Honda Developing Adventure Bike Built on CB350 Platform

Honda has recently filed an international design patent for a new adventure motorcycle based on the CB350 neo-retro platform. This upcoming Honda ADV bike appears to be a straightforward, functional model, reminiscent of the former Royal Enfield Himalayan 411 in its design.

The new 350cc Honda ADV is expected to borrow heavily from the CB350 models, including the engine and the main frame. Uniquely, it will feature twin shock absorbers at the rear, a departure from the monoshock setup commonly found in modern adventure bikes, including Honda's own CB200X. This choice stands out as an unusual direction for a bike in this category.

Another distinct feature of the Honda ADV is its wire-spoked rims, likely paired with tubed tires. Given the trend in adventure bikes, it's anticipated that the Honda ADV will have either 19-inch or 21-inch front wheels.

The design sketches of the bike reveal characteristics such as a concave rider’s seat, an upswept exhaust, a round headlight, and multiple points for attaching luggage, all of which closely resemble the design of the old Himalayan 411. The engine, a 349cc air-cooled single-cylinder, is expected to have performance figures similar to the CB350 range. This places the Honda ADV closer in competition to the Hero Xpulse 200 4V rather than bikes like the Yezdi Adventure.

As these are only patent designs at this stage, it's likely that the actual model is still a few years away from production. Should it launch in India, its most direct competitor would be the Royal Enfield Scram 411. This bike continues the legacy of the original Himalayan 411, first introduced in 2016.

Want more of the world of automotive–check out the social media pages of GoMotoring. Connect anywhere, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.