Honda CB350RS Launched at Rs 1.99 Lakh: New Colours, Same 350cc Engine
Overview
Honda has launched the updated CB350RS in India at Rs 1,99,900 (ex-showroom, Bengaluru), with dispatches starting 21 September. The roadster now comes in two variants, STD and DLX, and five colours, with no mechanical changes. The DLX costs Rs 2,02,500 and adds three more colours. Power still comes from the 348.36cc air-cooled single making 20.7 bhp and 29.5 Nm. This article covers the Delhi on-road price, EMI, real-world fuel cost and how the CB350RS compares with the Hunter 350, Classic 350 and Speed 400.
The Honda CB350RS has been launched in India at Rs 1,99,900 (ex-showroom, Bengaluru), and the update is about paint, not metal. Dispatches began on 21 September, which drops the bike straight into the festive buying window. Bookings are open at BigWing dealerships for Rs 5,000. The price has crept up roughly Rs 2,000 over the outgoing base version, so the real question is whether fresh colours change the maths on a 350 you were already considering.
Honda CB350RS price in India: STD, DLX and the colour split
Honda has trimmed the line-up to two variants. The STD costs Rs 1,99,900 and comes in Pearl Igneous Black or Pearl Deep Ground Grey, the safest picks for anyone who likes the RS dark and understated. The DLX asks Rs 2,02,500 and widens the palette to five: those two, plus Matte Axis Gray Metallic, Rebel Red Metallic and Pearl Siren Blue.
That Rs 2,600 gap is the interesting number. Honda has announced no hardware change for either variant, so the DLX premium is effectively a paint premium, and it is less than a month of petrol for most riders. If the red or blue appeals, take the DLX and stop deliberating. The RS is also the first of the refreshed CB350 family to reach showrooms. The CB350 and CB350C follow in October.
CB350RS on-road price in Delhi and monthly EMI
Ex-showroom is only the opening bid. On the outgoing model, Delhi's RTO charges (around Rs 17,900) and comprehensive insurance (around Rs 14,500) added roughly Rs 32,000. That puts the new STD at an expected on-road price of about Rs 2.32 lakh in Delhi. Listing sites still carry pre-launch numbers between Rs 2.28 and 2.33 lakh, so treat this as an estimate until your dealer quotes.
Finance it with 20 per cent down, 60 months and 11 per cent interest, and you pay about Rs 46,400 upfront on a loan of roughly Rs 1.86 lakh. The EMI lands near Rs 4,035 a month. Over five years, the interest alone comes to about Rs 56,500.
What 1,000 km a month really costs to run
Owners report an average of around 35 kmpl. City riders stuck in Delhi-style traffic report closer to 28. Split the difference at 32 kmpl and 1,000 km burns about 31 litres. At petrol prices near Rs 103 a litre, that is roughly Rs 3,200 a month. The range across 28 to 35 kmpl runs from about Rs 2,940 to Rs 3,680.
Stack that on the EMI and the RS costs about Rs 7,250 a month to finance and fuel, before servicing. The 15-litre tank costs about Rs 1,545 to fill and covers around 480 km at 32 kmpl. That is a comfortable weekend run without hunting for a pump.
Same engine, same kit: what you are actually buying
The Honda CB350RS keeps its 348.36cc air-cooled single, making 20.7 bhp and 29.5 Nm at 3,000 rpm through a five-speed gearbox. The torque arriving low in the rev range is the whole personality here. This is a bike for 60 to 90 km/h, not one that rewards being thrashed.
Standard kit is unchanged: traction control, dual-channel ABS, a slip-and-assist clutch, all-LED lighting and Honda RoadSync smartphone connectivity. Seat height is 800 mm and kerb weight about 180 kg. Owners are consistent about the flaws. The pillion seat is hard, and vibration creeps in above 100 to 110 km/h. Treat 80 to 90 km/h as the comfort zone and you will get on with it.
CB350RS vs Royal Enfield Hunter 350, Classic 350 and Triumph Speed 400
The cheapest rival is the Royal Enfield Hunter 350, which runs from about Rs 1.38 lakh to roughly Rs 1.7 lakh. That leaves a gap of Rs 30,000 to Rs 60,000 to the RS. Royal Enfield's Hunter is lighter at 177 kg but carries a 13-litre tank against the Honda's 15. The Classic 350 starts near Rs 1.86 lakh, but it weighs about 195 kg and is the heavier thing to live with in traffic.
Go the other way and the Triumph Speed 400, which we have covered on Drivio, costs Rs 2.34 lakh ex-showroom in Delhi after its 18 September price cut. For roughly Rs 34,000 more than the RS STD, you get a liquid-cooled 349cc engine making 37 PS and 32 Nm. That is around 16 bhp more than the Honda. It is a sharper, faster motorcycle, and the RS does not pretend otherwise. Honda's argument is refinement and an unstressed, low-rev pull.
Verdict: buy the DLX, nothing to wait for
The hardware has not changed, so there is no mechanical update to hold out for. If you want an easy 350 with proper safety kit and a big tank, buy the RS, and pick the DLX if the extra colours matter to you. If Rs 50,000 matters more than refinement, the Hunter 350 makes the cheaper case. If you want pace, the Speed 400 is worth the extra money. Before you book, check the on-road price and EMI for the Honda CB350RS in your city on Drivio.
The Honda CB350RS gets new colours but no mechanical upgrade, and the STD variant now costs Rs 1,99,900 ex-showroom. The Delhi on-road price is expected near Rs 2.32 lakh, with an EMI of about Rs 4,035 at 20 per cent down, 60 months and 11 per cent interest. Real-world mileage near 32 kmpl means roughly Rs 3,200 in petrol for 1,000 km a month. The verdict: buy the DLX if colour matters, choose the Hunter 350 to save money, or step up to the Speed 400 for pace.
