I've been riding in and around Chicago for nearly two decades now, on various motorcycles, scooters, and even bicycles. So, I like to think I know what works here and what doesn't pretty well. As someone who grew up primarily using public transportation (and walking a whole lot), it's also been interesting to see how my views and experiences have evolved over time, the more different vehicles I add to my seemingly ever-expanding list of Things I've Tried To Pilot Through Chicago Rush Hour Traffic.
Sure, cars might have the benefit of air conditioning on hot, sticky summer days, as well as heat in the winter. If you're lucky, so do buses and trains (though trust me, I've been on my fair share of buses where the A/C wasn't working, and cracking the windows didn't help).
But even in Chicago, which is located in an entire state where lane splitting and filtering aren't legal, I'd still rather be on a bike. Almost any bike, if I'm honest; though some bikes are admittedly better for the job than others.
Funnily enough, when I told people a few years ago that I was going to ride a bike—as it happens, also a Royal Enfield Hunter 350—through the streets of Bangkok at night, many looked at me like I was nuts. "Aren't you scared?" they asked. Or, "Traffic is crazy over there, will you be safe?" Or variants thereof. And while I have family there, I'd only ever experienced the streets in a car before, so while I'd seen how traffic moves, I had yet to have the experience of riding there when I did it.
Until I did, and I realized that if you start out riding in a major city, there are a lot of instincts that transfer well. If you've ever lived in any major city, you know that every city likes to pride itself on its particular character. That we're somehow different from every other big city. And while in some ways, we are; there are more similarities than you might at first expect.
The Hunter 350 was perfect in Bangkok, weaving through jam-packed city streets at night with ease. We filtered through traffic like a dream. Threading our way neatly through traffic in a seemingly endless stream of other motorbikes (mostly smaller displacement than our 350s, but not entirely), we felt right at home. Or at least, I did. For what it's worth, I also felt like car drivers around me were markedly less aggro, but that's a super objective take, and your mileage may vary in your own experience.
So naturally, I wondered what it would be like to ride a Royal Enfield Hunter 350 in Chicago. To take it back home, maybe recreate the longest daily commute I used to do with it, and also ride around the city and have some fun. And I looked forward to the day when I'd be able to do that.
Friends, those days have come.
Royal Enfield Hunter 350: A Real Working-Class Hero
At the time of writing, the base price of the Hunter 350 in Rebel Red (the same color I've got right now) is US $4,199. To put that in perspective, that's the same MSRP as a brand new Honda Dax 125, and less than a brand new Honda Monkey. Don't get me wrong; if you've been reading my writing for any length of time, you know I love some tiny Hondas, but even I have to admit they aren't the most practical bikes for all occasions.
The Hunter 350, by contrast, is pretty good at a lot of day-to-day activities. It's not the quickest bike on the block, but it's perfectly capable and characterful if you can respect what it's meant for, and what it's not. Handling is agile, and its diminutive size also makes it extremely easy to maneuver at low speeds, not to mention easy to park in tight spots. You can get on highways with it, and do short blasts at 70 mph where it's legal, but I wouldn't advise long-haul interstate stints with it. Could you do it? Maybe, but would you be happy? Unlikely.
In a time where the cost of pretty much everything just keeps going up and up, the Hunter 350 is a pretty significant bargain of a brand-new bike for your everyday needs. Braided stainless steel brake lines come standard (a fact I always like to point out), and the ByBre brakes are fine for what this bike is meant to do. It isn't a sportbike, so expecting sportbike-like brakes or other top-level componentry on a bike like this is just silly.
I should also mention here that I really like the flat clutch and brake levers. To my hands, they feel reassuring, and the clutch is one of the lightest cable-operated clutches I think I've ever operated. It's very gentle and easy to control in stop-and-go-traffic, and will no doubt come as a welcome feature to both new and experienced riders who are just exhausted after a long work day.
Fuel consumption is also quite good. The fuel tank was full when I picked the bike up, and I got home with plenty of fuel to spare in the tank. But of course, I wanted to chart how many miles I could get out of a full tank, so I did that next. Know what I came up with?
