French · 7 years on Samui
French motorcycle tour guide living on Koh Samui for 7 years. Marc leads group rides across southern Thailand and knows every road on the island.
Updated: June 2026
I rode the ADV 350 and the Forza 350 back-to-back across Samui because they share the same 330cc eSP+ engine and confuse a lot of renters. On paper they are near-identical in power and economy, so the choice is never about speed. It is about character: the ADV is the rugged adventurer, the Forza the refined tourer. Understanding that the engine is a constant and the chassis is the variable is the key to picking correctly between them.
Turning both onto the dirt approach to Hin Lad, I felt the ADV 350's advantage immediately. Its longer-travel suspension, taller stance, and 145 mm clearance soak up ruts that have the lower Forza picking its line carefully. On gravel, plantation roads, and washed-out beach lanes, the ADV is clearly the more capable machine. If your Samui plan includes any meaningful off-road, the ADV 350 wins this category without argument - it is built for exactly that surface.
Cruising the smooth coastal ring road past Bophut, I preferred the Forza 350's calm, planted feel. Its lower seat, more enclosed bodywork, and electric windscreen make sustained tarmac cruising more refined and weather-protected than the more upright ADV. For riders whose days are all sealed roads and long, relaxed loops, the Forza is the more comfortable companion. Where the surface stays smooth, the Forza reclaims the advantage the ADV holds in the dirt.
Loading a pillion and a day's gear at Fisherman's Village, I found the Forza 350 the easier two-up scooter. Its plush passenger seat and deep underseat storage - enough for two full-face helmets - suit couples touring together. The ADV carries a pillion well too, but the Forza is the more accommodating long-distance two-up tourer. For riders prioritising a comfortable passenger and serious carrying capacity over off-road ability, the Forza is the natural choice of the pair.
Riding into an afternoon headwind on the bypass, I noticed the Forza 350's electric screen and enclosed front shelter me more than the ADV's adventure styling. The Forza feels like the more luxurious, refined option for pure road touring, while the ADV trades a little of that calm for rugged versatility. Neither is uncomfortable - both are genuine premium scooters - but the Forza leans toward serene cruising and the ADV toward go-anywhere capability. Your priority decides the winner.
After the back-to-back, my verdict is that neither is better outright - they answer different questions. I take the ADV 350 when the day includes hills, dirt, or rough lanes, and the Forza 350 when it is smooth ring-road touring, two-up comfort, or maximum weather protection. Both ride beautifully on the same strong engine. Decide by your route and your pillion, not by a spec sheet, and you will pick the right Honda 350 every time.
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