Honda CB360 Review - 1974 to 1976 CB360 & CB360T - History, Specs, Riding Impressions
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 26 ก.ย. 2024
- In this fun classic motorcycle review, we're looking at Honda's 1974-1976 CB360 and CB360T. Designed as a successor to Honda's popular CB350, the CB360 featured a host of improvements aimed at making it a more reliable and functional motorcycle. We'll look at the history, specs, and performance of the CB360 and I'll include my riding impressions of this classic CB. What was the CB360 like to ride? Let's find out together!
I had one. 1976 CB360T in blue. Had a sissy bar on it. Got it right after I graduated from high school for $500 in 1981. I absolutely loved it. Sold it to a friend after about 4 years (he would not leave me alone). He in turn sold it to someone and they wrecked it. Luckily, they weren't killed. I still regret selling it to this day. They were good times. Thanks for the video. Brings back memories.
@@ferpo6332 You're welcome! Thanks for sharing your memories and experiences with the CB360T. Cheers!
Bought one in 90 for $300 with 310 miles on it from og owner, put 38,000 on it, sold it for $800 in 95. Went thru 7 chains, and oil changed every 3000 miles. 6 sets of tres and 4 batt, and zero problems. Good time, good times.
Fantastic! I'd say you got your money's worth out of it 🙂. Cheers!
1976 Honda CB-360T was my first motorcycle. Bought it brand new in January. I previously knew how to ride motorcycles by riding Suzuki 100 and 250 dual sport bikes months before. I underestimated the weather when I picked up the bike from the Honda dealer in January. No gloves and a thin jacket I arrived home half frozen. That's when my real motorcycle education began as that's when I learned first hand about wind chill. First on the list was better clothing
I first used the 360 for college commute. Quickly became my all purpose commute going everywhere. Even owning a car I used the 360 especially going into Manhattan because it was the more enjoyable transportation especially in crowded and hard-to-find-parking Manhattan. I added a luggage rack and tank bag for weekend trips. Even after collage I used the 360 most days for commute to and from work.
In 1984 I got the Honda 1982 Honda 750 Magna from a friend and it became my main two wheel transportation. Years and several bikes later the one constant is I never let go of the Honda CB-360T as it is still in a safe corner of my garage.
You never forget your first motorcycle. Apparently you never let go of your first love either. LOL
So cool, Rick! Thanks for sharing the memories. Wind chill and hypothermia are real concerns in cold weather riding. I remember getting home late one night and having to crawl up the stairs into the house because my legs were so cold. I lay in bed for an hour, waiting to warm up, but the cold didn't go away. I finally had to take a hot shower so I could get some sleep. I'm sure I had hypothermia🥶.
But, I'll never forget the beautiful spring day and the first ride on the CB360T and the lifetime of great 2-wheeled experiences it inspired. Cheers!
Bought my first bike, a 1975 CB125S in 1976 and rode it to school every day. Then a guy in class came to school one day with a CB360 and I was so envious! Thought that this guy could really go places on that machine where mine could barely squeak out 55mph!
Right on! The CB360 had almost three times the displacement and was roughly twice as fast. Performance is definitely a matter of perspective. Cheers!
Thanks for a great video down memory lane. A 1975 CL360 (with the upswept pipes) in orange was my first bike -- totally loved it. I started with a windshield, crash bars (my dad's insistence), sissybar and luggage rack, then later put on a handlebar fairing, better handgrips, extra footpegs, gas gauge, cup holder, throttle lock ["cruise control"], etc. I rode that bike everywhere. In the fifth year, I took a trip from Wisconsin to Colorado with a friend (who had a Honda 550 Four). Talk about "Twin-tingle" for 3500+ miles! :-) I still had the original bench seat on it -- hard as a rock.
Shortly after that trip, I bought a '77 Gold Wing... and have been riding Gold Wings ever since (some 40+ years now). Oh, and when I sold my beloved CL360 -- it had 27,000 miles on it, and still ran great.
So cool 😎! Thanks for sharing the memories and your experience with the CL360. The Colorado trip sounds epic! Cheers
These CB350/360 bikes were thick on the ground and very reliable. Even a points adjustment would last 6000 miles.
Right on!
