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Royal Enfield Hunter 350 (2025): Is This The Perfect Bike For You?

The Royal Enfield Hunter 350 has been a popular choice among young riders and urban commuters since its launch. Now, with the updated 2025 model, Royal Enfield has made some significant changes that make it even more appealing. Let’s dive deep into whether this bike is suitable for beginners, city riding, and highway cruising, exploring its pros and cons, and determining if it could be your next motorcycle.

Price & Variants: Power-Packed Performance on a Budget

The ex-showroom starting price for the 2025 Royal Enfield Hunter 350 is ₹1,50,000, which remains unchanged for its base model. Royal Enfield has wisely kept the price of its most affordable motorcycle stable, making it even more accessible. The top-end model goes for around ₹1,81,000 to ₹1,82,000. We currently have its mid-variant, which comes with some additional features.

Looks & Design: Retro-Modern Appeal

The updated Hunter 350 model retains its neo-retro look but now appears even more attractive and modern with new cosmetic changes and colour schemes.

Front Profile: The top and mid-variants feature an all-LED headlamp, while the base model gets a halogen unit. Round-shaped indicators and Royal Enfield’s emblem on the suspension bellows enhance its aesthetic. The front tire is a 110/70 section, which looks quite wide and robust. It comes equipped with a 300mm front disc brake, and body-coloured alloy wheels further enhance its visual appeal.
Side Profile: The new colour schemes are funkier and more youth-oriented, designed to attract younger buyers.
Rear Profile: The bike boasts a round-shaped LED taillight (halogen in the base model). The rear tire is a 140-section, providing good grip.

Build Quality & Features: Robust and Functional

The Hunter 350’s build quality is quite good for its price range.

Materials: The fuel tank is metal, and its paint quality looks impressive. While some panels are plastic, the overall quality is satisfactory.
Tank Capacity: The 13-litre fuel tank is ample for longer rides.
Switchgear: The switchgear quality is decent and easy to use.
Instrument Console: You get an analogue and digital cluster. The mid and top models also include Tripper Navigation. It displays information like odometer, trip A, trip B, gear position indicator, digital fuel gauge, and a service reminder.
USB Charger: The mid and top models come with a Type-C fast charger, while the base model offers a standard charger.

Engine & Performance: The King of Torque

The Hunter 350 features a 349cc air-cooled, two-valve engine mated to a 5-speed gearbox.

Power and Torque: This engine produces a maximum power of 20 bhp and a maximum torque of 27 Nm. Finding this much torque in this segment and price range is quite rare.
Slipper & Assist Clutch: This is the biggest mechanical upgrade. The slipper clutch prevents the rear wheel from skidding during aggressive downshifts and makes the clutch feel incredibly light. Now, pressing the clutch in city traffic won’t feel heavy at all.
Torque Delivery: The engine’s low-end torque delivery is superb. You get easy pick-up even at low RPMs, reducing the need for frequent gear changes. This is extremely convenient for urban conditions.
Vibrations: Being a J-series engine, vibrations are reduced compared to older models, but you’ll still feel mild vibrations on the footpegs, tank, and seat at higher RPMs. If you prefer high-RPM performance, this bike might not be for you, as it primarily focuses on low and mid-range torque.
Engine Oil: The company recommends 15W50 grade engine oil. Alternatively, 10W50 or 20W50 can also be used.

Riding Experience: Comfortable and Controlled

The Hunter 350’s riding experience has significantly improved over the previous model, especially due to the suspension upgrade.

Riding Posture: The riding posture is comfortable and upright. The handlebar has been raised by 10mm and moved slightly closer, giving it a big-bike feel.
Seat Height & Ground Clearance: The seat height remains unchanged, which is comfortable for shorter riders as well. At 5’8″ tall, it’s perfect for me. However, taller riders might feel cramped due to the slightly rear-set footpegs. The ground clearance has increased by 10mm to 160mm, which means no more bottoming out, even with two heavy riders.
Suspension: A major change has been made to the rear suspension, which was previously quite stiff. It’s now much better and easily absorbs small bumps, providing a comfortable experience for both rider and pillion. This updated suspension significantly enhances ride quality.
Tires and Grip: Wide tires offer good grip. While you should avoid sharp turns on gravel, they are adequate for normal roads.
Braking Performance: Both front and rear disc brakes have good initial bite—neither too sharp nor too spongy. With dual-channel ABS, the braking performance is quite reliable, whether you’re in the city or on the highway.
Gearbox: The gearbox is smooth and effortless, with no harsh clicking sounds or stiffness.
Stability and Manoeuvrability: Despite weighing 181 kg, the bike feels very stable at high speeds.
Cruising Speed: You can comfortably cruise at 80 km/h.

Pros & Cons: Is It The Right Choice For You?

Positives:

Excellent Low-End Torque: Fantastic for city riding and slow speeds.
Slipper & Assist Clutch: Makes the clutch very light, aiding in ease in traffic.
Improved Rear Suspension: Significantly enhances ride quality, especially on bad roads.
Attractive Design and New Colours: Appealing to a younger audience.
Dual-Channel ABS: Provides enhanced safety.
Affordable Starting Price: Makes it the most accessible in the 350cc segment.
Centre Stand and USB Charger: Added conveniences.
Versatility: Can be ridden by anyone from older riders to youngsters. Also good for pillion riders.

Negatives:

Vibrations: Vibrations are still noticeable at higher RPMs, which might bother those who prefer smooth, high-revving engines.
Seat Comfort: The seat might feel a bit uncomfortable on very long rides, especially with a pillion.
Lack of Top-End Performance: If you’re looking for sporty riding or high speeds, this bike might not meet your expectations.
Cramped Feeling for Taller Riders: Due to the footpegs, taller riders might experience discomfort.

Conclusion: Who Should Buy the Royal Enfield Hunter 350?

Its light clutch, excellent low-end torque, and improved suspension make it ideal for daily use. If you want a bike that’s easy to ride, reliable, and has that iconic Royal Enfield “thump,” the Hunter 350 is an excellent choice.

It’s also perfect for those looking for a bike that can be used by multiple family members or requires comfortable pillion riding. However, if you’re seeking high-speed performance and refinement (like what you’d find in a Honda CB350), you might want to consider other options.

In essence, the Royal Enfield Hunter 350 (2025) is a strong contender for riders seeking an affordable, stylish, and comfortable urban cruiser with the capability for occasional highway trips.

Are you considering buying the Royal Enfield Hunter 350?