An impressive 179 miles until the fuel light came on, and then I filled up the tank with just over 2.2 gallons of fuel. By my calculations, that's over 81 miles per gallon. I think the Hunter 350 is probably better on fuel than my Suzuki Burgman 400 scooter (which, granted, has slightly larger displacement, but still). Definitely a nice addition to your daily commuting roster here, I'd say!
While it is a little air-cooled single-cylinder machine, there are two important things to know. One: It's super smooth, and not crazy vibey to ride. The counterbalanced crankshaft on the J-platform Enfields really does a nice job at keeping those vibes in check, and that's kind of the same throughout the range. And two: It doesn't get too hot, even if you're crawling through traffic. As I've noted previously, you can't legally filter or split in Illinois, like you can in Bangkok (and elsewhere). So unfortunately, you may find yourself in this situation, but at least you don't have to worry that you're going to accidentally cook your thighs well done through your pants.
What If You Want To Dress It Up?
As you may have noticed from the photos throughout this piece, what I've been riding isn't a base Hunter 350. Instead, it's got some of Royal Enfield's OEM accessories installed, so now I'm going to talk a bit about those, as well. They're a bit different from the stock machine that I rode in Bangkok, but they all seem to be solidly made and fit the bike, both in terms of form and function.
The little smoked flyscreen ($119.95) is, I must admit, a welcome addition. I really like the way it looks, and that's probably because all my personal bikes also have small, tinted flyscreens (or a little pixie hat, in the case of the Street Triple) up at the tops of their faces. It's an aesthetic I enjoy, so seeing it on the Hunter 350 is just nice, to my eyes. Of course, you may feel differently; everyone likes what they like, you know?
The black touring mirrors ($239.95) are also quite nice. There's nothing wrong with the stock mirrors, but I like the style of these mirrors, as well as the visibility. They're also super planted and do not shake at all while the bike is in operation, no matter how fast you're going.
The silver aluminum sump guard ($89.95) adds a certain something to the Hunter 350, though you may also opt for the black one in this case, if you want to go more stealth. It's a nice bit of styling and functionality at the same time.
The comfort seat ($139.95) with contrasting red stitching goes very nicely with the Rebel Red colorway of this Hunter 350, and is indeed quite comfortable, even for long trips in the saddle. Now, just so we're clear, I am also a rider who is 5'3" and who has a 27-inch inseam, so your mileage regarding comfort with the ergonomics of the Hunter 350 may definitely vary from mine if you're a lot taller than me, or have longer legs. Which, you know, describes a lot of people; just not all.
You see, smaller riders love bikes, too. And if you are a smaller rider who's been looking for a capable everyday bike to just live your life with, the Hunter 350 is a great choice. It's very confidence-inspiring, no matter how you accessorize it. And if you do choose to accessorize it, it still won't break the bank, though it may just end up looking more like the vision you see in your head.
Even with all these accessories installed, the total MSRP comes out to a little over $4,500. For more everyday capability, you could also throw a pannier or two on the back. Or be like me and carry a messenger bag and a tank bag; it has a steel tank, so any magnetic tank bag you like will work just fine with the Hunter 350.
Since I'm writing this in July, it's worth noting that this is the first-gen Hunter 350 that I'm speaking about; not the updated version. In April, the Royal Enfield mothership in India announced an updated Hunter 350 with increased ground clearance, new suspension, a slip-assist clutch (Royal Enfield's first 350 to have this feature, in fact), an LED headlamp, and a USB-C socket.
Now, Royal Enfield has so far rolled that updated Hunter 350 out in India, and it will be available for order in Japan in August. Historically, the company has rolled out its new bikes at different times in different markets, so it's not clear if or when we in the US might see this updated version.
But while those upgrades do sound nice, it's not like the OG Hunter 350 that I've been riding is anything to sneeze at. It's great value for money, offering you miles of charm, capability, and style for your daily rides. When it comes down to it, particularly in times like these, what more do you want out of a bike?
