Lack of technology is a positive rather than a negative, that's why us Enfield owners buy them, less to go wrong. As for slipper clutches and traction control its got them, its built into the rider and goes under the heading of skills and common sense.👍
@@karthikshaji9067 I’ve been on the road since 1966 , I don’t even notice the ABS on my Hunter. But Jonathan the original post is 100% correct it’s skills and common sense .
I believe you are the last of the major UK RU-vidrs to review this bike and it’s always interesting to get another perspective on what is an excellent machine. I’ve owned my Hunter Dapper Grey since January, rode it during the winter with salt on the roads and it now has 900 miles on the clock. I will leave my thoughts till your final review and will share some information which I hope will be of interest to current and prospective owners. The prices you quoted for the bikes are incorrect by the way, you forgot the OTR charges . The Dapper range is £3899 OTR, with the others about £100 more. I got free delivery on mine although I don’t know whether this is still being offered at this time of year.
Thanks for this Andy, I’ve just traded my Classic 350 for a Hunter. Loved my Classic but at 64 with a knackered spine I really needed something a bit lighter especially moving in and out of the garage and on and off the centre stand. Very excited about getting the Hunter as it’s saved me, hopefully, from the descent into scooterdom!
Has the change made it easier on your back? I can sympathise as got a knackered lower back too. Is it more comfortable to ride than the classic? I note that you lean forward more, which I'm hoping takes pressure off the spine? Hope you're getting on well with it.
@@Bavenbushcraft easier all round I’d say. The riding position is slightly more front forward and the pegs an inch further back. The rear suspension is a little hard to getting with but softens up nicely after 500 miles or so. Recommend it if you’re struggling with your back definitely.
@@Bavenbushcraft easier all round I’d say. The riding position is slightly more front forward and the pegs an inch further back. The rear suspension is a little hard to getting with but softens up nicely after 500 miles or so. Recommend it if you’re struggling with your back definitely.
As a Hunter owner, I would advise that the Hunter is less forgiving on the lower back than the Classic. The suspension is too stiff. I am in the process of trying to source a replacement which is softer. Any suggestions anyone?
Had my hunter for just over a month, used for commuting, its excellent. Got a bigger bike for any higher speed stuff but I do love my little hunter rebel and the price for the finish is fantastic.
Great review Mr Flyer, really appreciate your honesty and realism shown in your reviews. Unlike some other YT'ers you have no axe to grind, no ad hominems to fire, no misplaced hubris and for those reasons and others you come across as a modest, honest and fair-minded guy. Keep up the great work and the service you do for all us 'normal' bikers.
Ok I have the 2023 monkey but considering the Hunter 350 but not sure if I want to stray from Honda quality and reliability. Thanks for amazing videos on both bikes!!!🙏🏻❤️🙏🏻
Very good review of the hunter, I have had the interceptor then the meteor and finally the hunter. I love all three but my favourite is the hunter as it suits my needs to get me to work. It is by far the easiest of them to keep clean. The tyres have coped well even when we had snow. I am tempted to fit bar end mirror's to improve rear vision but other than that I find it an absolute fun bike to ride.
The Ceat tires are absolutely fine! Tested the Meteor in dry and wet many times as well as Classic and HNTR and no complains about the tires - like many others who own RE bikes. When somebody who just wants to do reviews and just criticize the tires for that he don’t know them and therefore will exchange them the whole review is useless for me! Drive them do your research and then criticize them, but not for "I don’t know them, so the must be rubbish" Sorry, but I‘m out at this point.
Great review I've had a 350 classic for over a year and love it. The only thing I disagree with is the tyres, I'd never heard of them but I've used them in wet and cold conditions and I have to admit that they are adequate for the bike and have never given me cause for concern.
Nice review as ever. It's a pretty cool looking little good value bike for sure. Great for just casually pottering about on or maybe the more cultured (new) rider who wants to go the retro styled route rather than the transformer looking &/or performance orientated options.
