1972..i bought my first motorcycle...the 350 - 4...it was the sweetest sounding thing in the world to me..it was like a fine swiss watch..i loved her..and still think of her today...i am 68 years old...this video brings back the memories..thank you.
I'm 75 and own a 750 Shadow (V twin) Honda. It puts Harley to shame. And that is a shame. Just bought a Honda crv to drive as the MC experience grows treacherous considering the "diversity" on today's roads. My daughter rides her 1100 Shadow. Grandson a Suzuki........
In 1990, I was 18 years old. I just wanted a street bike. I’ve had an xl70 and a kaw klt110 for camping and such but I found a 1974 cb350 four with a wind shield and a helmet case. I rode that bike all year long. Sold it an bought a 1985 interceptor 500 and ran off to Florida. I’m 50 now and the 350four was the best cruising around town bike I’ve ever rode. IMO
I owned one of these back in the mid 70s it was a fun bike to ride. I miss it wish Honda would make more retro old style Hondas again I don’t like any of the newer styles except for the CB 1100.
Honda's were so popular here in central Ontario Canada in the 70s it seemed everyone had access to a Honda bike. You needed to be a 'tinker' to maintain a Harley, a Triumph or a BSA. My cousins bought the Honda 450's in the late 70s when the craze to own a motorcycle ran parallel to having a snowmobile in the winter. They were great commuter vehicles for 7 months out of the year in the days when winter set-in by December and didn't leave until April. The look of the Honda 350Four was captivating enough to make me want one as a child.
In 1981 I was in high school and had saved up money from a summer job. I grew up around motorcycles and had an Honda XL 125. My dad liked Hondas because they were 4-strokes, so more reliable than 2 strokes which were still common. We went to look at a CB350 I even rode it around the block. It was burning oil so we passed and stopped by the Honda shop, they confirmed it was small, but still had 4 of everything so $$$ to rebuilt. Later my Dad found a 1977 CB550K in much better shape. For $700 I rode through high school and college. So long ago that it's like another lifetime! Glad I found this video.
This great video by a real enthusiast caught my eye because I owned a new Honda 350 four, and I wanted to see if it mentioned the main thing I remember abut mine. Quite the opposite, the video emphasized how smooth it is. Mine had terrible putting-right hand-to-sleep vibration that ruined it for me. But I did like it in an uneducated sort of way because of its beautiful complex engine. You mention old Harleys. I am 97, and bought my first motorcycle, an ex-army Harley 45 in 1948 in SoCal for $125. I rode it a lot, including commuting to USC evening school from Lomita, once following the white line home in the fog and winding up in San Pedro. After two years I sold it for $125. An unusual bike I had was a Suzuki GT550 3-cylinder two stroke, which I rode in 1979 from the dealer 10,000 miles around the perimeter of the U.S. in three weeks on vacation from my job in Saudi Arabia. Over all the years so many bikes and touring memories including Alaska and the USA Four Corners. My last ride was my 94th birthday ride by which time I had down-sized to a Ducati Scrambler, a very nice bike.
Well you sure have had some great experience on the road around the nation no doubt. It sounds like you have had a good life, and I will celebrate that sir. We are all going to die, so what matters most is how we live. :) But that small bore 4-cylinder should have been very smooth, and even in those earlier days, Honda was no slouch with engineering and manufacturing. In fact, they were and probably still are the best, (manufacturing expert myself). My guess, even trivial, might have slipped your mind? A lose motor mount, or something wrong with a part or assembly. Hey, buy the way Mr. San Diego. Are you related to "Carmine", and do you have any idea "where in the world" she is? :) I am only 58, but after 20 years off a dirt bike, (and some MX racing), I am getting back into aggressive trail riding this summer, if I can find the parts I need to get my 2019 Yamaha bike back together. I bought a Harley Sportster/Nightster for my first road legal bike in 2009, after obama got elected. I figured I needed to grab a fist full of America while I still can. I was not wrong. I need to run for office I see now. :(
@@antoniograncino3506 Well, I got married and was too busy, if you know what I mean. (No, that's a disservice to my wife with whom I've been married for 65 years.)
A CB350 4 was the first motorcycle that I owned when I was 17; I bought it used for $100 and it was my favorite, also. I had a car but the bike really stretched the gas for a long time (that's important when you're flippin' burgers after school). It was a cool bike, handled well even with a passenger. No, it wasn't a race bike, but it was easy to maintain and just plain fun. Later, I moved up to a CB 750 4, with a Windjammer II fairing and saddlebags that I travelled all over the US in my early days in the Air Force. Again, I had a car but 65 mpg vs 26 was a no-brainer (IF the weather was agreeable). The bike was considerably heavier than the 350 4, but once you were rolling, it wasn't that noticeable. On the interstate when it was raining, that Windjammer fairing caused ALL of the water to pass over and around the bike. It was like traveling in a protected air bubble down the highway, and the vents could be opened at the knees when it was cold to allow engine heat up into that bubble. I don't ride any more, mainly because of the modern drivers (that don't get taught Driver's Ed anymore) and I've had too many friends killed by them. I do wish that I hadn't gotten rid of those bikes, though. I've had several others but those two I really liked. Thanks for the video (and the memories!)!
A CB350F was my first motorcycle. Based on Cycle Magazine’s glowing August 1972 road test, I bought my Black 1974 Honda CB350F brand new, and set out to correct the only issues which concerned them - left side cornering clearance and traction from the OEM tires. Shocks and fork springs were from Fox Performance, as was the hi-performance fork oil, all matched to my fully dressed riding weight. Tires were a matched set of 3.25X18 Continental RB2 front and 4.25X18 K112 rear on .25 wider front .50 wider rear wheels. The handlebars were OEM European stock items. The Fox Performance shocks were 3/4 inch longer than stock to provide extra cornering clearance and allow room for the significantly larger rear tire. Nothing dragged and it cornered as if on rails. I left the engine completely stock. I must have got a great one. Once broken it pulled quickly to 10,000 rpm and made short work of traffic and entrance ramps. Never gave me any trouble. It carved backroads like a sharp knife through cake and ate highway miles at excessive speeds like there was no tomorrow. Should’ve kept it.
I've had em ALL..and the 350F was one of the best. My mom wouldnt co sign a loan for me in early 1974 so I never got a new one. But years later I owned EVERY year and color...73 red 73 green...and 74 Black...LOL...It comes in a CLOSE second to the bike that tripped ALL my triggers...My 1971 Triumph Daytona 500
You bring up a great point. Mr. Honda was actively involved in every aspect of his company, and was a passionate motorcyclist. This is exactly why Honda Motors is so successful to this day!
Yes, that's why Honda is literally behind EVERYONE on their sportbike range... Only way their staying in style is with things like the monkey, cub, hunter, grom.. all small motorcycles. and the unit's move. they aren't Harley don't get me wrong. but these are all OLD bikes, just being produced once more.. We've seen it done.. there's nothing innovative about Honda anymore..
I named my 350F Soichiro; lets not forget, in the early to mid 60s he entered F1 with a 3L V-12 liquid cooled race car of his own design. Soichiro Honda was the Ferdinand Porsche of Japan, both having no formal engineering education. Before WWII he held a patent for piston rings and was the sole supplier to Toyota.
@@bhaggen ... Back in the misty past, one of the motorcycle magazines ran a story about the Honda CBX. They claimed that the engineers put an exhaust system on a preproduction model, demonstrating it to Mr. Honda. The story was that the sound mimicked that of a jet fighter. Supposedly, Mr. Honda was infuriated and said they had gone too far, ordering them to replace the system with a normal set of pipes. The story continued with the claim that in some corner of Honda R&D is a set of pipes that will make the 6 cylinder sound like an F16. Considering Mr. Honda's penchant for racing, I believe he would have been absolutely delighted with a trick exhaust. I spent a small amount of time figuring out how to put a spinner in a section of pipe, along with a flute-like whistle to generate some high pitched whines, but I didn't have the right equipment or practical design capability. Frankly, I'm surprised that someone else hasn't turned the idea into a real device. In my opinion, the magazine article was either wrong, or purposely deceitful. Not much importance nowadays, 40 plus years after. My 6 cylinder Hondas have very distinctive exhaust notes without high pitched whines added.
I bought a 1975 CB400Four 6 months ago it makes me smile every single time y start it, and now in my neighborhood there is a guy selling a 1979 goldwing. I am very interesting and wondering if the goldwing will produce the same feeling
@@cesarinho06 Nein, es wird dich nicht befriedigen. Das ist eine neue und andere Generation. Bleibe in deinem Baujahr und besorge dir eine originale Goldwing 75 bis 77. Zum direkten Vergleich zur cb 400 four. Es wird dir ein Gefühl der Freude schaffen. Diese Goldwing war DER Schritt in die Moderne der Motorradwelt und heute ein historisches Dokument. Wie die meisten Motorräder von Honda aus dieser Zeit. Viel Glück
I came so close to buying a CB 350-4 in 1976. It was used, never dropped and only had a couple thousand miles on it. The owner was disappointed because it wasn't big and fast enough for him. The dealer didn't want it back and lowballed the trade, so anything over that was fine. It came down to me not having covered storage for it, and I just didn't want to keep it out in the weather. But even then, I knew it was something special, and my test ride was memorable, not for speed, but for smoothness and sophistication. I regret to this day not figuring out the storage issue, and not buying that bike.
I've got well over a quarter million miles on scoots, ridden everything from seatless trials bikes to loaded highway cruisers, and my 350-4 was by far my favorite motorcycle. From the interstate to playing in the dirt, it was a jewel. It was such a quiet, smooth little scoot that I once fell asleep on it at 80 mph on I-80 when crossing Nebraska. There was nothing like it. BTW, I once beat a Kaw Ninja through the Garden of the Gods with my 350-4. It's all a matter of knowing your bike, and after 50,000 miles on my Four I knew my bike.
Cool , i'm 67 and have owned many bikes over the yrs. Triumphs , norton, matchless, ducati,bultaco, bmw etc. I first the 350 four in 1973 and that it was really cool!
@@tommurphy4307, I wish I had. I just had the throttle tension screw screwed down tight to take some of the load off my wrist. I woke up bouncing through one of those big, wide, shallow freeway ditches at 80 mph and rode it to a stop like a bucking bronco. I think a lot of previous playing in the dirt with it was what saved me from an ugly wreck. Then I just sat there on the bike in the ditch, shaking for about 15 minutes till I felt like I could go again. Like all XC bike trips, it was interesting.
I laughed when the 350 4 came out and assumed then and still think that it was just Honda's attempt to further capitalize on the insane popularity of the 750 4. Those 750s things were EVERYWHERE! (Me, I rode a Norton. :P )
I had a 75 CB350 4 that I intentionally bought to race in the AMA sportsman modified class, which I did for 8 years. The 350 4 was very easy to hop-up, extracting nearly twice the HP and dropping 38lbs of weight even with a full fairing. I had 4 into 1 tuned custom exhaust that were available and popular, and eventually we even made a full chrome moly alloy lighter weight tube frame in my father's car custom shop. That helped drop another 18lbs. It literally became e a full on near factory road racer and the one to beat at tracks like Sears Point, Monterey's Laguna Seca, and other west coast tracks in that class.
I owned a CB350 Twin 1973 model until 1982, took it across country several times, great bike, reliable, easy to maintain. sold it and bought a Yamaha 650 Special Twin, another great bike.
I bought a 1974 CB350 Four for a killer price back in 1976. One previous owner, low km in as good as new condition. It was my second road motorcycle replacing my erstwhile trusty 1972 CB350K4 twin. I loved both bikes, but the CB350 Four (mine was the red with white trim) truly was a beautiful piece of engineering which would rev freely and happily cruise stably at 130KPH/80MPH all day and night. Loved both bikes in their time with many fond memories of both.
My favorite 70s era Hondas were the SL series. There is something about a bike that can go on or off road. The 350 was my favorite. I had an SL 70 when I was 12. I rode that bike until I was in high school. It wasn't my only bike in the later years though. I had a CB450 for my first street bike. Of the CB models, the CB900 four was awesome. It had a dual range transmission. I had an 81 GL500 Silver Wing (mini Goldwing not the scooter! with the full Vetter Fairing and removable hard Vetter Bags. It also had a touring truck that could be removed to put a passenger seat in it's place. A lot of people didn't like the cylinders sticking out over the foot pegs but in cold weather they sure did a dandy job keeping my legs and feet warm. The shaft drive was smooth and silent. I've never been able to tolerate a chain since then.
