Retrospective: 1968-1973 Honda CL350 Scrambler

1968 Honda CL350 Scrambler
1968 Honda CL350 Scrambler. Owner: Jack Wagner, Grover Beach, California.

Honda motorcycles opened for business in the American market in 1959, when the four-stroke 50cc Super Cub came on the market. And over the next 10 years the company acquired a very positive reputation, well deserved, for having high revving, hard hitting, highly dependable products, especially with its 305 series, like the CB77 Super Hawk and CL77 Scrambler.

But, as we say about horses, the 305s were getting a bit long in the tooth. What to do? Shouldn’t cost too much because lots of money was going into the carefully kept secret–the four-cylinder CB750. Having a different number would be good, from 305 to 350. The bore was increased from 60 to 64mm, the stroke reduced from 54 to 50.6mm, the true size of the “new” engine being only 325cc. No matter, as minor exaggeration is considered to be quite acceptable in the advertising world.

Honda used it in three models, the 1968 CB Super Sport and CL Scrambler, and a year later the SL Motorsport. All told, more than 600,000 of these 350s were sold in the U.S. over the six years of production, which means a lot of them are probably still stashed in old barns or forgotten behind the junk in the back of the garage. Here we are dealing with the Scrambler version, better characterized as a street-scrambler, having only minor pretensions to being competent off the pavement. It was a styling thing, much like the “adventure” bikes of today, with the rider liking to think that he can dash across the Gobi Desert any time he wants. Or, more likely, he wants other people to think that.

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1968 Honda CL350 Scrambler
1968 Honda CL350 Scrambler. Owner: Jack Wagner, Grover Beach, California.

The essence of the scrambler style were those upswept pipes, curving individually around the left side of the cylinders and ending up in one large muffler that held a permanent spark arrester. Which was covered by a black heat shield for the first two years, and then the shield was chromed. Interestingly, the shiny header pipes were pipes within pipes, the ostensible reason being that the owner would not have to put up with the inevitable bluing that arrived with time. A secondary reason, which should really be the primary, was that the actual pipes carrying the exhaust were quite small in order to maintain a high exhaust-gas velocity that was essential to the tuning system.

This whole CL exhaust shebang weighed a substantial 24 pounds, and was responsible for a loss of several horsepower compared to its CB sibling, which had a longer, more efficient exhaust. Power was 33 horses at 9,500 rpm in the CL, compared to the CB’s 36 at 10,500, despite the engine internals being identical. CL owners usually ignored the redline on the tachometer dial.

1968 Honda CL350 Scrambler
1968 Honda CL350 Scrambler. Owner: Jack Wagner, Grover Beach, California.

Another Scrambler notion was the larger front wheel, 19 inches as opposed to 18. This was more about looks than performance, with the more serious off-roader, the SL, having a 21-incher. Front fender was slightly abbreviated, and the gas tank held 2.4 gallons, almost a gallon less than the CB’s. There were also rubber gaiters on the CL’s fork legs, always good for the daredevil look.

Those were the differences, now for the similarities. Looking into the powertrain, the parallel twin used alloy cylinders with iron liners, and the oversquare engine had lots of possibilities for revs–10,500 of them! In 1968 street-going four-strokes were not known for spinning ten thousand times a minute, and the less knowledgeable thought that this would mean a brief lifespan. But ten grand! How did they achieve that? First, there was a single overhead camshaft, spun by an endless chain between the cylinders. And the camshaft itself was a solid piece of work, weighing some three pounds.

1968 Honda CL350 Scrambler
1968 Honda CL350 Scrambler. Owner: Jack Wagner, Grover Beach, California.

But how does one get valves to seat properly at that speed? The valves all had dual coil springs, but the springs themselves were wound progressively, so that there was relatively less tension when the valve was seated, increasing greatly as the valve got pushed down. Carburetion was a pair of 26mm Keihin constant-velocity units using neoprene diaphragms.

The crankshaft, with four main bearings, spun using a 180-degree firing order as on the 305, but was a lot smoother due to excellent balancing. Primary drive was via straight-cut “paired” gears that were both efficient and quiet. Honda knew that the popular helical gears were quiet but not overly efficient, and came up with this mildly complicated system. A multi-disc wet clutch passed power through a five-speed transmission (up a gear from the 305) and out via a chain running along the left side of the rear wheel.

The chassis was not a notable construction, but suitable for delivering a good feeling to the rider. The backbone was a pressed-steel stamping, which was falling out of aesthetic favor at the time, though inexpensive to make. Fortunately it was hidden beneath the gas tank, and the viewable bits were mostly tubular, a single tube coming down from the steering head to spread into a double cradle.

1968 Honda CL350 Scrambler
1968 Honda CL350 Scrambler. Owner: Jack Wagner, Grover Beach, California.

Suspension was adequate, with a telescoping fork at the front and a pair of DeCarbon-type shocks at the back. A 3.00-19 tire was on the front wheel, 3.50-18 at the back. A double-leading shoe drum brake did yeoman’s service at the front, a single leading shoe at the back. It had 52 inches between the axles, and a wet weight of around 370 pounds.

The saddle, about 32 inches high, was long and flat, while the upswept handlebars had the mandatory cross-brace, part of the scrambler look. The rider saw separate speedo and tach above the headlight. Fenders were chromed, with excellent paint on the gas tank and side panels. And the essential electric leg for starting.

