Royal Enfield Hunter 350 vs Royal Enfield Classic 350

So you’ve finally decided you want a 350cc Royal Enfield bike. That’s great! But now’s when the second part of the ‘friendly discussion’ starts. Your dad wants to get the Royal Enfield Classic 350 because it was the biggest and most macho bike out there when he was a young boy and he believes it still is. You, meanwhile, want the Royal Enfield Hunter 350 because it’s compact, lighter, and you think you’ll look really cool riding up to college on the Hunter. So which one should you get? Well, we have an answer: 

Price & Variants

• Parents love the word ‘value for money’ and you can’t beat the Hunter 350 there. It’s a Rs 1.37 lakh 350cc bike and that in itself is a lot of bike for a very reasonable amount of money. 

• The Classic 350 in itself isn’t an overpriced bike in any way though, and for what it has to offer, the prices are reasonable. It is also available in a lot more colours and some of them are just absolutely stunning. 

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Dimensions & Design 

• On paper, the differences between the Classic 350 and the Hunter 350 might not sound like a lot but on the road, it all translates to a sizable difference, literally. 

• The Royal Enfield Classic 350 has always been a big bike with that ‘macho’ appeal that has a lot of road presence. There are so many Classics on our road right now and yet every time one goes by, we all turn around to just catch a glimpse. 

• That’s what its timeless design does. The Classic 350 has always been a looker and it’s still turning heads. 

• The Royal Enfield Hunter 350 is a pretty bike. It is well-proportioned and nothing on the bike looks awkward or stands out in a weird way. 

• But at the end of the day, it is a  compact bike that just cannot match the Classic’s presence. It is the more approachable of the two, for sure, but it’ll also feel very compact for larger riders, so a wider range of riders will find themselves to be more comfortable on the Classic 350. 

• One area where both bikes will feel significantly different is the riding posture. 

• The Classic 350’s riding position is the quintessential retro bike open-chested riding posture. Your feet are placed slightly ahead of you, the handlebar feels nice and wide and you find yourself in a very neutral, upright riding posture. It’s very comfortable and you can spend hours there without any major fatigue. 

• On the Royal Enfield Hunter 350 though, you’ll realise the youthful appeal the moment you sit on it. The footpegs are set towards the rear and there’s a slight bend forward to reach the handlebar. It feels sportier than the Classic 350. 

Features & Safety

• It’s almost a dead heat in the features and safety department: neither bikes  win.

• Both bikes get just single-channel ABS on the base variants (and dual-channel ABS on the higher variants), a slipper clutch and a tripper navigation pod on the higher trims. 

• The Classic 350 gets a gear position indicator on the little digital screen under its analogue console and while that’s something the Hunter 350 doesn’t get. However it’s not something on the basis of which you can make a buying decision. 

Engines

• Both bikes have the exact same engine, so it’s a tie here, at least on paper. 

• While there’s no actual difference in the power and torque figures, the Hunter 350 is a solid 14kg lighter than the Royal Enfield Classic 350. Combine that with the sportier riding posture and the bike will feel a bit more responsive, for sure. While the difference isn’t night and day, it’s noticeable. 

• That also translates to sportier handling on the Hunter 350, so when you ride it in traffic, it’ll feel like it darts through the little gaps quickly and with a good amount of eagerness to it. 

• The Classic 350 though, loves to chill out. It doesn’t want to dart through little gaps and reach home as quickly as possible. It wants you to take a chill pill, slot it in 3rd and just potter around town in a delightfully laidback manner. 

Verdict 

The Royal Enfield Hunter 350 is more youth-oriented while the Classic 350 is made for those who like the nostalgia and the classic styling. 

But since our budget allows us only one bike, the Classic 350 does come across as the better all-rounder. We’ve already mentioned why your dad will absolutely love it, but you won’t be compromising on a lot by not going for the Hunter 350. The Classic 350’s old school charm will get you a lot of attention in college and its slightly more comfortable suspension setup means you’ll be commuting to college in peace. Most importantly, it’s also the more spacious bike of the two, in case you need to accommodate a friend after college. While you are trading in a bit of the sportiness that the Hunter has to offer, we’re sure your friend will be happier on the Classic. That said, if you looking to get the Hunter 350, here's a detailed bookings guide which will help you. Or you may also read our Ultimate Buying Guide for a more in-depth explanation of everything related to purchasing the Hunter 350. We have also listed other options in the same budget.

Comparisons With Other Rivals:

• If you're looking for a lighter bike with better performance, while also looking as gorgeously retro, then you'll prefer the Yamaha XSR155 over the Hunter 350.
• If you want a roadster that's as chilled-out as the Hunter but comes with lots of fancy features, then take a look at the TVS Ronin.
• Hardcore retro fans would prefer the Royal Enfield Bullet 350 over the Hunter as it has the instantly-recognisable, iconic styling, but with the same modern engine as the Hunter 350.
• Those who love to cruise down the highways often will like the Royal Enfield Meteor 350 more than the Hunter 350.
• When compared to the Royal Enfield Goan Classic 350, the Hunter 350 is more compact, and has a different riding posture. 
• The Royal Enfield Hunter 350 has a massive price advantage over the Triumph Speed 400, but then the Hunter is a lot less powerful.
• A more affordable Hunter-rivalling alternative to the Speed 400 would be the Speed T4.