Short answer: this Honda GB350S review starts with the fact that changes everything about how an American reader should read it — the Honda GB350S has never been sold in the USA, and no US launch has been announced as of November 2026. There is no US price, no US model year, and no US dealer where you can buy one new. What this Honda GB350S review can honestly do is explain Britain’s best-selling modern classic properly, tell you what it costs in pounds, yen, and rupees, and what it rides like on British and Japanese tests. If you want the short version: it is a beautifully finished 348cc single with Honda build quality, real-world economy over 90 mpg Imperial on some tests, and a price under £4,000 — and for a US reader, it is a bike to admire from afar, not one to shop for at a local dealer.
One more framing fact belongs up front in this Honda GB350S review: the S is not the standard GB350, and it is not the Indian H’ness from the previous cluster either. The S is the sportier sibling — born as India’s CB350RS in 2021, launched in Japan as the GB350S the same year, and sold in the UK and Europe from 2025. Same 348cc engine, different stance, different wheels, different prices, and different test figures. This Honda GB350S review keeps every member of the family in its own box, because confusing the S for the standard bike gives you the wrong wheel size, torque figure, and price.
Honda GB350S Overview and Model-Year Updates
The S arrived in Britain in 2025 and went straight to the top of the modern-classic sales chart, and this Honda GB350S review starts with its position: a premium-feeling retro single sold at a price that undercuts almost everything with a Honda badge on the tank.
Never Sold in the USA: No Announcement as of November 2026
Never sold in the USA: no announcement as of November 2026 — that is the whole American story of this Honda GB350S review, and it needs stating before any specification, because every other fact in this article is British, Japanese, Indian, or Australian. Honda USA has never listed a GB350S, never priced one, never warranted one, and never stocked parts for one. What this Honda GB350S review will do is point you at real US alternatives with verified prices — the Meteor 350 at $4,899, the Rebel 300 at $4,849, the Rebel 500 at $6,799, the SCL500 at $6,999 plus $600 destination, and the CB300R at $4,499 plus $600. For the measured performance behind this Honda GB350S review, including the acceleration tests, see our Honda GB350S performance guide.
Born as India’s CB350 RS in 2021, GB350S in the UK From 2025
Born as India’s CB350RS in 2021, GB350S in the UK from 2025 is the timeline every Honda GB350S review must get right. The bike started life in India in 2021 as the CB350RS, the sportier sibling of the retro CB350 H’ness, and launched in Japan the same year as the GB350S at ¥594,000. It reached the UK and Europe only in 2025, at £3,949 for the launch year, rising to £3,999 for 2026 — do not mix the years. The 2025 European bike is made in Japan, at Kumamoto, while the 2021 Japan launch bikes were India-made — this Honda GB350S review states origin per year and market, never as a single unlabelled “Japan-built” claim. In Britain the S was named A2 Bike of the Year for 2025. That is the context for this Honda GB350S review: an instant hit at a disruptive price.
Honda GB350S Engine and Specifications
The engine is the heart of this Honda GB350S review, and it is also where the most discipline is needed. There is exactly one honest power box for this bike — the manufacturer’s crank claim — because no rear-wheel dyno figure exists for the S or the RS in any source.
348cc Air-Cooled Single at 9.5:1 With a Balancer Shaft
The Honda GB350S review engine is a 348.36cc air-cooled four-stroke single — 70.0 by 90.5 mm bore and stroke, a long-stroke layout, 9.5:1 compression, fuel injection, a five-speed gearbox with an assist-and-slipper clutch, and a balancer shaft to tame the single’s vibration. The long stroke tunes it for low-end torque and relaxed cruising, and testers call it a smooth, characterful single with an old-school thump at low revs. For the servicing costs behind the sticker, see our Honda GB350S reliability guide.
