Royal Enfield Hunter 350 : The growl of a Royal Enfield has been the sound of Indian highways for decades. Older riders, touring enthusiasts and anybody who favored tradition over trend instead were the target for these bikes for decades. But then something unexpected happened.
Earlier this year, when the Hunter 350 was unveiled with a roar — Royal Enfield has on its hands a hit with a younger-generation rider, namely men in their 20s and even early 30s.
This past Sunday, I made it in the afternoon to High Spirits Café in Pune — a known rendezvous where the parking lot is de facto the venue for this otherwise unfacilitated communion as I have learnt from experience with fitting in motorcycle culture, if you excuse the pun, in Pune and elsewhere in India.
The difference was remarkable – in a few short seasons during which KTMs and Yamahas were once ten-to-the-dozen, now line upon line of immaculate, subtly modified Hunter 350s stood gleaming in the sun, each one bearing the imprint of its owner.
Table of Contents
Royal Enfield Hunter 350 The Numbers Don’t Lie
The Hunter 350’s penetration of the youth market is not only anecdotal. The sales charts tell a compelling story. Based on dealership data I collected from five large metro areas, nearly 65% of Hunter 350 buyers are under 35 — the sweet spot is ages 22-28.
This is a significant departure from Royal Enfield’s legacy bikes which traditionally appealed to customers 10-15 years older than those buying the Twins.
“The kind of customer we are seeing walk in through our doors is very different now,” said Vikram Sharma, a Royal Enfield dealer in Delhi whom I have known for years.
“These younger guys come in and they already know exactly which Hunter model they want, which accessories they’re going to put on it — they’ve done their research.
On a month basis, the Hunter has been consistently among the top three motorcycles in its segment, routinely outselling established rivals such as the Honda CB350 and Jawa 42.
Popular colors still have 3-4 week waits in some southern states —almost two years after the model was introduced.
Royal Enfield Hunter 350 What Makes It Popular Among Young Riders?
When asked by me, the 26-year-old software engineer Rahul Mehta, why he picked the Hunter instead of something sportier, responded in a way that gets at a lot of what people like about the model: “It’s an Enfield that doesn’t feel like my dad’s bike.”
That feeling came across loud and clear talking to young owners. But Hunter 350 looks to have a struck a fine balance – it continues to evoke the heritage and aspirational feel of the Royal Enfield name without lugging the drag and potential stuffiness of models like the Classic 350.
A few major factors have played a role in its success with youth:
Accessibility No Compromise is the key feature to specially introduce the product.
The Hunter weighs in at 181 kg, which is quite light by Royal Enfield standards. On a group ride with the Pune Motorcycle Club last month, I saw newer riders weave their way through cramped traffic with aplomb – something that they might not have dared on the bulkier Classic or Meteor.
“I was thinking about the Yamaha FZ at the beginning,” confessed Arjun Singh, a 24-year-old graphic designer in the ride. “But the Hunter gives me that Enfield status without me feeling that I’m riding a very heavy bike.
The 350 feels punchy enough to feel meaningful, without overpowering somebody new to motorcycles.
With 20.2 bhp and 27 Nm, it is powerful enough for the highway, but yet manageable on the daily grind of city riding where most of the younger riders are plying their trade.
Royal Enfield Hunter 350 Urban Styling That Stands Out
The Hunter is designed to appeal to a more youthful mindset. Styled as a neo-retro roadster with city-sized proportions, it looks right at home in the city where young professionals will live and play.
“It photographs well,” said Priya Desai, a motorcycle-lifestyle blogger I met at a recent auto expo.
“That may seem trivial, but for a generation that lives on Instagram, having a bike that looks great from every angle is incredibly important.”
The color choices strike a chord, especially for younger buyers, with the Rebel series and its in-your-face tank graphics being a popular favorite.
At a Sunday morning motorcycle meet on Nice Road in Bengaluru, I concluded the following number: Seventeen Hunters, Rebel colours outselling the more muted versions three to one.
Royal Enfield Hunter 350 The Customization Culture
The most intriguing thing about the Hunter phenomenon is that it has created a whole subculture of customization.
