Royal Enfield Hunter 350 vs TVS Ronin spec comparo reveals the closeness between the 2 lifestyle bikes
The Royal Enfield Hunter 350 vs TVS Ronin spec comparo is here! Out of nowhere, Tamilnadu-based bike makers, Royal Enfield and TVS, have landed in a new-found rivalry with their brand-new hot and fresh lifestyle motorcycles, Hunter 350 and Ronin.
Hunter is a typical roadster targeted at young men and women for effortless city runabouts. Ronin, on the other hand, is a mix between a scrambler and a cruiser trying to create a niche set of customers for itself who love touring.
| Specification | Royal Enfield Hunter 350 | TVS Ronin |
|---|---|---|
| Engine Displacement | 349 cc 2 Valve Oil Cooled | 225.9 cc 4 Valve Oil Cooled |
| Compression Ratio | 9.5:1 | 10.14:1 |
| Power | 20.2 HP at 6100 RPM | 20.13 HP at 7750 RPM |
| Torque | 27 Nm at 4000 RPM | 19.93 Nm at 3750 RPM |
| Gearbox | 5 Speed | 5 Speed |
| Slipper Clutch | Not Available | Available |
| Kerb Weight | 181 kg | 160 kg |
| Top Speed | 114 km/hr | 120 km/hr |
| Seat Height | 800 mm | 795 mm |
| Ground Clearance | 150.5 mm | 181 mm |
| Wheelbase | 1370 mm | 1357 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 13 litres | 14 litres |
| Front Tyre Size | 110/70-17 | 110/70-17 |
| Rear Tyre Size | 140/70-17 | 130/70-17 |
| Alloy Wheels & Tubeless Tyres | Available | Available |
| Front Brake | 300 mm disc | 300 mm disc |
| Rear Brake | 270 mm disc | 240 mm disc |
| Adjustable Levers | Not Available | Available |
| Dual Channel ABS | Available | Available |
| Riding Modes | Not Available | Available – Rain & Urban |
| Frame | Twin Downtube Spine Frame | Double Cradle Split Synchro Stiff Frame |
| Front Suspension | 41 mm Telescopic | 41 mm USD |
| Rear Suspension | Twin Emulsion Shock Absorbers with 6-step Preload Adjustment | Monoshock with 7-step Preload Adjustment |
| LED Lighting | Tail Lamp Only | All-round |
| Instrument Cluster | Digital Analogue Offset | Digital Offset – Smart Xonnect Connected Tech (28 features) |
| Turn-by-turn Navigation | Available As Accessory (Tripper) | Available |
| Distance-to-empty Readout | Not Available | Available |
| Accessories & Merchandise | Available | Available |
| Online Configurator | Available | Available |
| Ex-showroom Price | Rs. 1.5 – 1.69 lakhs | Rs. 1.49 – 1.71 lakhs |
Performance – While both the motorcycles are miles apart when it comes to engine displacement, surprisingly, both churn out nearly the same horses. What’s even more surprising is that TVS claims a much higher top speed than Royal Enfield.
While there’s no doubt that Hunter will be quick off the line despite its 21 kg extra weight, both are expected to be neck-to-neck when it comes to city rideability with the Ronin nudging past the Hunter in highways.
Ronin has what TVS calls Glide Through Technology which automatically engages in the first 3 gears. Riders can sail through traffic without using the accelerator. TVS also claims segment fastest gradeability in the third gear.
While both the motorcycles produce their max torque in 4000-and-under RPM, Hunter exerts 7 Nm more torque thanks to the higher displacement.
Ease of use – Both are lifestyle motorcycles with below-par top-end performance when compared to their sport rivals in the same price range. So, they need to make up for that deficiency in the area of ease of use.
While Hunter is the lightest Royal Enfield ever built in the recent times, it’s still 21 kg heavier than the Ronin. While Hunter’s seat height of 800 mm will suffice most buyers, Ronin’s seat is 5 mm shorter making it accessible even for slightly shorter riders.
The TVS bike has a bigger fuel tank capacity of 14 litres and additionally gets adjustable levers. Both the motorcycles have factory accessories, merchandise, riding groups, and online configuration options.
Handling and Braking – Royal Enfield said it has been developing the Hunter for 5 years and maximum focus was given to make the chassis right. The spine frame looks compact keeping the front forks as close as possible with wide and flat handlebar. This should result in terrific handling.
Though Ronin has sophisticated USD forks, monoshock, and a conventional double cradle chassis, the front rake looks too much and could play spoilsport when it comes to handling and agility.
But, the TVS might perform well over bad roads thanks to its much higher ground clearance, shorter wheelbase, and knobby tyres. While both get 300 mm front disc and dual channel ABS, the Hunter gets a slightly bigger rotor at the rear.
Technology – In the area of technology, Ronin is miles ahead of the Hunter. It gets all-round LEDs. The fully-digital offset instrument cluster has TVS’ Smart Xonnect Connected Tech with 28 features on offer.
There are features like side stand warning, turn signal alert, phone battery alert, low fuel alert, find the range, navigation to point of interest, voice based intensity adjustment, etc.
The handlebar controls include cancel notification, call accept and reject, voice assistant, and ride mode change. The bike gets 2 riding modes – Urban and Rain for ABS. The engine gets an integrated starter generator (ISG) and transmits power via slipper clutch.
Hunter 350 gets Tripper navigation as an optional accessory. The cluster displays odometer, trip meter, gear indicator, fuel graph bar with low fuel warning, clock, and a service reminder. That’s about it.
The reasons to buy – The greatest strength of the Royal Enfield Hunter 350 is its engine and chassis. It is sure to offer loads of fun in the city. In addition, the Hunter looks like a proper roadster with cool paint shades. Above all, a Royal Enfield for such an aggressive price tag is enough to seal the deal.
The TVS Ronin, on the other, is suitable for people looking for something cool and out of the box. It’s has comfortable ergonomics with upright seating. With better top speed, higher ground clearance, lower seat height, and bad-road-friendly tyres, it’s also up for touring.
Both are here to take the lifestyle segment to the next level!