What a beauty! Hinkly triumph should have made a bike like this years ago . Us Kiwis loved the old XL350 Hondas . Silple , not too heavy, great fun . Thanks
That's a good looking bike, can't wait to hear a more thorough review. Having recently been weened off my 125hp machine and converted to a 650 Interceptor, I've realised I don't need big horsepower to get big smiles. A 350cc bike is also beginning to appeal more and more - who needs to do 130mph? Maybe I'm just growing up, lol.
When I were a lad, I had a Honda XL350, which the owner swapped for my Yamaha RD350 because he didn’t like kick starting a four stroke. I hated the RD because I was over two strokes by then, forty horsepower was too much temptation for my license, and the XLs twenty four horsepower was just right for New Zealand roads. I didn’t have a passenger more’s the pity, but if I could go back in time, and be young again, a nice girl who was just right asked me for a ride and I never followed up. I loved that bike and rode on many long rides, probably the best time of my life. Before I got a job and I gradually had the life sucked out of me, but that only happened when I got rid of my bike. Your bike is your life, hold onto it as long as you can, preferably with a nice shapely passenger.
Stuart, I would like to say your videos are very helpful ,so much that I’ve place an order on this very same motorcycle ,and should have the bike on the road from 1/march ,your reviews are just what you need when looking for a new motorcycle.stay safe .🇬🇧👍
I've been riding my Hunter Retro for a month now. I love it, especially riding on the winding roads of the Western Ghats here. I am waiting to see what you think of this beauty. Keep going, Stu.
What a little beauty,ok I know lot of folk don't like the tubeless cast wheels ..however I think they look fab ..OK question what is this bike like for a pillion ?
Thanks for opening up the conversation Stuart, my question is about the characteristics of the J platform: now that you've ridden 3 separate bikes with the same engine yet different mappings, what's your take on this engine? Which one of these bikes takes full advantage of the new J engine and which is your personal favorite?
Love your content and how you present information loyal fans of your channel know how you respond to comments and what you would do and wouldn't do absolutely loving the look of the hunter 350 simply stunning definitely wasn't more content on this little beauty keep up doing exactly what your doing your true fans will be here supporting you
It just goes to show you how much respect and influence you have, when they rock up to your house with a bike to test. They're obviously watching your channel. The Hunter was on my shortlist for a second bike, I settled on a Himalayan. The Interceptor is feeling neglected because I'm running the new bike in. Ride safe
Would love to hear your thoughts about the Hunter vs Classic for inner-city riding! Love the Classic vintage look but does the reduced weight and chassis refinements make enough of a difference to opt for a Hunter?
Good thinking Stu. Like your reference to the tool kit. Can it handle basic maintenance tasks (including preload adjustment etc)? Also interested in your views on benefits/tradeoffs between the 17" front vs the 19" of the classic/meteor. Is it like the scram / himalayan - so little loss of capability but bit more chuckable? Ha ha. So RU-vid is fast out of the blocks on closing your channel down to hurt feelings, but actual scammers, it'll be fine!
As teenager, I was obsessed by old British iron, those old oily lumps tugged at my heartstrings. Prices in the 80s and 90s excluded me from my hobby, and I gave up riding. I got back to it on a Mutt Mastiff, which looks like a BSA in my mind, then bought a meteor. Its like riding the bike that the British bike industry should have built years ago. Its a really civilised motor in these three variants and I cant believe how it captures the feeling of the past with a foot firmly planted in the present. Once again the Hunter seems to fill a nice niche, to me it seems happy to be what it is, not trying to give the customer a feeling of a bigger bike, which I can't help feeling other brands do with their small to mid range machines (if indeed they build on!). Its not a little interceptor, its not a stripped down classic or street styled meteor. It has its own character. I'm going to test ride one just for the hell of it, so I can rub my chin and look wise when I talk about it. RE, are they ever going to get it wrong?
