Now, the Hunter 350 is one cool-looking motorcycle. And maybe it is due to its minimalistic design language. The motorcycle doesn’t get a lot of body panels and comes with a large fuel tank and side covers.

There are a few more bits that enhance the overall appeal of the motorcycle, like fork gaiters, rim tapes, and some great stickers on the tank and side panels that enhance the urban feel of the bike.

Talking about quality, the Hunter 350 feels solid. The overall fit and finish are nicely done and even the paint feels premium. The chassis welds are appreciable, and so is the switchgear. In fact, the touch and feel of the buttons are good too.

One of the main aspects I like about this Hunter is its overall seating comfort and that’s because the seating triangle fits all sizes. I’m a tall dude but I can easily manage to spend a lot of time in this saddle. The handlebar is placed not too close to the body and since the pegs are centre-set, I get a neutral riding position. But I have to tell you about this seat – it is comfortable and wide and that’s why I got so much room to move around.

This Royal Enfield is the fastest and the quickest of all new 350s and that’s because this motorcycle is considerably lighter – almost 14kg lesser than the Classic 350. As a result of this, the Hunter 350 is super eager to go off the line. The bike feels marginally peppier in the initial revs, while the rest of the performance from the 350cc singe-cylinder air-cooled motor is almost similar. Then, the flat torque delivery allows you to do some quick overtakes. The engine is also tractable. With my weight, I managed to ride at 40kmph in fifth gear and this is perfect because a lot of riders don’t like to change gear while riding in the city. The refinement and NVH levels are pretty good too. There are some minor vibes but that kick in post 80kmph and are limited to the handlebar.

The Hunter gets smaller 17-inch wheels and has slightly more cornering clearance. Then you also have the sharper rake. When you combine all these aspects, you get a motorcycle that is super fun to ride in the city and then it just gets more exciting when you have good corners to ride on. Because the Hunter love spending a lot of time scrapping those pegs.

Now, should you buy the Royal Enfield Hunter 350? It’s a big yes, provided you have been riding 125cc-150cc motorcycles for many years. Because this bike is for the people who have been commuting on an entry-level motorcycle and now want something bigger. Something more aspirational. Something that allows them to become a part of a brand that is more than just bikes.

As a part, the Hunter 350 makes a lot of sense. It has a super accessible seat height. It is the lightest RE ever. Its overall seating ergonomics are quite comfortable. And then you have that engine – it is torquey, refined, and churns out decent performance too. I mean yes, the Hunter 350 doesn’t offer as many features as some other bikes in the segment. But RE provides something that’s difficult for other brands to offer – accessories and apparel. And then you also get access to the world of RE rides and festivals and this is something a new aspirational rider should definitely experience.