Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/125808
HONDA 3S0/FOUR ,; o Z I ... z ... -' o > 0'. The 350/Four is a great touring bike. It's smooth, qu;et, and fast enough to do the job well. by Art Friedman Photos by Dave Schoonmaker & Friedman When we first got it, we didn't like it. When all was said and done and it went back, we liked the Honda 350-Four better than any of Honda's other street machines from mighty to mini._ The reason that we didn't like the 350-Four at first was that there was something wrong with it. It had low end power, but it never seemed to develop much more power when it was wound out, if, indeed, it could wind out.' We did.n't realize that there was anything wrong with it. We, lik.!' most people, had heard that the new 350 was slower than the old 350 twin, and we just figured that was what we were experiencing. S till, we were disappoin ted. Our staff touring buffs had said, "Wow, a four. It should be smoother than the old 350. A 'true middleweigh t to ure r. " The staff road racer exclaimed, "Hot dog, 10,000 RPM, ~ disc, four cylinders, and lots of ground clearance. Shave off a little weight, maybe add a cam and you have a. cafe racer! n We were disappointed because it was slow. Sickeningly slow. But then it went back because a spark plug hole stripped. When it came back to us, we found what we had been hoping for all along. 1t had a new head on it, and compared to what we had before it was a jet. All of a sudden, we found one of the nicest machines to come down the road in a long time. It still wasn't terribly fast. There are other 350's that can trounce it quite soundly through the quarter or in any power con test. It may not even be a match for its twin cylinder predecessor. But what the Honda 350-Four does have is comfort, brakes, handling, ground clearance, and excellent throttle response ou t on the freeway. It is also ext remely versatile and carries a pMsenger more happily than any other midclleweigh t we bave tested. The 350/4 can be used as your only transportation because it is so versatile. And this is qne of the things that makes it such a good motorcycle. Down to the comer, across the country, or through some of the twistiest mountain roads around, the four is as good as anything around. The bike makes an excellen t touring machine because it is comfortable and won't tire .you. Within a few hundred The 350/Four comp..... to other 350'. very favorably. Titere are, however, faner 21-inchers around. RPM of the 5500 mark there is the only vibration at about 55 MPH. Very few people go 55 for any long period and, if you have to, you can just slip it into fourth. Other items that keep the machine from being uncomfortable or fatiguing are a super seat which will also carry two in fine style and narrow handlebars that keep you from being spread out like a sail at high speeds. It cruises happily at 8 O. One staffer rode it up to San Jose from Los Angeles, California and averaged about 75 MPH for the distance. He felt good when he arrived. The bike used about a quart of oil in 1000 miles. The oil apparently went out the breather since it wasn't burning-or leaking any. The engine never minded any of this. After being wound to and past its 10,000 RPM redlme it would always settle immediately to an even idle. This may be due in part to very little flywheel effect (like all the Honda Fours). We really flogged it for 2,000 miles put on in ten days, and it was just beginning to show signs of wan ting attention. It was performing quite well, but there were getting to be more whirrs and clicks coming from the upper end of the engine. Power comes on strongly at 6,500 to 7,000 RPM which is ideal for freeway/touring use. It provided just the right response for passing, or other qui'ck acceleration maneuvers, at freeway speeds. The transmission will be familiar to any rider of late model Hondas. It is light, with the usual short throw and positive feel. First and second are fairly far apart, but the ratios get closer as you run up through the five gears. eu tral was mucli easier to find than on any other Honda we have ever ridden. The clutch was positive but required a moderate puU to disengage. When it got hoI the clutch would grab slightly. The familiar output whine was there, too. The exhaust system was one of the quietest that we have had the pleasure to test. The rider would be aware of a moderate amount of noise coming from the 350/4's intake track and upper end, but as the machine passed you it was never obnoxious, even at ten grand. Said