With its slender 2.6-gallon tank and wing-like striping, the 1972 Honda CB350F looked much like a small Triumph Bonneville. It had raised handlebars, a braced front fender and twin megaphone-shaped pipes. But there was a big difference. Besides being smaller, the air-cooled, four-stroke SOHC 347cc parallel twin had a balanced crankshaft and attached to the upper frame with rubber mounts for smooth operation. There were also twin, rubber-mounted, constant-velocity 32mm Keihin carburetors for reliable fueling. With a bore and stroke of 47mm x 50.mm and operating with a 9.5:1 compression ratio, it revved like crazy, making 36 hp at 10,500 rpm.

Well-spaced ratios in the five-speed transmission helped the CB350 to reach nearly 100 mph. The 18-inch front and rear wheels and tires showed some attitude, too. Weighing just 328 pounds dry, the bike lived up to its Super Sport nickname, and the drum brakes front and rear provided a nice, progressive response. A front disc would also be added for 1973, the final year of production. “The Honda is tight, neat, thorough and it will feel fresher longer than the other bikes in the category,” Cycle magazine reported. Tens of thousands of CB350s were sold, and color choices included Candy Gold, Candy Bacchus Olive, Gentle Maroon Metallic, and Light Ruby Red with black tank stripes and headlight shell. “Very nearly a perfect bike for its intended application, this machine was a worthy sequel to the Super Hawk and the perfect next step for so many of those first-generation Super Cub riders,” writes motorcycle historian Aaron Frank.