With anticipation building ahead of its launch next month, the eagerly awaited Royal Enfield Hunter 350 has been spotted undisguised for the first time.
Dual-tone paint scheme; short, stubby exhaust end-can
Single-channel ABS, option of rear drum or disc brake
Seen equipped with alloys as well as wire-spoke wheels
The Hunter 350 has been spotted testing numerous times over the past couple of years, and more recently, some pictures have leaked of the production-spec bike as well. But this is the first time that the final version of the bike has been spotted undisguised out in the real world. And there are some interesting revelations.
Royal Enfield Hunter 350: styling, features
On the styling front, the Hunter sports a rather clean, contemporary look, and it's almost minimalist by RE standards. The short, stubby exhaust end-can is unlike anything we see on RE's current models, and the entire 349cc J-platform engine, gearbox and exhaust section is blacked out on this particular example.
Things seem equally uncluttered in the instrument cluster region, with no windshield or shroud in sight. The instrument cluster itself seems to be very similar to the Meteor and Scram's unit, and notably, it doesn't seem to be accompanied by a Tripper navigation pod. The switchgear and grips also seem to be borrowed from the Meteor, which means they should feel good and work well, even if the unconventional layout could take some getting used to.
The teardrop-shaped fuel-tank seems rather slim, with prominent knee cut-outs carved into it. This particular bike gets a dual-tone blue and white colour scheme for the tank, but the fenders and side panels are finished in gloss black. Just next to this bike, though, we see another Hunter 350 with a single-tone silver paint scheme for its fuel tank as well as different turn indicators, so as with most recent REs, you can expect a number of different colour options and styles.
Moreover, this silver bike is equipped with wire-spoke wheels and a rear drum brake, while the subject bike gets alloy wheels and a rear disc brake, so you can expect a range of variants for the upcoming Hunter 350. But it does seem like all versions will get only single-channel ABS, with even the rear disc brake-equipped bike not featuring a wheel speed sensor at the rear.
Overall, there's quite a lot of dark portions on the bike in the foreground, because in addition to the engine and bodywork already spoken about, the wheels and suspension are also finished in black. Continuing towards the back, we see a nicely contoured single-piece seat flanked by a pair of sleek grab rails at the rear. The lights follow a theme of roundness on this bike, with the headlight, tail-lamp and all indicators featuring a circular shape, though the front indicators on the silver bike are rectangular.
There are a number of factors here to support the claim that the Hunter will sit near the entry-level mark in RE's line-up once it launches. Single-channel ABS, the absence of the Tripper and the lack of any chrome across the bike all point towards the fact that it will be more accessible than its siblings, the Meteor 350 and Classic 350. It might not be able to undercut the Bullet 350 at the moment, but with the iconic Bullet also set to receive a big upgrade (and an accompanying price hike), the Hunter could become the entry point to the Royal Enfield brand.