I had one of these little beauties in the late 70s. I bought it to run back and forth to work and it was an extremely reliable and comfortable. My buddy had the 750 'big brother' version that was also a great machine. I really wish I still had it.
I bought a brand new Honda 1979 XL 350. It was a great motorcycle we used to call them Enduro‘s back then. Now they’re called dual sport. I could go anywhere on that bike, drove it downtown LA. I rode it on all kinds of trails and fire roads. It was a great bike.
The CB 350 (twin) still has a sweet spot in my memory for this is the very motorcycle I obtained my Motorcycle license on. Back in these days, you could get your A license at 16 years old. Compared to what you have to do to get your license today, my drive test was a joke. The examiner was the same for cars and motorcycles. I was the sole candidate in a very cold January winter month. The only thing the examiner wanted to do, is to get inside one of the cars. My test drive lasted less than 2'. I went up the street, made a U turn, came back and stopped in front of him while he stayed on the side walk. That was that. In those days, the Japanese had started to bring the 2 stroke powered bikes, excepted for Honda. So I moved on to Yamaha, Kawasaki and Suzuki. Today, I am riding on a Moto Guzzi V11 Le Mans from 2004. But I would not mind owning a CB 350 (twin) again.
'm laffin' with you, vieux, at your (our) DMV "motorcycle test" ;o)) I was 18 y.o. Had no driver's license at all. Showed up on my friends Honda 50 Cub. Examiner was at least 75-80 years old...He had NO IDEA what to do. So he pointed up the street a block and said, "Go up to the corner, turn around, and come back." I PASSED ;o))
In 1970, my girlfriend bought me a used Honda 305 superhawk. I rode that bike for 4 years. Great for around town and even on the freeway for short trips. Loved that bike.
I restored a 1974 CB350F about 5 years ago. I was in my teens when they were first introduced and I was always curious about them. After the restoration was complete, I spent that summer and fall riding it now and then. You are exactly right about the bike being electric smooth and 100% reliable. My bone of contention was with the lack of power and the narrow shifting profile. Leaving my driveway, I would be in 5th gear before I even got to the end of the block. The bike was well suited to country road riding, but running it up to 60 MPH or higher, it felt like I was flogging it to run at those speeds. My curiosity had been satisfied and I sold the bike to another enthusiast. I do take exception to the comments and impression that you give stating that Honda gave up on this bike after just a few years. That is NOT accurate. What Honda did do was to take the platform and re-image it into the 1975-1978 CB400F. They abandoned the UJM styling and built what could arguably be called the first Japanese production Cafe racer. The core 350F engine had been punched up to just over 400cc, the transmission revamped to add a 6th gear. The overall look was drastically changed, incorporating Euro-style low handle bars, a boxier looking gas tank, and a low profile seat. The most impressive change to the design was a sexy looking 4-into-1 factory header system. The normally straight head pipes now snaked their way down from the head with a number of stylized bends and joined up to a single muffler on the right side of the bike. I managed to snag one of these as my next restoration project and am anxious to compare it to the experience I had with the 350F. The 400F is also worth seeking out if you're a fan of these small Fours! [My 350F restoration video is here: ruclips.net/video/K4c2eWrPo10/видео.html ]
Pretty sure the CB400F was designed for European market? It was a precursor to the 'Eurosport' models of 1978 ( 3 valve CB400 twin and CB750/900 DOHC, plus of course the CBX 6 that got re-styled in 1979~80) I was given a CB350f several years ago (2006 ish), it has a rod through front of case though so has never been worked on by me but is still in storage. I kinda play with CB/CJ250/360's (for at least the last 30+ years)
@@1crazypj - If you recall, in 1975, Honda also released the 'F' series of the CB750 as well. Those models (also known as Sport models) featured low bars, flat seats, and 4-into-1 exhaust systems as well.
@Michael Vachon Great points. To not even mention the extremely successful 400F is just negligent. The CB350 clearly evolved into 400F Super Sport. There is actually a better bike than both of them, much better. And the best version of that bike was only available to the Japanese market, and a few other countries. The cheaper model did get exported to the USA, but it failed to sell very well, so the last few were shipped to Germany. Officially designated the NC27, it’s better known as the CB-1.
@@G58 - I've heard of these, but have never seen one up close. I'm thinking someone could write a book about the bikes Honda built that didn't catch on as expected. One of my bikes is a 2014 CB1100 DLX. After I bought it, I discovered that Honda only released around 300 of this specific model in the US. No wonder I had such a hard time tracking one of these down!
I purchased a new Honda 350 Four in 1973 while a Senior in high school. It was my first street bike, and I rode it virtually every day that I owned it. I still ride today and I have owned many other motorcycles but none have ever been as impressive to me as my 350-F. It was seamlessly smooth and had amazing gas mileage. I took it on several long trips, up to 1200 miles one way, and never had to make "saddle stops" just to rest my butt. There is a local Honda dealer in our area and the owner has two 350-F's on display; the one in best condition (looks show room quality) is valued today at $10,000.00. Mine cost me $950.00. I should of kept it! These days, after having owned bikes up to 1200cc, I ride a Honda Shadow 600 VLX, my second favorite.
My 550 - 4 was the most reliable all around mc ever. Through the years it was an every day rider and on the weekends the best recreational vehicle. I sold it to get money for my marriage. In retrospect that was a big mistake. The Honda was ever faithful and never wasted my money.
My only complaint I had with my 550 was keeping the valves adjusted, they liked to loosen up a lot. Lots of power but heavy front end, it would spin out from under you before you would get the front tire off the the ground, totally opposite of the Kawasaki 500.
@@arlo4051 I had a '77 550-4K. And I could feel the front tire starting to slide a few times. I always thought that it was top heavy. Especially with a full tank. The only problem I had with it. Was blowing the main fuse several times. That's real fun at night going down I-85. Lol
I'm restoring a 400four now. It has bounced around the family for 30years now. Was the most fun road bike I've ever ridden. Can't wait to get it rolling again.
for us in NZ, the 1974 XL250 motosport was the game changer. A bike you could ride on the street, and take off road, it was regularly seen on the Motocross track. Just a legend of a bike.
I bought a Honda 350 four in 1973 😮First and only motorcycle. My buddy had a Honda 750 four. I was a first time bike rider. I tried his 750. It was to big and heavy for me so I bought the 350 four which suited me perfectly. We put a chrome plated sissy bar with a chromed maple leaf on it. The bike was dark green and looked fabulous with all the chrome on it. I rode from Calgary to Victoria and back all though the Canadian Rockies the bike performed great. Super smooth and handled the steep roads with no problems at all. Great touring bike. Wish I was still riding.
My GF had one in 78-80 or so. Was her daily commuter in CA. 50 miles round trip each day. She rode it to the Midwest one year too. I think it actually had more real power than the twin, having ridden one of those across the US myself. The numbers on the twin were wildly optimistic. 27hp was more like reality. She put about 40k miles on it. It was a decent bike. Far better than the twin, though the handling was pretty marginal compared to a BMW or Triumph, as was the case with most Japanese bikes then. That all changed with the Suzuki GS750, which is another great story.
Just picked up a 73’ 350F. My wife’s grandfather was the original owner but he passed away. It’s been sitting for quite some time and it needs some love, but it’s been garage kept and is in good condition overall. I plan to restore it as close to its original condition as possible. This is my first restoration project and I can’t wait to dig in 🙂
I had a Honda CB400F back in 1978, the engine was bullet proof , as an 18yr old i thrashed it relentlessly , a absolute gem of Japanese 70's engineering , an underrated bike .
Each to their own I suppose. I had an f2 I think, and didn’t like it. Like you said, you needed to thrash it. I prefer something a bit bigger and more laid back.
The cam chain tensioner was in a silly place though - at the front of the engine where it got covered in road crap. Many seized in position and were a problem to remove. Apart from that, a magnificent machine. I had one 😊
Alle Motorräder , die reibungslos funktionieren werden unterschätzt und nicht mehr beachtet. Das Schicksaal der Unauffälligkeit...gilt auch für Menschen.
I have a 1973 350 four, had 3200 miles when I got it, has 6500 now. It is definitely the most fun motorcycle I own. fantastic back road bike and supper smooth rida al day comfort. I nerve plan on selling it
I remember reading a road test on the 350 four when it first came out. The reviewers called it the answer to the question nobody asked: how few cc's can Honda divide by four?
Was the 250cc of the CBR250RR Fireblade the final answer, or did they go smaller than that in a production bike? The CB400SF inline-four is still a current bike, similar in philosophy to the CB350 (indeed, it's the same series as the CB400 replaced the CB350), and it makes some sense I think... Just because it's a straight-forward 400cc universal motorcycle, why should it only have a parallel twin or inline twin? Why not have the smoothness of an inline-four engine, albeit with the trade-offs of weight and complexity?
I recall parking my 79 Harley Sportster next to a friends Honda 350 4 cyl. Couldn't even tell the Honda was running at idle. Mine was thumping and vibrating while the Honda just sat there. The Tach was the only way you could tell the 350 was running. This was 40 years ago and still remember the experience.
Back in 1973 a friend of mine got his mint condition 71' CB750 stolen. He replaced it with a Harley Sportster. I think it was a used 68 model. Ya, looking back he should have kept it since it would be highly collectable now. Well, after a couple of months of getting on all his gear for the ride to his job and slowly stripping everything off down to his T-shirt from endless kicks to get it started and covered with sweat he sold it and bought another used 71 CB 750. I had a sandcast 69 that I sold years ago (another should have held on to story) 1982 to be exact, had over 100K miles on it and that bike would start every time in an instant no matter the weather. Honda built and most likely still does build the best bikes.
My sons group of Harley riders spend all their time with their Harley's in a shop. They work on them more than ride. My group of Japanese Bike riders spend more time riding than maintenance or in the shop. I buy a Bike to ride, not take to the shop.
@@PeterDad60 Right, if you buy into Harley's marketing scam. They make a bike that still leaks oil, vibrates like a jackhammer, and handles like a tricycle. As only a small percentage of HD riders are under 50 years old these days, the company probably doesn't have many years left.
I had a new Honda cb350 in high school ,a scenic 20 miles from home. My friend had a Yamaha 650 and on our trip to the grand canyon it was obvious that while my Honda tried it's little heart out I needed a bike that would be ok on interstate highways . The Honda 450 was a good choice at around $1100.00 in 1973. And it could handle 70-75 mph all day.
I took my '73 CB350-F from Alabama to Idaho. It cruised effortlessly at 75-80. It (barely) hung with my Utah friend's 750 BMW boxer touring the Wasatch mountains, but it wasn't jetted for 7000+ feet. It was the smoothest machine in the world. I once won a $100 bet. Me (175) with a 200lb friend on the back. Idle down to idle speed in top gear, and gently ease the throttle until 80 mph. Never a buck or hesitation. Felt like a turbine or electric motor. Oh, and it cost $849 new.
One thing you did not mention was Honda was the first motorcycle to achieve a 100,000 mile engine before needing a rebuild. Prior you were lucky to get 10,000 before top end rebuild was needed. And they all leaked but not Honda.
Excellent perspective on this particular Honda. I had the good fortune in my youth working in a Honda Shop in the 70s, and I had my pick of used bikes in the shop to ride home. The 750 four was a monster that you held on to for dear life, the 450 twin was like driving a dragster in traffic. The 350 twins were strong and fast but always felt rather clunky and hard to handle. The 350 four was a dream to ride. It sounded great, the power was smooth, and the bike handled really great. To me it was the most enjoyable one of the lot at the time. Also for a short person like me, it fit like a glove.
Thank you! This brings back such great memories. A friend in the late 60's had a cl 305 scrambler. What a great solid bike. I bought a almost new Suzuki 74 TS 185. That was a fun bike. 4 of us would go out and have adventures. I later had a Honda CL-360 and that was a great bike. Then later I picked up a Honda 550 Four and what a fun bike that was. I liked it better than my 750 Four. I got hooked riding a neighbors Trail 90? I had a Kawasaki 100 that we couldn't destroy and not for a lack of trying..Man such good memories. A friend wanted to race for pink slips for my CL-360 on his Yamaha RD-350..Uh no..That was a widow maker and he soon crashed bad not long after that. The scariest bike I ever rode back then was my big sisters boyfriends Kawasaki 750cc 3 cylinder 2 stroke. That bike was just disturbing. Even after you got off it, it still traumatized you..lol Hondas were such great fun and dependable bikes..Never the fastest but always there for you..