Hi Stuart, I put a deposit down on one the exact same colour last week, don’t know when they’re going to be in the dealers. Start riding it and get those videos posted 😊
I'm looking forward for your point of view on this nice, little bike. One thing I'd like to know, as most reviewers don't even seem to bother about in these days: does it have some (small) storage capacity, maybe under the seat? Most modern bikes seem to lack that while all the older bikes (20+ years) I owned so far (Yamaha XJ600, Suzuki GS500E and now a Honda CB500S) have that. I like to keep a small first aid kit and a high-vis vest in that comparment. Never needed these things so far (knock on wood) - but as my luck goes: I would need that stuff in that moment that I don't have it with me.
I love the way that RE keeps things accessible for routine maintenance. So many manufacturers put too much plastic shrouding on their motorcycles and thusly, the aesthetic is driven by the form of said plastic instead of the actual motorcycle. I’m a big fan of wire-spoke wheels but completely understand that having tubeless tires on cast wheels is almost always preferable. That being said, I think wire-spoke wheels would look wonderful on this machine. I look forward to this series, Stuart. This is a great idea but, I don’t imagine that it will be easy for you to pick and choose the content since there will be so many questions and comments. Carry on, my friend!
Keeps things accessible for routine maintenance??? If it's like the Meteor/Classic 350 (and it appears to be) then it is a bit of a palaver having to remove the seat, tank, electric connections just to get access to the head. My old Z650 was way easier.
2-up rider and pillion experience report from a 2 hour round trip (1 hour out to a destination, 1 hour back via a different route of course) excursion around the best backroads of your district. Is Mrs Fillingham amenable to being shoulder-tapped for the job? I'm mindful though that at this time of year the air temps will be about to take a precipitous plummet so it'll be understandable if she says 'thanks, but no thanks' 😀
This is a lovely looking bike. What would I like to know to know about it? Range - mpg - Service intervals - Suitability for different sorts of roads - Quality of finish - Ease of cleaning - Non-obvious snags of ownership - Quality of ride - Grin Factor
A question I often see being asked in the comments of bike reviews concerns the suitability for taller or shorter riders. Is there any chance you could get some biking buddies around the 5ft and 6ft marks to demonstrate how they get on with the Hunter? As a secondary, could you say if RE provides any options for the bike aimed at shorter or taller riders?
That's my concern as well (I'm 6''3) - I mean the suitability . At the moment I can't find any Hunter to ride . Testing bikers say that it's ''a compact bike''. Hope it rides as it looks.😁
Been following for a while now, first time I'm commenting though. Terrific content, really enjoying it. I'd really appreaciate a somewhat detailed walk-around of the bike, for example seat and side panel removal, what's in the tool kit and how much thought has been put into attachment points for mods and accesories such as saddlebags. Also, how well does it keep up in motorways, will it be able to overtake in a 120km/h road? What about handling in gravel and dirt roads? I'm still figuring out if this bike is appropiate for me. Most of my riding is commuting in the city, but I'd love a retro bike in which I'll be confident taking it out scrambling and travelling at motorway speed. Does it meet that expectation? I currently have a Yamaha FZ 250, a modern small cc naked, which on paper has barely any difference in power and torque in comparison to the Hunter, so I'm not sure if it would be worth spending the extra money, having the two is not an option. Looking forward to whatever you have to say about the bike. Stay safe!
@@stuartfillingham ah! I promise it wasn't a trick to get your attention, we're genuinely excited about the Hunter, but while you're here, I'll take the opportunity to let you know that our mounts for the Classic 350 will be out very soon too if interested.
Hi stuart, I believe the chassis angles have sharpened for this bike. I would be interested how it handles on the lanes around town and in a straight line. Great work! Keep it up.
Yes there is something I would like tested properly. Do a 200 mile motorway ride on it so we really know if the odd motorway trip is okay or not please.
If you are ok with staying in the slow lane with trucks 60-65 mph then why not. I did it on my 9kw 125cc scooter..Will you or the bike be happy on a motorway? Most likely not.
