- Seller: Tina M
- Location: Warren, Ohio
- Mileage: 4350 Shown
- Chassis #: CB350F13037133
- Title Status: Clean
- Engine: 347cc Inline Four-Cylinder
- Transmission: 5-Speed Manual
UPDATE – The seller has reduced their asking price! Be sure to make them an offer.
With only 4,340 miles, it’s sad that this four-cylinder 1973 Honda CB350F wasn’t used more than it was. These were and still are nice motorcycles, positively smooth and luxurious compared to the twin-cylinder CB350. The seller tells us that it belonged to her fiance, now deceased, and this Honda has been sitting in his garage for years. She is taking care of the estate and has decided to list it here on Barn Finds.
When the CB350F was introduced for the 1972 model year, it was the smallest four-cylinder production motorcycle up to that point. They were only made until the end of 1974 and Honda touted them as being able to take you across the campus, across town, or across the country. I think a four-cylinder 350 would have what it takes to do a cross-country run, although this example needs work so don’t pack your bags yet.
The seller’s fiance owned this 350, and she tells us that she’s now the fiduciary of his estate and is selling it. The title is in her name, and you can see that it will need a full restoration. They are really nice riding bikes, and you most likely wouldn’t see another one at a vintage motorcycle show or event. One or more CB750s, yes, and even a CB500 four, but probably not a CB350F four-cylinder.
Ultra-low miles await the next owner and most parts should be available to make it a fun restoration project. Honda also made a two-cylinder CB350, but the CB350F four-cylinder was made for those who weren’t only interested in a quick ride but a smooth and sophisticated one. Electric start was standard, but the button was by the left side cover, not where you’d expect it to be by the other controls by the grips.
The engine is Honda’s 347-cc, SOHC, four-carburetor inline-four with 32 horsepower. Backed by a five-speed manual, this formerly hidden project motorcycle is said to not have run in years, and the seller says it seemed to have pressure, but she couldn’t kick it over. Winter’s cold and snow is only half over for a lot of us and I can’t think of a better way to get through it than to restore a motorcycle. If you’re looking for a nice-sized bike, please get your bids in on this Barn Finds Auction!
Hell yeah, would ride this cross country in a heart beat. Rode a 71 350 scrambler to Daytona Beach from the mid-Atlantic and made that trip with out any issues once I got used to the vibration of the twin. The Four’s (350 & later 400) were exceptionally smooth. In only wish I had ridden one of them down to Florida.
One of these was my first bike, back in the ’80s. Same year and same color, too. Great bike to keep out behind my college dorm for errands off campus.
Worked really well for medium distance trips up and down the eastern seaboard during the 55mph era but I’m not sure about today.
This one does seem to have a lot of corrosion on it. Not sure what it’d take to clean that up. The good news is that I think the stock 4-into-4 pipes are available again, if expensive, after being unobtanium for a long time.
The 350 always had 4 into 2 stock, if memory serves. The beautiful 4 into 1 came out with the 400. The author mentions the starter button being near the left cover. I test rode one once and don’t remember that. These really were nice bikes, very smooth and powerful enough for a 350. I would use this bike for parts though, as it’s too badly corroded.
Nope, the 350F had 4 individual pipes.
The 350F had 4-into-4 stock, but, when those needed replacing, a lot of owners went with a 4-into-2 or 4-into-1 aftermarket system. Mine came with a 4-into-2 system that rotted out after a while and I replaced it with a Kerker 4-into-1; Mac also made a 4-into-1 for that bike. (And maybe still do; I think I’ve seen it online.)
You’re right about the starter Terry, the starter button was on the handle bars although the key was where the author suggests. You’re not quite so accurate with the exhaust system. Standard, they were definitely four into four.
All ya need for around town, or city bike. Comfortable and quick enough.
I agree. Every engine type was tried on a motorcycle.Singles, twins, twingles, triples, rotaries, opposed and in my opinion, they could have stopped in 1969 with the 750/4. The in line 4 is without question, the best, and all but eliminated any others at the drag strip. The 350 was on the lower end, perfect for city cruising, or an afternoon ride, dependable as a parking meter,,but some found out by necessity, there had to be much better road bikes out there. I have a neighbor who is a retired bike mechanic, I mentioned to him about a pristine ’74 CB 750/4 two towns over for $3500. His 1st response was, “good luck finding parts”. Something sitting like this bike is the kiss of death for vintage Asian electrics. I’ve heard of NOS going bad from just sitting in the boxes for years. Cool find, but I stick to my guns, for an all around road motorcycle, no less than 750. Electrics aside, 4300 miles is barely broken in. They really were great bikes.
Definitely not common. This one should bring big money.
Had a 73 CB350 in college late’80s. Great bike for a college kid on a budget.
I had a CB 400 F Supersport. Rode from the Midwest to the Pacific and back. Smooth ride but as with all young men eventually sold it and moved to more horsepower.
My friend rode a 400 F and kept up with us 750 guys just fine.
In a pretty awful state. Lots of filth and corrosion. Once a very nice Honda motorcycle. It would take some doing to sort this mess out. Too much involved for me. I just don’t have the time.
Wow… I had a 1972 350F that was in great shape around 2003. These are very unique because of the small displacement spread over 4. SO COOL!
