Royal Enfield Hunter 350 Retro vs Metro variant Review | comparison video

Royal Enfield has launched the much-awaited motorcycle, the Hunter 350, in the Indian market. The Hunter 350 is available in three variants-Retro, Metro, and Metro Rebel. If you want to know the differences between the Retro, Metro, and Metro Rebel, then watch the following video.

Hunter 350 Retro vs Hunter 350 Metro comparison.

At first glance, both the variants look identical but if you see them closely then you will find lots of differences. Most of the elements of the motorcycles are common but some of the elements are different like the tail light, turn indicators, brakes, etc.

The Hunter 350 Retro variant is a base variant and Metro Rebel is a top variant with most of the features.

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Engine and performance

All the variants of the Hunter 350 are powered by a 349 cc single cylinder air-oil-cooled fuel injected J-series engine that produces the max power of 20.2 HP at 6100 rpm and peak torque of 27 Nm at 4000 rpm. The engine is mated to a 5-speed gearbox.

The Hunter 350 can hit the top speed of 114 kmph as per the company’s claim. The top speed of the motorcycle is very less as compared to the other bikes in segments like the Ronin 255.

The company claimed that the motorcycle can give a mileage of 36.2 kmpl and it comes with 13 liters of the fuel tank.

Royal Enfield Hunter 350 Retrio vs Metro variant
Royal Enfield Hunter 350 Retro vs Metro variant

Suspension and dimension

The Hunter 350 gets 41 mm telescopic front forks along with the fork gaiters to protect it from dust and it gives an attractive look to the bike. At the rear, it has twin shock absorbers with a 6-step pre-load adjustment.

The hunter 350 is the smallest bike in Royal Enfield’s portfolio that comes with 2055 mm of length, 800 mm of width, and 1055 mm of height. The ground clearance of the motorcycle is 150 mm and its kerb weight is 181 kilogram.

Tyres and Brakes

The biggest difference between the Hunter 350 Retro and Metro variants is that the Retro variant gets 17-inch spokes wheels and the Metro variant gets 17-inch Alloy W heels.

Its Retro variant gets 100/80-17 size front tyres and 120/80-17 size rear tires and it has been given tube tyres instead of tubeless.

Royal Enfield Hunter 350 Retrio vs Metro variant wheels
Royal Enfield Hunter 350 Retrio vs Metro variant wheels

The Metro and Metro Rebel variants get 110/70-17 size front tyre and 140/70-17 size rear tyre and this variant comes with tubeless tyres. All the variants comes with a CEAT tyres.

Coming to the brakes, The Retro variant gets a 300 mm disc at the front with dual-piston calipers and at the rear, it gets drum brakes.

hunter 350 retro and metro rear wheels and brakes
hunter 350 retro and metro rear wheels and brakes

While the Metro variant gets the same 300 mm disc at the front with dual-piston calliper but it gets 270 mm disc brakes at the rear instead of the drum brakes.

The Hunter 350’s Retro variant comes with a single channel ABS while the Metro variant gets Dual Channel ABS.

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Electricals

In both the variants, you get to see halogen head lights but its Retro variant has been given round halogen tail lights and halogen turn indicators of rectangular design while the Metro variant gets a round LED tail light and round shaped LED turn indicators.

You will also get to see the difference between the handlebar switches of both the variant, as you will see the switches with the normal regular design in the Retro variant and you will see the switches with a premium rotary design in the Metro variant.

In both the variants, we get to see a Digital-Analogue instrument console, but its Retro variant has a small LCD display, which does not show much information. While its Metro variant has been given a large LCD display, in which a lot of information like trip meter, clock range, and gear position indicator can been seen.

Royal Enfield Hunter 350 Retrio vs Metro headlight, taillight and turn indicators
Royal Enfield Hunter 350 Retrio vs Metro headlight, taillight and turn indicators

In its Metro variant, you can also install the tripper navigation system that comes in the Meteor 350, which the company is providing as an add-on accessory. USB charging point is also provided in both variants.

Royal Enfield Hunter 350 is available in 8 colors which are Factory Black, Factory Silver, Rebel Red, Rebel Blue, Rebel Black, Rapper Ash, Dapper White and Dapper Grey.

In terms of looks, both the bikes are going to be very much liked by the youngsters but some Royal Enfield fans will not like this bike much as the plastic has been used in it at many places.
The rest of the fit and finish of the bike is quite good as seen in Meteor and Classic

Price

The ex-showroom price of the Royal Enfield Hunter 350 Retro variant is Rs 1,49,900 and the Metro variant is priced at Rs 1,63,900 and its Metro Rebel variant is priced at Rs 1,68,900.

The price of its tough competitor TVS Ronin is also around this.

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