Price was $700, less than half that of the 750 four. Which is why these middling bikes outsold the big one…though we can only presume that quite a few 350 owners upgraded to the 750.

16 COMMENTS

  1. Your magazine’s former editor, Tash Matsuoka, was helping me move back in 1988, when he saw that I had a copy of a 1968 issue of Cycle magazine with both the CB350 and CL350 on the cover. “I had this issue!” he exclaimed. Well, I had a 1971 CB350 at one time, as well — and it was the largest-selling motorcycle of its day. Who woulda guessed that we would be seeing the types of machines that are on the road now? (If only the so-called “gentlemen’s agreement” could be scuttled, and then a V4 Panigale rider would not be humiliated by Lambos and Ferraris on the top end!)

  2. I owned the 360cc version of the CL. Three-quarters of a lifetime ago, I tested my mettle by horsing the thing over the rocky, pitted and truly ugly (except for the outstanding scenery) China Grade between Plumas County’s Indian Valley near Taylorsville into the county seat at Quincy. Never, EVER came closer to death. Wouldn’t trade that memory for anything. 🙂

  3. Clem, welcome back! Enjoyed the article. Honda did a great job with the 350’s. Thanks for all the great articles over the years!

  4. I still have the candy blue/white ’69 CL350 I got in the summer of ’69 while in high school. Looks a lot like that one. It’s still a blast to ride and draws a crowd when I park it.

  5. Funny thing. In the mid to late 70s, I had a Honda XL350, my Dad had a CB360, my younger brother had a CB350, and my older brother had a CB500, then a CB750. We occasionally all went on rides together. My younger brother and I went on holiday together, and on long straight pieces of road, he could smoke me at the top end. When on tight mountain roads, the XL350 would walk away from him, with endless ground clearance in the tight turns, and ample mid range torque enabling very few gearchanges. At the end of one long sequence of twisty turns, I had to go back to find my brother. He was nursing a sore foot from constant gear changes trying to keep his CB350 in its narrow power band, and spooked from constantly scraping bits of bike due to limited ground clearance in turns. We eventually settled on having separate holidays, due to differences in our bikes and personalities. My dad’s CB360 was heavier handling, torquier but less capable, than my younger brother’s CB350. My older brother’s bikes were a dream to ride, but the XL350 felt like an extension of my body, and nobody was faster on a mountain road. Singles rule.

    • Oh my that comment about scrapping reminded me of a time “70’s” most everyone I knew had time on a 350 Honda and scraping pegs determined if the rider was good and fearless, we didn’t have a clue it was a design flaw, on that perfect bike. I knew some guys who rode 350’s from north Wisconsin to Venice Florida and back. Of course I graduated to a 750 then later had a big bore kit installed, I still don’t know why I sold that bike, I had so many vehicles in a very short few years, the opposite of how I am now.

  6. I too owned the ’68 CL350, Red/white and like the article said I never looked at the tack until the needle hit the peg then power shift. I too traded up to the CB750 and then to the Goldwing. I now own a ’94 Honda Magna and a 2014 CTX1300. I never imagined I would still be riding at 71. Thanks Honda for your great, powerful and reliable motorcycles.

  7. I had a 1972 CL350 but messed it up when I added a quart of oil when the dipstick looked like that’s what was needed. Blew out all the seals and gaskets, but the dealer who sold it to me let me trade it in on a leftover 1975 cb400ss! I wish I still had them both 42 years later.

  8. I havr a 71 honda 350 for sell all original been garage kept for a long time and it still runs dose need front tire fixed on it and some other love and care but it will pop off and run so let me know if intrested (405)886-9875 Brandon call anytime

  9. I purchased my first bike in 1968. Minitrail 50. I have had over 30 different bikes in my riding career. I currently own a “Phantom” 750. Of all the bikes Honda has always been the best!

  10. Own a late 73 cl350 have other bikes all kickers nothing like sitting on my classic Honda and hitting the electric starter button. Believe only available on late 73. Blue and white. All time fav for around town

  11. In the early 70’s–when in my early 20’s– I was riding my CL350 across the state, when it began raining. I stopped at a local café to wait it out, bringing my helmet inside. A tough-looking young man, also with a helmet, asked me “what ya got?” I told him a 350 Honda, to which he answered, proudly, “I got a Hog.” Once the rain stopped, I prepared to leave, and he offered to show me why his bike was much better than mine. He hopped up and down repeatedly, but was unable to start the Harley. He even had his friend try a few times, but to no avail. I sat on my bike, leaning forward on the handlebars, waiting. I decided I’d waited long enough. Normally, I would use the electric start on the Honda, as the kickstart could sometimes need several tries, but felt that would be wimping out in this situation. So I announced “I gotta go” and hit the kickstart. FIRST kick!!!! I drove off while they continued hopping up and down. One of my favorite memories.

  12. Long ago I had a Honda 305 scrambler. At the time it was considered one of the big bikes (Harley’s excluded). I road that bike everywhere including on road and off road. I took many 200 mile trips with it. It was a great bike. I now ride a Honda Shadow Sabre that runs perfect with 62,000 miles on it. I am now 72.

  13. Hi – Newby here! I’m actually looking to pick up a ‘72 cl350 and had an exhaust question. With its killer looking high mount position, have you all found any issues with a passenger getting leg burn from it? Looks like a solid possibility! Hoping the heat shield would do enough to prevent that, but wanted to ask the experts! Thanks!

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