Same Engine as the Standard Bike: No S-Specific Tuning Claim
Same engine as the standard bike: no S-specific tuning claim — and this Honda GB350S review labels that sentence exactly as what it is. Honda claims the same 15.5 kW (20.8 bhp) at 5,500 rpm for the S in Japan and Europe, with 29 Nm at 3,000 rpm, while the Indian RS is rated at 30 Nm. Those two torque figures are different market specifications, not a contradiction, and this Honda GB350S review reports both rather than merging them. The power figure is a crank claim, measured at the crankshaft, not at the rear wheel. No dyno figure exists anywhere for the S or the RS, so this Honda GB350S review publishes none, converts none, and averages nothing. Visordown’s GB350S review describes the same character: modest, charming, and happiest at a steady cruise.
Honda GB350S Price and Market Availability
Price is where this Honda GB350S review must be most careful, because the numbers are real but the currencies are foreign. Every price below is labelled with its market and year — and none is a US price, because no US price exists.
No US Price Exists: Japan ¥693,000 to ¥715,000, UK £3,999
No US price exists: Japan ¥693,000 to ¥715,000, UK £3,999 — that is the headline of this Honda GB350S review’s price section, and each half needs its year label. The UK figure is the 2026 dealer price of £3,999; the 2025 launch price was £3,949, and used examples already trade around £3,500 to £3,800. The Japanese figure is the 2025 update: GB350S Beta Silver Metallic at ¥693,000 and Heavy Gray Metallic-U at ¥715,000. Earlier Japan prices differ by year — ¥594,000 at the 2021 launch and ¥605,000 in 2023 — so any yen price without a year attached is suspect. Colours in the UK are Puco Blue, Gunmetal Black Metallic, and Pearl Deep Mud Gray, and the bike is A2-compliant. No pound-to-dollar or yen-to-dollar conversion is presented as a price here. For the buying decision in full, including the import law that governs any American dream of owning one, see our Honda GB350S buying guide.
India CB350RS at ₹1,99,900 to ₹2,02,500 After the Restructure
India CB350RS at ₹1,99,900 to ₹2,02,500 after the restructure — that is the Indian half of this Honda GB350S review, and it belongs to the RS, not the S badge. After Honda India’s September 2026 restructure, the CB350RS is listed at STD ₹1,99,900 and DLX ₹2,02,500 ex-showroom Bengaluru, with an on-road Delhi figure around ₹2,29,525 for the RS. The RS is the same sportier motorcycle under its Indian name, and its price ladder sits above the renamed plain CB350, which is the standard bike. Devitt’s 2026 GB350S first ride calls the UK price “a snip under £4k” and notes the bike is made in Japan for 2026 — a useful cross-check that the 2026 European bike’s origin and price belong together. An RS is not an S with a sticker, and a 2025 UK bike is not a 2026 UK bike at the same price.
Honda GB350S Design, Features and Technology
Design and technology are where the S earns its premium over the standard bike, and this Honda GB350S review rates the hardware highly — with one honest caveat: the electronics are generous for the class, but they are not the reason to want this bike. The reason is the stance and the finish.
17-Inch Rear Wheel, Fork Gaiters, Skid Plate and Tuck-Roll Seat
17-inch rear wheel, fork gaiters, skid plate, and tuck-roll seat — those four items are the visual signature of this Honda GB350S review, and they are also the quickest way to tell an S from a standard GB350 in a photograph. The standard bike runs an 18-inch rear wheel with a 130/70-18 tyre; the S runs a 17-inch rear with a wider 150/70-17 rear tyre behind a 100/90-19 front. The fork gaiters, the skid plate under the engine, and the tuck-roll seat complete the sportier look.
Higher Pegs and Lower Bars: Sportier, Not Full Rearsets
Higher pegs and lower bars: sportier, not full rearsets — that is the genuine ergonomic headline of this Honda GB350S review’s technology section. The S moves the pegs up and the bars down relative to the standard bike, giving a slightly more committed riding position without going to racy rearsets, and the tuck-roll seat keeps the retro look intact. HSTC, Honda’s selectable torque control, is standard on the S, alongside dual-channel ABS watching a 310 mm front disc with a two-piston caliper and a 240 mm rear disc, both by Nissin. Full LED lighting, a chrome-ringed round headlight, and an analogue-digital cluster complete the kit. Lexham’s GB350S road test review notes the same split verdict — charming, easy, and honest about its limits — and this Honda GB350S review agrees: the paint, the chrome, and the switchgear are the bike’s best argument.
