According to a patent unearthed by colleagues at Cycleworld, Honda is developing an Adventure based on its CB350 platform built in India, where this model was born to compete in a popular segment. On this same platform, Honda has produced three different motorcycles so far: the 350 H’ness, the CB350RS, and the CB350, a roadster, a scrambler, and a classic, respectively. The same model is also available in Japan and Australia under the name GB350.
From the drawings of this patent, however, it seems that Honda would like to turn this platform into an Adventure by patenting some tubular structures for protection and support for bags and luggage, according to a fairly common scheme in Indian motorcycles of the same segment. In addition, one of the patented support structures could be mounted indiscriminately on both the front and rear of the motorcycle, in a kind of modular concept.
If Honda really wanted to make an Adventure based on the CB350 platform, the resulting motorcycle would be equipped with an air-cooled single-cylinder engine with about 20 hp, while the frame would have to be adapted to increase ground clearance and suspension travel. But is this really possible? The first thought that comes to mind is that a motorcycle of this type would already be facing the new Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 in India, which boasts a more advanced engine with double the power, and Honda itself already has an adventure motorcycle in the same segment in the global market, the CRF 300 Rally, equipped with a liquid-cooled single-cylinder engine producing 27 horsepower.
Therefore, it may seem that an Adventure borrowed from the CB350 could be a bet, but if we restrict the field only to India – a gigantic market that alone justifies the study of a model – we see that a hypothetical 20-horsepower Honda Adventure 350 could have a reason to complete the range in the Indian market, somewhat like Yezdi (a brand practically unknown to us but well known in India) and taking into account that Hero has a best-seller like the Xpulse 200 on its list.
In summary, even if a motorcycle like this only captures a small percentage of the 300/400 cc market in India, the sales numbers could justify the investment, which would still be relative only to the equipment. It is worth asking whether this motorcycle could make its way to Europe, since the entire CB/GB platform is unfortunately not imported to the West.
