Since its inception in August 2022, the Hunter 350 has become a hit in international waters. And now, Royal Enfield has finally launched it in America to replicate the success here. It undercuts all its RE siblings and serves as the new entry point in the Enfield lineup with a sub-$4,000 MSRP. Let’s dive in.
The Hunter 350 Employs Royal Enfield’s J-Series Engine
As the ‘350’ suffix suggests, the Hunter employs Royal Enfield’s 349cc, single-cylinder, already seen on the Classic and Meteor 350. It belts out 20.2 horsepower (at 6,100rpm) and 19.9 pound-feet (at 4,000rpm), all sent to the wheel via a five-speed gearbox. This mill also has a counterbalancer for a smooth riding experience and sits inside a double downtube chassis.
Yes, the chassis is identical to the Classic’s, but it pairs up with a new subframe and sportier 17-inch wheels here. This, together with the sharper rake, trail, and shorter wheelbase, equates to more lively riding dynamics. The Hunter’s 399-pound curb weight–31 pounds less than the Classic–also plays a crucial role here. Nothing special in the suspension and brake department, though, as you get telescopic forks, dual shocks, and single disc brakes with ByBre calipers.
The Hunter 350 Looks Handsome
The Hunter 350 feels like a breath of fresh air in RE’s 350cc lineup. It flexes a roadster-like silhouette, complete with blacked-out mechanicals and old-school round lights all around. The retro flavor is further amplified by the indented fuel tank, fork gaiters, and the long single-piece seat.
Once aboard, the Hunter greets you with unique rotary switchgear (also found on the new Super Meteor 650 and updated Interceptor 650) and a semi-digital instrument cluster that displays the trip meters, fuel level, speed, time, and gear position. You can also pair the latter with the Tripper navigation pod which is available alongside a plethora of other accessories under the RE’s GMA initiative. Some of these even make the Hunter look quite reminiscent of the Triumph Speed Twin 1200.
Royal Enfield Hunter 350 - Price And Rivals
Finally, the Hunter 350 is priced at $3,999 (for the Dapper White, Dapper Ash, Dapper Grey colors) and goes up to $4,199 (for the Rebel Black, Rebel Blue, Rebel Red options). At this price, it enjoys an unrivaled space in the market and even undercuts the already-affordable Classic 350 by $600. However, the Honda CB300R comes in at $1,050 more, which it justifies with better performance, more features, and modern underpinnings. The upcoming Triumph 350cc naked will also be a big threat to the new RE.