Great video and stories! I bought my first street bike from my HS basketball coach while I was in college. It was an orange 1974 CB360. So much fun for years! I saw one exactly like it recently and had to have it. My college aged son liked it, so I gave it to him. Then I missed it, so I just had to get another. Great bikes!
@@jeffrackley7774 Thanks, Jeff! And thanks for sharing your experiences with the CB360. I hope you and your son enjoy your bikes and make more great memories in the process. Cheers!
Hey Jon I'm down here in Westminster MD but do a lot of riding in PA between Gettysburg and Lancaster. We are blessed with great riding roads. My first street bike was a new 2005 Kawasaki Vulcan 750 which I never really gelled with. My second bike was a CB360T and was much more enjoyable. I love that style of bike. Right now I have 5 Bikes 4 of them tagged. The only one not ready to ride is a 1972 SL350. I have a 1975 Honda XL250, 2002 Buell Cyclone , 2001 Buell Blast and 2012 Yamaha FJR1300. I always keep my eyes out for old CB360's. It's a perfect bike for the backroads of MD and PA. I enjoy your reviews.
Thank you! We're blessed to have such nice roads with little traffic and great scenery in the south central PA and northern MD areas. It sounds like you've got some nice machines in your garage. Cheers!
My first bike was a ‘71 350 I bought in 2009 and learned to ride and do all the maintenance and restore it. Never let it go and even now when I ride it with my friend’s triumphs or RE’s it gets the most attention from passersby.
That's awesome! It's why I still love the classics. Cheers!
Still have my first bike, but doesn't run. 74 standard CB360 in sunburst orange. Purchased it from my older brother in March of 79 for $400.00 I was 16 in the 10th grade. Enjoyed the video Jon and RIDE SAFE OUT THERE!
Very cool 😎! Thanks, Henry!
It was my first road bike. Like your first girl friend, you never forget that. Love and feeling
@@GaryBesner Right on! Same for me. Cheers!
My first "big" bike after license,in 1990 in 6th hand, had some others but never could separate me from this so well proportioned and beautiful bike until today. Still driving it as every day bike ( no rain !!) into city and nice tours of 80 miles or so. Still gets away from cars and between them better than modern scooters (always blocking me...) It must now have over 56k and only let me down once ( bad wiring in the rectifier caught fire in a red light , i felt smoke ..and was able to blow it off😅)
It has now +0.25mm pistons and nearly all rubbers have been replaced in 2014. I never went over 7krpm, so I hope it will hold until I'm able to kick it!!
Thanks for the video and matching history of the model !
You're welcome, Jorge! Thanks for sharing your experiences with the CB360T! Cheers!
I have an orange CB360. Its in very good, original condition although the tank and side panels were repainted by the dealer before I bought it. The spokes are corroded and there is minor pitting on other chromework. Fortunately no rust in the exhaust pipes. I ride it from time to time when the weather is good. It is a nice bike to ride, especially commuting around the city.
Right on, Dennis! The 360s are fun commuters. Cheers!
These are great bikes, I would love to own one.
My friend and his dad have 2 of these that they race in the vintage class at the local road course.
They race these bikes In stock form with DOT tires.
And I have to tell you they really haul the mail.
Great video.
Very cool 😎!
I had a cb 360, great little bike. I wish I still had it for tooling around town
Right on!
My 2nd bike! 1st was a 1972 Honda CL 100S...ragged that thing for 2 years, then I got the Orange CB 360T (front disc brake)
Rode from the Alamo to Junction, TX. 130 miles...now back in 74, I-10 was open to Kerrville, but to get to Junction you had to
get on Hwy 27...OLD bad shape road! Coming back, it starts to rain...and, just for FUN...there's a Greyhound on my ASS! Well, I
made it, but 2 years later in the Air Force, I got a 76 CB500T (twin) was going across a STEEL BRIDGE in the rain at night in Pineville!
I had NO IDEA what to do...go faster? slower? Scary as HELL! Just get OFF this thing ASAP! Then, in 84, I got clipped by a drunk
doing 100...broke my left Tibia? small outer bone! That's all for me! NO more cycles! Still love em, but no way I will ride another!
