Royal Enfield Hunter 350: The Hunter 350 is a savvy strategic change of direction for one of the world’s oldest motorcycle manufacturers to have been continuously in production.
Introduced 2022, this svelte roadster pushes the boundaries of Royal Enfield’s design language further, to create an offer that is more accessible, quintessentially urban, and targeted at a younger demographic – it’s already seen success in drawing new riders into the fabled Royal Enfield legacy.
Royal Enfield Hunter 350: Philosophy of Design- Modern Vintage
The Hunter 350 is part of Royal Enfield’s new modern-retro design language. Unlike the Bullet Classic and Bullet Standard’s classic styling, the Hunter comes with a short and muscled stance with a teardrop fuel tank, round headlamp featuring an LED DRL and minimal bodywork on the overall design that keeps the mechanical bits in the spotlight.
The pared-back build and classic, yet contemporary patterns are complemented by features such as the rounded rear-end, revival-style graphics on the tank and the retro tail lamp, all of which pay homage to the iconic design language of Royal Enfield, creating a product that is as timeless and versed, as it is modern.
This design guarantees a motorcycle which is easily torn between classicists early motorists commuters and Youths.
Riding Type: Introduction to Mountain, Casual MTB, The Give Me Hope Roadie Engine Designation: Strand Cruiser Engine Character: Refined Simplicity
Powering the Hunter 350 is Royal Enfield’s J-series 349cc air-oil cooled single-cylinder motor, which can also be seen on the Meteor and Classic 350.
The up-to-date long-stroke mill churns out about 20 horsepower and 27 Nm of torque — not much, but well-tuned for the low end with low-end power taking precedence over top-end power.
It’s the engine that defines that Hunter experience, and it comes to the party, with accessible grunt and that cackling exhaust thump, which is still there, slightly more refined than on previous iterations, although still very-much of the RE thump school of riding.
The fuel injection guarantees you an EFI for a smoother ride in all weather conditions!And at the heart of it, their all aluminum, push-rod operated engine, the last of its kind in the world!
It is geared for highway speeds and will really be put to the test on your commute to work at higher speeds; very good fuel mpg!The base of the motorcycle has been also reformulated and involves fewer parts than before.
Power is sent to the rear wheel through a chain final drive; the bike has a 5-speed transmission that shifts crisply with a light clutch action.
The gear ratios are well sorted for urban riding, with snappy acceleration at city speeds yet acceptable highway cruising for shorter intercity jaunts.
Chassis and Handling Praising: The Urban Enabler
What sets the Hunter 350 apart in the Royal Enfield lineup, however, is the way it handles. Based on a modified twin-spar frame, the Hunter has sharper steering angle, a shorter 1370mm wheelbase and is lighter (around 180kg wet) than its twin siblings.
That kind of philosophy translates to a bike that feels much lighter on its feet, and infinitely better at adapting to different traffic conditions, especially in the cramped confines of the city.
The 17-inch wheels fore and aft – rather than the 19-inch front wheel on most Royal Enfields – help it to be nimble, as well as allow for modern tire profiles.
Telescopic forks combined with twin shock absorbers with 6 step preload adjustment takes care of suspension duties.
Comfort is more important than sporty handling in the setup, which soaks up city-based abrasions and gives enough feel to throw it confidently around corners at a brisk pace.
Feature Integration: The Indispensable Modernization
The Hunter gets the scale between retro and necessity just about right to carry forward with the minimalistic offering that Royal Enfield stands for.
Instrumentation is a mixture of analog speedometer and digital LCD display for easy reference of necessary information which includes a gear-position indicator and fuel guage.
More premium iterations get the Royal Enfield Tripper navigation pod that displays turn-by-turn navigational messages once paired with a smartphone.
LED lighting components increase nighttime visibility and feature the latest technology to give the Versys 1000 a high-tech appearance, and USB charging is included as a convenience for Owners.
Safety tech comes in the form of dual-channel ABS on higher variants, single-channel on lower trims.
Market Positioning
The Hunter 350 will fill a crucial niche in Royal Enfield’s range, being an entry-level option for newcomers while also being attractive for veteran riders in search of a lightweight, nimble city motorcycle.
Price wise, however, the San Gabriel is a compelling alternative to both Japanese small displacement bikes and those offered domestically.
In the wider market, the Hunter comes up against various rivals such as the Honda CB350, Jawa Forty-Two, and TVS Ronin, setting it apart with the Royal Enfield brand legacy and unique engine personality.
Ownership Experience
Royal Enfield enjoys ownership perks of a broader dealer network and better reliability track record with modern bikes.
The simplified air-oil cooling structure of the machine makes it easy to maintain, and a fuel efficiency of 35-40km/L makes it affordable for every day use.
Royal Enfield Hunter 350: Cultural Impact
The Hunter 350 is a testament to Royal Enfield’s evolved philosophy, now focused more towards the urban cruising culture.
While retaining a set of core values, along with a smaller footprint, the Hunter broadens ownership potential for Royal Enfield among audiences that have been put off by the marque’s traditional larger, heavier bikes.
“As mobility preferences in larger cities continue to evolve all around the world, The Hunter enables us to stay relevant to riders of all generations and reflect their preferences in a new riding experience, and also signal a new era for Royal Enfield in terms of approach to product development and design while enhancing the core purpose of the brand of providing a pure motorcycling experience,” added Vinod.