The Royal Enfield Hunter 350 was recently launched in India as one of the most affordable 350cc motorcycles in the country, as well as the most cost-effective Royal Enfield bike. The new Hunter 350, which joins the Classic 350 and Bullet 350 in the company’s product lineup, is available in two variants: Retro and Metro, with prices starting at Rs 1.50 lakh (ex-showroom).
The Hunter 350, which is based on the company’s new J platform, promises a lot of new things to buyers. But wait, there’s already a prominent player in this segment, the Honda CB 350 RS. So, let’s dig a little deeper and compare the two.
Royal Enfield Hunter 350 vs Honda CB 350 RS- Design/ Features
The Royal Enfield Hunter 350 features telescopic front forks with a rubber boot, alloy wheels with optional spoke wheels (Retro variant), a round headlight, a single pod instrument cluster with the tripper function as an accessory, a short stubby exhaust, a single piece seat, disc brakes front and rear with dual-channel ABS, and dual shocks at the rear, among other things.
The Honda CB 350 RS, on the other hand, has telescopic front forks, dual-channel ABS, disc brakes on both ends, dual shocks at the rear, 19-inch front and 17-inch rear wheels, alloy wheels, and a semi-digital instrument cluster. In terms of equipment, both are comparable, however, the Hunter’s spoke wheel option suggests that the motorcycle can withstand more punishment off-road.
Royal Enfield Hunter 350 vs Honda CB 350 RS- Engine Specifications
The Royal Enfield Hunter is powered by a single-cylinder 349cc air and oil-cooled engine. The engine produces 20 bhp and 27 Nm of torque through a 5-speed manual transmission. What’s interesting here is that, despite claiming to be oil-cooled, the Hunter lacks a radiator like the Himalayan, instead relying on an internal oil circuit to keep the oil cool.
| Specifications | Royal Enfield Hunter 350 | Honda CB 350 RS |
| Displacement | 349cc | 348.3cc |
| Power | 20 bhp | 20.7 bhp |
| Torque | 27 Nm | 30 Nm |
| Gearbox | 5-speed | 5-speed |
| Mileage | 36 Kmpl | 36 kmpl |
The Honda CB 350 RS, on the other hand, is powered by a traditional 348cc single-cylinder air-cooled engine that produces 20.7 bhp and 30 Nm of torque. The engine is mated to a 5-speed transmission, just like the Hunter 350.
Royal Enfield Hunter 350 vs Honda CB 350 RS- Pricing
The RE Hunter 350 is priced between Rs 1.49 lakh and Rs 1.68 lakh (ex-showroom). The Honda CB 350 RS, on the other hand, costs Rs 2.03 lakh (ex-showroom). Royal Enfield has managed to significantly undercut the Honda CB 350’s pricing while providing comparable performance and equipment.
Royal Enfield Hunter 350 vs Honda CB 350 RS- Final Verdict
Both motorcycles are exactly equivalent in terms of equipment, features, performance, and, most importantly, styling. However, with the new Hunter 350 priced significantly lower than the Honda CB 350 RS, the Hunter makes more sense, if you specifically compare the two of them in terms of pricing, but the one who can extend his/her budget to get the CB 350 RS, then they should definitely go for it, as the ride quality it offers is far beyond different.
