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Green With Envy: 1973 Honda CB350F

040516 Barn Finds - 1973 Honda CB350F - 2

“You meet the nicest people on a Honda”. Of course, that famous slogan was already a decade old when this 1973 Honda CB350F came out, but it still applied. This gorgeous, original, 4,600-mile bike is in Fayetteville, Arkansas on Craigslist with an asking price of $2,200. If this bike was in my area I would probably buy it tomorrow.

040516 Barn Finds - 1973 Honda CB350F - 3

The CB350F was made from 1972 to 1974 and was, at the time, the smallest capacity inline-four-cylinder motorcycle to enter into full-scale production. In 1975 it was replaced by the CB400F. The CB400F had 3 additional horsepower but it was 20 pounds heavier than the 350 was, and it only had a top speed that was 4 mph higher than the smaller 350 had. The seller of this bike mentions that this “bike sold on eBay but buyer fell through so giving local a try.” That’s a shame, but it’s good for any of you fine folks, in case you’re interested. I’m guessing that they’re taking reasonable offers, too. Maybe it could help to offset shipping costs.. hmm..

040516 Barn Finds - 1973 Honda CB350F - 1

I absolutely love this Candy Bacchus Olive color, and to have it on a nice, 4-cylinder Honda would be perfect. These little 4-cylinder engines are like sewing machines compared to a 350 twin. Although, the predecessor to this bike, the Honda CB350, was a couple of mph faster. The highest speed limit that I know of in the US is 85 mph so a 100 mph top speed works for me. Here’s a video of a CB350F in not quite as nice condition on YouTube. The seller says that the only part of this beauty that isn’t original is the exhaust. Those may be hard to find if you want to bring it back to the original two-and-two configuration, which I would want to do. A replacement system is available if you didn’t care if it was an original Honda part.

I really, really like these small 4-cylinder Hondas. How about you?

Comments

  1. Avatar angliagt

    The way bikes like these are going,I don’t think you could
    go wrong with this.
    ………I wonder if they’d take $1500 for it (including shipping)?

    Like 0
  2. Avatar Pat Housel

    I bought one exactly like this one in 1973 from Malott’s Honda in Manteca,Ca. Road it for 100k miles with only a top end rebuild @ 70ish k miles. Road it to Alaska in 1982.

    Like 1
  3. Avatar gerry Member

    decent price considering how much the older Japanese bikes are appreciating recently especially here in Japan decent drivers of the same vintage here are running between $4k-8K

    Like 0
  4. Avatar Mike H.

    I bought a bike identical to this one for my ex-wife back in 2000 because she wanted to be able to ride with me. It was a great bike in town but left a lot to be desired on the open road. Uncomfortable and low powered, and ultimately too light to be stable enough at speed to allow any confidence against traffic moving around you.

    A nice collector for someone who keeps a variety of bikes about, but not practical for any sort of regular riding. The 400F was a much better bike, especially when equipped with a 4-into-1 header.

    Like 0
  5. HoA Howard A Member

    What a great example, but again, it’s much easier to store a vintage bike than a car or fire engine. While I feel the inline 4 for a motorcycle is the best setup, I still feel, this is half a motorcycle. Going 100 on this and going 100 on a bike bike, is clearly 2 different things. Still, for what this bike was intended for, short trips, it didn’t get any better than this, although, I’m sure more than 1 person rode a bike like this cross country. The green. Seemed like EVERYTHING was green in the early ’70’s. Cars, refrigerators, toilets. And with proper maintenance these would run forever. Can’t go wrong here.

    Like 0
  6. Avatar jim s

    these were heavier and more costly then the 2 cyl. 350/360 but not much faster. for riding at todays highway speeds you need, from that time frame, the CB500/550 if riding solo or the CB750 if riding 2 up. this bike seems like a good deal but no telling how much noise the aftermarket exhaust makes. finding a stock exhaust system and rejetting is a issue. nice find.

    Like 0
    • Avatar Richard Daniels

      I had one identical to the one shown, with the same exhaust. It had a nice tone, but was fairly quiet compared to my 750 with stock exhaust. The bike was very smooth. As I was in high school, I rode double with a girlfriend. Plenty of power.

      Like 1
  7. Avatar leiniedude Member

    My buddy’s older brother and one of his friends each rode one from Wisconsin to California back in the day. They must have encountered some custom bikes while there. When they returned they went on to start successful chopper shop.

    Like 0
  8. Avatar geomechs Member

    When Honda introduced the 350 twin in ’68, I was quite impressed. When one of those early models won the Baja 500 I was really impressed. However, the 350, either the twin or the (later) four didn’t have the impact that the earlier 250/305 had. As far as reliability went, you couldn’t work any of them (right up to this model) to death; you had to physically kill them. Maybe it’s my age but my favorites will always be the 250/305 either the Hawk/Super Hawk or the scramblers (sorry, the Dream looked like more of a nightmare to me). However, the 350 had its place, and I will always be impressed…

    Like 0
  9. Avatar JW454

    I’m not a bike guy anymore but this one looks very nice.

