Honda H’Ness CB350 Price To Be Hiked Soon

The Japanese retro roadster is steadily inching closer to the Rs 2 lakh mark

This year hasn’t really been kind so far to Honda fans. First it was the Africa Twin in January, which despite not sporting any substantial update, got dearer by Rs 61,000. Honda quickly followed it with the launch of the CB350RS last month, which demanded an additional Rs 10,000 over the H’Ness CB350 DLX yet didn't have the features to justify the premium. This month, Team Red got the CB500X to our shores with an exorbitant price tag. Now, the brand is likely to hike the price of the H’Ness by Rs 4,000 from April onward.

The price hike is unlikely to come with any new features or benefits. This Japanese retro roadster gets segment-first features like traction control, slipper clutch, and full LED lighting. Honda has equipped the bike with a new 349cc, single-cylinder motor making 21PS and 30Nm.

Though Honda is yet to make an official announcement, some dealers have confirmed that the price is likely to go up by upto Rs 4,000. Currently, the DLX variant is priced at Rs 1.86 lakh, while the DLX Pro variant will set you back by Rs 1.92 lakh. The pricing is at par with its arch rival, the Royal Enfield Classic 350 (depending on the colour you opt for), which got its second price hike of the year recently. Honda seems to have followed suit, but is it going to work in the CB’s favour?

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We don’t think so. Though Honda managed to sell 3,268 units of the CB350 last month, the excitement around the bike seems to be fizzling down. In the five months since its launch, Honda has sold just 13,732 units. In comparison, RE sold 36,025 units of the Classic 350 last month. A big chunk of the sales is limited by Honda’s Big Wing dealership network, especially compared to Royal Enfield dealerships that are available more easily throughout the country.

The Honda H’Ness CB350 goes up against the Royal Enfield Classic 350, the Benelli Imperiale 400 BS6 and the Jawa. With this price hike, Honda will further increase the gap it has with its competitors, which could make things even more difficult for the H’Ness CB350.