Honda GB350S Finally Arrives in UK and Europe

Honda will join the retro sector in 2025, as the GB350S is officially revealed in UK and European spec.

The bike is little changed from the model already available in Japan, India, and other selected Asian markets. It will see Honda compete with Royal Enfield and Triumph in the lightweight retro sector.

Honda has priced the little 350 to sell, with units expected in UK dealerships from January 2025 onwards, and with an MSRP of just £3,949. That puts the GB350S right on terms with Royal Enfield’s £3,899 Hunter 350, and considerably less than the £5,195 Triumph Speed 400.

The bike is powered by an air-cooled, SOHC, 348cc single-cylinder engine. Honda Selectable Torque Control (traction control, to you and me) is included, and should help to reign in the rampant 20bhp should the road get slippery. Peak twist from the new engine is a claimed 21lb ft which arrives low in the rev range at just 3,000rpm.

Designing the engine for what Honda claims is a “soulful feel” the engine is a long-stroke design, with a bore and stroke of 70mm x 90.5mm backing up the claim. To add to this character, Honda’s engineers have utilised a high-mass crank, which is said to give the bike a pleasing “pulse” with limited vibration thanks to two balance shafts.

Further engine and exhaust fettling has been done to fine-tune the sound and feel of the GB5350S. The intake ports, inlet pipe and exhaust, which on this bike features an expansion chamber, have all been tweaked purely to enhance the sound and feel of the engine.

Power is delivered to the rear wheel via a five-speed gearbox, which uses wide gear ratios between first and fourth, with fifth gear set for wide-ranging acceleration from 20mph/low rpm up to cruising speed. The transmission is also equipped with an assist/slipper clutch, which should help to keep the clutch lever light and the downshifts smooth.

The chassis of the new GB350S comprises a tubular steel semi-double cradle frame, with a box section swingarm at the rear. The front suspension comprises 41mm telescopic forks with 106mm stroke and the obligatory preload adjustable twin-shocks feature at the rear. Braking is taken care of by a single 310mm disc and two-piston calliper at the front and a 240mm disc and single-piston calliper at the back of the bike. ABS is provided in the form of a traditional two-channel system meaning no IMU control or cornering functions.

On the technology front, there are a handful of things to note, with the first being the full LED lighting both front and rear. Something of a rarity in the modern two-wheeled world is the inclusion of an analogue speedo that is joined by a digital gear indicator. The digital portion can also be set to display average and instantaneous fuel consumption, distance to empty and an ECO indicator. The final technological feature is the inclusion of Honda’s Emergency Stop Signal (ESS) function which flashes the hazard lights when the hard braking is taking place.

Honda GB350S specs