ROYAL ENFIELD HUNTER 350A
Okay, what do we have here? A Royal Enfield. A 350cc single, the ‘J’ series engine. Orthodox styling, 17” wheels front and back, twin rear shocks, disc brake front and back. A Royal Enfield Hunter. This bike was launched in India in August 2022 as the most affordable of the 350cc range and has been appearing in local dealerships in the UK too.
So why does Royal Enfield think we need another 350cc single? And does more affordable just mean cheap in other words? For answers to these and other questions, read on.
The Hunter, or HNTR as it is designated, to appeal to the young, hip(ster), rider, is a model distinct from the others in the 350cc range. A key part of this distinction lies in the wheels and the frame. Although the frame is based on the one used in the rest of the range it is specific to this model, as is the use of 17” cast alloy wheels front and back. This means it ends up having the shortest wheelbase (1370mm) and lowest ground clearance (150.5mm). These figures aren't hugely different to the rest of the range, but it is said to make the bike more agile than the others. Declaration here; I haven't ridden either the 350cc Classic, nor the equivalent Meteor so I can't give a personal opinion on their relative merits. What I can
