We answer all your questions as to which retro beauty you should get!
The Royal Enfield Bullet 350 and Honda CB350 stand out in the 'classic' 350cc bike space for different reasons.
One is an almost century-old nameplate and continues to be relevant, thanks to its iconic design and thump. The other gets inspiration from its ancestors (CB77), but with modern touches. This detailed comparison will help you in choosing the right one for you:
Prices & Variants
Royal Enfield Bullet 350 | Honda CB350 | ||
Variant | Ex-showroom Price | Variant | Ex-showroom Price |
Battalion Black (Base) | Rs 1.63 lakh | DLX | Rs 1.97 lakh |
Military Red, Military Black (Base) | Rs 1.64 lakh | DLX PRO | Rs 2.00 lakh |
Standard Maroon, Standard Black (Mid) | Rs 1.87 lakh | ||
Black Gold (Top) | Rs 2.04 lakh |
- The Royal Enfield bike has a significantly lower starting price and is available in four variants.
The Honda CB350 is offered in two variants, with features being the differentiating factor.
Higher variants of both bikes cost almost the same, and they more or less have similar features as well.
Design & Dimensions
Specification | Royal Enfield Bullet 350 | Honda CB350 | Difference |
Wheelbase | 1,390mm | 1,441mm | -51mm |
Ground Clearance | 170mm (Mid and Top) 160mm (Base) | 165mm | +5mm -5mm |
Kerb Weight | 195kg | 186kg | +9kg |
Seat Height | 805mm | 800mm | +5mm |
Fuel Tank Capacity | 13 litres | 15.2 litres | -2.2 litres |
- Both motorcycles offer similar ground clearance. A longer wheelbase, however, should provide the CB350 with better straight-line stability at high speeds.
Along with a negligibly shorter seat height, the lesser weight makes the CB350 a bit more approachable than the Bullet 350.
The Bullet 350 appears mature and more masculine, thanks to the visual heft in its old-school design language. Its wire-spoke wheels, hand-painted stripes, nacelled headlamp, and metal body construction give it that authentic timeless feel.
The CB350 follows a neo-retro theme, offering a more youthful look. It also has a metal body with retro elements, a vintage-style split seat, and peashooter-shaped exhaust. However, the all-LED lighting and alloy wheels make it appear more modern.
Ride & Handling
Specification | Royal Enfield Bullet 350 | Honda CB350 |
Frame Type | Twin Downtube Spine | Diamond Type |
Front Suspension | Telescopic Forks | Telescopic Forks |
Rear Suspension | Twin Shock Absorbers, 6-step Preload Adjustable | Twin Shock Absorbers |
Front Brake | 300 mm Disc with ABS | 310 mm Disc with ABS |
Rear Brake | • 270 mm Disc with ABS (Mid and Top Trims) • 153 mm Drum (Base Trims) | 240 mm Disc with ABS |
Front Tyre | 100/90 - 19 Tube-type | 100/90 - R19 Tubeless |
Rear Tyre | 120/80 - 18 Tube-type | 130/70 - R18 Tubeless |
Wheels | • Front: 19-inch Wire-Spoke • Rear: 18-inch Wire-spoke | • Front: 19-inch Alloy • Rear: 18-inch Alloy |
- Both have a telescopic fork and twin shock absorbers, being tuned for comfort.
While both have similar wheel sizes, the Bullet 350 runs on wire-spoke wheels that can handle rough roads. However, repairing punctures becomes a task, as they come shod with tube-type tyres.
The CB350, on the other hand, gets alloy wheels with tubeless tyres for hassle-free puncture repairs.
While the base variants of the Bullet 350 get a rear drum brake and single-channel ABS, Honda doesn't give you that option in the CB350.
Features & Tech
Features | Royal Enfield Bullet 350 | Honda CB350 |
Lighting | Halogen | LED |
Instrument Cluster | Semi-Digital | Semi-Digital |
Smartphone Connectivity | Not Available | Turn-by-Turn Navigation Calls/Music Control |
ABS | • Dual-channel ABS (Mid and Top Trims) • Single-channel ABS (Base Trims) | Dual-channel ABS |
Traction Control | Not Available | Switchable |
USB Charging Port | Type-A | Type-A |
Neither of these bikes can be called feature-rich, but they both have their basics sorted.
The Bullet 350 has a halogen headlamp, adding to its old-school charm. Meanwhile, the CB350 offers all-LED lighting with an Emergency Stop Signal (ESS) function, which alerts others during sudden braking.
Both feature a semi-digital instrument cluster with an analogue speedometer. However, the LCD inlay in the CB350's dash is more informative and offers Bluetooth connectivity, but is cluttered and hard to read.
The CB350 also offers switchable traction control, which adds a layer of safety, especially on slippery surfaces.
Engine & Performance
Specification | Royal Enfield Bullet 350 | Honda CB350 |
Engine | 349cc, single-cylinder, air-cooled | 348.36cc, single-cylinder, air-cooled |
Maximum Power | 20.22PS @ 6,100rpm | 21.07PS @ 5,500rpm |
Maximum Torque | 27Nm @ 4,000rpm | 29.5Nm @ 3,000rpm |
Gearbox | 5-Speed | 5-Speed, with slip-and-assist clutch |
- The CB350 produces slightly higher power and torque, that too at lower RPMs. That makes it accelerate more quickly and feel livelier than the Bullet 350. That said, you will have to shift more often at lower speeds while riding the Honda.
- The CB350 also returns slightly better mileage than the Bullet 350.
- Both are single-cylinder 350s with 5-speed gearboxes. However, the CB350 also offers a slip-and-assist clutch, ensuring smoother gear shifts while preventing the rear wheel from locking.
Verdict
Riders who prefer their bike to be as old-school as possible will like the Bullet 350. Meanwhile, the CB350 offers a good balance of old and new, given its neo-retro approach. The decision comes down to whether you want a proper old-school bike or better refinement and features.