Royal Enfield Hunter 350 vs TVS Ronin – Which is the more desirable motorcycle for new riders?

While the segment of 200-500cc motorcycles always had conventional choices of neo-retro roadsters, naked new-age roadsters, adventure tourers and faired sport bikes, the Royal Enfield Hunter 350 and TVS Ronin have come in as fresh breezes. While the Hunter 350 is a conventional neo-retro roadster with compact dimensions, the TVS Ronin breaks the monotony by having a unique package of a neo-retro motorcycle’s stance with modern features.

The Hunter 350 and Ronin have arrived at the same time and are priced in the same range. This situation has confused a lot of potential buyers about which of the two motorcycles they should consider. Here, we have brought a comprehensive comparison to ease off their confusion.

Price

The TVS Ronin was launched in three variants – the base version SS for Rs 1,49,000, the mid-spec version DS for Rs 1,56,500 and the top-spec version TD for Rs 1,68,750. The Royal Enfield Hunter 350 came a few days after almost in the same price range, with the base-spec Retro variant coming in at Rs 1,49,900 and the higher-spec Metro variant priced at Rs 1,63,900 for the single-tone colour options and Rs 1,68,900 for the dual-tone colour options.

(prices mentioned above are ex-showroom, India)

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Engine and Chassis

Both the motorcycles exist in the same price range but have very different single-cylinder engines powering them. The Royal Enfield Hunter 350 gets an air-cooled 349cc engine producing 20.2 bhp of power against the oil-cooled, 225.9cc engine of the TVS Ronin, which claims 20.4 bhp of power and 19.93 Nm of torque. While the power output of both the motorcycles is almost similar, the torque output of the Hunter 350 is significantly higher than that of the TVS Ronin, making the former a livelier motorcycle with lower gears.

Apart from the engine, even the basic mechanical setups of both the motorcycles here also differ in every sense. Both the motorcycles here get 41mm hydraulic telescopic forks at the front, but the Ronin gets upside-down forks compared to conventional ones on the Hunter 350. At the rear, while the Ronin has a more modern and sportier-in-feel mono-shock, the Hunter 350 follows a conventional route by having twin-tube emulsion shock absorbers. The Ronin also gets a pair of tyres with bigger tread blocks for better durability over broken roads. Also, both the motorcycles here get a 300mm disc brake at the front, but the 270mm rear disc brake of the Hunter 350 is bigger than the 240mm disc brake of the Ronin. Though, the base-spec version of the Hunter 350 gets a 153mm drum brake.

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Dimension

While the Royal Enfield Hunter 350 is the longer motorcycle of the two, it is the Ronin, which is wider and taller than the former. The Ronin also has higher ground clearance, lower kerb weight and a slightly lower seat height, which is a boon for newer riders.

Design and Features

While many believe that the Royal Enfield Hunter 350 and TVS Ronin are very similar products, they have a completely different approaches in terms of design. While the Hunter 350 has a basic neo-retro design which looks like a balanced proposition for both new and experienced riders, the Ronin has a more youthful touch in its design, primarily aimed at newer and younger riders.

The Royal Enfield Hunter 350 has a simplistic design approach, with a rounded theme for the lights all around. The rounded influence can be further seen in other parts of the motorcycle, including the fuel tank, side body panels and the part-digital instrument console. The base-spec Retro variant comes with spoke wheels, tubular pillion grab rail, conventional switches and a standard seat. On the other hand, the higher-spec Metro variant gets a more comprehensive part-digital instrument console with additional details like gear indicator and trip computer, the ribbed theme for the rider’s seat, new-generation switches, rear disc brake, centre stand, split pillion grab rails and alloy wheels.

The TVS Ronin, as said, has a more youthful touch to it, which gives it a very unique stance and silhouette. This neo-retro roadster has a concept motorcycle-like design, with a rounded all-LED headlamp having a T-shaped daytime-running LED in the middle, angular LED turn indicators, a slim LED tail lamp and a full chain cover. In terms of equipment, the Ronin has an upper hand, with additional features like a fully-digital instrument console complete with Bluetooth compatibility, two ABS modes, glide through technology, assist and slipper clutch and adjustable levers.

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Verdict

While the Royal Enfield Hunter 350 and TVS Ronin are priced in the same range and are equally fun to ride, there’s a lot of difference between both the motorcycles. The Royal Enfield Hunter 350 follows a safe approach by having a clean and conventional roadster look with a torquey engine. The TVS Ronin, on the other hand, has a more youthful look with more new-age features, and a sportier suspension setup. It all boils down to your styling preferences in the end. If you want a simple motorcycle on a whole, the Hunter 350 is a better choice, otherwise, you can pick the Ronin if you want to stand out from the crowd and love new-age features.

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