Reviewed: Royal Enfield Hunter 350 motorbike
Andrei Diomidov tests the blood brother of two other Royal Enfield models – Meteor 350 and Classic 350.
The Royal Enfield Hunter 350 is built to be a city motorcycle. Photos: Andrei Diomidov
What is a good city motorcycle? With constantly moving vehicles, sharp corners, and traffic light sprints, a motorcycle should be light, swift and maneuverable. And not the least of all – comfortable.
Meet the new Royal Enfield Hunter 350, which hits all those marks, and many more.
The first time I knew I was getting the new Hunter 350, I expected a small bike. When you hear 350 in the name of a motorcycle, you don’t expect it to be a highway cruiser. But when the bike got delivered straight to my house (thank you Royal Enfield NZ), I was pleasantly surprised.
It has a J series Air-Oil Cooled, 349cc, SOHC engine.
It was not tiny; it was a proper-sized two-wheel machine designed for the busy city streets. I’m 180cm tall and weigh 87kg, so I looked perfectly adequate on the new Hunter with its length of a little over 2 metres, and height of just over one metre, even if I prefer a larger sized frame.
The bike looks amazing from all angles, with its alloy wheels and circular headlamp.
The build quality can’t be faulted, as all the panels fit well, and no wiring is out of place. Although I was a little surprised by the constant rear break squeaking, and some rattling noise coming from the semi-digital instrument cluster that looks a little bit on the budget side. But when you remember that the price of this motorcycle starts at $7590, it comes as no surprise that some parts might look a bit simple, plus the brake pads can always be changed.
It has a semi-digital instrument cluster.
The new Hunter 350 is a blood brother of two other Royal Enfield models – Meteor 350 and Classic 350. However, even if they share the same engine, there are noticeable differences that make the new Hunter stand out.
First, the suspension is stiffer, which makes Hunter's handling stand on a level higher, compared to its family. Of course, it’s not as comfortable as a Meteor on a highway, and it won’t eat up a speedbump as well, but that wasn’t what it was built for.
In addition, the new Hunter 350 has 17-inch front wheel, instead of 19-inch like the Meteor and Classic, making it a precision machine, allowing sharp turns like no other, which could be crucial in the city streets, avoiding potholes.
The angle of Hunter on the stand is barely any different to a standing position
The new Royal Enfield motorcycle is comfortable and you feel confident in the saddle of the Hunter 350 – which can accommodate two people (although the bike will struggle to carry a passenger), both legs reach the ground perfectly thanks to the narrow body.
It is easy to drive, roll, reverse and park in the most unexpected places. Even a side stand makes it an easier bike to handle, and the angle of Hunter on the stand is barely any different to a standing position, which makes it very difficult to tip over.
On the road, the new Royal Enfield Hunter 350 does the job perfectly, if you assign it a correct role. This bike belongs on the streets, and not the motorways, and while there are no mechanical changes to the engine, it feels a bit more peppy than its siblings. This is due to changes in transmission gear ratios, different wheel sizes, modifications to the intake and a new exhaust.
The new Hunter 350 has 17-inch front wheel, instead of 19-inch.
It has a J series Air-Oil Cooled, 349cc, SOHC engine, but this motor isn’t something that you would take to Hampton Downs race track but it’s quite fun to drive from traffic light to traffic light.
In second gear it becomes alive and moves quite swiftly for such a small engined machine. It is also clear that on the highway it feels a bit out of place.
Yes, it can get to the 100 km/h speed limit, but it will take way longer than 12 seconds to do it, and it’s going to struggle over taking those Mainfreight trucks, especially uphill.
The Royal Enfield motorcycle is comfortable and you feel confident in the saddle.
However, as soon as you get off the motorway, and back to those traffic start-stop routines, the bike feels right at home.
The Hunter 350 feels the gap left by the Meteor and the Classic nicely. Where the other two are aimed at traditionalists and fans of classics, the new Hunter could be considered a modern retro road bike and that is something many new motorcyclists are looking for.
The Royal Enfield Hunter 350 starts at $7590.
A bonus is that it is Learner Approved Motorcycle Scheme (LAMS) approved.
This bike is just easy. It’s easy to ride, easy to handle, easy to park, and easy to look at. It is perfect if you are just entering the motor world, and looking for that commuter between your apartment and the uni.
So coming back to the original question – what is a good city motorcycle? Without a doubt, one of the answers to that is the new Royal Enfield Hunter 350.
The Royal Enfield is also Learner Approved Motorcycle Scheme approved.