This was my first bike. Bought it from my brother. He bought a 750. I still love the old Honda's. I have restored many of them of all sizes. Tough bikes.
I bought a new 1974 Kawasaki 900 Z-1 in Feb of 1974. Best damn motorcycle I ever owned. It was built like a Timex watch. It took a licking and kept on ticking. Never had any problems with it. In December of 1977 a young girl made a left hand turn in front of me and that was the end of that motorcycle. The frame broke and so did I. Spent 13 months in a Navy hospital, learning how to walk again. You could do a complete top end job on the bike without taking the engine out of the frame, unlike the CB750. Sure do miss that motorcycle.
@@johnthonig8832 Mine was a green metal flake, with white and yellow strips. Put an extra disk on the front wheel and moved the brake calipers behind the fork boots. Had to hug the gas tank at full braking as it generated almost 2 g's of force, to keep from going over the handle bars.
And Z-1 stories always ended that way. Too much power and into a bad driving situation going incredibly fast. I had a red kawa 350. 5 speeding tickets in 4 weeks. Lost my license for 2 months but probably saved my life. Ah,the good old days! Fuzzy rv.
@@thefuzzyrv The motorcycle I had before picking up the Z-1, was a red 1972 Kawasaki 350 two stroke triple. Should have realized that it had handling problems. I came with a stock steering dampener.
Interesting video, thanks. I rode one in 1977 as an 18 year old. when I had a Suzuki GT 380 triple two-stroke. The 350 Four felt like the brakes were dragging and I didn't like it. Today, I love it, it's a beautiful bike.
I know 2 people that had suzuki gt380's in 1996 it's was cool bike. Even GT500's were still around. Now it's highly sort after. Friend was given a gt250 for free. 1997
I had a 73 350 f with a Vetter Windjammer fairing and took three cross country tours on it. People said I was crazy but I never had any problems on any of the long rides. I loved that bike. Thanks.
Crazy was the Silver Wing (500cc twin full dress) I saw near the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. 2-up, pulling a trailer, at 7000 feet. That was 35 years ago and I still feel sorry for that bike.
I was 15 when my Uncle bought one of these. I was a good rider and he let me ride it. No license, no helmet, I rode it about 5 miles away from his house to the San Diego Wild Animal Park and back. It was fun and cool because it was so unique. Fast forward about 8 years and I had a Honda 750 four. I sold it for $1,800 and used that money for paramedic school tuition. I’m 63 now and own a Husky FE501S.
I had a 74 350F and loved it. I can attest to its buttery smoothness. I bought mine in 77 for $400 with approximately 20,000 miles on the clock. Drove it for four years and sold it for $600 with over 50,000 miles on the clock. It never left me stranded and always put a smile on my face!
Great video, a bike from my youth, seen then as breathless, it paved the way for the CB400 Four, which took your breath away ! I totally agree with your definition, it was built because Honda could, in the same way they made the CBX1000 6 cyclinder.
New subscriber here. I REALLY like your content and your presentation and editing. You have excellent taste in the motorcycles you like, and a top notch ability to express why you like them. From the age of 15 (1970) until well into the 90s motorcycles were my primary transportation. For many years I owned a 1967 Honda 160, a 1971 Suzuki T500 Titan, and a 1969 Triumph 650 Bonneville. I owned all three simultaneously. I loved all three so I just kept them. In the mid-90s in a fit of bad judgement I sold all three; fully intending to buy something bigger and grander than any of them. But as it turned out I never did buy another motorcycle. I regret it. I really enjoyed this video about the Honda 350 Four. In high school (early-70s) I had a friend who had one. I always thought it was just a jewel of a bike. My friend traded it for a Kawasaki 750 2-stroke triple. That bike was like the Warner Bros. cartoon Tasmanian Devil. Another friend had the first year of the BSA Rocket 3. I coveted that bike. As old as that guy is now, he still has the BSA, and it is in great shape. It's always been kept IN the house. Not even in the garage. IN the house.
I Thought everyone keeps their Bike In the House. I Do. In the Front Room. Sometimes fire it Up. When I have been Good, sometimes, extra Special Treats. On It. My Lady thinks I'm a bit nuts. VMax anniversary model 2005.
i too rode a CB 160 (and a 1969 BSA 441 Victor) but the most fun were my 1966 Bultaco Metralla (250) and a Honda CB 400 four. Honda also made a 550 four (I've never heard of a 450 cc version -- and I rode 18 motorcycles over the course of 60 years in the saddle). My most recent bike was the "Flying Brick" a 1988 BMW K75-S (475 lbs and 75 HP. One of the finest bikes ever made. Google The...
I LOVE ALL those VINTAGE Bikes....The sound the looks EVERYTHING about them...I have 1975 CB 360 T with over 40,000 miles on it had the carbs cleaned a couple years ago...STILL LOVE that VINTAGE SOUND!!!🏍
Great video! Bought my 1st street bike in ‘83 and it was a red ‘72 CB350F. Have had dozens of bikes since, and sold them all off over the years. Only one left in the garage and it’s a red ‘72 CB350F. I think the bike represents the true spirit of Mr. Honda and his attitude of always testing the limits of what could be engineered mechanically. Doesn’t make sense on paper but if you’re lucky enough to ride one one with original 4-4 pipes, you’ll hear what sounds like Soichiro laughing when you pass 9500 RPMs.
I totally agree. I too had one at that age as a starter bike. My dad had a CD750 Four. He wouldn't ride his much, so I did. Then going back to the 350, I found myself getting into tight spots because It didn't have the power I used to from 750. So I sold the 350 and bought 750, Still wish I had that 350 back.
i miss the 400 4 i had very good bike great Mpg could run 70 mph all day and carry 2 people in a pintch. simple to work on could run in cold michigan winters. honada needs to start making the 400-4 again and then other cb 550 4 600-4
I had a 73' CB350F for a few years. I wish I had it back. It wasn't good for long trips, but it was a joy to ride around for an afternoon of meandering through the countryside.
We didn’t get the 350-4 in the UK. We got it’s sister the 400-4. Some styling differences but it looked essentially the same bike. It would be interesting to have a side-by-side comparison. I believe the 400-4 sold well here and was highly thought of. More so than it’s replacements the CB400T Dream (Hawk in the States) and then CB400N SuperDream. Examples of the 400-4 still command high prices.
i had a 400 four in the uk, handled really well, and with the revs at 6000 it would be very quick too... only downside was the the frame, and the coils cutting out in heavy rain, but one of my favorite machines... oh and a real point to watch cam chains... a real weak point
I remember riding a 350-4 once. That little bike was so smooth you could hardly tell it was running. A complete opposite or the 450 DOHC twin of those days..which shook and vibrated until your fillings fell out.
The CB350F was my first bike and I still have fond memories. It was 1987, and it was worn out and leaking. I bought it for 350 guilders (about 160 euros) It used and leaked so much oil I never had to replace it. It had a 4in1 Marshall pipe and it sounded AWESOME! Sometimes when I drove up to the pub people ran outside to see what exotic bike was speeding towards them, then realizing it was not fast at all :) I think the top speed was about 130 kph and it was not the right bike for the highway. It died when the morse chain between crankshaft and gearbox snapped....
My dad bought a Honda CB350 Four off the showroom floor when the salesman put a quarter on the gas cap, started the motor, reved it to redline, let it idle, and then turned it off. What I remember from riding on the back was the melody of those 4 pipes. At a certain rpm they made a uniquely pleasing sound.
The first long distance touring trip I ever took was the year I graduated high school. I was on a 1971 Honda CB 350 twin. I was 18 years old and weighed probably between 150 and 160 lbs. I was riding with my Dad and we covered about 6000 miles in 19 days. It was a great adventure for me. The Honda ran beautifully, requiring a spark plug swap a little over halfway through the trip and that was it. My Dad was on a 600 cc BMW and my Honda would pull him at will. It was certainly fun for me. A number of years later, my Dad took another road trip with some friends of his and one of them was riding the 350F. My Dad was not impressed with the bike. He said it really struggled to keep up with the group under circumstances that my 350 twin had no problems running. I was always intrigued by the early four cylinder bikes Honda was building. I would have loved to have gotten hold of the 550F when it came out but that never happened.
I had a Honda 360twin when they took the place of the older 350, I also had a Honda 450 twin, and I had two BSAs I bought as basket cases and put one together. A friend of mine had a honda 500 four and I tried out a 350four, they were very smooth almost no vibration at any speed.
you meant 'almost no speed at any vibration'......right? my '66 yamaha big bear could smoke those things- and it was just a 250 2-stroke with a mild cam.....just kidding- there was no cam.
In 1977 a friend had a CB750 supersport. We frequently traded vehicles for weekends. Not long after I had acquired a CB750H. While riding this CB I had taken my brother-in-law's CB350 for a ride. The power difference was quite noticable. Now I own a 1990s VF750C Magna.
Wow that brings back memories. As a teenager I had a chance to ride my friend's Honda 50. I wanted a bike but was not able to get one. In my early 20s I test rode a Honda 350 and again wanted a bike but it was not to be. The 350 felt so big and powerful to me and compared to the only other bike I had ridden, the 50, it was big and powerful. Years went by and finally when I was about 35 I bought my first bike - it was a Yamaha 650 Seca. It felt so big and powerful and compared to the 350 I had ridden it was big and powerful. Later on a bought a Honda 1100 Sabre. Guess what? It felt big and powerful... and it was !
Feeling a little nostalgic for my first bike, an '81 650 Maxim, I picked up it's XJ650 twin, a silver '82 650 Seca a few years back. It's still sitting in the garage waiting to see if I have the time and money/desire to restore it...still nice to look at though. I also had a Sabre, as my second bike, the V45 750cc. It wasn't quick, but man it was fast. I think I may unload the Seca and find another Maxim...loved the chrome accents.
@@1966johnnywayne I liked the Seca 650 so well I wore out 3 of them. First one was new and I put 52,000 miles on it and then traded it in on a used low mileage Seca 650 and then did the same thing again later.
I bought a CB350F brand new in 1974, and like any 18 year old, beat it to death for 67,000 fun-filled miles, and 4 years, until it would barely run anymore. Advertised BHP at the time was actually 37 hp @9200 rpm. Mine was in the mid 45 hp. range with some carb and filter mods, an early CDI ignition, and a Kerker 4 into 1 exhaust. I finally gave it to my younger brother as I had moved on to a modded Kawasaki 500 H1 triple, and several other things. I bought another one for $500 in 2015 that had been wrecked, and I was able to source pretty much everything to get it back in top condition with a few performance mods. With only 7000 miles on the odometer, it was still in it's prime! I ended up selling it a few years ago for $4500, as my health is failing, but I'll never forget 'em! Best little 4 cylinders Honda ever produced! 😍😉👍👍
Had a 1976 400F Super Sport for years. I still remember looking at the beautiful factory 4-into-1 header in an advertisement and thinking to myself, "That's it. That's the bike I'm going to buy." It took 2 years to find one for sale. So much fun to ride and like everyone has said, super smooth to the 10K redline. It sounded terrific! Sold it after getting married, then found out someone had torched it about a year later. :(
RD350/400 rider here. I loved the RD's, but I have to agree that the 4 into 1 exhaust on the 400F were, and are, the best looking exhaust pipes I've ever seen.
I smiled through the whole great video. My first bike was the 350-4. It was a small bike to start off and learn how to ride but it felt like a big bike. I then upgraded to a 450 Scrambler for awhile. Then I worked my way up to the 550 four yeah same color root beer as the one in the video, man what a cruiser of a bike. Of course I had to have a 1969 750 that I rode 12,000 miles around the U.S. in 1977. To top it off my last bike was a brand new 1978 Goldwing 1000. Liquid cooled, drive shaft powered, Vetter fairing. Took many trips from Washington to California. Thanks for the memories *bart.*
A kid I went to school with had one of these. He was running that thing to death, smoking up the rear tires, and for the 2 years I saw it, it ran like a top. I was really impressed.