What used to be as simple as swapping bar-end mirrors and new grips is now a diverse ecosystem of parts and accessories.
In Mumbai, in the motorcycling district near Dharavi, I encountered entire shops that now specialize in Hunter customizations.
From simple seat swaps to complex exhaust systems and tank modifications, a new generation of enthusiasts are spending serious coin to make their machines their own.
“My Hunter cost me around 2.15 lakhs on-road, but I spent about 35,000 on some modifications,” said Kunal Shah, a 29-year-old entrepreneur, whose matte black Hunter is replete with custom levers, a shorter tail section and a handcrafted leather seat. “It’s not a matter of transportation anymore — it’s an identity.”
Royal Enfield Hunter 350 Performance That Suits You Today’s Standards
Although Royal Enfield has, historically, cared more about torque and cruising ability over outright performance figures, the Hunter’s J-series motor, compared to the rest of its range, has given the shopping list of performance must-haves that also communicate in a language that the “me, younger rider” wants.
The engine’s smoother power delivery, more responsive throttle and smaller vibes than on older Enfield models have made it more appealing to those reared on Japanese and European motorcycles.
I got a test ride on the Hunter in Mumbai and was impressed with how willingly the bike revved and how sharply it cut through corners – traits you aren’t used to hearing when it comes to Royal Enfield.
You’re not getting a sense that you’re giving up performance for style,” said Rohan Patil, a motorcycle journalist with whom I spoke about the riding experience on the Hunter.
“Previously, when you opted for an Enfield you also had to make some compromises in terms of refinement and agility. The Hunter mostly does away with those tradeoffs.”
Royal Enfield Hunter 350 A New Community Forms
Arguably the greatest gauge of Hunter’s influence may be the exceptional community it has cultivated.
Hunter groups have popped up all over social media with private ride meet ups, mod show-and-shine meets, and existent online groups.
“The vibe is absolutely not the same as regular Bullet clubs,” said Deepak Singh, who coordinates monthly Hunter rides in Chandigarh.
“It’s less about long-distance touring and more about urban exploration, photography and social connections.”
These clubs, too, are noticeably younger than the established Royal Enfield communities.
At a Hunter owners’ meet in Hyderabad I attended recently, the average age seemed to be mid-20s with professionals working in tech companies, creative fields and startups, preferably blanketing the gathering.
Royal Enfield Hunter 350 Industry Impact
The Hunter’s success has been causing ripples in the industry. Rivals have noticed this hitherto-ignored market segment – young people after the retro look and the cachet of a heritage brand, without the bulky presence of a typical cruiser.
Jawa has taken to personalize marketing for its 42 model better to urban customer, while Honda has come up with new colour schemes for the CB350 that clearly speak to a younger audience.
Even Triumph’s newest tie-up with Bajaj appears to be riding on the promise of this market space.
Royal Enfield has pretty much created a new category,” automotive analyst Siddharth Vinayak Patankar observed during an industry panel I covered earlier this month.
“They’ve proven that legacy brands can effectively capture younger buyers without alienating their core base.”
Royal Enfield Hunter 350 Looking Ahead
As we approach the Hunter’s third year in production, its presence only strengthens.
These provide a rider up to 20BHP and above 20 Nm which is pretty impressive for weekend rides and daily commutes but if you have a habit to push your bike’s potential these are not suitable for you else you may face some heating issues and I would highly recommend you to wait for the Royal Enfield Hunter and then decide.
Royal Enfield dealers are seeing a lot of new faces choosing the Hunter as their first motorcycle, a healthy trend if you ask me, it means that brand will start seeing early brand promotions and recognition among riders who will grow with the brand.
I would imagine for next model year we can expect to see some of the Hunter-inspired elements trickle onto other Royal Enfield models, as they try to repeat the success of model on its other bikes.
For an entire cohort of young men who crave both individuality and belonging, the Hunter 350 is much more than a mode of transportation – it is a statement on how they attain shared memories of travel, style, and the unquestionable coolness of that Royal Enfield badge!
