The next big launch from Royal Enfield will be the Hunter 350 roadster. Production has begun and the Royal Enfield Hunter 350 has been spied at what looks like a stockyard that’s either that of the factory or a dealership. The Royal Enfield Hunter 350 is expected to be the brand’s entry-level offering, sitting at the very bottom of the motorcycle line-up. It’s slimmer and lighter than other Royal Enfields by a good 15-20 kilograms, and this should make it quite peppy as well.
Image courtesy Surendar Jayavelu
The spyshot reveals the slim fuel tank with prominent knee recesses, a wide handlebar, regular mirrors, a stubby exhaust, disc brakes on both wheels, alloy wheels, telescopic front forks, twin rear shock absorbers, plenty of ground clearance, an offset instrument cluster, a round headlamp and some borrowed bits. For instance, the brake lever seems to be lifted off the Himalayan while the turn indicators, switchgear and tail lamp seem to be shared with the Meteor.
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The Hunter 350 will use the new J-Series engine that made its debut in the Meteor. With 20.2 Bhp-27 Nm on tap, the 350cc single cylinder four stroke engine will be paired to a 5 speed manual gearbox. The Hunter 350 will challenge newly launched neo-retro motorcycles such as the Yezdi Scrambler, the TVS Ronin and the Honda CB 350 RS. Expect an ex-showroom price of about Rs. 1.6-1.7 lakh for the new, entry-level Royal Enfield. The launch is just around the corner.
Leaked homologation documents reveal that the Hunter 350 will measure 2,055 mm long, 800 mm wide and 1,055 mm tall. Wheelbase at 1,370 mm means that it should be the most flickable Royal Enfield in town. This also points to a shorter swing arm than other Royal Enfields, and even possibly a totally revised frame. The single seat that slopes upwards at the rear – a-la-Yezdi Scrambler – is something that’s quite unique on a Royal Enfield, and this should give the Hunter its youthful appeal.
Rivals have been chipping away at Royal Enfield’s traditional turf of retro-modern motorcycles, and the Hunter will be aimed at attracting younger buyers into the brand’s fold. Later this year, Royal Enfield will launch a 650cc cruiser that shares its engine with the 650 twins. The new cruiser – dubbed the Super Meteor 650 – will sit at the very top of Royal Enfield’s motorcycle line-up, and will offer equipment to justify the price tag. Telescopic front forks, a fat rear tyre, blacked out engine cases, tripper navigation and a laid back riding position are some of the features expected on the new motorcycle.
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