I would just like to say that I am so grateful for your content. I don't see every video you post but I genuinely enjoy living vicariously through your shared experiences with these 2 wheeled contraptions that I have forever been fascinated with. Thank you! I would say I love you but that may not be appropriate and it's probably the coffee talking lol. Seriously though, you do such a great job in presentation visually and verbally. It helps that you're as genuinely upbeat and chipper in your videos as you are which makes the videos all the better and pleasant to watch. Here's to you sir!
@@oldfella4096 The extension can be removed for aesthetic reasons as short mudguards look better. It can be left on if you want to avoid getting splattered with muddy puddle water. So buyers have a choice between form and function.
It probably feels a bit quicker than the Classic and Meteor because it's about 15kg lighter than those. I have a Classic, which I love, but the Hunter looks like a real fun all-rounder.
Hired one for a few days around Chiang Mai with a view to buying one later... It was terrific, be an ideal bike for this location.. In the end I bought a Meteor in Fireball yellow . It came up used at a price I had to pounce on.. Also ideal for around here... Wish I could afford a hunter and Himmy as well... RE obsessed at the moment...😂🎉 *Crap Game*
@@Plough78 I moved south from Chiang Mai but did a lot of riding in that area last year on a 250 Rally...i am looking at a new Hunter because of the price point and roadside assistance and warranty....mind you at the same price i can pick up a lightly used Interceptor650. I will wait until the new Triumph400X and Himalaya 450 prices are announced but i reckon both of those will be around the price of a new Interceptor 650 like 240,000 baht. Getting a bike at 140,000 baht leaves me more money for travelling and setting it up with some bags. I am totally ok with riding a slow bike hard i prefer it and like a small bike for parking here and getting around the towns. I did 25,000 on the 250 Rally last year so its not a problem on that bike except for highways which i hate anyways. Question for you: how does the 350 j engine do on the steeper bits of road say going up to Pai or the MHS loop or even up Doi Suthep? Can you jeep at comfortable road speeds? I need to find a Hunter for rent down here in Hua Hin...i think a week on the bike would really help me decide. Thanks in advance
The halogen lights on the Hunter looked a lot better than many of the LED lights yuve demonstrated in the past to me. The circle of light on main beam lit the road up much better and the high beam was exemplary!
Great review as usual Andy. As I’ve said before, I don’t think Royal Enfield bikes can be beaten for value for money at present. They are great bikes for those who want a no nonsense great value bike. From the 650’s through the Himalayans to the 350’s all are great value for money, solid bikes. In in the past I’ve owned a Bullet 500 efi and a Himalayan , I will be adding a Hntr 350 before long, given the ever reducing speed limits and increasing number of speed cameras they just make more sense.
Definitely great value. Similar pricing to similar Chinese bikes but closer to Japanese quality and a good warranty. It's cheaper than most Japanese 125cc bikes.
Looks a very competent bike to do what it was designed for!! Thanks as ever Andy for your valuable opinion and informative comment. Personally I'm with you on matt finishes, they just look like they've been left in primer to me and must surely 'grip' any passing dirt more efficiently which just ain't good!! 😃
I am old enough to remember when the halogens were the hottest new ticket. Not even a thought of those blinding blue things. Seems like one just needs to pop on a windscreen and head on out on a road trip.
Have to say I disagree on the tyres. I have the CEATs on my Meteor and have ridden in the rain a lot, with no concerns about grip at all, and I’m generally quite sensitive to poor tyre quality. It sounded from your commentary more like you expected them to be bad rather than experienced them to be bad. Did you actually find them to have poor grip?
CEAT are a subsidiary of Pirelli and I found them fine in the wet on my Classic 350 - although since I changed to alloy wheels I now run Avon Roadriders tubeless😎
Love the look, price is brilliant for a new bike, I would definitely buy one of theses, I have seen some trick parts on the market so you can make them your own .. great review sir !! 👊
I love this little bike, it's great value for money and has only what it needs and with a great look. Even an handlebar mount USB port, other manufactures should take note!!
