Royal Enfield Hunter 350, Is it up to the job?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 7 พ.ย. 2022
- part 2 of the road test series testing the bike out in various driving situations.
Today briefly revisiting Motorway and dual carriageway use, Twisty A and B roads, Hill climbing and heavy congested traffic. Is she a good allrounder?
Royal Enfield UK Hunter 350. www.royalenfield.com/uk/en/mo...
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PATREON. / stuartfillingham
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#hunter350 - ยานยนต์และพาหนะ
98 to 109 miles per gallon is very respectable in my book and makes me look favorably on the engineers and their work!!!
For the people disappointed that the 350 doesn't make enough power royal Enfield is currently testing the scrambler 450 in india which according to the spy shots looks exactly like the hunter 350 and will have the same engine as the new Himalayan 450 which is also being currently tested in india 😊
I had the idea that as RE have been establishing themselves outside India with a range of very affordable but NOT cheap bikes, bikes that are low enough power wise to appeal to new riders...a great way to attract more to motorcycling..that at some point they might well expand their range a bit more. Mostly they're the 350 and 650s with a 411 slung into the mix. So a 450 isn't surprising. Bit more capacity a bit more go.
Obviously there is a big market for bikes with more ooomph..might we see a 650 with a power boost at some point?
Maybe some smaller capacity 400/500 twins with a bit more go..or a 1000cc bike somewhere down the line?
A market that is there for RE to tap into. Especially as they've improved the bikes they design to the point reliability and quality is very good. People don;t see RE bikes as cheap Indian built bikes so much now do they.
Bikes like BSA and Triumph and Norton were always popular in the US so I see no reason RE couldn't sell bigger bikes there successfully. Especially if they are good bikes and cheaper to buy.
Well maybe its faster than re hntr 350 because its 450cc but it still as fast as 250cc of other brands 🤣
@@tigbak18salas61 not exactly it has 40hp so it's not exactly slow either
People should not get hung up on the bhp, the torque of a 350 blows my high reving 125 well away, cheers Stu for another informative session, keep up the good work
I had a hunch she was gonna do fine as power allows you to reach a speed, but torque allows you to maintain it.
Quite right Peter...power is all very well but Torque is what you want.
There is no replacement for displacement [upto an extent] 😆
@@NikhilKumarM
At the end of the day it all comes down to what you want the bike for. Straight line speed or fast cornering?
600cc v 1000cc on a twisty track..?
Back in the day Yamaha's RD 350 blew away much bigger 4 stroke bikes.
These days they all have ruddy fuel injection...mapping. What would those 350 RE's do with a carb stuck on 'em? Or a bit of remapping?
Does fuel injection even work any better on bikes? Or is it just about more controlling politicians?
I used to love 2 strokes...I hate ruddy nannies..
In this country a lot of the politicians dislike of bikes is down to the NHS. Same with their obsessions with what we can and can't eat.
In the US it's up to you what you eat or whether or not you ride bikes or drive powerful cars with big V8's under the bonnet. It's up to you whether or not you have enough medical insurance.
No international health service..no cost to government. No nannies. Speaking of the NHS have you tried finding a dentist taking NHS patients lately? 2 to 3 year waiting lists are not uncommon.
Getting a GP appointment is bad enough.
98 MPG is really pretty darn amazing, especially in mixed riding including a decent amount at highway speeds. RE has hit so many home runs recently. Thank you for all your great videos and reviews.
please always ride safe. your videos are out of this world.
Performance is what I'd expect from a bike like this in low state of tune. Reliability is most important thing in most folks minds. RE have got it just about right I think.
I've had my Hunter for about four weeks, did the first service last week.
It is easy to service and cheap to ride.
And fun!
The very taut rear suspension comes into its own on quick, beat up back roads.
Theres an old country road nearby, that is made up more of patches and collapsed surface than real road surface.
I could weight the pegs, absorb the worst of the bounces, and hold speed over the length of the roughest parts, and was able to keep contact with the road pretty much the whole time.
Not the most relaxing ride, but the Hunter showed its chops for poor road surfaces.
Uncle Stu, you continue to be the best source of unbiased motorcycle info and I appreciate you. Can't wait for you to get your hands on the new 650 Scrambler for a spin. Ayyyyyy-up, RIGHT! 😉👍
Thanks Stuart, appreciate the honesty as I am considering buying one of these. best regards..Terry..
