Royal Enfield Hunter 350 vs Honda CB350 – If you’re in the market for some of the hottest-selling classic and retro-inspired cruisers or roadster bikes in India, the Royal Enfield Hunter 350 and Honda CB350 should surely make it to your list. Both motorcycles offer an entirely different riding experience; nonetheless, both are adequately apt in their areas. Notably, light and perfect for cruising in the city, the Hunter 350 has been more refined as a mid-weight roadster bike option to the CB350 class. Let’s, however, try in the simplest way possible to elucidate some of the differences between the bikes in terms of engine performance, comfort, and overall value for money.
Engine Performance
The Royal Enfield Hunter 350 is propelled by a 349cc single-cylinder engine. It is a torque-heavy motor with adequate lower-end response for city traffic. The whole setup is geared toward a cruising experience, and even beginner riders will find it easy to use. There is also a slight thumping feeling with the Hunter 350 engine noise that many Royal Enfield riders smirk about. On the highway, the bike comfortably maintains cruising speeds-but just barely achieves its top-end speed. Fuel economy also seems quite decent on the engine, particularly in the city.
On the other hand, the CB350 has an almost identical 348cc engine, but a notch less in refinement is entirely different in tuning. The engine on the CB350, with astounding smoothness and refinement, with fewer vibrations at wide-open throttle, allowed for maximum cruising speed all the way. The power is effortlessly churned out in low and mid-range on this engine, making overtakes and highway runs feel quite fast and free. It was smoothness and premium feel that Honda concentrated on, and the CB350 feels a lot bolder on the highway compared with the Hunter 350.
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Comfort & Ride
An upright sitting position with relaxed body posture would describe one’s riding experience on the Hunter 350. Its seat is on the softer side and seems pretty fine for short city commutes; not many complaints from short tours, categorically. The pillion seat is fairly sizeable, but one would feel some amount of fatigue if doing long-distance touring. Suspension has been tuned to soak up all the bumps and potholes on the city streets with ease.
Honda CB350 Comfort
can be termed the best in the segment. A long and wide seat gives comfort to both rider and pillion. Relaxed riding posture prevents fatigue on long highway trips. Softer suspension setup absorbs the jarring effects of rough city roads and glides smoothly.
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Value for Money
The Royal Enfield Hunter 350 is priced at about ₹2.05 lakh (ex-showroom) in India. This price tag is justifiable, of course, by the rest of the competition in the segment from the standpoint of the buyers looking for classic lines, iconic thump sound, and city-friendly cruiser styling. Service bills tend to be pretty easy on the pocket, owing to the massive Royal Enfield vendor network, although actual part prices might be slightly high. The Honda CB350 is priced at approximately ₹2.30 lakh (ex-showroom). The maybe-seems-like-a-bit-expensive price just serves the right purpose for those seeking a premium experience ranging from smooth engine operation, refined feel, down to comfortable ergonomics. In combination with the name of Honda, the CB350’s build quality and reliability only add to the buyer’s confidence.
Conclusions
If you’re in the market and fancy a classic-style, easy-handling, city-friendly cruiser, then the Royal Enfield Hunter 350 is your kind of bike. Everything from its looks to its sound to the overall vibe riding experience gives it a very cruiser motorcycle feel.
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On the contrary, if smooth engine power, comfort, long-distance touring, and a premium, refined ride feel are your concerns, you would not go wrong in considering the Honda CB350 as its deserving counterpart. The CB350 has received its fair share of applause for being comfortable doing long highway treks, allegedly the best in its class.