CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. If you see the same things every single day, pretty soon you may not even truly see them anymore. To some degree, you've probably experienced this. It can definitely be that way if you have a commute you get used to, too.
But if you need a change to that routine, an easy way of doing it is to try doing your commute a different way.
For years, I used to commute to work, as well as to school, in Chicago. And I used a few different ways to do this: Public transit, public transit and a folding bicycle (really), a bicycle, a scooter (the straddle-type that requires an M endorsement), a motorcycle, and a car. But it's been a bit since I've done so, as RideApart doesn't require any in-person anything. I have no commute.
What about that old one, though? Could a first-gen Royal Enfield Hunter 350 help me see the city I grew up in with new eyes?
Though Chicago was my playground, Milwaukee was my first destination, as I took an Amtrak train up to pick up the Hunter 350 and ride it home from Royal Enfield's North American HQ. There, the team ran over the very straightforward controls and I mentioned that I'd had the chance to spend quality time with the Hunter 350 on its international launch in Bangkok.
It's not a difficult bike to get to know by any stretch. But in this case, it was like meeting an old friend rather than making the Hunter's acquaintance for the first time. When I was riding the Hunter 350 in Bangkok, I was seeing the city of my family in a much different way from having previously only seen it out a car window.
What sights would the Hunter show me back at home?
If you're from Chicago or the general area, then you've probably made the pilgrimage across the Cheddar Curtain to Wisconsin at least once. You've no doubt seen the Mars Cheese Castle (or even stopped there to indulge in unspeakable dairy delights), and felt the tension rise in a nearly palpable way if you or anyone you're traveling with is a Chicago Bears fan, running amok deep in Green Bay Packers territory. And you've probably heard many and various opinions on important topics ranging from how to tell if your cheese curds are fresh, to just exactly how good a New Glarus Spotted Cow on tap can taste on a hot summer day.
This is a bike that's happiest weaving through tight city streets, or ambling amiably down B-roads, though; not munching millions of highway miles. And that's OK.
What it means is that you may end up finding different paths to get to where you're going. You like taking the long way, don't you? That's why many of us ride motorcycles, after all. We like our bikes, sure, but we also enjoy beautiful scenery, good food, and new experiences. The Hunter 350 is here to help you scope out all three, in addition to running your daily errands and commutes with ease.
I'm a rider who usually avoids interstates when I can, no matter what bike I'm riding. As I hopped on the Hunter 350 and wound my way through downtown Milwaukee to head back south, I couldn't have asked for better weather. The sun was shining, the skies were blue, I had on my best ventilated riding gear, and I was ready to enjoy a nice ride back home. With a key stop to bring some New Glarus back for a friend's cookout, of course; when in the Badger State, right? Right.
Have bungees, will transport all the things.
And while some bikes might be earmarked for big adventures, the Hunter 350 is clearly meant for the everyday kind, closer to home. The ones you might not always think of as adventures, but which absolutely can be if you look at them a little differently. What better way of doing that than my old commute down Lake Shore Drive at sunrise?
If I have one thing I miss about that commute, it's seeing the city wake up and witnessing the sun pushing its first tentative beams across Lake Michigan. I'm convinced there's nothing else like it, and you can't tell me otherwise.
Now, the Hunter 350 is as smooth a little single-cylinder machine as you could want (smoother than some parallel twins I can think of, in fact), thanks to its counterbalanced crankshaft. The clutch is cable-actuated, but both the levers and the light pull make it super easy and friendly to use, even if you find yourself stuck in traffic.
If you're out early enough in the morning on LSD, traffic isn't really a problem. But like rush hour traffic almost anywhere, if you leave even 5 minutes later than you usually do, you'll often find a much different, more potentially frustrating traffic situation waiting for you. One you'll just have to suck it up and deal with if you want to get where you're going, muttering in your helmet the whole time.
Here's where I note that in Bangkok, you can lane filter. The Hunter 350 excels at lane filtering, so if you live somewhere that's legally allowed, you'll have an even better time on this bike than on some others I've ridden. It's very nimble and agile, even at slow speeds; it's like it was built for carefully threading in between rows of cars.
Unfortunately for me (and this piece), you can't do that in Chicago, or Illinois. So while I know from past experience that the Hunter is very good at doing exactly that, I had to content myself with sitting in traffic and waiting to crawl through at times, as I would on any other bike. It's a charming bike with a personality of its own, but being in a place where filtering isn't a thing does kind of feel like you're tying one of its hands behind its back.
What about fun city-living? Chicago has no shortage of opportunities for that, whatever your favorite thing might be to do. If baseball's your thing, you can head to Comiskey Park (sorry, Rate Field, I guess) to see the White Sox, or on up to Wrigley Field to see the Cubs.
If you're a movie fan, hitting up the many Shermer Highs in the North Shore area is a snap (be sure to stop at any Pita Inn location for the best pitas and baba gannouj of your life if you do). Incidentally, the Home Alone mansion is also up that way if you're planning a day trip, but you'll have to map that one out for yourself.
Wondering if the Old Joliet Prison as seen in the Blues Brothers film is really haunted? Why not find out for yourself with a visit, or at least a ride-by?
Want to go crate digging and find some new music to fill your ears? We have plenty of places to do that, too, including a few different conveniently located outposts of what's been a haunt of mine since high school, Reckless Records. If you love finding excellent new food, no matter what kind of food you're into, you can also find it here. I promise you, we have more than just hot dogs and pizza, though you're always welcome to get an earful at the Wiener's Circle if you absolutely can't control yourself.
And the good news is that street parking on a bike couldn't be easier. Just remember to pay for your parking if you're in Chicago, because ever since Mayor Daley infamously signed away the revenue rights to the city's parking meters back in 2008, every resident and visitor alike has been doing nothing but pay ever since.
What's that, you say you're a fellow woman rider and you want to get your hands on some motorcycle gear and accessories that fit your vibe? Chicago also happens to be home to a really excellent little independent shop run by women riders, for women riders. It's called Tarnish, and you should totally check it out if you get the chance.
Chicago is a city of distinct neighborhoods, and the Hunter 350 was absolutely made to weave them all together. It has a vibe and a style all its own.
Indeed, where the Hunter 350 really shines is in its maneuverability in tight spaces, including parking just about anywhere you need to. It's dead simple to put it exactly where you want it, and because it's so small, it takes up very little space. Curbside parking, even in super congested neighborhoods, is a breeze. You almost don't even have to think about it; instead, you just do it.
In a strange way, it's almost like it's spiriting you from place to place. Some motorcycles are very physical, like you're disconnected from them and have to sternly tell them what to do instead of just going with the flow. The Hunter 350, meanwhile, is just happy to go outside and do what you want. The way it carries its admittedly diminutive weight is just simple, letting you pay more attention to whatever's around you.
That's really the beauty of a friendly, small-displacement machine like this. It's easy to ride and get comfortable with, so you inherently pay more attention to what's around you instead of thinking so much about what you're going to do next on your bike. You spend more time just being, and enjoying where you are.
I found myself taking a little more time to pay attention to the details of my original commute, of my hometown, of the city than I might have done before. It's a lot easier to do that on a friendly machine like the Hunter 350.