I bought two of these, one for myself and one for my wife, hoping to get her into motorcycling. She rode it for 7 miles, and returned to the house, and never rode it again! You can lead a horse to water but you can’t make it drink! Those bikes were the smoothest and quietest bikes that I have ever ridden of the 54 that I have owned over the past 70 years, and I believe that the Honda 4/Supersport was even smoother. I rode one of mine 350 miles from Durban, South Africa, to Johannesburg and back and it never missed a beat. I found it to be a bit heavy on petrol but that’s the only complaint that I ever had with it. If I lived in America I would definitely be bidding on this bike!
Did the garage it was in have a roof?
This is still a desirable project, but it’s going to need a FULL restoration and a LOT of money to put it right. And you’d better be able to do it all yourself, because you’re unlikely to find a Honda dealer who would touch it, or know what to do with it if they did. Maybe Brick House Builds, if you could convince him to get involved.
Whatever, I hope someone does take it on and bring it back. These are glorious little bikes to ride.
When I was about 14 years old, 1975ish, I would ride my Suzuki TC90 thru the neighborhood on the way to the trails that ran along the highway. One day I came across a 350F (same color) sitting in a driveway. I stopped to marvel at the bike and the new owner came off his porch and began to tell me that he had just brought the bike home from the dealership, we chatted for a bit and he asked me if I’d like to ride it. Blasting thru the neighborhood with four exhaust pipes singing, I was convinced this had to be one of the most powerful bikes on the planet, some 40 plus years later I scored a nice one and attempted to relive my youth. What I discovered, and this is a pattern that would repeat, is that you can step back in time but it may not be what you remembered. These were very advance when they came out, also very underpowered. I’ve since owned two more and they make for enjoyable projects. This one will eat a pile of cash to get right…
Have a friend who bought a 750 4 cyl that made this one look new. He was a car man and not a biker but that bike today looks brand new. I tried to buy it but no sale.
I doubt this one would be a hard fix.
I had a red CB400F in 1980 in Los Angeles. Nice bike and good gas mileage. One problem these bikes had was a rattling timing chain and mine had that. Sounded like an electric motor hum. There was an adjustment bolt that you backed out that was supposed to fix that but it didn’t work. Never got rid of that sound. Was fun to ride. For whatever reason, I got lots of flats with those skinny tires that bike had. That and it scared the hell out of me on the rain-groved freeways in LA at that time – it would do a Jeep like death wobble. But riding it around the surface streets in LA and Long Beach at that time was a lot of fun …..
What I remember about the 400F was the beautiful four into one exhaust it had. No aftermarket set could match it for looks. Those bikes did have a cam chain tensioner that, if adjusted properly, could quiet the chain but it was finicky. Tires with the right tread pattern (replacements) will fix the freeway groove wobble.
My Dad owned a couple of these in succession. He used them as work commuters and they are what got me into riding.
He did not try to influence me to start, but he didn’t object when I came home with a ’74 Yamaha DT400.
This would make a great father / son project and I now wish that my Dad would have gotten us into something like this.
I had a lot of fun on mine.
It liked the higher RPMs, 4500 and up .
The exhaust was sweet as you worked up through the gears.
Where oh where could you get those pipes now?
They were very expensive seperately.
Good morning. In response to the question posted, “did the garage it was in have a roof”? Yes, but my fiance’s house was built almost 100 years ago. The roof was a flat roof, which didn’t drain water properly. Part of it had collapsed in exposing the bike and other items to water damage.
Sounds like it had AUROA ROOFING on it. Sorry about your fiance. This would make a nice bike to restore and enjoy.
Ah man, my first road bike! Lol. I was 16, I’m 66 now. I loved that bike, my mom hated it, thought I was going to die. Maybe should have a couple times. Lol
Same color, same bike. It’s last day on the road I was coming back from the lake with my later in life brother in law on the back and the cam chain came through the head. After 4 quarts of oil on the way home, about a mile from his house it finally took a crapand we were covered in oil. Lol
I’d be Interested this one but what barnfinds charges you is over what it’s worth is. It’s rough and all the small stuff you’ll have to find is going to be WAY over what the bike would be worth not including bringing it back to good running order.
I hope someone brings it back to life.
Let us know if you have any questions about this bike or the auction!
Where is the bike?
It’s in Warren, Ohio.
When everything crashed in 2008 my neighbors friend “walked” from his house in SF Bay Area (east bay). He said let’s go pick up a bike, you can HAVE it!! I had no idea what it was. Under a cover was a 1978 CB750F four. It was stored for 20 years and had 2000 miles on it It still smelled new when you opened the seat up! It cost me about $800 to get her going. It was the most incredible, responsive bike I EVER rode… A guy came up from L.A. who had one of those TV shows where they fix up cars. (not for the show but for his Dad) OF COURSE I kick myself for selling it, but needed a crate motor for my 72 Chevelle. Black or Gold were the ONLY 2 colors they came in, mine as black. The Japanese engineering was incredible. Thanks for the great memory!
This is a real shame to see. This bike should’ve been covered at the very least. Judging from the pics, a lot of parts are going to need to be replaced. I hope there’s someone out there with the resources to bring this one back to life as there is just almost none of these left in the U.S. My cousin bought a brand new 750 four Super Sport when they first came out. I was to young to remember exactly what year it was but I still remember what it looked like. It was some kind of sunburst orange and gold and “MAN WAS IT FAST!” I don’t know if it’s true with this bike but I know they had a kit of some kind you could put in the motor that brought out crazy speed. Would like to see this brought back. GLWTS.
Somebody is going to end up with a great little project, and hopefully a beauty of a bike when it’s finished.
If I were close, I’d grab it and slowly restore it. Best of luck to whomever gets the bike.