The Honda CL350 and SL350 were the scrambler versions of the CB350, a 325.6 cc overhead-cam parallel twin that Honda produced for the 1968 through 1973 model years. With its reliable engine and dual Keihin carburettors, the CB350 became one of Honda’s best-selling models.
Honda CL350 at a glance
| Maker | Honda |
|---|---|
| Base model | CB350 |
| Model years | 1968–1973 |
| Engine | 325.6 cc OHC parallel twin |
| Carburettors | two Keihin |
| CL350 exhaust | high-mounted |
| CL350 front wheel | 19 inch |
| SL350 | upswept exhausts and off-road styling |
| CB350 sales | more than 250,000 in five years |
| 1972 sales | 67,180 CB350s |
| Replaced by | CB360 twin in 1974 |
Based on one source, the English Wikipedia article on the CB350. No free photograph of a CL350 or SL350 was found; the Commons candidates show the road-going CB350.
History of the Honda CL350
A best-seller
The CB350 was produced for model years 1968 to 1973 with a reliable overhead-cam parallel twin and dual Keihin carburettors, and became one of Honda’s best-selling models: more than 250,000 were sold in five years, including 67,180 in 1972 alone. The model evolved through cosmetic changes and improvements to suspension and brakes.
Scrambler versions
Like its predecessor the Superhawk, the CB350 was also offered in scrambler form. The CL350 had high-mounted exhausts and a 19-inch front wheel, while the SL350 added upswept exhausts and off-road styling.
The end of the line
In 1974 the CB360 twin replaced the CB350 but stayed on the market for only two years. The four-cylinder CB350F introduced in 1972 was a completely different model. In 2020 Honda revived the name with the H’ness CB350 in India, later sold as the GB350 in the UK, Australia and Japan.
Design and features
- High-mounted exhausts: the CL350’s scrambler signature.
- 19-inch front wheel: extra clearance for rough roads.
- Upswept pipes: the SL350’s more off-road look.
- Proven twin: the same 325.6 cc engine as the CB350.
Honda CL350 versions
- CB350 (1968–1973): the standard road twin.
- CL350: scrambler with high exhausts and 19-inch front wheel.
- SL350: off-road-styled version with upswept exhausts.
- CB360 (1974): the two-year replacement.
- H’ness CB350 (2020): the modern revival in India.
The CL350 is a version of the CB family and shares its scrambler role with the CL450. More Hondas are in the Honda collection.
Sources
- Honda CB350, English Wikipedia: CL350 and SL350 versions, sales, replacement