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Thank you for this wonderful video. My friends had one in silver and red, mine was green. I bought it in 1974 and held it until 1979 driving more than 64.000 kilometers. Immediately I changed the headlight to a halogen-lamp and the rear springs and shock-absorbers to tougher ones... After about 40.000 kilometers the motor lost a lot of power. We measured only 27 hp left so I "renovated" it. Means we opened the bore and installed the pistons of the newly released cb400f. That gave me 400 cc and more than 42 hp. THEN it was fun because I suddenly could catch up with the guys with the CB500F. (Cost me a lot of tyres and chains....and an oil-cooler of course) With the kilometers the plastic bearing of the swingarm needed to be reaplced. We manufactured ones from bronze. When the seat was weak and a few more small problems made more repairs neccessary I unfortunately sold it for a Suzuki 400 f with which I never was happy. With this my beloved 350f I was in Yugoslavia, of course in Austria (only 30 km away), in Italy, in Denmark, in Sweden, in Finland... Never had any problem with it. In fact, it was a dream to ride this small bike with an engine like a turbine. Not seldom we pushed it over the red scale on the rev-meter. Then the needle pointed to "Nippon Seiki" ;-) I am absolutely sure I would never have sold it if I wouldn't have needed the money in the time when I still was Student. Here is a small video wchich shows uur friends: mediathek.muehldorf-tv.de/Shop/Produkte/Werbespots/MT_Demospot10.html - And by the way: Driving a small motorcycle fast makes indeed much more fun than driving a big one slow! 🙂
I owned one for years. Riding was as smooth as it gets. Switched to a four into one exhaust system and got seven more up. Custom low rider seat made handling better with lower center of gravity. Loved that bike.
@@jamesromeyn8165 please don't get confused with log headers or similar stuff that econobox car uses, which in essence also a 4-1 headers but not equal in length. equal length 4-1 headers has a scavenging effect that--thanks to Bernoulli effects--creates a little vacuum in the collector. remember that hot combustion gases are highly pressurized and more difference in pressure between combustion chamber and headers accelerates the extraction of exhaust gas, giving more room for the fresh intake mixture to get into the cylinder. this video explains a lot better than any nonsense that I type ruclips.net/video/NekTRPx68zs/видео.html&ab_channel=groutaone
I have a CB350F and it has always been my favorite bike. It sounds killer and is super smooth. Power wise it’s fine, goes over 100 with no problem. It’s just a fun bike and it does feel like your going 200 just around town.
We opened a bike shop in 1978, it filled with every kind of bike awaiting repair and tune ups. I was 16. As we fixed each bike we test rode them of course, 2 years later we were on a drag strip ripping KZ 1000's down a quarter mile! We had a blast. I am now almost 60 and still riding everything that has two wheels. I do remember that Honda 750 was one of my favorites! Cheers!
I bought one brand new in 1974. 4's to me were about being Cruisers, mine happily cruised along at 70 mph as I toured around New Zealand. I eventually put a Walker 4-into-1 exhaust on and had TT100 tyres. You say that it disappeared after a few years, but I disagree. I think the CB350F was reborn as the 400F Super Sport (Cafe Racer) that had a 4-into-1 exhaust.
As the owner of a yellow CB400 I’d agree. It’s about perfect as a middle weight/class bike one can get,yesterday and today. Only the RD350/400 rivaled it in appeal, but for different, 2 stroke, reasons.
Brings back a few memories of the rows of bikes parked in Alfred Street, Auckland University back in the 70s. Yes, I do remember seeing a green 350F that belonged to a lucky student.
@@pervertt A lot of fellow Kiwis here, yes Auckland in the 70's was a great city to live in, and the CB350F was a great bike for getting around on back then..
It was this little bike I bought used was my inspiration to go ahead and purchase my brand new off the showroom floor 1977 CB750. in late 1976. Didn't regret buying both bikes. Each served me well. Cheers from Louisiana.
I bought one in 72, then a few months later, sold it and got an H2 Kawasaki. That was the wildest machine ever made, as far as holding it on the ground.
I had a CB400f at the same time a friend of mine had an older Kawasaki H1 500 triple. Mine was like riding into the future, and his was like riding an insane, barely in control rocket ship. I liked mine better, but that 500 was crazy when it hit its power band. Oh yeah - 2 stroke too. What a machine.
@@tad5920 Add 250cc more and you'll have an H2. I weighed more than 200lbs, and I couldn't hold the front wheel on the ground in the first 3 gears, sitting on the gas tank. I shutter when I think of the things I did on that machine.
I had the 1977 model CB 750 Four. Full faring, highways bars, and back rest. Put a lot of miles on that bike with just general maintenance. Rode it while others with Harleys and Kal's were repairing theirs. Very dependable ride.
Perfectly balanced video that held my interest and brought back youthful memories as l drank a strong mug of tea. No regrets on following the algorithm on this one. Thanks buddy 👍
Love these videos, Bart, but not one mention of the 400 four Super Sport in this one was weird. It was a successful evolution from the odd but cool 350 four.
I owned a 400 SS in the late 70-ies. Compared to the 350 (which I never owned) I thought the 400 was even smoother. And somehow it looked more like a new development instead of a downsized 500 which was a downsized 750. I did mechanical work on all 3 engines.
@@jlinkels - In a bike-swap experience, riding around the city in 1977: Sitting on the 400 at traffic lights, I had to look at the tachometer to find out whether the engine was still idling (which it was).
I remember the 400 four. It had the strangest exhaust configuration from factory making a kerker header impossible to fit. Back in the day everyone's mindset was more hp. More , more more, when kawi came out with the 900 cc everyone wanted one, then 1000 came out , then Suzuki gs 1100, then , then cbx, then kz 1300 six, cbr, ninja, interceptor, katana, ect fun stuff
Maybe a little off topic: By the time I entered riding scene the 350F was long gone and not missed but its follow-up, the 400F was a fan favorite and missed my many when the Hawk came out for the 78 model year, twin though it was its tested BHP of 35.8 besting the 400F 32.3 even still the 400F was a great performer and I wouldn't mind having one today. To the point on which you video opened Honda of 70-80s was an incredible company I remember when in 82 for example they had 3 different street 500 engines (CX 80' V-twin, Ascot 52' V-twin and XL500 single) can't imagine that ever happening today.
Saw the CB350 for the first time in 1974 in Philly. The guy that owned it never got it tagged, but brought it out occasionally the blast up and down the street, reving it to the moon. He no doubt realised it would be a collectable classic one day.
@@thelakeman5207 I remember the CB550 and it's rebirth as the CB650 in 1979. Never had a chance to ride either but I'm sure it would have been interesting.
I remember one of the magazines back in the early seventies, had a cover pic of the brand new CB500-4 with the headline "The Honda Magic Lantern Lights Again". I'm 74 years now, but Honda taught me how to ride on a new 1965 S90. Loved every Honda I've owned. 🙂 Great nostalgic video! Thanks.
The 350-4 morphed into the 400-4. I had the '72 500-4. Then in '75, I had a 750-4 in an Amen ridged frame with a 12" over springer. The 4's were a lot smoother than the twins.
Parallel twin cylinder engines always shake. They can be bodged with balance shafts but are always trouble. Fours are more costly but they look so good it’s easy to up the purchase price.
I had a CB350F. That little four cylinder was a jewel of an engine. I put a 4 to 1 megaphone on it and it sounded great. Wasn't fast, but you could use all the power all the time.
I had one! Smooth as silk, but had little torque off the start line or acceleration. Loved the the little thing for short to moderately-long trips because it lacked the kidney-shaking vibration of the twins. The CB750 isn't "arguably the first superbike" --- it was, even though the single-cammed engine was mild by today's standards. Before the 750, the CB450 twin was the big boy. The CB750 ruled for 4-years until Kawasaki introduced the 900cc Z1 which would outrun anything on the planet. Long time ago, but I remember those days... motorcycles were all I though about then!
@@davidfoster3427 All bikes in those days had inadequately sized tires. I never had a weave or wobble until I rode Harleys. The FHLPs I rode were death traps.
Well, when I was 16 in 1973, I was riding my first street bike, a Yamaha R5. My neighbor was a recently retired gentleman with his new Honda 350-4. I'll never forget our ride together. My Mom and Dad okayed it. I came from a dirt bike backround and he showed me that a lot of enjoyment can be had when you are not full on. Kinda cooled my jets. Older Folks are pretty smart
In 1979 I purchased my first bike, a used 1976 CB400F, the sporty successor of the CB350F. Not it's 2022 and I still own that little gem. 5:29 a CB350F with a CB400F exhaust just doesn't look right. The CBR250RR makes sense in the Japanese home-market as well as some export markets, like Australia, that have legislation that makes 250s desirable.
Ha! I noticed that too and actually backed up the video - I thought I missed a shot of my '75 CB400F with the awesome 4 into one exhaust. You were smart to keep yours - I wish I still had mine!
I bought a 76 400 F that was 10 months old.It was the light yellow,like new condition.I kept it inside my house.It was my first bike.My friend that was with me when I got it told me I would want a larger one later.Traded it in on a new 750 two years later.Both were trouble free.I kind of miss the 400.
I had 5 Hondas between 1963 and 1972. A 50, 90, 125, 305, and 360. Plus the little Honda trail bike. Loved them all. I wish they would bring back the motorcycle styling of the 60s and 70s.
The CB 350 4 was about the best bike that Honda built. It had some magic about it and it sure did have a nice sound. And they looked just great. Soichiro knew.
I always thought they looked odd, the bars looked too high and the pegs too far forward, the 400 four that replaced it was much nicer to ride, and looked far nicer in my humble opinion:-)
1972..i bought my first motorcycle...the 350 - 4...it was the sweetest sounding thing in the world to me..it was like a fine swiss watch..i loved her..and still think of her today...i am 68 years old...this video brings back the memories..thank you.
I'm 75 and own a 750 Shadow (V twin) Honda. It puts Harley to shame. And that is a shame. Just bought a Honda crv to drive as the MC experience grows treacherous considering the "diversity" on today's roads. My daughter rides her 1100 Shadow. Grandson a Suzuki........
I’m 67. Not Really a Motorcycle Nut. But I Have a 350 CB 4. Better get Riding it. Next Summer
In 1990, I was 18 years old. I just wanted a street bike. I’ve had an xl70 and a kaw klt110 for camping and such but I found a 1974 cb350 four with a wind shield and a helmet case. I rode that bike all year long. Sold it an bought a 1985 interceptor 500 and ran off to Florida. I’m 50 now and the 350four was the best cruising around town bike I’ve ever rode. IMO
I owned one of these back in the mid 70s it was a fun bike to ride. I miss it wish Honda would make more retro old style Hondas again I don’t like any of the newer styles except for the CB 1100.
Honda's were so popular here in central Ontario Canada in the 70s it seemed everyone had access to a Honda bike. You needed to be a 'tinker' to maintain a Harley, a Triumph or a BSA. My cousins bought the Honda 450's in the late 70s when the craze to own a motorcycle ran parallel to having a snowmobile in the winter. They were great commuter vehicles for 7 months out of the year in the days when winter set-in by December and didn't leave until April. The look of the Honda 350Four was captivating enough to make me want one as a child.
In 1981 I was in high school and had saved up money from a summer job. I grew up around motorcycles and had an Honda XL 125. My dad liked Hondas because they were 4-strokes, so more reliable than 2 strokes which were still common. We went to look at a CB350 I even rode it around the block. It was burning oil so we passed and stopped by the Honda shop, they confirmed it was small, but still had 4 of everything so $$$ to rebuilt. Later my Dad found a 1977 CB550K in much better shape. For $700 I rode through high school and college. So long ago that it's like another lifetime! Glad I found this video.
This great video by a real enthusiast caught my eye because I owned a new Honda 350 four, and I wanted to see if it mentioned the main thing I remember abut mine. Quite the opposite, the video emphasized how smooth it is. Mine had terrible putting-right hand-to-sleep vibration that ruined it for me. But I did like it in an uneducated sort of way because of its beautiful complex engine. You mention old Harleys. I am 97, and bought my first motorcycle, an ex-army Harley 45 in 1948 in SoCal for $125. I rode it a lot, including commuting to USC evening school from Lomita, once following the white line home in the fog and winding up in San Pedro. After two years I sold it for $125. An unusual bike I had was a Suzuki GT550 3-cylinder two stroke, which I rode in 1979 from the dealer 10,000 miles around the perimeter of the U.S. in three weeks on vacation from my job in Saudi Arabia. Over all the years so many bikes and touring memories including Alaska and the USA Four Corners. My last ride was my 94th birthday ride by which time I had down-sized to a Ducati Scrambler, a very nice bike.
Well you sure have had some great experience on the road around the nation no doubt. It sounds like you have had a good life, and I will celebrate that sir. We are all going to die, so what matters most is how we live. :)
But that small bore 4-cylinder should have been very smooth, and even in those earlier days, Honda was no slouch with engineering and manufacturing. In fact, they were and probably still are the best, (manufacturing expert myself). My guess, even trivial, might have slipped your mind? A lose motor mount, or something wrong with a part or assembly.
