The MAM Journals - Royal Enfield HNTR 350-First Impressions.
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 21 ก.ค. 2024
- I have been lucky enough to ride all of the current Royal Enfield range, including this, the latest of the 350 models. Visually quite different from either the Meteor and the Classic, it was interesting to ride the bike and experience the more dynamic ride. A low powered , 4 stroke single , it reminded me of bikes that I rode, and enjoyed , in my youth. A bike to hone your skills on, whilst providing reliable and cost effective transport ? The video goes through the specifications , occasionally comparing it to the other 350's and some riding footage before coming to my initial, first impressions.
My Video on the Classic can be found at :
• The MAM Journals -Roya...
My Video on the Meteor can be found at:
• The MAM Journals -Roya...
All of the MAM Journals and Muses can be found at :
• The MAM Journals - ยานยนต์และพาหนะ
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At 77 years old and a lifetime of motorbikes, the Huntr is an absolute joy to own. I tried a Meteor, sadly not for me, but the Huntr is something else. Ride the B roads and smell the roses. Biking heaven.😊
Sounds like you are enjoying it . Great to hear . Thank you for commenting .
The Hunter has character
Proper real world bike for the real world masses. Its a machine you can get enthusiastic about unlike all the the other overpriced over the top overpriced nonsense that other manufacturers peddle. 😊
I think your videos are very well presented and your sage experience and calm delivery is exceptional. Your own personal fleet of bikes are a credit to a man that knows what each bike delivers and enjoys the different character they provide.
Thank you Bill . A very generous comment ! I do try and judge each bike on its own merits and respect and enjoy them accordingly . I suspect it is why I have ended up with such an eclectic collection ..
Thank you again for the kind comment .
Hi Michael.
From what I understand this power output is designed for its main market in India but is capable of more. I am surprised that RE don’t offer an ECU map for other countries. Perhaps there is a good reason and I am not a technician but I am sure someone more knowledgeable will comment.
Great vids as always.
Regards
Den
Good morning Michael. It's a shame you didn't have some better weather for riding the Hntr but I enjoyed your review and, your comments and opinions chimed well with me. I've had my Hntr (Rebel Red) for about a month now and it's almost fully run in, just a hundred or so miles to go. As a boy, back in the 70s, I always wanted a Crusader 250 but couldn't afford one on my paper round money so had to settle for a BSA C15 instead. To me, the Hntr is what the Crusader would have grown up to be and I love it's looks. The engine looks more like a 500 single, with its large fins, and sounds a bit like one too, especially when engine breaking down through the gears with a few crackles and pops ...... glorious! :) Look forward to your next video. Regards Phil
Thank you Phil . Appreciate you taking the time to comment .
I haven’t thought about the older , small Enfields for a while . Unlike some they had a go and made some good bikes but history suggests too little , too late . The UK had some excellent design engineers but the Japanese production process was very different and gave them significant advantages . Enjoy your HNTR👍
Very informative and thoughtful review of the Enfield HNTR 350; thank you for posting.
I have a little 90’s Yamaha SRX 600 single which is an absolute joy to ride, and economical to boot. This little Enfield looks just right, and appears to be a perfect little commuter and back lane scratcher for some weekend fun. Costs to buy are very reasonable and maintenance costs should not at all be too onerous. If I didn’t have the little Yamaha with its Brembo brakes, electric start and excellent delta box frame giving very reassuring handling, then I would definitely consider buying one of these HNTR Enfield’s in the Dapper Grey colour scheme. I can not say how the build quality would stand up to several British winters but you did allude to the quality constantly improving.
This has been a great review on this latest on the 350 range, I can support you in what you find as I've only in this last month got myself the very same in this video,
In these last four weeks I've ridden it 500 miles I find the bike nippy and easy to ride in traffic and can keep up a good pace, which is great for short or long rides or as a Sunday afternoon trip to the coast .
Thing to understand with these bikes is that like my MZ it is understressed and overgeared. So it will run along at its top speed all day long without blowing to bits.
Thanks for the very nice review! It was my first video of your creation that I have viewed. SUBSCRIBED!!! As far as the Meteor & Hunter 350s go, I've sat on both and find them to be VERY heavy for what they are. Ideally, they could stand to lose 50 lbs. However, they are very nicely styled, seem to get good MPG, and gather rave reviews from those that own them. After they have some history, perhaps I'll look into getting one. Maybe a year or two? Thanks, again!
High quality video and high quality review,appreciate the metric measurements,keep up the great work. Best regards.
