By now, I have ridden the Honda Highness CB350 enough to tell you one thing - the suspension is set up just a bit too stiff for my liking. Highly placed sources in Honda told me that 50 per cent testing of this motorcycle was done in Japan, where the roads are butter smooth and can accommodate a stiff suspension.
For a motorcycle that will primarily spend its time in the city, as a premium commuter, on less than stellar Indian roads, do we really need a suspension that is stiffly sprung? At least I do not think so.
As a close friend and a fellow owner of the Honda Highness CB 350 put it: "Suspension hi weld kar diya."
Jokes aside, the suspension is NOT BAD. Please do not get this idea from the video - there are nuances to what I am trying to tell you. This is a good suspension to ride spiritedly, but a tad on the stiffer side for the city. What doesn't help is the fact that the seat is on the harder side too.
Again, great attributes for the highways, but I'd want a plusher ride when I do not want to be riding fast (which is probably what most of you would agree with).
Enter Royal Enfield Meteor 350. Royal Enfield have been doing their thing in India for decades and their new platform - this is my educated guess - will not get the suspension wrong. If previous Royal Enfields are to go by, the suspension would be supple enough for the city and the highway. And that is the biggest advantage the Royal Enfield will hold over the Honda Highness CB 350.
Of course, Honda's other big flaw is its decision to sell this bike only through Honda Big Wing showrooms (four in country as of writing this), but that will turn into the Highness's biggest strength too in a year. That, however, is a discussion for another day.
But this video is not all about the suspension. The Honda is a well thought out product and its strengths far outweigh the little cons it might have. For example tank range. I have tried to go a bit in depth about it in the video.
I hope you enjoy these ramblings of a madman.
There's more to come in the Honda Highness CB350 video series.
If you like my work or are interested in knowing about my other motorcycles, you can check out my Instagram page: / abhinavbhatt19
Have a nice day. Cheers
28 окт 2020