Right on! Thanks for sharing the memories. You highlight the fact that the small bikes are adventurous. I like that for exploring back roads, but it's downright scary on the highway. You also bring up a good point about situations that elevate the threat level on a bike - rain, night-time riding, steel-grate bridges, etc. If at all possible, I avoid combined threats (rain at night, for example). Motorcycle riding is dangerous. Riders need to take it seriously and think about situations ahead of time. It could save your life. Cheers!
Great old bikes well designed engine these were faster than the 350 four
My friend in high-school had the CB350 four, and I was jealous until he ran it into a corn field and destroyed it shortly after buying it. Knowing him, I wasn't surprised. Waste of a cool bike, though. Cheers!
Thanks for the video, I had a 75 that I bought used in 1980 for $550. It was my first motorcycle as well and I had it for about a year and a half. I later bought a CB400F, while that bike was smoother, I don't think it was that much faster. I also learned to wrench on that bike, and I still like wrenching on Hondas to this day, but now I ride a Gold Wing. My 360 had been dumped a few times as the first two owners looked like they also learned to ride on it as well. However, it never let me down. From time to time, I've thought about looking for a used one as it would be cool to relive some nostalgia.
Very cool 😎! Thanks for sharing the memories. Finding and restoring a 360 sounds like a fun project. I say go for it! On Sunday, I picked up a 1980 Honda Hawk CB400T, and I'm already working on it. It's rewarding to rescue a classic. Cheers!
My first bike was a 1972 Honda 360T (at least that's what the ownership said). Very enjoyable bike to learn on, only tricky thing was a random electric issue which would blow ever single spare fuse I had until I put the very last one in Then it would go again for another 5,000 miles before doing it again!
RIght on! They were and are great bikes to learn on. That's an interesting/scary issue. I'm glad it didn't happen frequently. Cheers!
great vid .. my first bike at 15 was a honda 350 .. great to relive the memories .. thx for sharing Jon
You're welcome!
My father's first bike. I have a photo of myself as a little boy sitting on the back. His was blue and no front disc brake. Was not the "T" model. This particular bike was stolen from my parents garage. Helmet laying in the middle of the garage floor. That happening lead to my father buying a 1973 CB750K. Then in 1980 he traded it for a CB750 Custom.
Very cool, Vince! Thanks for sharing the memories. Cheers!
My first motorcycle at 14 years of age, was a 1970 CB 100 Scrambler. It was orange with white stripes. Another friend (Brad) had the street bike version with the low exhaust pipe and another friend (Matt) had the dirt bike version. Another friend (Gary) had a Yamaha Twin Jet 100, and another friend (Jerry) had a Bridgestone 100, and yet another friend (Lloyd) had a Honda Trail 50. We thought we where kings of the road. It’s funny that it’s been over 50 years but I can still see their 14 year old faces and remember their names and where they lived.
So cool! It sounds like you had the youngest biker gang ever. My friends and I were on two wheels at that age as well, but our bikes were pedal-powered. Cheers!
Thats a good story I was laughing when you said your dad pulled over in church parking lot handed you the keys and left i bet you was talking outloud to yourself got my first dirtbike at 8 yam yz80 fast forward 55 bikes later now I'm looking for a dirt bike for my grandson just a few more years we can ride together on pavement man I can't wait never thought I'd make it this far in life ice story sir keep riding😊
Thanks, Harold! It's so cool that you will be riding with your grandson. I'm sure he'll tell those stories when he gets older. Cheers!
This video just triggered a flashback to my high school daze.
Is that good or bad?
@@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538 It's good. Lol.
@@James-dt7ky Right on!
My 1st new bike 76 CB360T, loved it. A company named Powroll out of Bend Oregon made a 399cc big bore kit and cam for it. Put that in it with a 2 into1 header by S&S and had all of 45 hp out of it!
That's impressive! Thanks for sharing the memories. Cheers!
Got this bike in 1976 for my 21 birthday!!!!👌👌👌
So cool!
Tyyyyyyyy
@@frankdecock8877 👍🏻
Great meeting you at York 24' . Great review of the 360, you nailed it to a T.