How about these for a review ? 1. Looks, colour options 2. General specifications 3. Tools, features (tool kit, adjustable suspension) 4. Performance - Gear shift quality, speed, handling, braking etc 5. Fuel efficiency - Tank range, city, highway figures 6. How does it compare against Classic 350 and Interceptor 650 - like what are the plastic components on this bike, weight, performance etc 7. Accessories for the bike 8. To whom this bike is for ? 9. Price - what are the bikes available in the price range compared to this bike ? 10. What could have been done better ? 11. Issues, glaring omissions 12. Can this be used for touring - is it easy to tie luggage on this bike ? 13. Since the bike has smaller tyre compared to Classic 350 but same engine, how does it handle, performance etc 14. Headlight performance
Hopefully, RE stopped packing all of their relays with tons of lithium grease with these new models but up to this point including the Classic 350 Reborn they are still doing it. I've had to clean every relay since I got my INT650 when it started just dying and now from the Himalayan to my classic I've cleaned and replaced the lithium with dielectric grease as a precautionary step it's pretty scary when you are going down the highway and the engine just dies. Since doing this step I've not had any issues with the engine cutting out. Also, hopefully, RE also coated the back of the brake pads which they put on bone dry which causes squeaking when the brakes are applied... a quick remedy is to coat the back of the pads with a little bit of copper anti-seize where there is metal to metal contact. I was at my local RE dealer and looking at the SCRAM it appears they coated them with a copper spray to the backing.
I can see RE have got their marketing spot on. I love the look of this new Hunter 350 and have to admit, I'm tempted! Love the mag wheels, they will make on the road punctures fixable at the side of the road without the need for carrying tyre leavers around too.
Hi stu , I would like to know about the size of the bike , like is it full sized or is it 125cc size as I’m interested in down sizing but I don’t want a small machine just a small engine , thanks
It’s really great bike. I have got one 15 days before. It’s already growing on me. Really feel like a small bike and wonderful for daily commute. It handles like 200 cc bike through the traffic which we all know how it is in India. No vibrations of any kind at all. Let’s see how you feel.
I'm interested to know, what is the fun quotient of this bike? And how does it compare (in the fun quotient department) with the meteor and the classic 350, given that they are similarly priced?
It amazes me how RE has so many models that compete with themselves really. Scram, Himmy, Classic and now the Hunter. Bit like British Leyland in the 1970’s. They must believe the market can absorb them all. Love the wheels on this one.
I’m not so sure they are competing. To me it looks like they are just blanketing/carpet bombing the smaller capacity end of the market, one that exists all over the world. This means a simple single cylinder engine of 250-500cc, relatively lightweight, highly functional, really good value for money, classic/retro looks with minimal body panels etc. So like when you go shopping for milk, pasta, potatoes, meat or carpets - there is always a vast range products within a particular category. Motorcycles are no different.
Even if they are competing in the UK market, it shouldn't really matter to them. They sell so many units in the domestic market that they can justify each unique one. The downsides of competing with yourself are outweighed by the benefit of consumer choice when you're selling millions.
If they were selling uk numbers it might be overkill but when you consider a home market of over a billion people variety does become the spice of life. The tactic may not have worked for British Leyland back in the day but the VW Audi Skoda Seat method of taking very similar car’s marketed with different badges, equipment levels, and body shape tweaks seems to work well for them.
To be fair some very valid points made (by all the above) but I think you have hit the nail on the head. RE are so massive now right across the globe they can just do this and soak up relatively poor sales. GT650 vs Interceptor as one example. Great for the consumer though. They have also been responsible for a complete rethink on what biking is all about and the real value of smaller capacity bikes like the 350.
How is the throttle? So many new bikes have terribly snatchy on/off throttle. Back in the day we used to say "light flywheel effect" but today it seems to have to do with emissions.
I'm interested in the seat. Comfort on long rides, can you flat foot it, would a pillion be able to squeeze on if I was carrying a few lbs. How does it go on the motorway for those short hops I have to do to get to the coast. How does its performance compare to the classic and meteor.
Awwwwwww, that was the longest 10 second fade out! I was waiting to hear the engine run once the ignition had been switched on! Please compare with classic 350: “The clash of the 350’s!”
Hello, how does the 'Saucy Little Minx' perform in the overtaking department that is in the 30mph to 70 band width (for us Down Under) the 50 klm to 110. this would be good info for use on our crummy pothole riddled roads.
