Owning a RE Hunter 350: Review from an ex-Pulsar 135 LS owner

The fuel efficiency of the Royal Enfield is 30-31 km/l (tank-to-tank method).

BHPian Nadapriya.auto recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

I had a budget of 2 lakhs and was looking for an upgrade from my Pulsar 135 LS around December 2022.

My daily commute to the office is 20 km one way, on a good road and lots of crosswinds.

Options considered:

• Bajaj Pulsar 250 twins.
• FZ25
• CB300F (Had a huge discount at that time)
• TVS Ronin
• Hunter 350

The ergonomics of the Pulsar twins felt a little awkward, surprisingly. Was slightly uncomfortable at the end of the Test Ride.

The FZ25 had loads of low-end torque, but the bulbous tank and the general design philosophy didn't appeal a lot. Same with the Ronin.

The Honda, which was the most powerful on paper, failed to give a vibe-free experience, post 6k RPM. I do not know if the issue was limited to the test bike or not. Also, the handlebar felt sort of twisted outward.

The Hunter 350 instantly put a smile on my face, with its superb low-end torque. The seat comfort was adequate, the riding triangle felt spot-on, and the chassis is brilliant. The slightly rear-set footpegs and adequate tank grip enabled me to stand on the footpegs while going over the large humps and potholes. Immediately booked one, in dapper white.

I have completed 2600 kms to date and haven't faced a single problem. IMO, the fit and finish is more than acceptable for this price point.

Good things:

• The weight is properly masked while riding. It feels nimble yet planted.
• The low seat height coupled with the low ground clearance and a good chassis makes for an engaging daily commute.
• The tractability is very good. The second gear is usable right from 5 km/h to 40 km/h. Put it in the third gear, and it pulls cleanly from 20 km/h to 70 km/h. I have personally started in the 2nd gear after stopping at signals a few times.
• 5th gear - 100 km/h, does not feel stressed, can hold it all day. It takes time post-110 though.

Not-so-good things:

• The tyres are not very grippy, it tends to squeal a bit during hard braking.
• The suspension is okay for me, as I stand up on the pegs while going over speed beakers, but it feels a bit too stiff while riding with a pillion.

The ground clearance is just about adequate. I am yet to scrape the bottom to date, even on pretty large humps. The bike feels absolutely vibe-free till 110, a welcome change from my heavily vibrating Pulsar 135. The FE is 30-31 km/l (tank-to-tank method). I am used to the heavy clutch now and can operate with two fingers easily.

I agree with CK on most fronts.

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