Introduction
Here's what we know about the new Royal Enfield Hunter 350 so far. It's heavy but accessible. It's quick but not very fast. And it's responsive and planted around corners, but not the most comfortable over poor roads. However, these impressions are a result of riding the Hunter during various photoshoots, fuel runs, and testing. And again, as initial impressions go, the bike does come across as a keeper.
But, to ascertain that, we have decided to live with it through rain and sunshine, commutes and tours, and service and tank-ups. It's time to welcome the Hunter to the BikeWale long-term fleet.
The Plan
The idea of this test is to clock over 5,000km in six months and ride the Hunter through everything a motorcyclist might want to do with their bike. So, the motorcycle will be subjected to some gruelling commutes, a couple of easy highway runs, and maybe even some trail rides, just in case a Hunter owner turns out to be adventurous.
We will also add some accessories to the motorcycle, give it a few performance add-ons, and throw some luggage at it as well. Then after living with it all, we will let you know what in our book a Hunter owner should, could, or not buy from this list.
The Specs
Now, if you haven't read our reviews of the Hunter, here's a quick crash course. The Hunter 350 uses an air-cooled, long-stroke, single-cylinder engine that's great on torque and rideability but not the best in terms of outright acceleration or top speed. It's refined, not vibey, and it is mated to a five-speed gearbox that has short and crisp gearshifts. It doesn't, however, have the lightest of clutch pulls.
The seat height is accessible, the seating ergonomics feel great if you are anything between five-five and five-ten, and it's pillion-friendly too. Furthermore, although the Hunter is a heavy motorcycle because it has a near-neutral weight distribution and a low centre of gravity, it is surprisingly easy to ride at slower speeds. It's also an agile motorcycle, and not just for a Royal Enfield, mind. The 17-inch wheels help, as do the sharper steering geometry and the wide handlebar.
In terms of numbers, the Hunter makes 20bhp, 37Nm of torque, weighs 180kg and has a ground clearance of 150mm. Is the latter low for our road conditions? Well, that's another thing to focus on during our long-term test. And for this Metro Dapper version, the bike retails for a little over Rs 1.95 lakh on the road in Mumbai.
What's Next?
Step one in this journey with the Hunter will be to spend a month commuting on the bike in Mumbai. It should tell us about the motorcycle's usability, its comfort levels over an hour or so of riding, and its fuel efficiency. Plus, we will know if it really is as easy a motorcycle to ride and live with it over many days.
Product Details
Make: Royal Enfield
Model: Hunter 350 Metro Dapper
Kilometres this month: 338km
Fuel Efficiency: NA
Price as tested: Rs 1.95 lakh, OTR, Mumbai
Photography by Kaustubh Gandhi
Gallery
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Royal Enfield Hunter 350 Right Side View
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