bet that this red rascal, with less than 60D on the clock, can still be fine in motor. For the rest his life is to see him. The paint suffers from sunburn, there is some loosely concealed damage on the tank. The fenders are characteristically rusted through and the original exhaust system has long since been replaced by a high-end replacement system at the time, where the bends are made to approach the ideal of the 'tuned lengths' of the exhaust bends as much as possible. The ultimate proof of its eighties-nineties working life is the massive chain lock that is wrapped around the taillight bracket without much subtlety.
A motorcycle in this condition can now best be described as a 'barn find'
After a sleep of almost ten years since the last ride, the owner is getting it roadworthy again. Making roadworthy, not restoring. Think new fuel hoses, fresh oil, maybe a new air filter and fresh wind in the tires. A few fresher fenders wouldn't go amiss either. Just like the investment of some sandpaper and a few spray cans of black paint from the Action. Plus a few new tires. And a necklace set. damn it! So the costs are going up again! But then you have something!
Also read:
- Honda, 400.000.000 Hondas
- Honda CB400A (Automatic) (1976-1977)
- More stories about classic engines
- Honda CB750 Four vs Honda CB750 Four
- Honda CB 360, not very popular yet
Two years ago, just before the corona time, I bought a driving 350 Honda cb 1974 four from a private person from Zeeland. Many boring lockdown evenings spent preserving this Honda. I say to conserve and consciously not to restore because the latter become comparatively too expensive. I can say that tinkering has been therapeutic on me and has been very satisfying. I have taken care of the frame, motor and cabling. Electric ignition and the carburettors are ultrasonicated. A set of cheap original second hand the 4 in 4 exhausts mounted. Also the brake hoses and cylinder renewed. Technically and cosmetically completely ok. Already had a lot of km touring fun with this one. With small Honda I get a lot of attention and nice reactions. In short, I can recommend it to everyone.
My first motorcycle in 1978. They also called it somewhat disparagingly "ladies' motorcycle". The male club members knew that because it was so nice in the bends 🥰 Experienced a lot of kilometers, it was a great time.
Yes, that little mini Fireblade 250 cc was for sale at Joppen Motoren in the 90s. Was a very nice throw and throw bike. Tachometer went up to 20000 rpm.
There has been an even smaller 4 cylinder, the CBR 250 RR, 249 cc and 45 hp at 15.000 rpm. and a dry weight of 142 kg. Around 1990 one was registered in the Netherlands.
Yes that's right. That mini Fireblade was for sale at Joppen Motoren in Leenderstrijp in the 90s. Was a nice bike.
One of my first motorcycles. A wonderful high revving noise maker with its open four in one. Never had any problems with it and made a long drive through several European countries. Sadly stolen from the parking lot at work on a Sunday afternoon and never seen again. Regrettable.
The 350-4 was my first motorcycle after my childhood Honda 4-stroke moped.
Fantastic little miracle, very underrated while successor 400-4 became very popular.
And that while it had to make do with a 4-in-1 spaghetti pipe, and the 350-4 could just do it with a 4-in-4… much nicer.
After an AMZ marble-bus job and a Guiliari saddle, 'Hotshot' was suddenly much more racy than originally intended.
The bike was sold to a Achterhoeker; years later saw the thing again….nothing changed.
Let's be honest. It's a really nice bike though! Have you ever been offered one? Sometime in 1983. It didn't look bad outwardly and the price was appropriate. They were good acquaintances who had it from a friend of theirs. They were allowed to sell it. They were honest with me and warned that one of the four exhausts was producing quite a bit of blue smoke. The purchase did not go through because I did not feel like a bicycle with High Expenses After Expensive Purchase….. In retrospect I did regret it. Not of that.
CB 350F was my second bike after a Honda CB200. Bought it at Motorhandel Leen Post in Naaldwijk, with very few kilometers on the clock. Got rid of it with 35.000 km on the odometer and then bought a Honda CB550K3 after which many more motorcycles followed. Now drive a Yamaha FJR 1300, lovely bike. The CB350 Four brought me to England several times. Learned to tinker with engines through the CB 3550F, head gasket, camshaft chain + tensioner, contact points that always went wrong etc etc. But it was just a nice engine.