When I demoed this the other day I felt its poise and riding position was more akin to the RE HNTR. Slightly tipped forward but not to much. The GB350S is beautifully built and for the money a big seller for Honda. Might even be buying one as a stable mate to my Transalp. Wishing you well and safe journeys.

Looks too much like a knockoff to me. Doesn't sound nearly as good. It is high praise to the Meteor to be copied by Japan. The days of Japanese quality being a selling point are quickly fading. Much the same as cars, it's difficult to find a poorly manufactured one. Strangely you didn't mention how the bike made you feel. I smile constantly riding my Meteor and for some time afterwards. Didn't notice a comment or a grin on you unlike the multitude of other Meteor rider reviews. Honda noticed the prominent web wide Meteor complaint was the lack of top end and decided to add a cog or two to 5th gear. This could sway some buyers, however most riders in the know don't purchase 350 CC bikes for speedways anyway. I hope your loaner dealer appreciates your strong review. Cheers.

not a fan of led lights

Looking at the 2bikes Hondas engine looks very similar to the Royal Enfield. Change your front sprocket to a 16 tooth makes big improvement, same speed but lower revs. As good as the Honda is it lacks something that it will never have and that's character. No offence to Japanese bike owners but to me Japanese bikes have the soul of an electric kettle.!!!!! Ride and be safe.Ron from Ireland.

God struggling on the dual carriageway my 1980 Honda 250 had 28hp and that was not any good at keeping up with traffic on fast roads.

Are you going to be here, in Tenerife???

The cat is truly amongst the pigeons. Except that if you want the classic look, the RE is a clear winner. If you want the light custom look, the RE is a clear winner. Which leaves the HNTR to get it's backside kicked. Possibly. Nice bike though I have to say.

Hello from windy Paignton. Dont worry about having the spag bol, I spent two years having steak hache aux cheval thinking it was horseburger.....just means hamburger with an egg on top.... Felt a burke when my wife finally told me🐎🍔

The elephant in the room is that we are now campariing Royal Enfield to a honda. 20 years ago Nostradamus couldnt have predicted that.

Good review i just ordered one traded in my bsa goldstar 650 which i love and has been trouble free but we lost a great dealer over here in northern ireland and when i took it to the new dealership i was told to f..k of he was not here to sort out the first dealers f..kups his words and the importers haven't been much help do looking forward to getting the honda

many people seem to think that j platform motorcycles are for riding , anything but . they ,maybe able to turn wheels but there main function derived from the useless 350 and 500 before was as a stationary power take off for lathes, water pumps and sewage that's just to name a few. Indians are resourceful not thick

Both are slow horses hahahaha

Honda has ignored what makes RE a success and made the blandest bike possible, with the added choice of dreariest colours. Add on all the plastic where l'd like metal and it's huge missed opportunity, all they had to do was make 1970's CB copy!

Really like the commotion the GB350S is stirring up - hope it moves some numbers and Honda makes more simple bikes like this. I also hope Honda brings the GB350C over to the UK, it’s a bit more similar to the RE Classic, most importantly with proper mud guards!

From what you've said they seem pretty evenly matched. The Honda is a great little bike. However, the RE looks better (subjective I know) but has the indefinable asset called character.

There is a ‘C’ version of this bike which is more like the RE 350 Classic. I believe it is a Japanese market model.

Hate that bloody alarm music on the ferry but miss the Bellevue restaurant next to that gas station at Guincamp🏍️💨💨

Good looking blke,the Honda and a good price. But i do like the Royal enfield classic better.

Great review, this bike has been around in Japan for over 3 years so not built to compete with the Royal Enfield J series bikes as such, however the similar bike built in India the CB350, H'ness and RS were built to compete with the RE Bullets so were introduced before the Classic & Hunter. It is clear the Honda have imported this Euro5+ bike for the Hunter market hence RE dropping the price to £3500 which is also a bargain. Once RE improve the rear suspension the Hunter will compete better. The Honda seat over time will soften up just as the Himmy 411 does maybe too much. The top speed of the Honda is 80MPH once well run in and achieved in 4th with 5th as you say an overdrive. You get used to the Eco light has it helps you find the rev range that is most efficient. A fender extender is as you say a vast improvement to save cleaning the engine every trip like all bikes. Interestingly the next assembly to the Honda GB350s is the Goldwing which speaks volumes. As you say the RE Classic is a fabulous bike as is the Hunter and will continue to put smiles on faces as will Honda's little chugger.

Interesting. We’re not getting these in the USA, and I wish we were. Honda should put this out with an option for metal mudguards and 1970s CB350 colors and graphics on the tank. The Hiness in India does have options like that. The “Indian” price-point on these machines and the fact that this model has been available in India for some years makes me wonder if it’s *really* made on an assembly line in Japan (with Japanese wages for the workers), or if this is actually an HMSI product and they’re using some “creative accounting” and just repackaging/re-badging them. I would need to see hard evidence that this very Indian-style machine isn’t what it seems to be (HMSI) on every level.