Hey, buy the way Mr. San Diego. Are you related to "Carmine", and do you have any idea "where in the world" she is? :)
I am only 58, but after 20 years off a dirt bike, (and some MX racing), I am getting back into aggressive trail riding this summer, if I can find the parts I need to get my 2019 Yamaha bike back together. I bought a Harley Sportster/Nightster for my first road legal bike in 2009, after obama got elected. I figured I needed to grab a fist full of America while I still can. I was not wrong. I need to run for office I see now. :(
So you hung up yer chaps & spurs after 94 ? Why so young ?
Throttle cable synchronization is critical on the Fours. Serious vibration will result if the four cylinders are not pulling evenly.
@@antoniograncino3506 Well, I got married and was too busy, if you know what I mean. (No, that's a disservice to my wife with whom I've been married for 65 years.)
@@antoniograncino3506 Wish I could try out that solution.
Bought one in 1972...still have it. The bike attracts a lot of attention every time I take it out.
A CB350 4 was the first motorcycle that I owned when I was 17; I bought it used for $100 and it was my favorite, also. I had a car but the bike really stretched the gas for a long time (that's important when you're flippin' burgers after school). It was a cool bike, handled well even with a passenger. No, it wasn't a race bike, but it was easy to maintain and just plain fun.
Later, I moved up to a CB 750 4, with a Windjammer II fairing and saddlebags that I travelled all over the US in my early days in the Air Force. Again, I had a car but 65 mpg vs 26 was a no-brainer (IF the weather was agreeable). The bike was considerably heavier than the 350 4, but once you were rolling, it wasn't that noticeable. On the interstate when it was raining, that Windjammer fairing caused ALL of the water to pass over and around the bike. It was like traveling in a protected air bubble down the highway, and the vents could be opened at the knees when it was cold to allow engine heat up into that bubble.
I don't ride any more, mainly because of the modern drivers (that don't get taught Driver's Ed anymore) and I've had too many friends killed by them. I do wish that I hadn't gotten rid of those bikes, though. I've had several others but those two I really liked.
Thanks for the video (and the memories!)!
A CB350F was my first motorcycle. Based on Cycle Magazine’s glowing August 1972 road test, I bought my Black 1974 Honda CB350F brand new, and set out to correct the only issues which concerned them - left side cornering clearance and traction from the OEM tires. Shocks and fork springs were from Fox Performance, as was the hi-performance fork oil, all matched to my fully dressed riding weight. Tires were a matched set of 3.25X18 Continental RB2 front and 4.25X18 K112 rear on .25 wider front .50 wider rear wheels. The handlebars were OEM European stock items. The Fox Performance shocks were 3/4 inch longer than stock to provide extra cornering clearance and allow room for the significantly larger rear tire. Nothing dragged and it cornered as if on rails. I left the engine completely stock. I must have got a great one. Once broken it pulled quickly to 10,000 rpm and made short work of traffic and entrance ramps. Never gave me any trouble. It carved backroads like a sharp knife through cake and ate highway miles at excessive speeds like there was no tomorrow. Should’ve kept it.
I've had em ALL..and the 350F was one of the best. My mom wouldnt co sign a loan for me in early 1974 so I never got a new one. But years later I owned EVERY year and color...73 red 73 green...and 74 Black...LOL...It comes in a CLOSE second to the bike that tripped ALL my triggers...My 1971 Triumph Daytona 500
You bring up a great point. Mr. Honda was actively involved in every aspect of his company, and was a passionate motorcyclist. This is exactly why Honda Motors is so successful to this day!
ROTFLOL!! 🤣😂😂🤣
Yes, that's why Honda is literally behind EVERYONE on their sportbike range... Only way their staying in style is with things like the monkey, cub, hunter, grom.. all small motorcycles. and the unit's move. they aren't Harley don't get me wrong. but these are all OLD bikes, just being produced once more.. We've seen it done.. there's nothing innovative about Honda anymore..
@@johnwalker7592 Who sells more motorcycles than Honda?
I named my 350F Soichiro; lets not forget, in the early to mid 60s he entered F1 with a 3L V-12 liquid cooled race car of his own design. Soichiro Honda was the Ferdinand Porsche of Japan, both having no formal engineering education. Before WWII he held a patent for piston rings and was the sole supplier to Toyota.
@@bhaggen ... Back in the misty past, one of the motorcycle magazines ran a story about the Honda CBX. They claimed that the engineers put an exhaust system on a preproduction model, demonstrating it to Mr. Honda. The story was that the sound mimicked that of a jet fighter. Supposedly, Mr. Honda was infuriated and said they had gone too far, ordering them to replace the system with a normal set of pipes. The story continued with the claim that in some corner of Honda R&D is a set of pipes that will make the 6 cylinder sound like an F16. Considering Mr. Honda's penchant for racing, I believe he would have been absolutely delighted with a trick exhaust. I spent a small amount of time figuring out how to put a spinner in a section of pipe, along with a flute-like whistle to generate some high pitched whines, but I didn't have the right equipment or practical design capability. Frankly, I'm surprised that someone else hasn't turned the idea into a real device.
In my opinion, the magazine article was either wrong, or purposely deceitful. Not much importance nowadays, 40 plus years after. My 6 cylinder Hondas have very distinctive exhaust notes without high pitched whines added.
I had a 350 Four. I kept it for a long summer before moving on but it was terrific... I still miss it.
I had a 350 four,400 four, 550 four and a GL1000 Gold Wing. All fantastic bikes.
Back when I was in the Navy I had a Honda 305 Dream that I bought new for $305.00, including a helmet.
Ähnlich bei mir , eine rote 400 Four ,`75 und eine gelbe GL `76. Noch heute bei mir und hervorragende Maschinen.
I bought a 1975 CB400Four 6 months ago it makes me smile every single time y start it, and now in my neighborhood there is a guy selling a 1979 goldwing. I am very interesting and wondering if the goldwing will produce the same feeling
@@cesarinho06 Nein, es wird dich nicht befriedigen. Das ist eine neue und andere Generation. Bleibe in deinem Baujahr und besorge dir eine originale Goldwing 75 bis 77. Zum direkten Vergleich zur cb 400 four. Es wird dir ein Gefühl der Freude schaffen. Diese Goldwing war DER Schritt in die Moderne der Motorradwelt und heute ein historisches Dokument. Wie die meisten Motorräder von Honda aus dieser Zeit. Viel Glück
@@jensnitsche4994 O really? I thought 1979 goldwing was the last year of first generation... It is the naked one.
I came so close to buying a CB 350-4 in 1976. It was used, never dropped and only had a couple thousand miles on it. The owner was disappointed because it wasn't big and fast enough for him. The dealer didn't want it back and lowballed the trade, so anything over that was fine. It came down to me not having covered storage for it, and I just didn't want to keep it out in the weather. But even then, I knew it was something special, and my test ride was memorable, not for speed, but for smoothness and sophistication. I regret to this day not figuring out the storage issue, and not buying that bike.
I've got well over a quarter million miles on scoots, ridden everything from seatless trials bikes to loaded highway cruisers, and my 350-4 was by far my favorite motorcycle. From the interstate to playing in the dirt, it was a jewel. It was such a quiet, smooth little scoot that I once fell asleep on it at 80 mph on I-80 when crossing Nebraska. There was nothing like it. BTW, I once beat a Kaw Ninja through the Garden of the Gods with my 350-4. It's all a matter of knowing your bike, and after 50,000 miles on my Four I knew my bike.
hope you had it on 'autopilot'.....
Cool , i'm 67 and have owned many bikes over the yrs. Triumphs , norton, matchless, ducati,bultaco, bmw etc. I first the 350 four in 1973 and that it was really cool!
@@tommurphy4307, I wish I had. I just had the throttle tension screw screwed down tight to take some of the load off my wrist. I woke up bouncing through one of those big, wide, shallow freeway ditches at 80 mph and rode it to a stop like a bucking bronco. I think a lot of previous playing in the dirt with it was what saved me from an ugly wreck. Then I just sat there on the bike in the ditch, shaking for about 15 minutes till I felt like I could go again. Like all XC bike trips, it was interesting.
I just bought a 73 CB350F and I agree with all you said. It is a very special bike. Smooth and great handling. Just does most everything right!
When you get real tired riding a 🏍 that’s when finding a bus shelter and having a 30 + minutes lay down on the wooden bench could save your life.
I laughed when the 350 4 came out and assumed then and still think that it was just Honda's attempt to further capitalize on the insane popularity of the 750 4. Those 750s things were EVERYWHERE! (Me, I rode a Norton. :P )
I had a 75 CB350 4 that I intentionally bought to race in the AMA sportsman modified class, which I did for 8 years. The 350 4 was very easy to hop-up, extracting nearly twice the HP and dropping 38lbs of weight even with a full fairing. I had 4 into 1 tuned custom exhaust that were available and popular, and eventually we even made a full chrome moly alloy lighter weight tube frame in my father's car custom shop. That helped drop another 18lbs. It literally became e a full on near factory road racer and the one to beat at tracks like Sears Point, Monterey's Laguna Seca, and other west coast tracks in that class.
I owned a CB350 Twin 1973 model until 1982, took it across country several times, great bike, reliable, easy to maintain. sold it and bought a Yamaha 650 Special Twin, another great bike.
I bought a 1974 CB350 Four for a killer price back in 1976. One previous owner, low km in as good as new condition. It was my second road motorcycle replacing my erstwhile trusty 1972 CB350K4 twin. I loved both bikes, but the CB350 Four (mine was the red with white trim) truly was a beautiful piece of engineering which would rev freely and happily cruise stably at 130KPH/80MPH all day and night. Loved both bikes in their time with many fond memories of both.
My favorite 70s era Hondas were the SL series. There is something about a bike that can go on or off road. The 350 was my favorite. I had an SL 70 when I was 12. I rode that bike until I was in high school. It wasn't my only bike in the later years though. I had a CB450 for my first street bike. Of the CB models, the CB900 four was awesome. It had a dual range transmission. I had an 81 GL500 Silver Wing (mini Goldwing not the scooter! with the full Vetter Fairing and removable hard Vetter Bags. It also had a touring truck that could be removed to put a passenger seat in it's place. A lot of people didn't like the cylinders sticking out over the foot pegs but in cold weather they sure did a dandy job keeping my legs and feet warm. The shaft drive was smooth and silent. I've never been able to tolerate a chain since then.
I had one of these little beauties in the late 70s. I bought it to run back and forth to work and it was an extremely reliable and comfortable. My buddy had the 750 'big brother' version that was also a great machine. I really wish I still had it.
I bought a brand new Honda 1979 XL 350. It was a great motorcycle we used to call them Enduro‘s back then. Now they’re called dual sport. I could go anywhere on that bike, drove it downtown LA. I rode it on all kinds of trails and fire roads. It was a great bike.
The CB 350 (twin) still has a sweet spot in my memory for this is the very motorcycle I obtained my Motorcycle license on. Back in these days, you could get your A license at 16 years old.
Compared to what you have to do to get your license today, my drive test was a joke.
The examiner was the same for cars and motorcycles. I was the sole candidate in a very cold January winter month. The only thing the examiner wanted to do, is to get inside one of the cars.
My test drive lasted less than 2'. I went up the street, made a U turn, came back and stopped in front of him while he stayed on the side walk. That was that.
In those days, the Japanese had started to bring the 2 stroke powered bikes, excepted for Honda. So I moved on to Yamaha, Kawasaki and Suzuki.
Today, I am riding on a Moto Guzzi V11 Le Mans from 2004. But I would not mind owning a CB 350 (twin) again.
'm laffin' with you, vieux, at your (our) DMV "motorcycle test" ;o)) I was 18 y.o. Had no driver's license at all. Showed up on my friends Honda 50 Cub. Examiner was at least 75-80 years old...He had NO IDEA what to do. So he pointed up the street a block and said, "Go up to the corner, turn around, and come back." I PASSED ;o))
In 1970, my girlfriend bought me a used Honda 305 superhawk. I rode that bike for 4 years. Great for around town and even on the freeway for short trips. Loved that bike.
