Triumph Speed T4 vs Royal Enfield Hunter 350: Your First Retro Bike

Retro bike under Rs 2 lakh? Tick. Sporty handling? Tick. Compact dimensions? Tick. The Triumph Speed T4 and  Royal Enfield Hunter 350 are similar in many ways. So if you’re confused between both these bikes from originally-British brands, here’s which one you should buy: 

Price & Variants

• This table shows just how value for money the Royal Enfield Hunter 350 is. That said, the base variant doesn’t have dual-channel ABS and that is something we feel is very important. So we’d advise you to get the higher variants. 

• But then the Speed T4 isn’t an expensive bike in itself. It has a more modern engine, has the Triumph badge, and still costs under Rs 2 lakh. It’s just that the Hunter 350 is priced so well, it wins this round. 

Dimensions & Design 

• The Speed T4 has a bit of an edge when it comes to the way it can hide its weight. The bike doesn’t feel like it weighs 180kg, be it riding at slow speeds in the city or even moving it around in the parking lot. 

• The Hunter 350, meanwhile, will feel like it’s on the heavier side when you’re trying to move it around in the parking lot or at slow speeds in heavy traffic. 

Features & Safety

• Who would’ve thought that a Royal Enfield bike would have  more features than a Triumph? The Hunter has the tripper navigation pod on its higher variants, while the T4 only has dual-channel ABS and a slipper clutch. 

• We would’ve liked to see at least a basic traction control system on both. 

Engines

• The Speed T4’s engine has been reworked when compared to the Triumph Speed 400, and we like it. It has a lot more torque throughout, meaning you don’t have to rev it out to extract the performance.

• The Hunter's 349cc mill is torquey and has a lot of grunt. Combine with the sporty handling, and you have a bike that slices through traffic at a delightful pace.

• That said, what that engine really enjoys doing the most is chilling out. Slot it in a higher gear and ride around town peacefully.

Verdict 

So which of the two bikes should you get? For starters, if you value the badge, go for the Triumph bike. It’s well-finished with a sweet engine, has proven to be reliable, and is quite easy to get along with. Paying the extra money is worth it, for it’s better-finished, has a more powerful engine, and on the whole – is a bike that feels delightful. 

But then if you’re on a tight budget, there’s nothing quite like the value-for-money proposition of the Royal Enfield Hunter. For its price, there’s nothing quite like it, and with its 2026 version, its upgraded suspension makes it much nicer to live with. 

Rivals

• The Triumph feels noticeably quicker and more refined than the Honda CB350 H'ness.

• The Royal Enfield Bullet 350 wins on old-school charm and timeless retro appeal over the Speed T4. 

• The Triumph T4 is more polished and refined than the Jawa 42.

• Speed T4 offers stronger performance, while the TVS Ronin feels lighter in traffic and has better fuel efficiency.