Started filling it with XP95 instead of standard petrol and the difference in performance and mileage has been significant.
Akash_1806 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.
Hello everyone,
I take immense pleasure in sharing this review on behalf of my friend, Ritwik who owns a 2022 RE Hunter 350. In his words:
I have been the proud owner of a Dapper Grey Hunter 350 for 18 months now. I purchased and took delivery of this bike on 24th October 2022.
Purchase Experience
I booked the bike during the month of September 2022 via the Royal Enfield app for a refundable amount of ₹5000/-.
Upon conversing with a showroom near me, I was intimated that my bike would be delivered within a span of two months, which was true since my bike was delivered within 1.5 months. The booking and delivery experience with my Royal Enfield dealership was smooth and unremarkable.
First Impression
Once the Hunter was home, I was like a child with a new toy. I couldn’t stop thinking about it all the time or clicking photos everywhere I parked it. The Hunter carries immense personality for a bike its size, being the smallest and lightest amongst its Enfield siblings; this personality stirred my interest every time I took it out even for a milk run. I made several observations in my initial days of riding that I have listed below: –
The Positives:
- As aforementioned, it is the lightest Enfield available on the market and therefore an excellent beginner bike for those looking for an Enfield to be their first, as it was mine.
- The J platform 350cc engine paired with the lightweight build, delivers a smooth and peppy ride in the city, maintaining the fun of riding a motorcycle no matter what traffic situation you find yourself in.
- Royal Enfield engines, known for their low-range torque, paired with the compact form of the Hunter, make navigating city traffic a breeze.
- The stock exhaust is quite melodious and loud. One might argue it needs no customization on that end.
The Negatives:
- My routine does not involve pillions but, the few times I have given a ride, I’ve received comments about the rear seat not being able to support the pillion against the torque.
- The Hunter is factory-fitted with halogen headlamps which have decent illumination but, since I live in Gurugram, I frequently face high beams from aftermarket lights due to which I also switched to LEDs.
- The clutch lever is significantly hard to pull and takes some getting used to. People with small hands would find comfort in investing in riding gloves.
Considering the above, I am content to say my initial month with the Hunter was extremely fun and enjoyable. It fulfilled every expectation even though I had bought it with my eyes shut and thought nothing about it before it arrived.
My Experience post 7000 km
In the first 10 months of owning a Hunter, it became my primary mode of transport and my vehicle of choice for meets and joyrides and I’m very content with the fact that it has never failed me on either job.
After these months I have made more observations about the Hunter, as listed below:
- Stock RE brake pads are short-lived and have an abysmal initial bite. Pair it with the RE Anti-lock Braking System which kicks in too early and you can find yourself hurtling into an unfavourable situation pretty soon, as did I. My suggestion would be to upgrade to ceramic brake pads to have a far better initial bite and to increase the rider’s confidence in the braking, as did I. I have found Vesrah ceramic brake pads to be to my liking and they are currently employed in the front brakes of the Hunter.
- Past the first service, I have noticed it seldom but surely tends to miss a shift but, this only happens to be a mental scare since the torquey engine prevents stalling and you can have another go at landing the right gear.
- I am in no manner a perfect rider and have had crashes that needed a part to be replaced. Here is where I have noticed delayed procurement of parts by the dealership. Apart from this, I have faced alignment issues upon receiving the bike from service which was fixed upon simple notice but, I believe shouldn’t be a point of discussion and therefore leaves much to be desired from Royal Enfield service.
- Another issue I have faced as a newbie rider is dropping my bike. The gear shifter lever and the rear brake lever have a tendency to bend inwards to an extent that renders them unusable and a long flat tool is all you need to fix it. I only mention it because I have faced it a bit too many times and I think new Hunter buyers will benefit from such knowledge about the Hunter.
- After the first month or so, upon a friend’s recommendation, I started filling it with XP95 instead of standard petrol and the difference in performance and mileage has been significant; to this day I always fill it with 95 octane.
Conclusion
The Royal Enfield Hunter 350 is decently capable, fun to ride, mildly comfortable and easy to handle and maintain compact city cruiser. The machine leaves nothing to be desired and fully asserts its tagline: “A SHOT OF MOTORCYCLING”.
Ending this review with 2 beautiful shots of this amazing machine. Until next time.
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