I restored a 1974 CB350F about 5 years ago. I was in my teens when they were first introduced and I was always curious about them. After the restoration was complete, I spent that summer and fall riding it now and then. You are exactly right about the bike being electric smooth and 100% reliable. My bone of contention was with the lack of power and the narrow shifting profile. Leaving my driveway, I would be in 5th gear before I even got to the end of the block. The bike was well suited to country road riding, but running it up to 60 MPH or higher, it felt like I was flogging it to run at those speeds. My curiosity had been satisfied and I sold the bike to another enthusiast. I do take exception to the comments and impression that you give stating that Honda gave up on this bike after just a few years. That is NOT accurate. What Honda did do was to take the platform and re-image it into the 1975-1978 CB400F. They abandoned the UJM styling and built what could arguably be called the first Japanese production Cafe racer. The core 350F engine had been punched up to just over 400cc, the transmission revamped to add a 6th gear. The overall look was drastically changed, incorporating Euro-style low handle bars, a boxier looking gas tank, and a low profile seat. The most impressive change to the design was a sexy looking 4-into-1 factory header system. The normally straight head pipes now snaked their way down from the head with a number of stylized bends and joined up to a single muffler on the right side of the bike. I managed to snag one of these as my next restoration project and am anxious to compare it to the experience I had with the 350F. The 400F is also worth seeking out if you're a fan of these small Fours! [My 350F restoration video is here: ruclips.net/video/K4c2eWrPo10/видео.html ]
Pretty sure the CB400F was designed for European market? It was a precursor to the 'Eurosport' models of 1978 ( 3 valve CB400 twin and CB750/900 DOHC, plus of course the CBX 6 that got re-styled in 1979~80) I was given a CB350f several years ago (2006 ish), it has a rod through front of case though so has never been worked on by me but is still in storage. I kinda play with CB/CJ250/360's (for at least the last 30+ years)
@@1crazypj - If you recall, in 1975, Honda also released the 'F' series of the CB750 as well. Those models (also known as Sport models) featured low bars, flat seats, and 4-into-1 exhaust systems as well.
Sorry you sold it ?
I have a 78 cb750k.
Don't know if I should sell, haven't ran in 10 yrs.
@Michael Vachon Great points. To not even mention the extremely successful 400F is just negligent. The CB350 clearly evolved into 400F Super Sport.
There is actually a better bike than both of them, much better. And the best version of that bike was only available to the Japanese market, and a few other countries. The cheaper model did get exported to the USA, but it failed to sell very well, so the last few were shipped to Germany.
Officially designated the NC27, it’s better known as the CB-1.
@@G58 - I've heard of these, but have never seen one up close. I'm thinking someone could write a book about the bikes Honda built that didn't catch on as expected. One of my bikes is a 2014 CB1100 DLX. After I bought it, I discovered that Honda only released around 300 of this specific model in the US. No wonder I had such a hard time tracking one of these down!
I purchased a new Honda 350 Four in 1973 while a Senior in high school. It was my first street bike, and I rode it virtually every day that I owned it. I still ride today and I have owned many other motorcycles but none have ever been as impressive to me as my 350-F. It was seamlessly smooth and had amazing gas mileage. I took it on several long trips, up to 1200 miles one way, and never had to make "saddle stops" just to rest my butt. There is a local Honda dealer in our area and the owner has two 350-F's on display; the one in best condition (looks show room quality) is valued today at $10,000.00. Mine cost me $950.00. I should of kept it! These days, after having owned bikes up to 1200cc, I ride a Honda Shadow 600 VLX, my second favorite.
My 550 - 4 was the most reliable all around mc ever. Through the years it was an every day rider and on the weekends the best recreational vehicle. I sold it to get money for my marriage. In retrospect that was a big mistake. The Honda was ever faithful and never wasted my money.
My only complaint I had with my 550 was keeping the valves adjusted, they liked to loosen up a lot. Lots of power but heavy front end, it would spin out from under you before you would get the front tire off the the ground, totally opposite of the Kawasaki 500.
Right on! I sold 2 bikes from my collection when i married! She left me a bit later, she did me a favor! More bikes now!
Ouch . 🙂
I think I am the one who bought that bike. As the guy I bought it of of was selling it to get married.
@@arlo4051 I had a '77 550-4K. And I could feel the front tire starting to slide a few times. I always thought that it was top heavy. Especially with a full tank. The only problem I had with it. Was blowing the main fuse several times. That's real fun at night going down I-85. Lol
I'm restoring a 400four now. It has bounced around the family for 30years now. Was the most fun road bike I've ever ridden. Can't wait to get it rolling again.
for us in NZ, the 1974 XL250 motosport was the game changer. A bike you could ride on the street, and take off road, it was regularly seen on the Motocross track. Just a legend of a bike.
Sat on one the other day!
I have a 1974 XL250 with 1800 original miles
I bought a Honda 350 four in 1973 😮First and only motorcycle. My buddy had a Honda 750 four. I was a first time bike rider. I tried his 750. It was to big and heavy for me so I bought the 350 four which suited me perfectly. We put a chrome plated sissy bar with a chromed maple leaf on it. The bike was dark green and looked fabulous with all the chrome on it. I rode from Calgary to Victoria and back all though the Canadian Rockies the bike performed great. Super smooth and handled the steep roads with no problems at all. Great touring bike. Wish I was still riding.
My GF had one in 78-80 or so. Was her daily commuter in CA. 50 miles round trip each day. She rode it to the Midwest one year too. I think it actually had more real power than the twin, having ridden one of those across the US myself. The numbers on the twin were wildly optimistic. 27hp was more like reality. She put about 40k miles on it. It was a decent bike. Far better than the twin, though the handling was pretty marginal compared to a BMW or Triumph, as was the case with most Japanese bikes then. That all changed with the Suzuki GS750, which is another great story.
Just picked up a 73’ 350F. My wife’s grandfather was the original owner but he passed away. It’s been sitting for quite some time and it needs some love, but it’s been garage kept and is in good condition overall. I plan to restore it as close to its original condition as possible. This is my first restoration project and I can’t wait to dig in 🙂
I had a Honda CB400F back in 1978, the engine was bullet proof , as an 18yr old i thrashed it relentlessly , a absolute gem of Japanese 70's engineering , an underrated bike .
Each to their own I suppose. I had an f2 I think, and didn’t like it. Like you said, you needed to thrash it. I prefer something a bit bigger and more laid back.
TRASHED mine TOO a Zillion power shifts and 125mph out of a 115mph bike .😁😁😁😁
The cam chain tensioner was in a silly place though - at the front of the engine where it got covered in road crap. Many seized in position and were a problem to remove. Apart from that, a magnificent machine. I had one 😊
Alle Motorräder , die reibungslos funktionieren werden unterschätzt und nicht mehr beachtet. Das Schicksaal der Unauffälligkeit...gilt auch für Menschen.
@@jimshoe402 you got 125 mph out of the 350 four?
I had the SL 350. Loved it !Also the 500 four and the 550 four ! Never had the 350 four! Thanks for the video😊 ! probably would’ve loved it too!
I have a 1973 350 four, had 3200 miles when I got it, has 6500 now.
It is definitely the most fun motorcycle I own. fantastic back road bike and supper smooth rida al day comfort.
I nerve plan on selling it
I owned one ! It was a wonderful bike , I went All Over the place with my wife on it and had zero problems with the bike.
I remember reading a road test on the 350 four when it first came out. The reviewers called it the answer to the question nobody asked: how few cc's can Honda divide by four?
Was the 250cc of the CBR250RR Fireblade the final answer, or did they go smaller than that in a production bike? The CB400SF inline-four is still a current bike, similar in philosophy to the CB350 (indeed, it's the same series as the CB400 replaced the CB350), and it makes some sense I think... Just because it's a straight-forward 400cc universal motorcycle, why should it only have a parallel twin or inline twin? Why not have the smoothness of an inline-four engine, albeit with the trade-offs of weight and complexity?
My brother had a Cb 500. These Hondas are timeless beautiful. They look as a motorcycle should look.
I recall parking my 79 Harley Sportster next to a friends Honda 350 4 cyl. Couldn't even tell the Honda was running at idle. Mine was thumping and vibrating while the Honda just sat there. The Tach was the only way you could tell the 350 was running. This was 40 years ago and still remember the experience.
Back in 1973 a friend of mine got his mint condition 71' CB750 stolen. He replaced it with a Harley Sportster. I think it was a used 68 model. Ya, looking back he should have kept it since it would be highly collectable now. Well, after a couple of months of getting on all his gear for the ride to his job and slowly stripping everything off down to his T-shirt from endless kicks to get it started and covered with sweat he sold it and bought another used 71 CB 750. I had a sandcast 69 that I sold years ago (another should have held on to story) 1982 to be exact, had over 100K miles on it and that bike would start every time in an instant no matter the weather. Honda built and most likely still does build the best bikes.
My sons group of Harley riders spend all their time with their Harley's in a shop. They work on them more than ride.
My group of Japanese Bike riders spend more time riding than maintenance or in the shop.
I buy a Bike to ride, not take to the shop.
Harley deliberately makes their engines to shake and vibrate as it adds to the open air riding a machine experience.
@@PeterDad60 Right, if you buy into Harley's marketing scam. They make a bike that still leaks oil, vibrates like a jackhammer, and handles like a tricycle. As only a small percentage of HD riders are under 50 years old these days, the company probably doesn't have many years left.
@@PeterDad60 yeah experience numb hands and feet and butt. Annoying experience
Excellent overview of this rare model. I owned a 76 CB350 when this bike was selling used for about $1,400.00
I had a new Honda cb350 in high school ,a scenic 20 miles from home. My friend had a Yamaha 650 and on our trip to the grand canyon it was obvious that while my Honda tried it's little heart out I needed a bike that would be ok on interstate highways . The Honda 450 was a good choice at around $1100.00 in 1973. And it could handle 70-75 mph all day.
I took my '73 CB350-F from Alabama to Idaho. It cruised effortlessly at 75-80. It (barely) hung with my Utah friend's 750 BMW boxer touring the Wasatch mountains, but it wasn't jetted for 7000+ feet. It was the smoothest machine in the world. I once won a $100 bet. Me (175) with a 200lb friend on the back. Idle down to idle speed in top gear, and gently ease the throttle until 80 mph. Never a buck or hesitation. Felt like a turbine or electric motor. Oh, and it cost $849 new.
@@richardfabacher3705 the nice thing about a four cylyder motorcycle is that one cylinder is always on its power stroke.
One thing you did not mention was Honda was the first motorcycle to achieve a 100,000 mile engine before needing a rebuild. Prior you were lucky to get 10,000 before top end rebuild was needed. And they all leaked but not Honda.
Excellent perspective on this particular Honda. I had the good fortune in my youth working in a Honda Shop in the 70s, and I had my pick of used bikes in the shop to ride home. The 750 four was a monster that you held on to for dear life, the 450 twin was like driving a dragster in traffic. The 350 twins were strong and fast but always felt rather clunky and hard to handle. The 350 four was a dream to ride. It sounded great, the power was smooth, and the bike handled really great. To me it was the most enjoyable one of the lot at the time. Also for a short person like me, it fit like a glove.
Bought a brand new 450 in 1973 (a 72 leftover) 900 bucks. Good bike.
Thank you! This brings back such great memories. A friend in the late 60's had a cl 305 scrambler. What a great solid bike. I bought a almost new Suzuki 74 TS 185. That was a fun bike. 4 of us would go out and have adventures. I later had a Honda CL-360 and that was a great bike. Then later I picked up a Honda 550 Four and what a fun bike that was. I liked it better than my 750 Four. I got hooked riding a neighbors Trail 90? I had a Kawasaki 100 that we couldn't destroy and not for a lack of trying..Man such good memories. A friend wanted to race for pink slips for my CL-360 on his Yamaha RD-350..Uh no..That was a widow maker and he soon crashed bad not long after that. The scariest bike I ever rode back then was my big sisters boyfriends Kawasaki 750cc 3 cylinder 2 stroke. That bike was just disturbing. Even after you got off it, it still traumatized you..lol Hondas were such great fun and dependable bikes..Never the fastest but always there for you..
This was my first bike. Bought it from my brother. He bought a 750. I still love the old Honda's. I have restored many of them of all sizes. Tough bikes.
Man! I loved my 1972 350f. Never should have sold it
I bought a new 1974 Kawasaki 900 Z-1 in Feb of 1974. Best damn motorcycle I ever owned. It was built like a Timex watch. It took a licking and kept on ticking. Never had any problems with it. In December of 1977 a young girl made a left hand turn in front of me and that was the end of that motorcycle. The frame broke and so did I. Spent 13 months in a Navy hospital, learning how to walk again. You could do a complete top end job on the bike without taking the engine out of the frame, unlike the CB750. Sure do miss that motorcycle.