Thank you, Rob! It was nice meeting you as well. You did a beautiful job on your CB360T, and I hope to see some of your Goldwing builds as well. If you think my videos would be appropriate content for the VJMC TH-cam channel, feel free to let Floyd Finch know. Thanks. Cheers!
I bought a used 75 CB360T in 1978 to commute to UCLA. I loved it. Sadly it was stolen in 1980.
So cool, except for the stolen part. Thanks for sharing the memories! Cheers!
@@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538 I found my records, it had 9K miles and was 1 year old, one owner. I paid $600 May 1978 = $2905 in today's money. I wonder if it was a good deal. I sure loved it.
@@nandi123 That sounds about right, money-wise. Cheers!
Hola Jhon. Muy linda história!! Parece que a todos los que comentaron les vino un poco de nostalgia!! Con respecto a mi el primer contacto con la pasion de las motos fue el dia de mi cumpleaños numero 11. ( me llevaron a pasear en una Gilera 200) años mas tarde tuve mi primera moto(kawasaki Gto110). La 2da fue una Honda CB400 N. Con ella vivi todas las emociones y sueños que uno tiene cuando es joven. Saludos y buen año
¡Muy genial! ¡Gracias por compartir los recuerdos, Ricardo!
First of all, happy new year Jon, all the best to you, your family and, of course, to your collection of special steeds.
Now, going to good ol' memories, I have a photograph of myself, two years old, sat atop my dad's golden CB 360 (don't know its year) while being assisted by a nanny because for me the bike was pretty tall. That was probably one the first contacts of myself with the metal beast that we call motorcycles.
Eventhough, to be honest, I can't recall that day, I presume it was an important one. Perhaps it was the day that bike arrived at our home.
But, not too long after that picture was taken, my father traded his CB360 for a maroon CB500F (1972, if I'm not mistaken), very beautiful sporting its four chrome exhaust pipes that generated that lovely low pitch growl which scared me a bit.
By the time my father bought his CB500 Four I was around five years old and he used (on the very quiet weekend afternoons we had in our neighborhood) to put me astride the gas tank of the bike. The difference here is that he would say to me 'Hold my wrists' (which I obeyed) and off we went for a short spin up and down through the length of the small street where we used to live.
Of course we did not wear any helmets but on the weekends there was almost no traffic in that area of the city. Besides, when I was sat on the tank of his bike, looking to those glorious green faced clocks and to the lapidated gem shaped lights while grabbing his wrists he never rode with any gear engaged over the first (always around 15mph).
It may seem pretty dangerous (and probably is) to do that but those rides used to happen in the late 70ies, a sweet and crazy era on which the sense of individual freedom prevailed over sensible choices, I guess.
And man, I remember how I had a feeling of little fear because of the "huge" size of the bike's tank that kept my legs well apart, because of the menacing bass purr coming from under I was sat on and because of the heat that emanated from the engine, combined with pure joy of being enjoying, with my father, something that I could not understand but that I could feel (at least in that little age) as row power!
Fortunately the "worst" effect that those short afternoon rides did was to transform that little and slightly sacared boy into a total motorcycle nuts.
Now, at nearly 50 years old, and being myself a motorcyclist for 30 plus years I thank my beloved father for those inaugural rides that happened so far behind in what could be called the haze of time.
Sorry, Jon, if I wrote too much.
Your memories related to your father and the CB360 ignited some very special and emotional spark inside of me and I just had to share my story with you.
Peace from Brazil.✌
Thanks for sharing the memories, Felipe! I have similar memories of riding with my dad on different bikes over the years. I remember it being somewhat adventurous and scary all at the same time. I still enjoy the sport, and the memories. Cheers!
@@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538
Yeah, I still ride and will do it for as long as I am able to.
Motorcycling keep me young at heart and at the body as well, I guess.✌
@@felipedourado5721 Right on! I hope to as well. Cheers!
First bike I ever owned was a Honda 360. Mine doesn't look like any of your photos. Mine had high rise handlebars, not ape hangers, but high rise - think old school bicycles with banana seats and high rise handlebars. That's what my 360 was and, oh, it had a sissy bar.
Sounds like a true 1970s machine! Very cool. Cheers!
Nice vid, I learned to ride a motorcycle on one of these...in a gravel pit lol. Thank god for the huge crash bar!