Hello Stu while lm tucked up in bed with my mornings cup of coffee just brought in ..while watching your videos lm reminder just how good life is with your time and effort which has gone into making these videos for the rest of us to ponder and enjoy... many thanks for that...well done that man..
Hi Stuart really enjoyed the video and your knowledge is first class. Love the hill test. Subscribed
Apart from the really good motorbike content, I just love listening to your Hull accent. Pure music! Great video.
Neat reference in the scene at the end with the Enfield outside the gun shop!
Brilliant video as always Stuart and I love the look of this little bike very much indeed 😃👍🏻
This is turning out to be an excellent series. Love the footage and commentary.
I hope RE loan you the new 650 Meteor too.
Ride safe
Hi Stu
I ride a 500 Redditch classic. Bought in may. Had 1100 miles on it. Fitted with a hitchcocks booster plug a dna filter and hitchcocks exhaust. My daily commute of 48 miles each way it returns a constant 100 - 103. Mpg. That’s A3 Portsmouth -Guildford in the morning at a steady 60-65 mph And back down the B roads through the meon valley of an evening.
Now has 7000 miles and havnt even adjusted the chain. Excellent bikes.
Nice one Stuart, nice little bike...
Great video, love this little series and hope we see Part 3, 4 etc :)
This bike looks like a great overall package, and the price is fantastic. The service intervals seem quite short compared to some other bike manufacturers, but maybe their service costs are cheaper? Anyway, this bike seems great (and the engine sounds ace!)
I wasn't sure about the Hunter but it's growing on me
Great little video mate, RE make some lovely machines ,ideal for new riders or just as a cheaper mode of transport for us olduns!! 😀 Keep up the reviews and the stunning photography.
Thx, Stuart! I'm pretty sure to get one as soon as they are available in Austria. You're doing great work!
Thanks!
Thanks Harold!
Stuart is a professional motorcycle tester and I feel confident in his testing all the bikes excellent and he is trustworthy
Really love your reviews, very thorough and you tell us all the things we need to know. Thanks for time and effort Stu 🏍👍
Thank you very much Stu for part 2 , ride safe
Just toddled down to my local dealer,to see the bikes in the flesh!I'm sold on the 350"s!And noticed abs on the front disc!Lots of elecrical connections into the cylinder!And what did sell it to me,enclosed front forks!
I like the reset of what is desirable in a motorcycle (actual rational cost). Maybe half of my country will no longer commute in empty 450 hp pickup trucks at 80 mph. Hope springs eternal.
I love the looks of it and am seriously considering it as a commuter/b-road bike, if i was hitting dual carriageways every day it would not even get in my top 5 shortlist. Bottom line is, i would love it as a 500cc single thumper but the engine power it has is just about adequate. Top speed isn't a concern for me but negotiating junctions safely is, we all know how quickly an audi can be right up your chuff pulling out of a junction in or on anything slightly underpowered.
Hi Stuart, you manage to make a non-rider envious. Another great review.
Great follow up video Stu, I can’t wait for mine to arrive, your confirming my choice is a good one.
👍
Wonderful Wonderful
Outstanding. I love the way you are presenting this. By the time I have finished watching this series, I will be hopelessly in love with the Hunter.
The problem is I am trying to empty my garage, not go into dept. 😭
I have 450km on my hunter. Love the bike plenty of torque down low pulls in every gear Easy to hit the rev limiter especially in 2nd 3rd it is a long stroke high torque low RPM engine. just getting used to this I guess.
Seat: Hard. Seriously considering getting some custom foam for it.Might improve with changes in riding position. This is a personal thing at the endif the day.
Mirrors: needs extenders I can't see jack behind me and huge blindspots (smaller framed people might not have this problem) Also considering the touring mirrors as the stock mirrors give me the shakes.
Suspension: is hard: hoping will get better after more break-in
Gear shifter: adjustment requires moving the spline position and changing travel on the lever due to angle change. Adjustable linkage like Himalayan would have been nice instead of metal push rod with a couple clips. I will be trying to mod this.
Tappet noise: hopefully better post first service
Fuel Pump noise: horrid pitch, had EFI bikes before never as noisy or horrid frequency especially when the tank is low (below 2 bars)
Fit: for my height i need bar risers tall torso my arms are relaxed if I am hunched if I sit up my arms are somewhat locked. I need bar risers and maybe bring them back a bit.