    Like 0
  10. Avatar Mark S

    I had the 1980 400 hawk sport it was a 6 speed bike. I added a vetter quicksilver frame mount fairing and tesco saddle bags. I took it on the highway regularly and would have no problem keeping up with traffic. My only complaint was the lack of power on hills. I had it for two summers and traded it in for a 1982 goldwing interstate, which was an awesome bike. I ran into some hard times in around 1986 and was forced to sell it. 3 years ago I bought another goldwing this time it’s a 1977 gl 1000, I have custome built and installed a side car to it. It is an awesome rig that handles very well for a side car rig, and I get compliments on it everywhere I go. Hondas are very well made bikes that you can’t go wrong with buying, I would not hesitate to take mine on a cross country trip and feel confident in getting out and back without trouble. This posted bike is a solid clean little ride that you can’t go wrong buying, nice find.

    Like 0
  11. Avatar Matt Tritt

    This bike would sell in a matter of hours here on the central coast. The price seems too low for being in it’s apparent condition!

    Like 0
  12. Avatar Tony

    I have 3 of these in my garage. Fantastic bikes, and they will never go down in price.

    Like 0
  13. Avatar Ian

    I have been trying to find another one of these in parts bike condition for years. Impossible to find for a parts bike price. I bought one a few years ago and have found it to be an awesome little thing. Even 40 years on. A true testament to the work of Soichiro Honda.

    Like 0
  14. Avatar Ross W. Lovell

    Greetings All,

    These were still built to a pretty high standard as Honda was still trying to build their reputation.

    Miss this era of bikes, much like cars, the models looked different from each other. They also had numerous models every year of the same displacement. The 350 Twin series had several different engine designs for the lower end. Honda offered the engine for all models with and without electric start and with the SL you could have the “primary kick” option. This allowed you to just pull in the clutch in any gear and start it, the others, you could only start in neutral, but at least they gave you a green light.

    When the 350/4 arrived Honda had already redefined the four cylinder concept. The big complaint riders had was carb synching. Rarely see any of these bikes with more than 20K on them, most under 10K.

    Up until recently, a 350 was the smallest bike I’d take on the highway and only for one-up riding as a passenger slows this size down to a level that’s dangerous. Recently had a blast on an older Ninja 250, so I had to rethink that rule.

    These will do the “ton” but the do weigh more than the old CB/CL/SL 350’s. The twin will get you there quicker.

    Pat……you are The MAN. Always knew these could tick off the miles like a Beemer, just seemed like everybody never kept them long enough and then the next owner decides to freshen it up “just in case”.

    Always knew these bikes were overbuilt, don’t think they still do it this way any longer but still, the reason these bikes succeeded was because they made riding the main priority over wrenching, which pleased many a owner of Brit and American iron enough to win them over.

    Like 0
  15. Avatar John

    I had one of these. It was a great bike. It had its quirks. Its front wheel would get very light at anything over 60 mph. I put a white Vetter fairing on it, and that improved it, but it was still twitchy. That fact notwithstanding, I rode it for many thousands of miles (I know it was over 60K but I really can’t remember exactly). It took me to and through Colorado more times than I can remember. I explored every canyon that had a vestage of a road. It was bullet-proof. I thought that is some was good, more was better so I sold it and bought 550 four. It nearly killed me. It probably would have if someone hadn’t stolen it. I went 40 years before another bike came home with me.

    The subject of this posting looks identical to mine (mine may have been a darker green). Whoever buys it will have a real jewel. I hope they love it, but I also hope that they ride it — start out with a tour of Colorado. I wish it could be me. Too darn old. But I’ll dream of this bike tonight.

    Like 0
    • Avatar David Miller

      I had one too in high school. The original pipes 2 on each side rotted out so I put a single 2 into 1 set on each side. I remember it was very smooth but lacked power until higher rpms. I sold it and got a Suzuki GS 750 which was much faster and more powerful. Love the inline 4s. Later got a Virago 1100 twin which I rode for 18 years.

      Like 0
  16. Avatar Carlos

    Had one of these as a teenager & rode the heck out of it. Dirt or street it was a blast. Got it from my brother. He had tried different gearing on it. When he had it it would easily top 100 mph. When I got it he put lower gears to keep me alive. It would beat lots of cars off the line & in the 1/4 mile, but topped out screaming rpms at just 80 mph.

    Like 0
  17. Avatar David

    Have a red 72 in the garage. Fantastic time warp! Buttery smooth and heavy on 70s style. This is an outstanding price for one. I’ve been offered 4 grand for mine but it’s not for sale. Yet…

    Once they start trading around 5K it will be time to move on.

    Like 0

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