I owned a green 74 Z1 as well
Scary quick, fast as well
☮️😊
@@johnthonig8832 Mine was a green metal flake, with white and yellow strips. Put an extra disk on the front wheel and moved the brake calipers behind the fork boots. Had to hug the gas tank at full braking as it generated almost 2 g's of force, to keep from going over the handle bars.
@@sharhune2735 👍
And Z-1 stories always ended that way. Too much power and into a bad driving situation going incredibly fast. I had a red kawa 350. 5 speeding tickets in 4 weeks. Lost my license for 2 months but probably saved my life.
Ah,the good old days! Fuzzy rv.
@@thefuzzyrv The motorcycle I had before picking up the Z-1, was a red 1972 Kawasaki 350 two stroke triple. Should have realized that it had handling problems. I came with a stock steering dampener.
I owned two of them in the 1970s, and loved them. Would love another.
Interesting video, thanks. I rode one in 1977 as an 18 year old. when I had a Suzuki GT 380 triple two-stroke. The 350 Four felt like the brakes were dragging and I didn't like it. Today, I love it, it's a beautiful bike.
I know 2 people that had suzuki gt380's in 1996 it's was cool bike. Even GT500's were still around. Now it's highly sort after. Friend was given a gt250 for free. 1997
350/4 was leisurely.
My first bike was a honda 305 scrambler, great bike!
I had a 73 350 f with a Vetter Windjammer fairing and took three cross country tours on it. People said I was crazy but I never had any problems on any of the long rides. I loved that bike. Thanks.
Crazy was the Silver Wing (500cc twin full dress) I saw near the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. 2-up, pulling a trailer, at 7000 feet. That was 35 years ago and I still feel sorry for that bike.
I was 15 when my Uncle bought one of these. I was a good rider and he let me ride it. No license, no helmet, I rode it about 5 miles away from his house to the San Diego Wild Animal Park and back. It was fun and cool because it was so unique.
Fast forward about 8 years and I had a Honda 750 four. I sold it for $1,800 and used that money for paramedic school tuition. I’m 63 now and own a Husky FE501S.
I brought mine in 1974 new. Still have it. Sweet ride. 4 into 4 now replaced. New pipes exorbitant. Australia
Love to hear of you guys that bought new and kept these bikes for decades. Good for you and hope you still enjoy it!
I had a 74 350F and loved it. I can attest to its buttery smoothness. I bought mine in 77 for $400 with approximately 20,000 miles on the clock. Drove it for four years and sold it for $600 with over 50,000 miles on the clock. It never left me stranded and always put a smile on my face!
It was buttah.
ANY mouse-nipple four-cylinder would run buttery-smooth....
I rode my '73 CB350 from Albuquerque to Logan, Utah in April 1976. The trip was a blast and the bike worked flawlessly.
Great video, a bike from my youth, seen then as breathless, it paved the way for the CB400 Four, which took your breath away !
I totally agree with your definition, it was built because Honda could, in the same way they made the CBX1000 6 cyclinder.
The CBX1000 was the coolest sounding motorcycle ever made.
The CB400 was a very cool little bike. It did the best donuts ever
Yep I loved my 400/4. That 4into1 exhaust was a work of art...
Loved my 400/4: the fun started at about 6K on the tach. It was quite nimble on the tite curves.
I bought one in 1972 while stationed in San Diego. 😍 Loved it!
New subscriber here. I REALLY like your content and your presentation and editing. You have excellent taste in the motorcycles you like, and a top notch ability to express why you like them. From the age of 15 (1970) until well into the 90s motorcycles were my primary transportation. For many years I owned a 1967 Honda 160, a 1971 Suzuki T500 Titan, and a 1969 Triumph 650 Bonneville. I owned all three simultaneously. I loved all three so I just kept them. In the mid-90s in a fit of bad judgement I sold all three; fully intending to buy something bigger and grander than any of them. But as it turned out I never did buy another motorcycle. I regret it.
I really enjoyed this video about the Honda 350 Four. In high school (early-70s) I had a friend who had one. I always thought it was just a jewel of a bike. My friend traded it for a Kawasaki 750 2-stroke triple. That bike was like the Warner Bros. cartoon Tasmanian Devil. Another friend had the first year of the BSA Rocket 3. I coveted that bike. As old as that guy is now, he still has the BSA, and it is in great shape. It's always been kept IN the house. Not even in the garage. IN the house.
I Thought everyone keeps their Bike In the House. I Do. In the Front Room. Sometimes fire it Up. When I have been Good, sometimes, extra Special Treats. On It. My Lady thinks I'm a bit nuts. VMax anniversary model 2005.
i too rode a CB 160 (and a 1969 BSA 441 Victor) but the most fun were my 1966 Bultaco Metralla (250) and a Honda CB 400 four. Honda also made a 550 four (I've never heard of a 450 cc version -- and I rode 18 motorcycles over the course of 60 years in the saddle). My most recent bike was the "Flying Brick" a 1988 BMW K75-S (475 lbs and 75 HP. One of the finest bikes ever made. Google The...
Had 1973 Triumph 650 Bonny but was first year for 5 speed tranny and it broke the tranny more than once --------- It was a piece of garbage
@@michaelpercival7981 "When we remember we are all mad, the mysteries disappear and life stands explained." Mark Twain.
@@shepherdogden6560 ... The 450 mentioned in the video is the double overhead cam twin that began life in the mid '60s.
I LOVE ALL those VINTAGE Bikes....The sound the looks EVERYTHING about them...I have 1975 CB 360 T with over 40,000 miles on it had the carbs cleaned a couple years ago...STILL LOVE that VINTAGE SOUND!!!🏍
CB400 Four, is to this day, still the most beautiful work of art on two wheels.
Had 4 of them, Nice bikes, all got stolen, So other ppl must have liked them as well :)
Great video! Bought my 1st street bike in ‘83 and it was a red ‘72 CB350F. Have had dozens of bikes since, and sold them all off over the years. Only one left in the garage and it’s a red ‘72 CB350F. I think the bike represents the true spirit of Mr. Honda and his attitude of always testing the limits of what could be engineered mechanically. Doesn’t make sense on paper but if you’re lucky enough to ride one one with original 4-4 pipes, you’ll hear what sounds like Soichiro laughing when you pass 9500 RPMs.
My first motorcycle when I was 16. Loved every minute of it. Wish I still had it.
I totally agree. I too had one at that age as a starter bike. My dad had a CD750 Four. He wouldn't ride his much, so I did. Then going back to the 350, I found myself getting into tight spots because It didn't have the power I used to from 750. So I sold the 350 and bought 750, Still wish I had that 350 back.
i miss the 400 4 i had very good bike great Mpg could run 70 mph all day and carry 2 people in a pintch. simple to work on could run in cold michigan winters. honada needs to start making the 400-4 again and then other cb 550 4 600-4
Betcha you wish you were still 16 too! :) I had several: 305 Super Hawk, 350 twin & a 450 twin. All great rides.
I had a 73' CB350F for a few years. I wish I had it back. It wasn't good for long trips, but it was a joy to ride around for an afternoon of meandering through the countryside.
And then Honda made the 400 four (a very decent handling bike).
We didn’t get the 350-4 in the UK. We got it’s sister the 400-4. Some styling differences but it looked essentially the same bike. It would be interesting to have a side-by-side comparison. I believe the 400-4 sold well here and was highly thought of. More so than it’s replacements the CB400T Dream (Hawk in the States) and then CB400N SuperDream. Examples of the 400-4 still command high prices.
i had a 400 four in the uk, handled really well, and with the revs at 6000 it would be very quick too... only downside was the the frame, and the coils cutting out in heavy rain, but one of my favorite machines... oh and a real point to watch cam chains... a real weak point
The liquid cooled CB-1 400 was a fantastic engine . Honda can make engines !
Also the CB400 Super Four.
Superb Bike.
Honda 4s were it ! That 4cyl sound of the 750-4 and the Z1 Kwaka's back in the day, mate . They still sound awesome.
I remember riding a 350-4 once. That little bike was so smooth you could hardly tell it was running. A complete opposite or the 450 DOHC twin of those days..which shook and vibrated until your fillings fell out.
but that DOHC 450 was a beast!
The CB350F was my first bike and I still have fond memories. It was 1987, and it was worn out and leaking. I bought it for 350 guilders (about 160 euros) It used and leaked so much oil I never had to replace it. It had a 4in1 Marshall pipe and it sounded AWESOME! Sometimes when I drove up to the pub people ran outside to see what exotic bike was speeding towards them, then realizing it was not fast at all :) I think the top speed was about 130 kph and it was not the right bike for the highway. It died when the morse chain between crankshaft and gearbox snapped....
My dad bought a Honda CB350 Four off the showroom floor when the salesman put a quarter on the gas cap, started the motor, reved it to redline, let it idle, and then turned it off. What I remember from riding on the back was the melody of those 4 pipes. At a certain rpm they made a uniquely pleasing sound.
ahh - the old magnetic quarter trick!
I rode a CB 350 four for years and loved it. used it a lot for cursing in the mountains even in the winter but mostly to commute to work and back.
We had the 400 four in the UK and it was a best seller and carries a high premium even now, for an example in top condition.
My best work friend had the 400 four back in the day, I gas flowed the cylinder hard for him, I didn’t need much to be honest!
The first long distance touring trip I ever took was the year I graduated high school. I was on a 1971 Honda CB 350 twin. I was 18 years old and weighed probably between 150 and 160 lbs. I was riding with my Dad and we covered about 6000 miles in 19 days. It was a great adventure for me. The Honda ran beautifully, requiring a spark plug swap a little over halfway through the trip and that was it. My Dad was on a 600 cc BMW and my Honda would pull him at will. It was certainly fun for me. A number of years later, my Dad took another road trip with some friends of his and one of them was riding the 350F. My Dad was not impressed with the bike. He said it really struggled to keep up with the group under circumstances that my 350 twin had no problems running. I was always intrigued by the early four cylinder bikes Honda was building. I would have loved to have gotten hold of the 550F when it came out but that never happened.
I had a Honda 360twin when they took the place of the older 350, I also had a Honda 450 twin, and I had two BSAs I bought as basket cases and put one together. A friend of mine had a honda 500 four and I tried out a 350four, they were very smooth almost no vibration at any speed.
you meant 'almost no speed at any vibration'......right? my '66 yamaha big bear could smoke those things- and it was just a 250 2-stroke with a mild cam.....just kidding- there was no cam.
In 1977 a friend had a CB750 supersport. We frequently traded vehicles for weekends. Not long after I had acquired a CB750H. While riding this CB I had taken my brother-in-law's CB350 for a ride. The power difference was quite noticable. Now I own a 1990s VF750C Magna.
Wow that brings back memories. As a teenager I had a chance to ride my friend's Honda 50. I wanted a bike but was not able to get one. In my early 20s I test rode a Honda 350 and again wanted a bike but it was not to be. The 350 felt so big and powerful to me and compared to the only other bike I had ridden, the 50, it was big and powerful.
Years went by and finally when I was about 35 I bought my first bike - it was a Yamaha 650 Seca. It felt so big and powerful and compared to the 350 I had ridden it was big and powerful. Later on a bought a Honda 1100 Sabre. Guess what? It felt big and powerful... and it was !
Feeling a little nostalgic for my first bike, an '81 650 Maxim, I picked up it's XJ650 twin, a silver '82 650 Seca a few years back. It's still sitting in the garage waiting to see if I have the time and money/desire to restore it...still nice to look at though. I also had a Sabre, as my second bike, the V45 750cc. It wasn't quick, but man it was fast. I think I may unload the Seca and find another Maxim...loved the chrome accents.
@@1966johnnywayne I liked the Seca 650 so well I wore out 3 of them. First one was new and I put 52,000 miles on it and then traded it in on a used low mileage Seca 650
and then did the same thing again later.
I bought a CB350F brand new in 1974, and like any 18 year old, beat it to death for 67,000 fun-filled miles, and 4 years, until it would barely run anymore. Advertised BHP at the time was actually 37 hp @9200 rpm. Mine was in the mid 45 hp. range with some carb and filter mods, an early CDI ignition, and a Kerker 4 into 1 exhaust. I finally gave it to my younger brother as I had moved on to a modded Kawasaki 500 H1 triple, and several other things. I bought another one for $500 in 2015 that had been wrecked, and I was able to source pretty much everything to get it back in top condition with a few performance mods. With only 7000 miles on the odometer, it was still in it's prime! I ended up selling it a few years ago for $4500, as my health is failing, but I'll never forget 'em! Best little 4 cylinders Honda ever produced! 😍😉👍👍
Had a 1976 400F Super Sport for years. I still remember looking at the beautiful factory 4-into-1 header in an advertisement and thinking to myself, "That's it. That's the bike I'm going to buy." It took 2 years to find one for sale. So much fun to ride and like everyone has said, super smooth to the 10K redline. It sounded terrific!