Stock Tyres: find in the dry in the wet they are no Michelin Road 6 Pilot Activs, never skimp on rubber.
Paint: on the tank I have to admit the pin striping (rebel red) is sub par they must give some poor sap 30 seconds to do it on the assembly line. Surely a few more minutes on the line in India would not have increased the cost of the bike. Just sad something so basic is neglected and would not have costed anything really. I might be a bit touch nit picky on this my dad was a spray painter.
As a commuter I subtract half a star for rear Midgard or lack thereof needs a wheel hugger for spray, expect the back of your T-shirt to be sprayed with all and sundry in the wet. Otherwise fun and flickable. Just wish the Rev limiter was not so conservative but with emissions I assume she is pretty lean and runs hot accordingly.
Saw this at NEC….The J2 platform is great although I’m not a fan of the Meteor (because of the riding position), I have a Classic (because I love the style but have an Interceptor as well - luckily for me), however the Hntr(!) looks great and has my preferred riding position. So if that’s your segment for a single bike it would be my choice….and forget the snobby comments around Ceat tyres, as Stuart says they perform very well in all riding conditions.
Thanks for telling us more about the Hunter 350. I find myself liking all of Royal Enfield's newer bikes, and if I could, I'd have one of each! Unfortunately, I don't have the time or space for all of them, let alone the money. But yeah, Royal Enfield have been hitting one home run after another as of late-wow... :)
Great! Full respect Stuart, thank you 🙏
Certainly very interesting so far, Stuart. Many thanks
Ayyyyyy-up, Most informative and very easy on the eye.
This is the best “real world” review I’ve seen for any bike. Well done Stuart. It’s also the best looking RE bike to my mind.
I'm hoping for a 650 version for australia,i know stu loves his 350s,but i really like the 650engine&as i said before,the hunter paint themes look really cool to me,any how great vid stu👍
Thanks Stuart!
Overall a positive review , looks like RE have done it again with this little belter and to know its really comfy too is a massive bonus for all , looking forward to the next one Stu 👍
Cracking good addition to the first video in the series Stu. Answered lots of questions and provided some very handy info. Fuel economy and hill climbing in particular. It has really confirmed that a Hunter might be a good sister bike for the GT. Looking forward to the next installments. Thanks for your efforts Stu. Cheers
I could live with that! Great review, thanks.
Another well informed presented video on this new bike. I will look forward to seeing it in the flesh, it looks good on the videos.👍
With more and more open roads having restrictions placed on them such as 50 or 40 mph bixe of this size are more and more becoming the way to go. BMW are releasing the GS1300 soon. It's over 160bhp, I believe, however it's no use really for a lot of roads in the UK if they are restricted to such limiting speeds.
Great video thank you.
Great video, thanks. 🙂
Hi Stuart, can you please, please, please make a comparison video between the Hunter and the Classic 500.
This video makes me wish I was still in the UK, with the cash to buy a Hunter. As it is I'm stuck in Corfu riding a 20+ year old Suzuki 2 stroke 125. A bike that had been bashed around mountain tracks and "improved" by some young lads, by having most of the electrics, instruments, lights and indicators removed. I've had to run wires from bake switches to lights via ignition circuit to make it feel slightly legal and useable in the dark. But it's transport for me and various tools. But it's a little, buzzy engine. It's not as economical as the Hunter, nor as powerful. The Hunter looks like an ideal general runabout. I'm sure I could fit a rack on the back to carry my strimmer.
Its Mr T Very good video how was the mirrors for rear view as was out on classic 350 found that rear mirrors could not adjust good enough meteor they were good rather dissapointed with classic
Uncle Stu sounds like you found a little gem there but you would miss polishing the chrome for sure
Thanks for the video, looking forward to my test ride soon.
Seems RE is knocking it out of the park with all these various 350'$.
I should've bought stock
Morning Stuart, great video, yep the Hunter is meeting my expectations! great little bike, and thanks for the fuel consumption figures, 90+ mpg will do fine 👍
Thanks. Very interesting.
thank you fora very useful video. the fact that it can use 4th at 60 to help climb is music to my ears and useful information as is the fuel consumption. I greatly appreciate your clear eyed, level headed approach. perhaps your background makes you superior at collecting useful and relevant information. but whatever, you are my most trusted source for such information. so thank you you efforts are appreciated
cheers,
old boy roy
Thanks for the review. Seems like RE have done it again. Is this the same frame as the Classic with the rear suspension c spanner issue ?
