Honda GB350S Review: A Naked Bike Experience

I'm not quite sure when we went off track.

I don't know when we started believing that motorcycles are only good if they're loaded with more tech, more rider aids, and come with heftier price tags. I also can't pinpoint when riding became synonymous with constantly having to invest more money, as we gradually moved away from the core experience.

And I don't know about you, but for years, no matter what bike I rode, I always felt like I had to take the next step. Another bike. Bigger engine. More power. More features. More of everything. And naturally, more expensive.

I even had this feeling with my Triumph Scrambler 900. A bike that puts a smile on my face every single time I hop on. Without fail. Yet, I caught myself considering trading it in for a 1200.

Eventually, that thought disappeared. Perhaps because I've come to appreciate smaller displacements much more than I used to. But that's a story for another day.

Time passed until last summer. That’s when I had the chance to ride the Honda GB350S. A new bike for the European market, although it was introduced in Japan back in 2021 and quickly became a real bestseller there.

For those who've been around for a while, you might remember our little trip to Tokyo. A few days spent shooting a video on Moto Gymkhana. An amazing experience. The video is currently available only in Spanish, but we're working on that. We also had the chance to visit the Tokyo Motorcycle Show.

A show deeply rooted in local culture where you'll hardly see any Western visitors, yet it ranks among the most important motorcycle shows in the region. I was surprised by many things: how well-organized everything was, the number of people who attended, and how crowded the Honda stand was.

What surprised me the most was that people weren't flocking to the MotoGP bikes, not for a Fireblade, nor for the CBR 600. Most were flocking to a motorcycle with about 20 horsepower. Honestly, I didn’t understand it back then. Today, I get it perfectly.

Back then, I simply lacked experience with a segment, or rather a sub-segment within retro bikes, that brands like Royal Enfield have been steadily developing in recent years. Honda is taking this path in its own way: with a sound that instantly brings a smile, a high-quality feel that instills confidence, a cohesive design, and the inner peace that comes from knowing it's backed by one of the most solid brands in the world. Along with one of the best dealer networks out there.

So we're on the same page: The Honda GB350S is powered by an air-cooled single-cylinder engine, delivering around 20 horsepower, offering about 30 Nm of torque, and weighing in at a full 178 kilograms, as measured in our office. The seat height is 800 millimeters. While that sounds low on paper, in practice, it feels a bit higher due to the flat and wide seat.

And no, it doesn't come with a plethora of ride modes. It doesn't have heated grips, no connectivity gimmicks, and it won't bring along your dream girl or guy. What it does offer is a price tag of around 4,700 euros in Germany, and the fact that it is entirely manufactured in Japan. Not in China. Not in India. In Japan. Even though its technical foundation is based on the CB350 RS, which has been sold in India since 2021.

All of this makes it appealing—not just for beginners. On paper, it sounds like a pretty good mix: fair price, sleek silhouette, Honda know-how. But that alone doesn't make a great motorcycle. What really matters is what happens once you get in the saddle.

And this is precisely where its greatest strength lies, and also the main reason why it became the best-selling model in its class in Japan in 2022: the experience. The feeling. The perspective on everyday life that instantly comes with it.

This experience begins even before you start the engine. A classic metal tank. Well-crafted plastics. Nothing feels cheap or unfinished. No dangling cables. No materials that make you wonder how they'll hold up in a few years. LED lighting, neatly integrated indicators. Everything seems well thought out.

Turn the key, and the analog cockpit comes to life. A classic round speedometer, complemented by a small LCD display with gear indicator, fuel level, and essential information. But when we talk about this motorcycle coming to life, we have to talk about the engine.

It's hard to put into words how exhilarating this motorcycle feels when you twist the throttle, even without high revs. I can't pinpoint exactly what Honda has done here, but this sound perfectly complements the bike's character. It shapes the entire riding adventure.

This isn't a bike for attacking your favorite twisties with a knife between your teeth. Once you get on, that deep, relaxed sound captivates you. And your mindset adjusts. Almost automatically. You gain a new perspective—one you might have lost years ago without even realizing it.

Suddenly, it's no longer about stress or pressure. The pace is more than enough for any country road. A gear change here, a gentle twist of the throttle there, just to hear the engine purr out of the corner again. The addiction factor is real. It's an invitation to focus back on the journey, not the destination.

And that's exactly why I chose the title: I had almost forgotten what motorcycling is really about. That primal joy. The wind on your skin. The sensation of gliding just above the asphalt. Without complications. Motorcycling as meditation. As a way to disconnect.

At the same time, the GB350S is surprisingly fun to ride. It feels light, agile, stable. With a confidence that many other bikes in this segment don't achieve. In terms of rideability and everyday usability, it doesn't need to hide from modern motorcycles.

Of course, with 20 horsepower, you won't be the first off the line at the traffic light. The top speed is somewhere around 115 km/h. It's not an adrenaline machine. More of a dopamine and serotonin machine.

Perhaps that's also why it boasts extremely low fuel consumption. Combined with the 15-liter tank, it offers a theoretical range of over 500 kilometers. And this, along with the relaxed engine character, makes it quite suitable for touring.

The proof is in countless videos from Japan, where riders traverse the entire country on the GB350S. The only drawback: there's practically no storage space. Neither under the seat nor behind the side covers, which, by the way, house the battery. It's something to be aware of.

Many will say: It's a beginner's bike. And they wouldn't be entirely wrong. It fulfills everything a novice needs. But this Honda is more than that. It's fun to ride, whether you've been riding for two days or twenty years, whether you're twenty or seventy.

I'm convinced that Honda also developed this motorcycle to provide young people with an affordable entry into the world of motorcycling. But I think it's wrong to simply dismiss such bikes as beginner motorcycles. In my opinion, it takes a certain maturity to truly appreciate its character.

I took this ride with two colleagues, both barely over twenty. Their criticism was almost exclusively about the power. About what it lacks. Not a second was spent on what this motorcycle is actually meant to convey.

Because it's not always about speed. Not always about blasting. Not always about adrenaline.

And that's exactly why I believe: The GB350S is not just a perfect training motorcycle, but also a kind of shock therapy against stress, against bad moods, against the everyday pressure. Against all that often drags us down.

I know how cheesy this might sound. But this machine is made to bring happiness. It strips away the complexity that so often distracts us from the true essence of motorcycling.

If you're just starting out and looking for a stylish, accessible, uncomplicated, and reliable bike, give it a try. But I can just as easily see it for people like my father. Retirees who haven't ridden in years and now want something simple. Something affordable. Something that brings a little sparkle back into everyday life.

And even if you're just looking for an honest all-rounder, no matter your age or experience level, it's a very solid choice.

In the end, it's not just about this one motorcycle. It's about more. About what defines our hobby, our passion.

Sometimes I feel like we, yes, even we in the media, get too caught up in numbers, charts, and comparisons. In the quest for the best machine, we forget the most important thing: How do you feel on this motorcycle? Not me. Not your neighbor. Not my colleague.

That's something deeply personal. Hard to describe. Maybe that's why we avoid it. Maybe because we've forgotten how to listen to our senses.

Honda GB350S. A fantastic motorcycle. A true back-to-basics bike that delivers exactly what it promises. One I'd love to ride across Japan, but also one I'd equally enjoy for the commute or a leisurely Sunday ride. If you ride it, I hope it gives you as much as it gives me.