TMF, excellent review and I think this bike will be another hit for RE. Smaller displacement bikes get a lot of grief here in the states, but this one seems like it's perfectly suited for urban environments and Sunday backroading. And the price point, wow, just wow! Thanks again.
You can’t really go wrong with one of these new 350 Enfield’s for country lane bimbling & general running about . The only nit picks for me on this bike ,is the large logo on the tank ,the rear light & that piece of a twig holding a reflector under the number plate . This or the classic would be my choice, I never change the standard tyres on new bikes until the factory ones wear out . I usually find a lot of these lesser known tyres are a lot better than expected . The budget tyres on these modern Chinese & Indian manufactured bikes are 100 better ,compared to the non stick tyres fitted to the early Japanese bikes ,we rode in all weathers all year round . The lower capacity bikes are making more & more sense these days ,with the ever decreasing speed limits the increasing price of fuel & greater congested roads . A modern motorcycle that actually looks like a proper bike Mr Flyer 👍
Hi TMF, another unbiased, relative review, looking at all styles of bikes, for all styles and needs of differing riders. I was just wondering when at the GM Station carpark, that you could test the ease of loading the bike up on the centre stand - another function of garage and back yard driveway handling, which we all have to go through when cleaning the bikes, cleaning and lubing the chain - I am aware, a whole lot of bikes do not have a centre or main stand but I think the HNTR 350 does. Graeme, NZ
Over here on the big island (Australia, for those unlucky folks not in the Antipodes), RE do call it the Hunter 350 and I'm very tempted by it. Regards the centre-stand, I currently have a Suzuki VL 250 without one, which was less than ideal when I changed the front sprocket (went for a taller, 16t one) on it this week. Given that I'm 77, ease of maintenance is becoming more of an issue.
It looks like the mud guards on the front would do a good job of keeping dirt off the engine, in contrast to many new bikes with almost no protection. The rear mud guard looked good also. Thanks for the review. It sounds like a nice bike for general riding about and having a good time.
I've had a classic 350 for a while now and love it, had a look at a Hunter the other day and was really impressed with the look of the bike, agree with the light switch layout bit fiddly but not a show stopper, good review as always.
Great review, definitely think small cc bike worth considering for second bike or even a first bike, ive just bought a suzuki inazuma 250 looking forward to getting out on it once delivered and oh yes rain or shine ill be out on it.
I have a scram 411 for now. But appreciate your views and enjoyment on riding all variations of motorbikes. Nearly winter down under... so a chilly 13deg today.😂
Hiya, Thank you for another great review, it's refreshing to hear and see you report on the bike for what it is, it's not supposed to be a high-spec flying machine and you don't expect it to be. Thank you for the honest no-nonsense report. I can't wait to see your follow-up video although Im with you and like the look of the classic.
Hi Sir. Another good review. I am loving my 350 Classic and my dealership has a beautiful white Hunter that tempted me but I love the chrome spoke wheels of the Classic. The Ceat tires from India are getting good review from other channels so it may just have been the wet conditions you didn't like. Thanks again, have a great week........Sal : )
I own a meteor which comes with the ceat tyres as well . They are a bit of an old fashioned experience in that they take a few miles to bed in and to warm up they aren’t the worst tyres I have ever ridden on but there is room for improvement. In the wet they lack a bit of grip until warm but are no worse than most tyres on small bikes. I have heard through the riders groups that Avon’s are the way to go but I will be changing the tyres when they wear out as the Ceat’s are good enough.
I'm so close to getting one. I probably don't go over 60mph on my commute and in the peak district i probably stay around 50. Ofc there are times i use the acceleration of a 600cc but only because I can. I think I'd be happier with a smaller and lighter bike and being brand new i could actually go long distances with a bit more confidence. My current bike has a habit of breaking down 15 miles from home😄 Finish wise i don't see them being any worse than some of the main brands. My Yamaha looked quite rusty within 2 years and i looked after it. There were a lot of cheap parts on the YBR I can see the exhausts going brown but nothing much else to worry about.
