Royal Enfield Hunter 350: A Nostalgic Modern Roadster That Combines Style With Daily Usability The Royal Enfield Hunter 350 has also made its own space in Royal Enfield’s range by providing a young, nimble and accessible motorcycle to urban riders.
Using the same J-platform as that of the Meteor 350 or the Classic 350, the Hunter is aimed at those who like retro styling, but would prefer a lighter, more agile motorcycle for everyday use.
A bike slicer with a cool face, a good engine and comfortable ergonomics can’t be good for a newbie or oldie rider.
Let me take you through what makes this motorcycle different, and some of the pros and cons.
Compact and Stylish Design
The 350 has a tidy profile and an aggressive attitude. It holds on to the nostalgic character REs are famous for but adds a touch of modernity to the design that makes it look new.
A teardrop-shaped fuel tank, round headlamp and sparse side panels help cut a timeless profile, while bright paint and contrasting graphics feed the need of younger buyers.
The bike’s stand-up style, short wheelbase and wide handlebars not only look the part but are well-suited to whip through city traffic.
Elegantly Engineered for Smooth Performance
Powering the Hunter 350 is Royal Enfield’s 349cc, air-oil cooled, single-cylinder engine which churns out about 20.2 bhp and 27 Nm of torque.
Famed for its silkiness and linear power curve, it all makes for a smooth, relaxed but involved ride.
The 5-speed transmission feels smooth and perfectly suited for the engine’s character and with it,
the Hunter was a hoot to ride in urban situations as well as pinning it flat out for some highway action.
It still has that heart-warming Royal Enfield thumpy exhaust note, which is discreet.
Comfortable and Agile Ride
One of the light bikes in the Royal Enfield portfolio, the Hunter 350 has a kerb weight of approximately 181 kg, much light than its brothers.
Add to this a relatively low seat height and a balanced chassis and you have a nimble bike which is ideal for riding around town.
The suspension — telescopic front forks and twin rear shocks — has been tuned for a nice balance between comfort
and performance, soaking up potholes with ease, yet providing good cornering stability.
The braking package with a front disc and optional rear disc (dual-channel ABS in higher trims) feels assured.
Pros:
Unique retro-modern design available in a variety of colors
Lighter and more agile than most other Royal Enfield models
Smooth running, clean firing engine
Ergonomics: Sit sided for daily commuting
Good value when compared to other similarly priced juicers
Cons:
Highway cruising at slightly higher than 60mph is really the only place it falls short.
Base variants miss out on basic features like Bluetooth connectivity
Ride can be a bit firm when going over bumpy bits
Royal Enfield Hunter 350: Conclusion
The Royal Enfield Hunter 350 is a perfectly balanced motorcycle that manages to entwine old school design with useful practicality.
This would be perfect for the rider who wants a cool, manageable, reliable ride for everyday use without the weight of traditional Royal Enfield bikes.
It’s not being marketed as a high-speed tourer, but the 350 excels as an urban roadster with real character, refinement and riding pleasure.