That motorcycle with the carefree look, the suggestion any destination was achievable, was the 1973 Honda CL350. Produced from 1968 to 1973, this street scrambler succeeded the CL77 Scrambler. Like its 305cc predecessor, the CL350 had upswept pipes, a cross-braced handlebar, rubber fork gaiters, and full cradle frame. For the offroad applications these features suggested, the five-speed transmission also offered slightly lower gearing. The 19-inch front and 18-inch rear wheel reflected the ambition to range far from pavement as well. Beyond these changes, it had all the goodness of the CB350, which had achieved near perfection.

Of course, the greatness of this little bike began with the air-cooled, four-stroke SOHC 325cc parallel twin with a balanced crankshaft; the engine attached with rubber mounts to the upper frame for smooth operation. There were twin, rubber-mounted, constant-velocity 32mm Keihin carburetors for reliable fueling. Using a 9.5:1 compression ratio with bore and stroke of 64.0mm x 50.6mm, it revved in unprecedented fashion, making 33hp at 9,500 rpm (restricted exhausts kept the output down in comparison to the CB350, which made 36hp at 10,500 rpm). Weighing 346 lb, it was a bit hefty, but a twin-leading-shoe front drum made for excellent braking performance. The CL350 was a capable, versatile motorcycle with great style, and it hit the sweet spot for hundreds of thousands of riders. Color choices were Light Ruby Red and Hawaiian Blue Metallic with white striping, and the headlight shell was black. Polished metal and chrome-plated surfaces added the refined look that people had come to expect from any Honda.