Hi Stuart, I am really in doubt if I schould go for an hunter 350 or a triumph scrambler 900 which costs twice as much. And would you prefer a hunter over a 350 classic? Thanks . I enjoy your video’s
Good morning Stu 😊. Aha, homework eh? Excellent idea 👍. I'm really looking forward to your long(ish) term review and what others might ask of you. Right then, engage grey matter and think... (imagine me sitting cross-legged, fingers on temples) "Ommmm" 😁
Probably my favourite RE. It looks particularly attractive in blue/white. Made for the huge Indian market, so it's cheap due to economies of scale, I'd imagine. Not produced using cheap parts. It's a little heavy for a 350. I'd be interested in how it pulls from low down the rev range in a high gear. I can't test ride one in Chiang Rai as Triumph Chiang Rai has dropped Royal Enfield.
thanks, where I live the road out climbs555mtrs in 19 miles, listed as 5%. I'm wondering if the hunter could keep up with traffic, or would i need a scram to cope. the 350 is more my style, but it is no use if it can not cope with such a hill. your opinion would be appreciated, I have a high opinion of your opinions, always downright sensible in a world lacking sense, common or otherwise
Fantastic looking bike stu, can you possibly go into more detail why it’s called the HNTR & not HUNTER in the uk mkt?(I expect it’s a copyright problem?) So looking forward to your honest to the point review Also is it true the ignition key is slightly off centre? If so why? Tnx
A pretty bike, spoilt by the tank graphics and missing letter U in the word Hunter on the side panels. Are they available with simple, discreet tank badges or decals ?
Ok Stuart, your mission if you choose to accept it for the Hunter is to pack whatever you need for a two night adventure ( including a tyre plug kit and inflator) let us know what you’ve used to hold you pants etc ( tail tidy or soft panniers) and report back on is suitability for such…. Like a road test on steroids.
With the Mag wheels and much larger rubber I would be interested, of course, in the handling aspects of this bike. I just bought a new Chrome Bronze C 350 but being a M/C racer at heart I would love to see this as a much sportier version and consider it as my next purchase.
Great video and idea to promote areas of rhe bije to explore Stuart. I own a Classic 350 Chrome, which I love. My question is. How does the comfort of the Hunter compare to the Classic which has a single seat for the rider? Thank you David.
Stuart, can you comment on the heavyness of the clutch? Many other reviewers flagged this as the main negative, especially for city riding. I would use it mainly for commuting in London so I am very interested in this. Thanks.
Would love to see a mini-tour, maybe just overnight to a place away. This maybe not be possible with your foot and weather now. Also would love to see it on a faster A road, like a 60 dual carriage way.
G'day Stu, great to see you have been given a Hunter for a couple of weeks, I hope the weather is kind and you get plenty of miles up on the bike. I would been interested to know: 1. Rider comfort after a couple of hours in the saddle 2. Pillion comfort for the same period 3. Are luggage options already available 4. is two up touring at 100km/h possible 5. Fuel economy 6. Effects of vibrations through the bars and pegs I better stop there before I receive a classic Yorkshire rebuke. 😀
@@stuartfillingham Thank you Stuart. You will have to forgive my incompetence but I have not been able to find an email address for you where I could send info that might be useful to you. Cheers
I am told that the steering rake has been altered so it's more city friendly, is this so? and if it is, would it be less suitable for other uses. Thank you for efforts to keep us happy. Ken
I love my Meteor 350, but I’m chomping at the bit for that Meteor 650. I don’t want to get rid of my 350 because it was my first bike, but I really just want to keep a single J-Series in the stable because I just love it so much. Now I’m eyeing the Hunter in place of the soon-to-be-mini-meteor.
Also interested in motorway/freeway (I'm in Australia) capability. Looking to get a frugal commuter and have approx 30 minute freeway ride as part of journey
She's cute! Looks a bit more modern than most of RE's lineup but that's not a plus :) I have an Interceptor 650. I wonder how the handling compares, just out of curiosity. Thanks for all the great videos!
If it's any help, my classic 350 (same engine) prefers E5 I think, only put in a couple of gallons of E10 when no E5 was about, maybe I was imagining it, but I think It didn't run quite as well Just calculated mpg over the last 318 miles, came out at 98mpg ( mainly riding in the Peak District which is very much "up and down" bike's done 1500 miles 😃