Honda GB350S Riding Experience and Comfort
On the road, this Honda GB350S review finds a motorcycle that is brilliant at the speeds most riders actually ride, and merely adequate above them — a split verdict that matches every British test of it.
Riding Position, Handling and Low-Speed Maneuverability
Riding position in this Honda GB350S review is upright, roomy, and low: an 800 mm (31.5-inch) seat, wide bars, and a narrow tank give an easy reach for most riders, and the 1,440 mm wheelbase keeps the bike stable without making it feel long. The tall fifth gear is the one consistent complaint: weak below 60 to 70 km/h in top gear, with downshifts needed for overtakes above 100 km/h. The video below is a 2026 review of the real GB350S from Singapore — honestly labelled as a Singapore loan-bike review, not a British test and not an American one — and its verdict after city traffic, a car-park spiral, and expressway miles is the most useful single piece of evidence in this Honda GB350S review: the engine stays smooth, the gearing makes highway cruising surprisingly relaxed, and the firm suspension gives it a sportier feel than the standard bike.
Australia Lists the S for 2026 After Earlier Saying No Plans
Australia lists the S for 2026 after earlier saying no plans — and this Honda GB350S review reports that turn with its label attached, because it shows how fast this bike’s market map is still moving. Earlier reporting said Honda Australia had no plans for the GB350S, but dealer listings now show the S for 2026 in Australia at around AUD $8,063 ride away, with some dealers near $8,590. Those are dealer listings, not a Honda Australia MSRP, and this Honda GB350S review does not present them as one. The standard GB350 was earlier listed near AUD $6,999, or about $8,041 ride away — do not quote the standard bike’s price for the S. The balancer shaft does its job: testers call this one of the smoothest singles in the class. Fuel stops are infrequent thanks to the 15-litre tank — and this Honda GB350S review keeps the range claims labelled: Honda’s claimed 570 km on a tank on dealer spec sheets, against Visordown’s framing of a claimed 240-mile tank range. Two different claim framings, never averaged.
Honda GB350S Review: Pros, Cons and Verdict
The verdict in this Honda GB350S review is a split one: as a motorcycle, an easy yes; as an American purchase, a no, because it is not for sale here.
Main Advantages and Limitations of the Honda GB350S
Advantages first in this Honda GB350S review: the refined, smooth single, the premium finish, the standard traction control and dual-channel ABS, the comfortable 800 mm seat height, the excellent real-world fuel economy, and Honda’s reliability record — MCN’s owners give the GB350S 4 out of 5 overall, though the owners’-review sample is tiny. Limitations, stated with equal weight: the modest 20.8 bhp, the tall fifth gear that needs downshifts, the top speed that testers put around 80 mph rather than the wilder claims in some listings, and — for the American reader — the total absence of a US market. MCN’s GB350S review carries the 63 mpg spirited test figure and the A2 Bike of the Year 2025 award cited here, and it remains the best single British reference for this Honda GB350S review.
Weight by Market: 178 kg Japan and EU, 180 kg as India RS
Weight by market: 178 kg Japan and EU, 180 kg as India RS — and this Honda GB350S review refuses to print one unlabelled weight. The UK and European S is 178 kg wet, confirmed by Honda UK dealer specification and British test pages. The Indian RS is listed at 180 kg, a doc figure not re-verified this pass, and this Honda GB350S review labels it as such. Both are true, for different markets. The verdict of this Honda GB350S review, then: if you live in Britain, Europe, Japan, or Australia, buy it — it is one of the best retro singles on sale there, and the best-selling modern classic in Britain for a reason. If you live in America, admire it, learn from it, and buy the Meteor 350, the Rebel 500, or the SCL500 instead — motorcycles you can actually ride home from a dealer. That is the honest close of this Honda GB350S review.