Sold it after getting married, then found out someone had torched it about a year later. :(
RD350/400 rider here. I loved the RD's, but I have to agree that the 4 into 1 exhaust on the 400F were, and are, the best looking exhaust pipes I've ever seen.
@@williamschroeder3070 It's interesting how Honda has tried to recreate the look on later models.
I smiled through the whole great video. My first bike was the 350-4. It was a small bike to start off and learn how to ride but it felt like a big bike. I then upgraded to a 450 Scrambler for awhile. Then I worked my way up to the 550 four yeah same color root beer as the one in the video, man what a cruiser of a bike. Of course I had to have a 1969 750 that I rode 12,000 miles around the U.S. in 1977. To top it off my last bike was a brand new 1978 Goldwing 1000. Liquid cooled, drive shaft powered, Vetter fairing. Took many trips from Washington to California. Thanks for the memories *bart.*
A kid I went to school with had one of these. He was running that thing to death, smoking up the rear tires, and for the 2 years I saw it, it ran like a top. I was really impressed.
Thank you for this wonderful video. My friends had one in silver and red, mine was green. I bought it in 1974 and held it until 1979 driving more than 64.000 kilometers. Immediately I changed the headlight to a halogen-lamp and the rear springs and shock-absorbers to tougher ones... After about 40.000 kilometers the motor lost a lot of power. We measured only 27 hp left so I "renovated" it. Means we opened the bore and installed the pistons of the newly released cb400f. That gave me 400 cc and more than 42 hp. THEN it was fun because I suddenly could catch up with the guys with the CB500F. (Cost me a lot of tyres and chains....and an oil-cooler of course) With the kilometers the plastic bearing of the swingarm needed to be reaplced. We manufactured ones from bronze. When the seat was weak and a few more small problems made more repairs neccessary I unfortunately sold it for a Suzuki 400 f with which I never was happy.
With this my beloved 350f I was in Yugoslavia, of course in Austria (only 30 km away), in Italy, in Denmark, in Sweden, in Finland... Never had any problem with it.
In fact, it was a dream to ride this small bike with an engine like a turbine. Not seldom we pushed it over the red scale on the rev-meter. Then the needle pointed to "Nippon Seiki" ;-)
I am absolutely sure I would never have sold it if I wouldn't have needed the money in the time when I still was Student. Here is a small video wchich shows uur friends: mediathek.muehldorf-tv.de/Shop/Produkte/Werbespots/MT_Demospot10.html - And by the way: Driving a small motorcycle fast makes indeed much more fun than driving a big one slow! 🙂
I owned one for years. Riding was as smooth as it gets. Switched to a four into one exhaust system and got seven more up. Custom low rider seat made handling better with lower center of gravity. Loved that bike.
Type error 7 more horse power. 👍
You mean you got 7hp less than stock, right? +7 hp? When monkeys fly out my butt.
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@@jamesromeyn8165 please don't get confused with log headers or similar stuff that econobox car uses, which in essence also a 4-1 headers but not equal in length.
equal length 4-1 headers has a scavenging effect that--thanks to Bernoulli effects--creates a little vacuum in the collector. remember that hot combustion gases are highly pressurized and more difference in pressure between combustion chamber and headers accelerates the extraction of exhaust gas, giving more room for the fresh intake mixture to get into the cylinder. this video explains a lot better than any nonsense that I type ruclips.net/video/NekTRPx68zs/видео.html&ab_channel=groutaone
I love those little in-line 4’s of Honda.
I have a CB350F and it has always been my favorite bike. It sounds killer and is super smooth. Power wise it’s fine, goes over 100 with no problem. It’s just a fun bike and it does feel like your going 200 just around town.
My step father had one with a windshield. I could barely get 60mph out if it. Maybe it was the windshield.
@@patricklondon962 fattie
We opened a bike shop in 1978, it filled with every kind of bike awaiting repair and tune ups. I was 16. As we fixed each bike we test rode them of course, 2 years later we were on a drag strip ripping KZ 1000's down a quarter mile! We had a blast. I am now almost 60 and still riding everything that has two wheels. I do remember that Honda 750 was one of my favorites! Cheers!
Gentle Mans Bike my buddy had 750F no thanks not Me..😁
I bought one brand new in 1974. 4's to me were about being Cruisers, mine happily cruised along at 70 mph as I toured around New Zealand. I eventually put a Walker 4-into-1 exhaust on and had TT100 tyres. You say that it disappeared after a few years, but I disagree.
I think the CB350F was reborn as the 400F Super Sport (Cafe Racer) that had a 4-into-1 exhaust.
I took a ride on a CB400F back in the day, and man was that thing smoooooth! Also, the exhaust note was priceless.
I adored my CB400F, beautiful machine.
As the owner of a yellow CB400 I’d agree. It’s about perfect as a middle weight/class bike one can get,yesterday and today. Only the RD350/400 rivaled it in appeal, but for different, 2 stroke, reasons.
Brings back a few memories of the rows of bikes parked in Alfred Street, Auckland University back in the 70s. Yes, I do remember seeing a green 350F that belonged to a lucky student.
@@pervertt A lot of fellow Kiwis here, yes Auckland in the 70's was a great city to live in, and the CB350F was a great bike for getting around on back then..
It was this little bike I bought used was my inspiration to go ahead and purchase my brand new off the showroom floor 1977 CB750. in late 1976. Didn't regret buying both bikes. Each served me well.
Cheers from Louisiana.
I bought one in 72, then a few months later, sold it and got an H2 Kawasaki. That was the wildest machine ever made, as far as holding it on the ground.
I had a CB400f at the same time a friend of mine had an older Kawasaki H1 500 triple. Mine was like riding into the future, and his was like riding an insane, barely in control rocket ship. I liked mine better, but that 500 was crazy when it hit its power band. Oh yeah - 2 stroke too. What a machine.
@@tad5920 Add 250cc more and you'll have an H2. I weighed more than 200lbs, and I couldn't hold the front wheel on the ground in the first 3 gears, sitting on the gas tank.
I shutter when I think of the things I did on that machine.
Greatest thing about Honda is they are capable of making anything they want.
I had the 1977 model CB 750 Four. Full faring, highways bars, and back rest. Put a lot of miles on that bike with just general maintenance. Rode it while others with Harleys and Kal's were repairing theirs. Very dependable ride.
I probably put about 100K miles on my 'ol 750f back in the day.
Perfectly balanced video that held my interest and brought back youthful memories as l drank a strong mug of tea.
No regrets on following the algorithm on this one.
Thanks buddy 👍
Love these videos, Bart, but not one mention of the 400 four Super Sport in this one was weird. It was a successful evolution from the odd but cool 350 four.
Indeed! I was trying to figure out which one I like more and I ended up buying both the 350 and 400! :)
I owned a 400 SS in the late 70-ies. Compared to the 350 (which I never owned) I thought the 400 was even smoother. And somehow it looked more like a new development instead of a downsized 500 which was a downsized 750. I did mechanical work on all 3 engines.
@@jlinkels - In a bike-swap experience, riding around the city in 1977: Sitting on the 400 at traffic lights, I had to look at the tachometer to find out whether the engine was still idling (which it was).
I remember the 400 four. It had the strangest exhaust configuration from factory making a kerker header impossible to fit. Back in the day everyone's mindset was more hp. More , more more, when kawi came out with the 900 cc everyone wanted one, then 1000 came out , then Suzuki gs 1100, then , then cbx, then kz 1300 six, cbr, ninja, interceptor, katana, ect fun stuff
I remember the super sport came in a Royal blue.
Change the oil by the book or better, and Honda engine surpass them selves. What a delight this 350 was.
Of its time and before it’s time.
Maybe a little off topic: By the time I entered riding scene the 350F was long gone and not missed but its follow-up, the 400F was a fan favorite and missed my many when the Hawk came out for the 78 model year, twin though it was its tested BHP of 35.8 besting the 400F 32.3 even still the 400F was a great performer and I wouldn't mind having one today. To the point on which you video opened Honda of 70-80s was an incredible company I remember when in 82 for example they had 3 different street 500 engines (CX 80' V-twin, Ascot 52' V-twin and XL500 single) can't imagine that ever happening today.
Loved that little 400Four. 2nd bike I ever rode, think it was '74. Never seen a 350 before so thanks for the interesting content!
Saw the CB350 for the first time in 1974 in Philly. The guy that owned it never got it tagged, but brought it out occasionally the blast up and down the street, reving it to the moon. He no doubt realised it would be a collectable classic one day.
I had a CB550 Four. It was so smooth, you could hardly tell it was running- until you hit the throttle!
@@thelakeman5207 I remember the CB550 and it's rebirth as the CB650 in 1979. Never had a chance to ride either but I'm sure it would have been interesting.
I remember one of the magazines back in the early seventies, had a cover pic of the brand new CB500-4 with the headline "The Honda Magic Lantern Lights Again". I'm 74 years now, but Honda taught me how to ride on a new 1965 S90. Loved every Honda I've owned. 🙂 Great nostalgic video! Thanks.
The 350-4 morphed into the 400-4. I had the '72 500-4. Then in '75, I had a 750-4 in an Amen ridged frame with a 12" over springer. The 4's were a lot smoother than the twins.
Parallel twin cylinder engines always shake. They can be bodged with balance shafts but are always trouble. Fours are more costly but they look so good it’s easy to up the purchase price.
@@Dave5843-d9m Try a modern CB500x...Or a MT07 ... Had both and even if you can feel the vibes, they don't annoy your riding in any way.
I had a 1976 360 CB 5 speed , that was in between the 350 and 400 .
speaking in very general terms- the engine with more cylinders is going to run smoother- basic physics.
I had a CB350F. That little four cylinder was a jewel of an engine. I put a 4 to 1 megaphone on it and it sounded great. Wasn't fast, but you could use all the power all the time.
I had one! Smooth as silk, but had little torque off the start line or acceleration. Loved the the little thing for short to moderately-long trips because it lacked the kidney-shaking vibration of the twins. The CB750 isn't "arguably the first superbike" --- it was, even though the single-cammed engine was mild by today's standards. Before the 750, the CB450 twin was the big boy. The CB750 ruled for 4-years until Kawasaki introduced the 900cc Z1 which would outrun anything on the planet. Long time ago, but I remember those days... motorcycles were all I though about then!
this bike tires were too small. speed wobble were common and not fun.
@@davidfoster3427 All bikes in those days had inadequately sized tires. I never had a weave or wobble until I rode Harleys. The FHLPs I rode were death traps.
z900 1976 = cb750 1969 = google it first = BIG MOUTH !
Well, when I was 16 in 1973, I was riding my first street bike, a Yamaha R5. My neighbor was a recently retired gentleman with his new Honda 350-4. I'll never forget our ride together. My Mom and Dad okayed it. I came from a dirt bike backround and he showed me that a lot of enjoyment can be had when you are not full on. Kinda cooled my jets. Older Folks are pretty smart
In 1979 I purchased my first bike, a used 1976 CB400F, the sporty successor of the CB350F. Not it's 2022 and I still own that little gem.
5:29 a CB350F with a CB400F exhaust just doesn't look right.
The CBR250RR makes sense in the Japanese home-market as well as some export markets, like Australia, that have legislation that makes 250s desirable.
Ha! I noticed that too and actually backed up the video - I thought I missed a shot of my '75 CB400F with the awesome 4 into one exhaust. You were smart to keep yours - I wish I still had mine!
I bought a 76 400 F that was 10 months old.It was the light yellow,like new condition.I kept it inside my house.It was my first bike.My friend that was with me when I got it told me I would want a larger one later.Traded it in on a new 750 two years later.Both were trouble free.I kind of miss the 400.
how does that work? all 250's had to be 2-stroke? (the ONLY way to fly)
I had 5 Hondas between 1963 and 1972. A 50, 90, 125, 305, and 360. Plus the little Honda trail bike. Loved them all. I wish they would bring back the motorcycle styling of the 60s and 70s.
The CB 350 4 was about the best bike that Honda built. It had some magic about it and it sure did have a nice sound. And they looked just great. Soichiro knew.
I always thought they looked odd, the bars looked too high and the pegs too far forward, the 400 four that replaced it was much nicer to ride, and looked far nicer in my humble opinion:-)