Seems like a really nice bike for those of us who don't need big power and don't have big money. I was intrigued by the Meteor and now we can get this without the "cruiser" riding position. I know I'm old now when reviewers talk about "old fashioned" halogen headlamps LOL!
Top review as always 👍 for that price it’s difficult to criticise I spose but the “Brian the snail” mirrors would have to go. The blue paint looks cool, I had a triumph tiger sport with matt paint and found it tricky to keep it looking good.
With riders getting older these Enfield are just the ticket after all not many want 100mph performance and as you mentioned back roads are more fun than A roads or Motorways. Youngsters can afford them too.
Enjoyed my time on the Hunter also. Actually don’t mind the indicators or the clock, just wished the clicked was centred. I agree that it seems like it’s got a little more poke than the Meteor and Classic, probably because it’s a bit lighter.
Cracking bike. Good looks, good price, and a well proven engine. I like the fact that RE aimed their marketing of the Hunter at younger riders. Anything to encourage more young people onto bikes is good, and the Hunter is affordable and cool looking.
@@photojames The only problem with the bike is it sits at the bottom of the A2 license and cannot be ridden on an A1 license. There are a lot of Meteors on the market with very few miles on them because people have grown out of the bike and bigger faster bikes have turned their heads. From experience from owning a meteor the bike can do motorways but with a top speed of about 75 when it is busy it can be just a little bit too slow to escape the lorries. If these bikes could be ridden on a full A1 license there possibly could be a better market for them.
Morning Andy. I look forward to these Saturday Fry ups with Andy. I'm currently waiting for my 999 to return in FILA livery.. Hmmmm. Dukes and Wales..❤
Your video is perfect timing as my dealer- BMW/RE is having RE demo days this weekend. Sunny and mid 60°'s. I've admired all their blends. The quality and paint all seem to be very good. Will be riding my g310gs to the dealer as I enjoy small bikes as well as my R1250RS. I enjoy how well you take a ribbing on lights and tires. If only I could go back and change my wording I would seem to be perfect. Guess what? I'm far from it. Lol. 👍👍🏍🏍🏍🙋♂️
I really like that ,ideal for what I want a bike for these days. I'm not at all keen on the paintwork,all Black would work for me, but for the price it's a steal.
These 350 Royal Enfields look like a right laugh, stylish, value, fun. I don’t think you get the Honda CB350 H’ness in the UK, but these two are clearly aimed at the same buyer! Unfortunately we don’t get Royal Enfields here at all, one would definitely be on my shopping list! Great vid as usual!
Hunter owner here. The rear shocks are terrible, spring rates way to high, not enough static and rider sag, and poor dampening. Clutch engagement point is very narrow, almost on off switch, however nice and smooth. Both the clutch and brake levers are at the far end of the reach and I have big hands. With Euro whatever it is now, the bike (like most) runs very lean. More of a taste and preference, the handle bar has a bit of a weird bend to it for a "sporty' feeling bike, a "straight" type of a bar might feel better. Solutions: K-Speed (Thailand) shocks, about $200 shipped Fuel X O2 sensor signal modifying box, $150 TEC Bike Parts adjustable levers $75 For now just rotated the bar in the triple tree clamps It's a great little bike.
The offset dash would help mounting a phone/satnav on the right hand side without obscuring the dash and the handy USB socket to power it. Better would have been to offset the dash on the right hand side so you would have a shorter cable, but that's just being picky. I am strongly tempted to buy one as a second bike, certainly something easier to ride as I get older. Love the classic and I really want to try this. Kudos for RE providing USB on the bars where you want it, instead of under the seat like Triumph.