I rode over the pavement to get to mates house once and was immediately nicked. I was told i needed to push it with the engine off.😢
Perfect! That's all I got for you on this one.
Enjoyed the Hill test. I think all riders have a similarly rigorous task to put their rides through. Between Chester and Northwich there's a similar hill I use or dread, depending on the bike.
Would that be kelsall hill.
@@davidmorriss6177 Yes! It killed my Mutt 250, but not my Meteor. Lol.
@@TheArtdecovampire well it didn't do my james cadet 98cc 2.5 hp 2 speed much good either.
@@davidmorriss6177 That's because those two speeds are slow and slower. The James Cadet was the first bike that I ever rode, back in 1958/9.
His "hills test" were pretty much slight hump tests from what I saw here. I'd like to see it maintain a set cruising speed of 60 or 65mph in Scotland or on some of the continent terrain.
This seems to be an influencer cherry picking an area where his product line could function.
Doesn't the Classic and this Hunter and the Meteor share the same motor, so unless the sprockets are switched to add torque vs topout or vice versa....seems like they'd pull a hill similarly.
I live in legitimate mountains up to a mile high. When I tested the Classic on just a low mountain road it couldn't pull a steep grade without losing speed significantly and downshifting twice to just maintain momentum.
Did you like this dapper grey or rebel blue variant better ?
Thank you Stu for another great VLOG, even from a Lancashire lad some stunning country side love it around Beverly. Cheers
Thanks, a lovely little test run you've got there.
Here in Mordor, twinned with Cumbria, we envy you your blue skies and dry roads!
Thank you for that very informative snippet. The Hunter looks to be a cracking bike and without having ridden one it reminds me of the 350cc Matchless single that I rode many years ago. In the case of the Hunter, another five horse power would I feel widen the appeal of the machine.
Thanks for the info uncle Stu will be waiting for it to come to the states
Well if I can’t get a Hunter 500, I will settle happily for a 450. I can only hope that at 71-years-of-age I live long enough to have one in my garage. Get cracking RE.
Thanks for that, very useful, real-world review. As for motorways, keep away from them! One of my bikes is a modern 1000cc, and even on that I avoid motorways and if I have to use them I have to force myself to keep up to 70, as it is just so windy and uncomfortable.
Hi, I got the Hunter last Friday, I got the decision on my first bike thanks to this video, I be loving it for the time being but I have a doubt about the type of petrol I should use, the dealer told me I should use regular petrol (88 octanes in my country) while I reach 10,000Km, when I past that threshold should use Vpower (95 octanes in my country), the manual says that I should use E10 petrol, I google it and I says that is 92 octane petrol (that is "super" in my country), really I'm lost on what type I should use on my new hunter.
Greetings from Guatemala and sorry for my bad English
Hi, is there any luggage you suggest/recommend for this bike ?
A great and varied review Stu. I really enjoyed it. Comparisons with the Meteor and Classic 350 would be interesting along these routes, along with one on the Classic 500, as I can't find a video on it 😉
As a South African I watch your channel for two reasons, clear and concise relevant info and your accent. Love it mate.
Do you feel like you sit “in” the bike or “on” the bike
Nice review
Thx mate
USA
I test rode the Meteor when it arrived on UK shores. Like just about every motoring vlogger Stuart quotes indicated speed as if the readings are accurate. Manufactuders like their speedo's to over read to err on the legal side. These 350 Enfields may indicate 70mph on the straight and level if the rider has sufficient patience, but you can rest assured that will be more like 65 in real money. May be ok for somebody on an afternoons jolly but not conducive to happy motoring for those people who need to be somewhere and have to use dual carriageways.
No, I don't Martin, I made it clear in the speed test video that speeds where indicated speeds. I think everyone who has ever owned a vehicle is aware of the information in your comment.
Every vehicle is out. You have to go by what the clock says when comparing speed.
My car is probably out but when I go in the motorway I keep the speed to what the clock tells me not what I think the actual gps speed is.
And tbh from speed test videos these bikes only seem out by a couple of mph.
Sounds perfect for here in New Zealand, 100kph limits (62mph). By the looks most of out of city roads, count as A&B. coming up to Summer. Perfect to find a Beach on.
Same. I’m in Australia so sounds good to me.