You are very welcome 👍
Another example of why I enjoy time with Michael whether are not I'm interested in the bike. I really enjoyed your ride around a British town I'm pretty sure everyone has heard of. Exactly the idea I have in my head of a British spring ride. Cold, wet, beautiful, historic, and a funny tongue in cheek dialogue about history, a bunch of pretentious dandies thoughts about things they no longer have any control of. I loved it okay!!! Michael knows motor bikes and has a lot of wisdom from living life the best he can. I look forward to the next my friend!
😂 Great comment Leigh . My dialogue is definitely tongue in cheek . Happy Easter .
I liked your comment about "the fun of riding a slower bike at speed, rather than riding a fast bike at a slower pace". I just purchased a Hunter in May and it's my first bike after returning to the biking scene after a break of 25 years. I tried the Classic 500 but it felt too heavy to push around but had huge amounts of torque. I tried a 350 Meteor after that. It felt ok but the fuel tank is so wide it felt like I was riding with my knees fully sticking right out. I then tried the 350 HNTR. It felt "just right"!!! It goes exactly where you point it. A basic bike for a basic guy who has ridden & owned a 600cc BMW. I like my Hunter. Best review I have seen on this bike. Well done Michael.
Thank you William . Have fun on the HNTR . I enjoyed my time with one 👍
Great vid thanks.
Thanks lovely polite review, Oxford is lovely, I've ordered my Hunter in blue as a second bike, easier to get out the garage for shorter little rides, what's your advice on running it in and initial protection from the elements of our great British weather 🌡️😅 stay safe all and remember to smile 😁 x
I appreciate the thoroughness of the review. I am currently torn between the Interceptor and the Meteor. I had a 2021 Himalayan and was disappointed with the coarseness of engine and fuel mapping. I loved the looks but hated the engine. I had a short ride on the Meteor and found the engine smoother and more refined. I do appreciate a bit more horsepower though most of my riding now is shorter commutes. I love the look of old British twins and singles, but I want reliability.
Nice problem to have ? For what it is worth my view is that you are often better with more power than you need than slightly less ?
1973 RD 350 is tough to beat for me. ;-) Factory metallic purple/mauve. Oh how I loved being part of the 2 stroke era when was legal. Great times mate. I've got some binge watching of your previous videos but I shall catch up in short order. Have a great holiday break.
I had an RD400 … 😂
@@michaelmam My mate bought one in 1980 I think. Stock. White and had the alloy wheels. Previous owner neglect = it was rubbish and beyond economical repair. Some people are most unsympathetic towards machines. The scoundrels. LOL
@@theaustralianconundrum 😂 They did attract the less than careful type ..
@@michaelmam We are unfortunately well supplied with humans who readily qualify for that distinction regardless of endeavor.
I sold a BMW R60/5, bought a 1973 RD350 and had money left over. I later bought a 1975 RD350 but Yamaha had modified the airbox by then and it took awhile to figure out how to make it run as well as the earlier one. The '73 RD had no problem dusting the Suzuki 500 Titan, Honda 450 and such. It would match anything R.E. currently offers except for fuel economy ☺, that is why I put 83.5mm pistons in my 2020 INT650 to raise displacement to 743cc and horsepower to upper-50's. As Michael said in this video his 863cc (90mm pistons) produces 63hp; these WiseCo piston conversions make the mundane 650s viable, I own two 865cc Triumphs and the now 195kg 743cc 6-speed Interceptor is faster.
Loved the review, and as an onwer of a Honda CB250 RS A back in the 80, and yes it was a capable little bike topping out at about 90, but then it did rev to 9250. I am seriously looking to get this as a second bike, and if it is like my little RS, then its time I took one for a test ride
Let me know if you agree . Long time since I have ridden an RS but it was what came to mind...🤞👍
Hunter rake is stated as 25 degrees. Meteor is 26.7
I love how Enfield have managed to lower the entry price for *a bike* that's of a higher quality than Chinese offerings, and this has better ergonomics than the Classic or Meteor 350 imo, what's not to like?
Modern plants , high sales volumes and a consistent approach all contribute . The motorcycle business is pretty tough . They appear to be growing .
@@michaelmam also unlike Japanese and European bikes, Enfield are actually delivering bikes in volume without any faff of waiting lists etc. If I want a CL500 or CB500X I'll probably have to wait a quarter for it to be delivered, if I want a Scram or Himalayan I can have it now.
