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/125834
NEWER IS NOT ALWAYS BEING BETTER. .• II1II • II1II the dull blue high beam indicator light, which didn't glare at you and cancel some of the intended vision improvement of the high beam. The front tum signals included running lights that turned off when the high beam was turned on, apparently for the same reason. We'd like to see the same feature incorporated in the rear tum signals so if, unknown to the rider, the taillight burned out you'd still have rear lighting. The lighting was about average for a Japanese bike - satisfactory_ The bike stayed oil tigh t and never got less than 45 miles to the gallon of whatever sort of gas we felt like putting in it. It got up to 55 MPG, one of the strongest points of the bike. The pipes are upswept to avoid the curb when you're parked with the rear wheel against it. Details that we'd like to complain about include the ignition lock, wnich is still in the wrong place, unless the bike happens to by lying on its right side, winding its guts out. It was hard to deal with in the dark, and if you were uncautious when it was hot you could bum yourself on the nearby exhaust pipe. Everybody else has changed it. We don't understand why old Number One hasn't. We'll be picayune and snivel about the indicator light panel which was mounted crookedly on oUr bike. It didn't bother us, but if you just emptied your bank account to get a bike and it had a crooked instrument panel, you'd probably feel a little ripped off. When you're done picking at it, you're left with the same old question: What in the heD docs Honda mean by this thing? It started out better than the old !50. but ended up worse. We don't undcntand it either. There is one faction that should welcome the CB-!60 with open arms. That's the Honda tuners and racers. They have !lcc's more to deal with. (The "350" was actuaDy !25cc's, remember. The "360" is 356.) That will translate to about fIVe horsepower at Ascot. They have six speeds to handle a peaky engine. With the new engine, they may have more, starting with a 9.3: 1 compression ratio. The performance potential is there; it just isn't stock equipment. Despite all its shortcomings, the Honda CB·360 will probably seD like hotcakes because it's a Honda. Because it's Honda people will by it without every looking at the competition. (Did you know that many people think Honda is an all-American company?) Honda also seems to know what people want and what they will overlook when buying a bike. The 350 sold like hot cakes - free hot cakes - and Honda wasn't likely to let slip a market they damn near own at .present. They think the CB-360 will sell Who's to argue? Oh, yeah. There's a scrambler version on the way. • ..::I t .. You have to work to be smooth. - Neat fuse box with separate fu.... Specifications A mystery. Constant velocity 30mm carbs. Also note crimped end of frame tube. It's nice and quiet. You don't feel obstrusive. Engine: Type single overhead camshaft air cooled four·stroke twin Bore x stroke 67mm x 50.6mm Displacement 356cc Compression ratio ...........•............................... 9.3; 1 Carburetion (2) 30mm constant velocity Keihin Oil capacity __ . _•......... __ _.. 2_1 quarts Recommended fuel low lead, 91 or higher octane Ignition .. ._ _ _ _.battery-coil Shif pattern _.. _. _. _.. _ left foot, up for up, 1-n-2-3-4-5-6 Starting __ _ . electric and kick Not To Mention: Weight ..............•........... _....•..•.. _ about 380 'pounds Wheelbase _ 53.2 inches Length _. _ 80.3 inches Width _. _ _ _ _.. _ . _.30.5 inches Fuel capacity. _ __ __ ."_ . __ ..•....... _ _ 3.4 gallons . _.. _.. _ . __ . _ _ 1149 Miles recorded during test . Gas mileage during test. _. _.. _.. _ __ . _.. _. __ . _. .46-55 MPG Suggested retail price __ . _.. _ _ __ .. _$963.00 ." 29 •