Royal Enfield Bullet 350 vs Honda H'ness CB350 Spec Comparison: Which is Better?

Royal Enfield recently launched their much-awaited 2023 Bullet 350 in India. In comparison to the outgoing model, the new iteration of the Bullet 350 comes with a few significant changes and has a starting price of Rs 1.73 lakh (ex-showroom). Sitting between the Hunter 350 and the Classic 350 in the firm's lineup, the latest Bullet 350 is claimed to be more technologically advanced without losing its vintage charm. Customers can book the bike on the company's official website. Now that the newly launched 350cc product from Royal Enfield stable is here, let's compare it to of its main rivals – the H'ness CB350 – which was launched by Honda BigWing India in March 2023.

Royal Enfield Bullet 350 vs. Honda H'ness CB350: Design

The Honda H'ness CB350 remains the same as its previous version, save new colour schemes (a revised Grey and Black colourway and a new blue colour with two grey stripes) and an update in the form of OBD2/E20 (on-board diagnostics) compatibility. A split-style seat set-up is claimed to be more comfortable than before. Besides, the H'Ness CB350 comes with new factory custom kits, including Comfort Custom, Tourer Custom, Solo Carrier, and Cafe Racer. Nevertheless, certain elements such as the round LED headlamp and chrome accents have remained unaltered.

The new Royal Enfield Bullet 350 also continues with the design language of the previous model, along with a single-piece seat, a circular headlight, a long exhaust, and curvy body parts. However, it does come with a few changes, including a new fuel tank, a new taillight design, and a tweaked rear fender.

Also Read: 2023 Royal Enfield Bullet 350 Launched in India at Rs 1.74 Lakh, Standard Variant Costs Rs 1.97 Lakh

Royal Enfield Bullet 350 vs. Honda H'ness CB350: Features

On the feature front, the new Bullet 350 comes with a new instrument cluster, with an analogue speedometer, an odometer, an eco-indicator, a trip meter, and a fuel gauge. Plus, there is a small digital display that shows service alerts. A USB charging point present below the handlebar is standard across all variants. It also comes with an optional tripper navigation system.

In comparison, the CB350 features an emergency stop signal system, which activates the turn signals in response to sudden braking. Other features include all-LED lighting, hazard lamps, a semi-digital instrument console with Bluetooth connectivity, Honda Smartphone Voice Control, a traction control system, an assist and slipper clutch, a USB charging port, etc.

Royal Enfield Bullet 350 vs. Honda H'ness CB350: Powertrain

The all-new Bullet 350 from Royal Enfield stable is underpinned by the J-platform architecture, which also supports the Hunter 350, Meteor 350, and Classic Reborn. The 2023 model is now propelled by a 349cc air/oil-cooled single-cylinder J-series engine. Power and torque figures are rated at 20bhp at 6,100rpm and 27Nm at 4,000rpm, respectively. Power is sent to the wheel via a 5-speed gearbox.

The Honda H'ness CB350, on the other hand, is powered by a 348.3cc single-cylinder air-cooled fuel-injected engine, which complies with the OBD-2 emission standards. The engine produces the same 20.7bhp at 5,500rpm and 30Nm of peak torque at 3,000rpm and is mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox with an assist and slipper clutch. The CB350's underpinnings have also remained unchanged – it uses the same CB350 platform that also underpins the CB350RS.

Royal Enfield Bullet 350 vs. Honda H'ness CB350: Hardware

In terms of hardware, the Royal Enfield Bullet 350 uses a new double downtube frame and is equipped with traditional telescopic front forks and twin-sided gas-charged rear shock absorbers. Braking duties are taken care of by discs at both ends, along with dual-channel ABS. That said, the base-spec Military versions get a rear drum brake with single-channel ABS, while the higher variants come with a rear disc brake. The bike runs on 19-inch front and 18-inch rear spoke wheels, which are shod with road-biased tyres.

Meanwhile, the Honda H'ness CB350 rides on 19- and 18-inch alloy wheels for the front and the rear, respectively. The bike uses telescopic forks at the front and dual shock absorbers at the back for suspension and discs at both ends for braking duties. 

Also Read: Honda CB350 H’ness and CB350RS Get New 10-year Extended Warranty Option

Royal Enfield Bullet 350 vs. Honda H'ness CB350: Variant-wise Pricing

The 2023 Royal Enfield Bullet 350 is available in 3 trims. The base model, offered in Military Red and Military Black colours, carries a sticker price of Rs 1.74 lakh, while the mid-spec Standard Maroon and Standard Black versions are priced at Rs 1.97 lakh, with the Black Gold colour option demanding the most, i.e. Rs 2.16 lakh. The starting price for the H'ness CB350, on the other hand, is Rs 2.10 lakh for the DLX, followed by Rs 2.12 lakh for the DLX Pro trim and Rs 2.15 lakh for the top-of-the-line DLX Pro Chrome trim. All prices are ex-showroom, Delhi.