When Royal Enfield first launched the Hunter 350 in August 2022, the aim was to bring in a whole new set of buyers who wanted an Enfield but wanted something more accessible and modern as compared to the heavier and more traditional models like Classic or Bullet. At the same time, the bike maintained its lineage with its neo retro styling making it a fresh offering from the company, even though underneath most of it was borrowed from other 350cc Enfields.
The Chennai-based bikemaker found enormous success as it was able to bring in a brand new set of buyers, including yours truly, who would have ideally found their match in a TVS, Hero, or even a Bajaj. Today, the company sells an average of almost 15,000 units of the Hunter per month, making it the second best-selling model in Royal Enfield’s portfolio.
That said, the Hunter wasn’t devoid of its fair share of flaws which made it an imperfect product. Good thing though that Royal Enfield constantly takes feedback from the buyers and reviewers, implementing some changes to improve its motorcycles. It has done the same with the Hunter 350 which I got to ride recently. Trying to keep the biases aside as a Hunter owner, this piece is a more objective analysis of the updates provided in the latest iteration.
2025 Royal Enfield Hunter 350 review: Design & Features
Keeping it short, the design of the updated Hunter 350 remains unchanged in totality. The same round headlamp, teardrop-shaped fuel tank, minimal body panels, split graph rails, and short fenders at both ends have been carried over from the pre-updated model. The only change is a different colour palette comprising new options such as Rio White, Tokyo Black and London Red.
Royal Enfield has added a few features to the Hunter’s kit including an LED headlight, a C-type fast-charging port, a factory-fitted Tripper Navigation in mid- and top-spec trims, and slip & assist clutch. Other important changes include increased ground clearance by 10mm, new rear shock absorbers, and revised seat foam. Let us find out if the changes have actually made any difference to the overall riding experience of the Hunter.
2025 Royal Enfield Hunter 350 review: Overall ride experience
The pre-updated Hunter 350 had two major drawbacks – a stiff clutch and a harsh ride quality. The addition of a slip and assist clutch has made the operation a lot smoother. This will prevent riders from an aching left hand in heavy bumper-to-bumper traffic where the clutch is constantly under the pump. For improving the ride quality, Royal Enfield has installed a new set of shock absorbers at the rear which are more progressive in nature.
As a result the rate of deflection varies according to the load. This results in a slightly more plush riding experience. Although the difference isn’t drastic, it is definitely noticeable even in short runs with the bike. For people who are expecting comfort like Classic 350, let me break the bubble – “no it isn’t” — nor it’s meant to be. However, the suspension is a lot more absorbent on bad roads and undulations, which thankfully doesn’t break the back of the rider nor the pillion.
That said, the softer ride quality doesn’t compromise on its handling capabilities as it’s still the best in Enfield’s 350cc stable when it comes to corner carving. The increase in ground clearance from 150mm to 160mm will also come in handy, if and when you come across a rough patch of undulated terrain, preventing it from scraping the engine underbelly. This has been achieved by altering the angle of the exhaust muffler.
The addition of an LED headlight should have ideally improved illumination and visibility in the dark but I didn’t find any noticeable change to highlight the same. The cushioning of the seat is another change which isn’t very apparent and it would take a longer ride to deduce its levels of comfort. In the older model, the rider’s butt sank in only after 150 km of non-stop riding.
| Engine Specs | 2025 Hunter 350 |
| Displacement | 349 cc, single |
| Power | 20.2 bhp |
| Torque | 27 Nm |
| Gearbox | 5-speed |
As for engine performance, there’s absolutely no change whatsoever with the same output and throttle response. Due to its lightweight, it feels much quicker than its other 350cc siblings. The only other change I would have personally wanted were better tyres than the current Ceat units which don’t provide enough grip on wet surfaces.
2025 Royal Enfield Hunter 350 review: Verdict
To say the updates on the 2025 Royal Enfield Hunter 350 are a welcome addition will be an understatement. The changes incorporated have made the neo-retro roadster a more refined product than before. Although it still isn’t pitch perfect, the Hunter 350 is a lot closer to perfection now. And with an aggressive price tag, it has the potential to give the Classic 350 a run for its money.
| Variant | Pricing (ex-showroom Chennai) |
| Base – Factory Black | INR. 1,49,900 |
| Mid – Rio White and Dapper Grey | INR. 1,76,750 |
| Top – Tokyo Black, London Red and Rebel Blue | INR. 1,81,750 |