Like the way how you pronounce Beverley road correctly ( I work on the south bank ) . No longer a biker myself but love watching your channel to bring back the memories.
Even though I’m really excited about the 650 hunter, whenever l see this bike in a picture it makes me feel like l did in my teens - l want to get on it and have some fun! It reminds me of the Suzuki 450 twins .Obviously a sign of old age...
This is looking like a really good small capacity workhorse comfy not too big/heavy just enough power a great ride to work competitive price I reckon they will sell a lot I def buy it in favour of the other two in the 350 stable it just looks and feels a modern bike.
You said you were initially disappointed to not maintain 60 on the hunter.
Have you been up the hill on the classic?
I'd be interested to know if that can maintain 60mph.
Does the classic actually have more pull up hills or maybe the hunter engine still needed bedding in?
Great video as usual Stu, thank you, now I understand completely why people would like a comparison between the three 350s but I'd love to here how you think the Hunter stacks up against the Scram 411. Not as left field as some might think I believe they were both created to operate in the same environments, would much appreciate your opinion. Cheers Nick.
excellent review. No BS or hype to sell the product. Just the straight off the shoulder approach I have come to respect from Uncle Stu. Tempting but I still like the look of the classic 350 more. Thanks for the hard work.
Do you recommend for urban city with hills like San Francisco
Excellent footage and commentary, thank you Stewart! You've addressed exactly these uncertainties I have as a commuter, who's used to 125 and 250cc scoots in a hilly back road area of South Bohemia and some Budweis heavy city traffic. In spring I'm gona buy this thing, definitely. Looking forward to the full review!
Stuart,lovely stuff again,having executed your test’s successfully,what would your opinion be as to the longevity of that little engine be , if I were to purchase one it would only be for casual sunny weather enjoyment 😊
They will be hammered all over India, so you should have no worries.
Stops at the gun shop at the end...
Problem with that?
Non at all, pity you weren't on the Bullet!
Morning Stewart. For a 350cc single cylinder doing around 95 per gallon isn't to be sniffed at. Back in the 1970s and 1980s commutors riding Honda 90s were often hard pressed to achieve that mileage! Regarding steep hills or motorway riding. I wonder if a quick change to the drive sprocket might give better results? But as always a very informative vid. Nicely presented. Safe and enjoyable riding till next time.
On this roads no cat or cow how can this possible iam ameaz
Eyup ! Stuart ive always wondered about press bikes been run in now i know cheers bill 👍
Aye-oop!!! What do you think of the rear shocks then?
Great video Stu, but I can't hit the "thumbs up" button...it's gone! Or is it just a problem with my computer? Please check on it. Thanks!
Never mind... Restarted the computer...works now! I hit the "thumbs up"!
Is the hunter a 2 stroke mix or in leaded
Royal Enfield can go anywhere climb any mountain, it's climbing world highest motorable road on daily basis
Of the 350s this one appeals to me the most. It looks like it's a riot to ride. An aside note: RE's worldwide sales grew 86% percent in 2022. They might be on to something, eh?
Nice review and bike. I prefer the classic myself as a matter of fact it's one of, if not my favorite video of all time. braking in the classic around the countryside, I thought I would never say that about a 350!
I can't make my mind up whether this is my favourite RE, the 350 Classic or the 500 Classic. The Hunter would make a fantastic London commuter. I used to do it on an MZ ETZ301, and that was fun. Small single cylinder bikes are definitely the best for the city. If I was still working, I'd commute on a Hunter. Hang on, I forgot about the 390.
Who does your servicing in Hull.
I love the look of this machine, RE please try and wring a few more HP out of this 350 single. In the 80s (yes I’m getting on somewhat) I ran a Honda CB250RS also a single which pushed out 26 HP, very reliable and could comfortably sit at 70 with quite a bit in hand……ok winge over thanks for the review Stewart 😊
Champion little bike.
I have a new 350 classic , I live in the mountains of southern Austria and the little classic copes with it all no problem
Tappets adjusted at first service? Seems a little extreme?
Most of the valve train wear will happen in the first few thousand miles, then it will settle down. Used to be very common in old tech engines to adjust at first service.
Hi Stuart. Thanks for another interesting and informative video.
This is definately a great looking bike ! I am curious to hear how you find it compares to the Classic and Meteor, but would also like to know how it compares to the Himalayan and Scram.