Yes 👍 it’s Honda 😂

And there’s me thinking it’s called the Honda GB350! 🤔

I reckon, that lighter wheels will help handling, less unsprung mass. Brakes will feel better with weight too. Has it got the history or charisma of the Royal 'Enfield's? No. Weight is often bad for most things but only that steady straight line feel..So if you don't connect with the past motorcycle designs go for the Honda. If you do love the style of the older machines, Royal Enfield for you. Equity might slightly higher on the Honda later but these are all so cheap it's not worth worrying. Service intervals are slightly less frequent with the Honda. Great video thank you for all your efforts most enjoyable.

For me the mudguards would be the deciding factor, so a RE it would be.

I have owned many Hondas and only two Royal Enfields. For enjoyable and character full riding my personal choice would be the Enfield.

Today I saw in the raw the GB 350. Know the RE Classic 350 since 2023. A little bit disappointed with the Honda. The weldings of the front part of the chassis are poorly done. Painting work and chromed parts of the Royal Enfield are far superior than the Honda. Honda's front mudgard is a joke if you compare it with the RE's. On the other hand Honda's clutch is lighter than the Classic's, Honda reliability is superb and valve clearance check periods are reasonable in the Japanese bike, RE's valve clearance checks are a joke. I do not see Honda superiority very clear. The hype people show with the GB comes from the fact that is the first Honda retro bike sold in Europe with reasonable price. The bike is fine, but build quality is not outstanding.

The land of the rising Sun WILL always win out , Superb little THUMPER !

I'm new to biking, getting to know my Yamahaxsr125, thanks for a great review, and very informative . Lovely bike. think this Honda would be a good transition when I do my full licence 🤔

Gb350 doesn't look at all classic, nice bike - it's a Honda - but Royal Enfield Classic 350 is in a class of it's own.

I had a couple of Honda 125 Inova's, both had seats like planks, awful on the bum.

Honda's design seems to be taken from Triumph.

Was it a lovely day? It would be a better comparison if the test bike had aleady been run in. Should you really be riding a brand new 350 at 70 mph? You already told us it felt tight. Have you tried riding in good quality varifocals?

Thanks for posting this. I'm thinking of buying a RE Classic 350. For me I wouldn't consider the Honda as it's a different style machine. I have a Yamaha XSR900 and this Honda kind of looks like a smaller version of that, so it wouldn't make much sense for me. Otherwise it looks like a great bike.

Honda Sounds bloody beautiful.

The RE has more of a 50/60's look while the GB has a 70's look. both are great, but the GB appeals a little more.

Seen quite a few UK reviewers recently “reluctantly” giving the Honda the win here.

eco light can be turned off from the settings menu

you swine, I had made my mind up to buy a GS310 from BMW, returning to biking after a good 20 years, and now you ve thrown a spanner in the works. It also gives me memories from when I was a child and my father had a 750 four, it has that look.

Should compare the Honda with the HNTR... not Classic 350.

I just wish they’d brought the “H’ness “ version over as well..even more like the Classic/Bullet with more chrome and better, longer mudguards more suited to our cr@ppy wet/ wintry UK/Euro roads!…

Yes it is better.

Yes the Honda is FAR Better than the Royal Enfield, behave yourself 😅

Thank you. Thank you. You answered every question I had. It would be great if you could ride a model without the little fly screen and see if it makes a difference and the standard seat too. Greetings from Irvine ,California Edward

I understand the retro styling, but I wish all motorcycles and cars came with digital speedometers. They are much easier to glance at to see exactly how fast or slow you are going. Btw, if you have a bad back invest in a neoprene back brace. They are game changers for riding.

I've been looking at the Royal Enfield signals 350 for the last year I believe in the spring that I'll be purchasing at 350 signals I like the Honda 350 butt the classic 350 it's just so pretty anyway I'm going with the classic love your show

It's a Honda, it's made in Japan, it'll be more reliable and have a better resale value long after the RE is being given away at a local auto jumble for a couple of hundred quid. Enough said!

Thanks for the video. I have had the RE Classic 350 in grey and do love it. Just curious if that little windscreen makes any difference to your comfort when riding at speed on the motorway?

The Honda is great as is the Royal Enfield but the Honda will return 60mpg RE 100 mpg.

The Indian made bikes are absolutely cheap...so there is already a differentiator with them being made in Japan for the UK market! In India there was no thought other than benchmarking the old EFI Classic 350 and it shows! And technically the Hunter was REs response to these Hondas here in India :)

You Are a lovely couple😊😊Enjoy your holiday😊