Royal Enfield’s 350cc Brothers: How Different Are They?

The Royal Enfield Hunter 350 has finally arrived with a mission to hunt down its rivals, thanks to a pretty sweet price tag that starts from Rs 1,49,900 (ex-showroom Delhi), making it the most affordable J-series Royal Enfield by some margin. 

The Classic 350 is priced Rs 40,192 higher than the Hunter 350, while the Meteor 350 commands a premium of Rs 51,353 over the Hunter. So which J-series bike should you opt for? We are here to help you make that decision:

Similarities

Engine

At the heart of all three bikes is the same J-series 349cc, single-cylinder, air-cooled engine, paired to a five-speed gearbox. While the motor does produce the same 20.2PS and 27Nm on every bike, it gets revised ignition timing and other small tweaks specifically for the Hunter 350 for a punchier power delivery. 

Frame

The frames used in the Hunter, Classic and Meteor are the same. However, the frame on the Hunter 350 doesn’t carry the lower portion of the cradle as it isn’t required and its removal helps save weight. These small tweaks help it feel much lighter, as we found out during the first ride review.

Differences

Design

Get latest updates on
the automobile community

Login Now

The design of the Hunter 350 follows Royal Enfield’s signature styling with a circular headlight, rear-view mirrors, taillight and turn indicators. This is coupled with a teardrop-shape fuel tank with knee recesses and a single-piece seat that give this bike a proper retro appeal. 

The Classic 350’s design is very familiar and needs no introduction as it has been around, in essence, for over a decade. In its latest avatar, the Classic does feature subtle modern bits. However, it still retains its age-old design that’s much loved. 

The Meteor 350, on the other hand, looks like a proper mile-muncher, with its design being an evolution of its predecessor, the Thunderbird 350.

Underpinnings

The suspension hardware is common between the three bikes in the form of a 41mm telescopic front fork with 130mm travel, while the rear features six-step pre-load-adjustable dual shock absorbers.

For braking, the Hunter gets a 300mm disc with a dual piston floating calliper up front and a 270mm rotor with a single-piston floating calliper at the rear along with dual channel ABS assist, which is similar to the Classic and Meteor. 

However, the Hunter 350 rolls on 17-inch spoke or alloy wheels wrapped in either tube-type or tubeless tyres, depending on the variant of choice. This is a first for any Royal Enfield bike, because the marque now wants a piece of the ‘sporty’ retro-style motorcycle pie. 

Royal Enfield has nailed this aspect with regard to the Hunter, as the seat height is 15mm lower than the Classic, although the Meteor’s 765mm seat height should remain to be the favourite among short riders. 

Features

The Hunter 350 comes packed with a circular semi-digital instrument cluster featured on the Royal Enfield Scram 411 and also gets a Tripper navigation pod as an accessory. The compact dimensions accentuates the roadster styling and it is draped in funky colours as opposed to the Classic’s and Meteor’s elegant vintage-themed paint schemes. It also gets a whole range of accessories, the details of which are mentioned in our story here.

Verdict

While the Hunter 350, Classic 350 and Meteor 350 share the same heart and many other components, Royal Enfield intends to appeal to a different segment of customers with each of these bikes. The Hunter 350 is meant to be a gateway into the Royal Enfield ecosystem. It is made to appeal to a younger crowd with its vibrant colour options, and easy-to-ride dynamics.

The Classic 350, on the other hand, is designed to satiate long-time aspirants who always aimed to bring home a piece of Enfield heritage, while also offering them the sweet pleasure of riding a Royal Enfield bike. The Meteor 350 offers a platform for people who plan to take to highways regularly.

In the end, the Hunter 350, Classic 350 and Meteor 350 make for great offerings. Buying one of these three depends on what type of a rider you are.