Honda Forza 350 Review: More Than a City Commuter

Honda is very much in the business of trying to make scooters that not only look the part but provide as satisfying an experience as you could hope for when it comes to riding all types of roads. Well, nearly all.

I spent a couple of weeks and hundreds of miles riding the Forza 350 in its 2024 model-year guise. There is an updated model for 2025, although the changes are minimal, so most of what we’ve said here is applicable to both new and old versions. Once we’ve had a go on the new one, this review will be updated.

Forza 350 Pricing and Availability

The current RRP of £5,299 for the 2024 Forza 350 is likely to rise when UK pricing is confirmed for the new model. However, we still expect it to be an affordable scooter in today’s market. For reference, the Forza 350’s closest rival, the Yamaha XMAX, starts at £6,208.

I was riding the 2024 model in a Metallic Pearl Pacific Blue colourway and it came with plenty of high-spec features - all of which are present on the 2025 model - including keyless ignition, twin LED headlights on the front and an LED taillight, which draws inspiration from its big brother, the Forza 750.

All you need to do when starting up the Forza 350 is, with the key in hand, to be within range, which will allow you to turn the scooter on or off depending on whether you are beginning or finishing a ride, while it will also allow you to open the fuel cap and access the under-seat storage.

Engine, Chassis and Technology

The Forza 350’s engine is a liquid-cooled single-cylinder power unit with a displacement of 330cc. It makes a handy 28bhp at 7500rpm and just over 23Ib ft of torque at 5,250 rpm.

Braking on the front comprises a two-piston Nissin calliper with a 256mm single disc. The rear features a 240mm disc. The suspension includes a YSS twin shock absorber at the rear which took dips, potholes or any other poor road surface in its stride. The rear suspension is adjustable for spring preload.

The scooter features a twin dashboard with the speedometer on the left and the tacho to the right of the LCD screen. Within the TFT is a descriptive miles-to-gallon range function which was handy in telling me how efficient the bike was on fuel. Very efficient was the answer.

How much storage space does it have?

The Forza 350 features 22 litres of underseat storage space and can fit two full-face helmets and a USB charging socket at the same time. It’s also effective at taking other heavy loads without affecting the balance of the scooter too much.

In one day’s trip, I packed away my bike cover, my Oxford chain (because you can never be too safe) and some shopping and it took very little time or effort for me to pack it under the seat.

What’s it like to ride?

The first thing you notice with the Forza 350 is its comfort. The seating position is extremely relaxing and makes you feel at ease immediately. It will suit both shorter and taller riders. The seating ergonomics also allowed you to cover yourself from high winds and the reason for that was its fully adjustable windshield. I often found myself adjusting it up and down in order to meet the conditions and it worked perfectly every time.

In terms of how high the windshield comes up, I’m a 5ft 11-inch rider and I could just about see over the top as it came midway up my helmet at its highest point. It's also very easy to use as the toggle to bring it up and down was situated just above the indicator switch on the left handlebar.

My first foray out on the scooter was born out of intrigue more than anything else. The way in which it gave immediate power and feedback was confidence-inspiring, not least because of its handling at higher speeds.

The Forza 350, despite its towering presence on the front end, was very light and easy to manoeuvre. I wouldn't say I was caught off guard, but it was certainly surprising how nifty it was and the smile on my face was telling as a result. The throttle response was very smooth which made any burst of acceleration easy to control. 

The Forza 350’s stable nature despite going across some dire road surfaces was very noticeable and was backed up by a 15-inch front wheel and 14-inch on the rear. The scooter also comprises 89mm of trail, 135mm ground clearance and a 11.8 litre fuel capacity. You’re likely to get around 170 miles out of a full fuel tank

The brakes were good, you never felt like you were struggling to stop, albeit they felt a bit sharp and that was consistent for the duration of time I had the scooter.

When up and running the scooter felt weightless, although can feel a bit clumsy when manoeuvring with the engine off, or when performing U-turns. When tackling the faster stuff, the bike carried speed very well and felt nimble, but don’t sound shocked when I say it was less comfortable at lean angle.

While I was very comfortable aboard the Forza 350, something I did notice which was far from being a big problem, was the fact the seat slopped downwards quite a bit, and when stopped at lights you could find yourself sliding forward if you weren’t mindful of it.

Should you buy a Honda Forza 350?

The short answer is yes. If you are someone who wants to prioritise comfort, relaxed riding and a blend of that je ne sais quoi, you should consider the Forza 350 as a very realistic option as it will provide you with a thrill whether that be solo riding or taking someone as a pillion, while also allowing you to soak in all types of scenery on a long day trip.

The scooter provides more than enough power for the type of riding it's designed for, is extremely comfortable and very easy to ride. With plenty of tech to back up its stylish looks, and an affordable price, there’s really nothing you aren’t getting with the Forza 350.

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