Royal Enfield Hunter 350 vs Yamaha XSR 155: The Decision Is Easy!

Yamaha finally gave us the XSR 155 towards the end of last year and it had been a long time coming. And when it finally launched, the pricing was so good that we immediately thought of the quite likable Royal Enfield Hunter 350. So now around the Rs 1.5 lakh mark, we have 2 good looking, entry-level retro bikes. Here's how much the most affordable Royal Enfield bike costs across 5 cities in India. Which one should you get? Let us clear the air around the same:

Price & Variants

• The XSR 155’s Rs 1.50 lakh price tag placed it on our top 5 most value-for-money bikes list for a reason. Even the Hunter 350’s base variant looks incredibly tempting. Rs 1.38 lakh for a 350cc Royal Enfield bike sounds too good to resist.
• Yes, it has spoked wheels, and hence tube tyred (meaning puncture repair will be a pain) and misses out on the tripper navigation pod, but it’s still a 350cc bike. Though, you can get tubeless alloy wheels on higher trims. Here's a detailed booking guide for the Hunter. Also, if the Hunter 350 fails to impress you, you can take a look at the top 5 similar price alternatives of the Hunter 350.
• Both the bikes' strong value propositions earned them spots on the top 5 retro bikes under Rs 3 lakh list as well.
• So if you’re on a tight budget, we understand why you’d be gravitated a bit towards the Hunter 350, and our EMI buying guide will help you out. But on the whole, both bikes are very well priced. You can also consider the TVS Ronin, and here's how it compares with the Hunter.

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Dimensions & Design 

• The Royal Enfield Hunter 350 is a slightly bigger motorcycle but on the whole, both are small, short bikes with inviting seat heights. Since either of these will be the first bike for many, being physically manageable is important. Here's a specifications comparison between the two.

• If you’re really tall (say a bit above 6 feet), you might end up dwarfing these bikes, and might feel cramped sitting on them. So, maybe you can consider the Classsic 350 over the Hunter.

• Even in their designs, both bikes are quite similar: round LED headlights, tear-shaped fuel tanks, ribbed seats and 17-inch wheels, which add to their compact size. 

• The Hunter 350 looks like the more authentic retro bike with its round mirrors and round indicators. You can customise it further with the official accessories.

• The Yamaha XSR 155, on the other hand, looks like the more neo-retro of the two. But, if you prefer something properly old-school, the Bullet 350 is the one.

Features & Safety

• The Yamaha XSR 155, like its 155cc siblings, is tech-loaded. It gets a fully digital console, slipper clutch, traction control and even VVA, which we usually find on much bigger bikes. 

• The Royal Enfield Hunter 350 stays true to its old-school roots, we've explained the features in detail here. And that’s not necessarily a bad thing, for it is in line with the Hunter 350’s overall charm. 

• From a comfort point of view, while the XSR comes with better hardware, it's the Hunter 350 that manages to cushion you better over bad roads. The difference is significant and if you frequent a route that has potholes and broken roads, the Hunter might be the better choice. You can maybe even consider the Meteor 350.

• The modern hardware in the XSR 155 gives it much sweeter handling. It's lighter by 44kg, more nimble and a lot more enjoyable on a twisty, mountain road. 

Engines

• The XSR 155 has a liquid-cooled, performance-oriented engine and despite being less than half the size of the Hunter 350’s engine, the power figures are still very close. It’s an engine that enjoys being ridden hard and it’s the most rewarding when you ride it aggressively. 

• After 6,000rpm this engine really comes into its own and then roars till its redline. Even cruising at 100kmph is surprisingly easy for a 155cc engine with the 6-speed gearbox. 

• Royal Enfield Hunter 350’s engine is an easy going one. It enjoys being ridden at a sedate pace and it has a lot of grunt at lower revs. 

• The Hunter 350 makes nearly double the torque that the XSR 155 makes so you can just ride around town at low speeds in high gears and the bike has enough torque to pull cleanly. But if you start riding it aggressively, you will have to short shift and then it will be enjoyable. 

Verdict 

We said that the decision between the Royal Enfield Hunter 350 and Yamaha XSR 155 is a lot easier than you’d think and that’s true. Since you’re cross shopping between these bikes, it’s clear that you’re a retro bike enthusiast, and here are our top 5 picks under Rs 1.50 lakh. Now all you have to ask yourself is whether you want a bike that rides like a retro too or you’d much rather have the performance of a modern bike but with the looks of a retro one. If you want the former, the Hunter 350 could be the better one for you, while if the latter is your thing, you should pick the XSR 155. Here's how both of them stack up against each other in terms of price.

If you just want to commute to and from office in peace and want a no-nonsense bike that can be ridden easily and doesn’t demand a lot from the rider, the Royal Enfield Hunter 350 will really charm you. It even has been one of the top 5 most searched bikes on our site in 2025. But if you want something more spirited, a bike whose performance you can show off to your friends, then you'll love Yamaha XSR 155’s sporty nature. If you want to buy the Royal Enfield Hunter 350 and want more information about it, you can check out our detailed explainer in real-life images. Also, the Hunter 350's Ultimate Buying Guide will take you through the entire buying journey.

Comparisons With Other Rivals:

• The Hunter 350 is the more compact, city-friendly option when compared to the highway-oriented Royal Enfield Meteor 350.
• It is also a lot more affordable than the Royal Enfield Goan Classic 350, but the Goan looks a whole lot cooler.
• The Hunter 350 and the Speed 400 may both be roadsters, but the Speed offers much better performance.
• Another roadster alternative from Triumph is the Speed T4. It is the cheapest Triumph bike, and is also peppier than the Hunter 350.