Thanks, Brandon! It's a better place to learn than on the road 😉! Cheers!
@@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538 I guess swapped three wheeler with a new friend we both wrecked all day
@@brandonrudicell4064 Right on! Talk about a death trap! I'm glad you survived the 3-wheeler! I've ridden (and wrecked) a few myself. Cheers!
I have owned and ridden a lot of bikes over the years since 1979. Along the way, I bought a 1976 CB360T for $1200 loved the bike! At some point, I thought it lacked enough power for the highway, so I sold it on about a year later. I think it might have been in 1986 or 1987. Its replacement, a CX500 Custom.
As I have gotten older, I have slowly sold off my bigger displacement bikes and find I am looking at the CB360T again. It seems, it has good enough power for the highway for me now. LOL. Time will tell if it is good enough to make me move down from my 89 Hawk.
Thanks for the video!
@@jerrycarter1928 Right on, Jerry! Thanks for sharing the memories. Let me know if you find a nice 360. Cheers!
If you put a front sprocket with one more teeth, you will ride 60mph in 6th by 4k/rpm, and 44mph at 3000... Imagine speed by 9000.... More than enough 😅
@@jorgebaptista3846 Right on! That's a great suggestion for more relaxed riding at higher speed. Cheers!
My first motorcycle was a cb360 I bought it new in 1974, wish I had kept it, long trips the vibrations in the handle bars would put my hands asleep lol
Yep! The newer counterbalanced parallel twins don't vibrate like the old bikes did. My LTD 750 Twin was VERY vibey. Cheers!
Jons dad certainly had a great eye for a learner motorcycle.
Mine was an even slower SL125 Honda.
The red and black model looks great.
Competent, reliable old guy ride to work motorcycle.
"Pep" doesn't apply here.
I'm trying hard not to be too insulting.
The later Honda Hawk, both 250 and 400 were more interesting performers.
Right on! My dad's bike was the red/black one. I agree with you, the CB360 was good basic transport without sporting intentions. Cheers!
@@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538 I don't think I've ever seen a red/ black one.
@@redtobertshateshandles Just like the one on the cover of the video.
I have a 1974 CB 360 that has 900 miles on it. When I met my wife and we had been dating, I met a adopted Uncle of hers who owned a bunch of cars, RVs and motorcycles. I ran across this bike with a scratch on the engine case, a broken brake handle and a broken tail lens. When I asked what was the story of it, he said that he bought the bike new and a couple of weeks later, he dropped it when someone pulled in front of him. It's been parked since. That was 1991. He knew that I love motorcycles and asked if I wanted it. I accepted it and loaded it up in my pickup. So fast forward to 2024, it's been sitting in my garage covered up. Do you think that if I put a new battery and change the oil, it would fire up ? I've been tempted to clean it up and ride now that I'm semi retired.
In a word, no. Unless it was properly stored (no gas in the carbs, etc.), you will need to clean the carbs and fuel system. In addition, the front brake system (if it's a hydraulic disc) will most likely need to rebuilt. The CB360 is a simple bike, but it should be thoroughly gone through from front to back to make sure it's safe to ride. Tires, cables, controls, electrical system, steering stem bearings, suspension, etc, all need to be looked at. If you're comfortable with the process, it should be a fun project. If not, you may end up with a lot of money in it till it's road ready. I wish you the best with it!
@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538 Thanks for the heads up. I actually grew up racing against Eddie Lawson from Upland and in 1983, crashed at 116 mph. Broke everything on my right side and picked up my kz1000 14 months later in 3 boxes. I didn't ride after that so I believe in safety. The accident was totally my fault. Great videos and information
@@franklobo2579 Wow, I'm glad you're still here! I'm working on a 1978 KZ1000 currently - no racing when it's done, though. I'm happy to hear that you're enjoying the videos. Cheers!
My dad bought me an almost new accidented CB360T on my 16th birthday and said "repair it and it's yours..." I had to pay for the parts and paint though... it also was my first bike and will always have a place in my heart
Very cool 😎! It sounds like you had a great dad. Motorcycles are a great medium for learning mechanics. Cheers!
I know Ultra motor source (Hortonville Wisconsin) sold a few of these.
