photo
No motorcycle could have sold better in the USA market than this, it regularly achieved the position of being Americas best selling motorcycle for that year after it was launched in 1968.
The engine was a de-tuned version of the CB350 Export, actually only 325cc, but still managed a healthy 33bhp @ 9500rpm, and weighed less than the outgoing CL77 at 148kg.
However, this sales success was not to last, and subsequent K series CL350’s were starting to look less attractive in the face of more competent duel purpose machinery from Yamaha, they were also putting on weight and by the time they were fazed out were some 10kg heavier then the KO model.
They were however well made and reinforced Honda’s reputation for quality and durability, and the CB road models continued to sell well, as they were still fast for 350’s, even against the two stroke opposition of that time.
As with most Honda CL models, the collector value is much higher than for the CB equivalent, especially in Europe where few of these were even seen let alone sold!