| Honda GB350S at a glance | Figure | Label |
|---|---|---|
| Market | UK/EU/Japan/Australia; never sold in the USA | No US launch announced as of Nov 2026 |
| Engine | 348.36cc single, 9.5:1, 5-speed | Balancer shaft; assist-and-slipper clutch |
| Power (crank claim only) | 15.5 kW (20.8 bhp) @ 5,500 rpm; 29 Nm @ 3,000 rpm | India RS 30 Nm; no dyno figure exists |
| UK price, 2026 | £3,999 (2025 launch £3,949) | Japan 2025 ¥693,000–¥715,000 |
| Weight / tank | 178 kg wet (UK/EU) / 15 litres | Seat 800 mm; 19-in front / 17-in rear |
| Summary | Best-selling modern classic in Britain; not a US bike | S ≠ standard GB350/H’ness; sportier sibling |
Honda GB350S Review FAQs
Direct answers to the Honda GB350S review questions buyers ask most.
Is the Honda GB350S sold in the USA?
No, says this Honda GB350S review. It is sold in the UK, Europe, Japan, and Australia, has never been sold in the USA, and no US launch has been announced as of November 2026.
How much does the Honda GB350S cost?
There is no US price, says this Honda GB350S review. In the UK it is £3,999 for 2026 (£3,949 at the 2025 launch); in Japan ¥693,000 to ¥715,000 for 2025; in India the RS is ₹1,99,900 to ₹2,02,500.
What engine does the Honda GB350S have?
A 348.36cc air-cooled single, says this Honda GB350S review, with 9.5:1 compression, a balancer shaft, a five-speed gearbox, and an assist-and-slipper clutch.
How much horsepower does the Honda GB350S make?
15.5 kW (20.8 bhp) at 5,500 rpm as a manufacturer crank claim, says this Honda GB350S review — and no rear-wheel dyno figure exists for the S or the RS.
Is the GB350S the same as the standard GB350 or the H’ness?
No, says this Honda GB350S review. The S is the sportier sibling: 17-inch rear wheel, fork gaiters, skid plate, tuck-roll seat, and higher pegs with lower bars. The standard bike is the retro roadster.
Does the Honda GB350S have traction control?
Yes, says this Honda GB350S review. HSTC traction control is standard, alongside dual-channel ABS — rare equipment at this price in Britain.
What is the top speed of the Honda GB350S?
Around 80 mph on testers’ clocks, says this Honda GB350S review — though Honda Ireland’s spec table lists 114 km/h, and some listings claim far more. No US test exists, and no winner is picked here.
What mileage does the Honda GB350S get?
It depends on the source, says this Honda GB350S review: Visordown tested 110 mpg Imperial, MCN recorded 63 mpg in spirited riding against a 94.1 mpg Imperial claim, and Honda claims 2.5 L/100 km — different cycles, never averaged.
How far can the Honda GB350S go on a full tank?
Honda’s dealer spec sheets claim 570 km, says this Honda GB350S review, while Visordown frames it as 240 miles — two claim framings, never averaged.
Can I import a Honda GB350S to the USA?
Not legally for road use today by any cheap route, says this Honda GB350S review. The FMVSS 25-year exemption opens in 2046 for 2021 bikes and the EPA 21-year route in 2042; no eligibility ruling exists for the S.
What should I buy instead in the USA?
The Meteor 350 at $4,899, the Rebel 500 at $6,799, or the SCL500 at $6,999 plus $600, says this Honda GB350S review — real US alternatives with verified prices.
Is the Honda GB350S worth it?
In Britain, Europe, Japan, or Australia, yes, says this Honda GB350S review — one of the best retro singles on sale there. In the USA, it is not a purchase option at all, so the honest answer is to buy the alternative, not the dream.