Right on! They were popular bikes. Cheers!
Was my first bike cam chain tensioner failed jumped time my dad replaced the bent valve in one afternoon then the bike was stolen from my high school next bike year later was kz1000
@@KennethMayo-h9h That's quite a jump in performance!
@@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538 saved $1600 bucks had the owner take the 1000 emblems off the side covers put them in the tail tray my dad had no idea that was a mid 12 second bike enjoy your vidieos very informative brings back memories I'm 60 but still ride on a 2006 concourse these days
@KennethMayo-h9h So cool! Sometimes, I can't believe what we got away with when we were younger! Cheers!
are parts hard to find?
Sometimes yes. Sometimes no. It just depends on what parts you're looking for.
Great story. Sink or swim son.
Right on! Life with dad was/is always an adventure. Cheers!
I got a cb360e engine with brakes and a few other parts I really want to make my own bike or make something that is the same thing
Maybe you could find a donor bike with a blown engine?
I did find a cl360 parts bike that has everything for 500$ but the muffler is rotted out and I still need to convince my dad
@@cappablecannon1824 Good luck!
The only CB360 I ever rode had a lot of vibration. I hated it.
@havok531 Ever ride an XS650? Most parallel twins of that era were quite vibey. The larger they got, the worse the vibration. As much as four cylinder bikes got criticism for vibes, they were much smoother than the twins. Cheers!
Are parts very available?
Some are, some aren't. Like any vintage bike, it will take creative sourcing at times. Cheers!
I currently own three of these CB360s. I just took two CB360 parts bikes, mashed them together and now have another fun little summer bike. Check it out!
CB360 2 into 1 build: th-cam.com/play/PLLH262lc5JbdL6yUc_aaEZnOJRB1LzGIT.html
Very cool 😎!
6:11 Some rack!
The perfect pizza delivery bike!
I love your videos. I was riding dirt bikes in the early 70s as a kid, turned 16 in 1976, and lived in Pennsylvania when I got my driver's license. The next year I bought my first street bike, a 1974 Kawasaki S1-250, and got my motorcycle license. I remember well the entire line of Honda CBs because they were everywhere. It was a great time to be a young motorcycle enthusiast due to the plethora of great bikes being produced at the time and competition between the manufacturers was evident. Thank you again for all of the great videos that are enjoyable trips down memory lane for me.
You're welcome, John! Thanks for sharing the memories. Cheers!
My first "learner bike" was a Honda Super 90, 1965 vintage. After that it was a 1966 Honda 305 Super Hawk. The 360 and its predecessor the 350 were pretty much Honda's replacements for the Super Hawk. I've always liked these mid sized machines, and in retrospect, I think my Superhawk was, in some ways, the most fun bike I ever owned. It was reasonably light and could hold its own in traffic. In the context of today's machines, that bike and it's successors would be considered pretty slow. But at the time, it was considered plenty powerful, and could even give an old 650 British twin a run for its money. After having owned numerous 750's I've decided my next and final motorcycle purchase will be a Triumph Speed 400. Like those old Honda twins it has all the power I want or need and is lightweight and agile. But with a modern water cooled fuel injected engine, the newer machines can surpass the old Honda twins in power and torque using a lightweight single cylinder engine. And of course, all the advancements in chassis and suspension make for a far safer and better handling machine.
Right on, John! There is an inherent sense of adventure riding the smaller bikes. At 6'-4" tall, I look like a bit of a clown when riding them, but it's still fun. Cheers!
How these CB360’s used to vibrate! I used to have to stop about every 40 miles and stamp my feet and clap my hands to get some feeling back…..
Oh yeah! Although the 360 was smooth as silk compared to a big displacement parallel twin like my later KZ750 twin or the XS650. Cheers!
The 360 was my first bike back in 1975. Vibration was a big issue, causing other problems like the speedometer cable vibrating loose whenever it wanted to, mirrors being so blurry they were useless, and blown fuses every other week from the vibration. The stock waffle grips were terrible, the throttle grip would rotate in your hand if you didn't have a 'death grip' hold of it.
In spite of all that, I have very fond memories of that bike.
@@BuggyMuggawhump Right on!