As an RE owner I can honestly say that build quality and value for money far exceeds that currently offered by Honda. I have had 5 new Enfields since 2020 and numerous new Hondas up until then. I currently have both the Meteor and Classic 350s and both are great bikes for different reasons. I would like to test ride the HNTR 350 but as a 6 footer they seem too small when I sat on one in the showroom. Any other 6 footers care to comment.🤔👍
Good detailed review, I took one out for a test ride around the country lanes of Lancashire last Saturday, ideal roads for it and really enjoyed it , the handling is sweet but as you say that suspension is a bit firm, hopefully it may soften up after a few thousand miles?
I'll be buying one for my wife as she loves the look of it , for when she passes her test, but I may be borrowing it myself occasionally and leave my Interceptor in the garage. 😏
Sounds like a well thought through plan !
Very good review of what is a really pretty bike as most all the Royal Enfield's are and I am sure the day will come when I have one but not yet as I still like a slightly higher level of horses for the carriageways and odd motorway trips the Hunter and the Interceptor would be my choice I think .👍
Hi , hope you are ok .
Personally I think that is the right way to look at it . Buy a bike that is designed to deliver the sort of riding and progress you want to make . As I say in my conclusion , I am not a 350 rider at the moment but have been in the past and probably will be again in the future .. 👍
I wonder how long the engine will last, with regular Service’s etc, is there any examples of high mileage with this engine? Good honest review 👊
I passed the test quite a few years ago and have enjoyed riding mainly scooters ranging from 125-250cc. The fastest motorcycle I have owned was a Kawasaki ER6f but it was just too top heavy for me and too fast (stop laughing) but after a couple more twist and go scooters, I am getting the HNTR 350 which I am hoping should be enjoyable and lighter than my Kawasaki. I am no longer one for a 100mph machine like the younger days but the Enfield 350 could be just what I am looking for & it's inexpensive.
Have fun Quentin
Interestingly I have owned three ER-6Fs. I have had my current 2011 model from new and love it to bits but I'm nearly 71, I have arthritis in my hands, shoving the ER-6F around is getting to be a pain (literally) and I'm looking to downsize with the Hunter at the top of my list. The big difficulty I have is getting a test ride since neither of the RE dealers within reasonable distance has a demonstrator. No test ride, no sale, simples. There is also the problem that I've had so much fun and so many adventures with the ER-6F that parting with it will be a bit like having the cat put to sleep. Decisions, decisions....
@@davebarclay4429 For me buying the Royal Enfield Hunter is money very well spent. I have now covered 1500miles, thoroughly run in now and it rides beautifully. It accelerates well for a single cylinder and that beautiful exhaust note.
I noticed the very forgiving engine performance if you engage the wrong gear where the Kawasaki may stall. Fuel economy is excellent returning a minimum of 91mpg when driving it hard. I managed to achieve 70mph on a local dual carriageway and it loved it. Overall I have no problems manoeuvring it and throwing it into a bend. Just watch for gravel.
Excellent video thank you.
Glad it was helpful!
I prefer the Scram 411 to this, but my next 'second bike' to my SCR950 is looking like being a Honda CL500, replacing my Duke 390.
CL500 looks cool... exhaust is ugly though. They could have made it look so much cooler
I liked the Scram when I tested one . Unpretentious... th-cam.com/video/EHZIA-wdIBM/w-d-xo.html
hi michael, racking my brains trying to decide between a RE Hunter and a Kawasaki Z650RS. like the price, looks and mpg of Hunter and wonder if the Kawasakis is £3k better? Will it be more reliable and better built? Im 62, just passed my test and will use the bike for some 12 mile commuting and the odd 60 mile journey into London via A roads. Slightly put off with Hunter servicing every 6 months, not sure if that would be an issue for you. As a beginner, would the Kawa be "too much"?. Obviously its all subjective but would value your advice. Ps the Z650rs is a looker as well and comes with 4 yr warranty.
thanks
Hi Carlton , for what it is worth I think the Z650 would give you more scope and could definitely cope with what you appear to want . I do like the Hunter but think the extra power of the 650 would give you a bit more to play with in commuting traffic without being too much for a recently qualified rider . Both would do it ! Hope this helps .
Thank you. I am going for the z650rs. Kawasaki are doing £1000 off and a 4 Yr warranty. People tell me I would outgrow the hunter quickly.
@@carltongayle5461 Have fun ! 👍
If you think smart city nonsense is about saving the environment, you have another think coming.
it has a cat idk what you are talking about mate
Great video, this little bike has appeal. Rejoining the EU would be best for Oxford, and the rest of the UK, of course.
royal enfield about to outpace honda as a small cc bike.. May get one myself