I find myself bike less in the UK and this is top of my wish list for all the B roads around me in Perthshire ,nice and low and light for my increasingly dodgy knees ,it looks the mutts nuts ,and should be cheap to own and run ..servicing aside. Informative review ,from yourself....I have a 2019 street triple matt silver in NZ ..the paintwork is easy to maintain ,and comes up nice with some matt paint cleaner spray ,i actually prefer matt finishes now
Yes really loving this bike. Be nice if they did a 600 option too (cheaper tax bracket!) or the Interceptor was in Rebel scheme too. The seat on the Hunter looks so much better compared to Interceptor imo but one thing you haven't covered, which I'm not sure you do actually, I'd like to know what it's like with a pillion!? Great review though.
Yeah, any bike I look at has to be fit for pillions and I don't think these have got enough guts, unfortunately, as I'd love one. Wish they did a 500 version....
Thanks Mr. Flyer. The Hunter seems to be a very capable and stylish "budget" option. I would have thought a great 2nd bike or for local riding etc. This style is definitely getting into my psyche :>)
Even less effort if you just buy a 411 Scram to begin with! That said of the 350s the Classic is probably the best candidate as the stock 19/18" wheel combination will allow you to fit dual sport tyres.
This is a bike I would pass and never give a thought if it wasn't for you. It looks great, but 350cc and 20bhp? Nah! ...and then again, seeing it being on the road with you...bloody hell, now I have to try one! Thank you mr Flyer!
Royal Enfields encourage you to disregard the specs and just ride!? I was never a sports rider but downsized from an 1100 cruiser to a Scram 411 and am loving it! It is my 31st motorcycle after riding for quite a few years.
So whilst I love these small bike reviews, as someone who does the real world reviews... I think one of the more affordable sportsbikes is in order ZX10... R1... recently updated and keen to find out what they are like to live with...
Good review. Interesting bike. I like the looks and the size. How about maintenance. just a look at filters and oil change, chain adjusters and centerstand? Made to a price point for the rest of the world as well, so some tires and such need changed. No big deal. Think about others who can only dream of a bike so big and powerfuul. We take much for granted.
I don't get how RE are still using halogen bulbs instead of, the now pretty much universal, LEDs. I can't believe it's an investment issue. People want old school looks, not performance and reliability. Excellent vid. I wasn't very taken with the bike, it seems to have gone down the Pound-shop road a little too much for me.; the clock is hideous - and where is the built in navigation? That was brilliant on the Himalaya.
"steering wheel" lol. Decent second (or maybe third) bike that. Not tooooo long ago a 350 single was a go to mid size bike - and for a good reason. a good all rounder....
CEAT produces over 165 million tyres a year and manufactures tyres for passenger cars, two-wheelers, trucks and buses, light commercial vehicles, earth-movers, forklifts, tractors, trailers, and auto-rickshaws. The current capacity of CEAT tyres' plants is over 800 tonnes per day.
I sooooo want one of these for my Mrs. If only it had just 10 more hp. It’s for that reason that I think the £1.5k extra the Triumph speed 400 commands makes it worth the difference. She’s coming from an SV650 where she just struggles to move it around making it hard work for her. Let’s see if RE bring out a 400/450 motor for it.
@@TheMissendenFlyer I do love the RE but at just under £5k that Triumph has it beaten of British roads I think, especially if you put motorway riding in the mix.
This is how you reel in younger generation into riding a motorcycle. By offering good affordable bikes. Harley should take notes. They want to cater to their old generation only.
I think this is the bike I am going with. I would like a bike capable of off-road so I can try trails but I think it may be more prudent to get the bike I know that is good for the type of riding I do and then add some things aftermarket to give trails a timid try.
Don’t worry, lots more coming on the classic 350 in the New Year as I am to be getting a long-term loan of one and will bring you some very in-depth videos.
@@TheMissendenFlyer can’t decide between the 350 classic and the signal in green, should be picking up either or in 2-3 weeks once I decide! Made the decision based on the 350 review. keep up the great content!
Ceat are one of the biggest producers of tyres in India, hence they are standard on the Enfield. Ceat are also big sponsors of sport in India (especially cricket)
