Grab-and-go: A custom kit for the Honda CB350 from Taiwan
The modern-day Honda CB350 is one of those motorcycles we wished was available in more parts of the world. It first broke cover in India, where it’s produced, and later rolled out to Japan as the rebadged GB350. You can get it in Taiwan too, where it’s officially called the Honda H’ness CB350—but you can forget about buying one in Europe or the USA.
That’s a real shame, because the Honda CB350 is about as adorable and approachable as factory bikes get. Its 348.4 cc single-cylinder engine squeezes out 21 hp and 30 Nm, and it sports modern amenities like LED lighting. It’s not too bad looking either; handsome enough in stock trim to give bigger modern classics a run for their money.
As cute as it is though, there’s always room for improvement. Mark Huang of Mark Motorcycles in Taipei, Taiwan shares this sentiment—which is why he’s developed a stylish collection of bolt-on parts for the Honda CB350 and GB350.
Plug-and-play kits are becoming increasingly popular among pragmatic custom motorcycle builders who are looking for a steady income to keep the lights on. Expensive one-off custom bikes are great to ogle, but building them is time-consuming. A steady supply of custom parts is good for business—and it gives you a stash to dip into if you need to make big changes quickly.
There’s nothing over-the-top about Mark’s scrambler-inspired take on the humble Honda CB350, but that’s entirely by design. “Because the CB350 is a perfectly proportioned motorcycle,” he tells us, “I only made changes to a few parts to make the bike better reflect my style. And so that the bike can be changed quickly, the parts can be replaced without modifying the frame.”
Still, Mark’s casual approach belies how much work went into getting this kit from concept to production. He started by buying a suitable donor to use as a test bed, then stripped off everything that he figured could be improved.
The OEM fuel tank and side covers were deemed tidy enough to stay, but the Honda’s modern-looking fenders were binned. Mark designed new fiber-reinforced polymer fenders with a classic street scrambler aesthetic. The fenders ship with all the brackets needed to fit them, and the rear fender wears a stylish Lucas-style taillight.
Mark’s Honda CB350 also swapped its alloy hoops for an all-new set of spoked wheels with alloy rims. They measure 19” up front and 18” out back, and wear Shinko dual-sport tires.
A 5.5” Bates-style headlight replaces the stock unit, with a neat Koso speedo perched just above it. The cockpit also features high, laid-back handlebars fitted with vintage-style switches, new grips, and a single underslung mirror. Mark wisely kept the bike’s original handlebar clamp; a branded part that recalls the designs on classic Hondas.
It’s worth mentioning that all of these parts don’t just come with the bracketry needed to mount them, but also every last wire and connector you need to make it all work. Mark’s gone to great lengths to make sure that there’s zero guesswork when putting everything together.
It’s the same story with the exhaust, where a slim reverse cone muffler attaches to the stock header via a custom-made connector pipe. Other add-ons include new rear shocks and classically styled turn signals mounted on bolt-on brackets.
Perched atop the CB350 is an impossibly chic seat that looks more custom than off-the-shelf. You can order it in either leather or a synthetic fabric. Finishing the build off is an eye-popping 70s-inspired paint job, courtesy of Mark’s friend, Jeffery.
All of the parts shown here are already available, and Mark has wasted no time in putting them to use. No sooner had he buttoned up his prototype build, than he got a commission for a near-identical Honda CB350 [below right].
The client wanted a black and grey livery and lower handlebars, but the rest of the spec sheet is the same. And with its more subdued tank graphics, it could easily be mistaken for a neatly restored classic.
We would have been perfectly happy with a bone-stock Honda CB350 in the garage—until we saw these two bikes. The combination of the CB’s best bits (like its beautiful black and chrome engine), and Mark’s judicious changes, has taken it from unassuming entry-level retro to irresistible street scrambler.
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Originally posted on: https://www.bikeexif.com/honda-cb350-custom-kit