Lucknow, April 2026 — Royal Enfield has expanded its Hunter 350 lineup with the introduction of a new Base Premium variant, priced at ₹1,49,900 (ex-showroom, Chennai). The motorcycle was unveiled at HunterHood 2026, the company’s street culture platform event held in Lucknow. Bookings and retail for the updated lineup commenced across India from April 4, 2026.
The Base Premium fills a gap in the Hunter 350 range — sitting between the existing entry-level base variant and the mid variant — by adding a set of feature upgrades that are practically meaningful for daily riders, at a price point that matches the Hunter’s original 2022 launch price.
What the Base Premium Adds
The Base Premium retains the mechanical foundation of the base Hunter 350 but introduces three substantive changes. Alloy wheels replace the traditional spoke rims to improve everyday usability, the front fascia features an updated round halogen headlamp that aligns with the Hunter’s modern-retro character, and the motorcycle gets a digi-analog instrument cluster paired with rotary switchgear for a more intuitive interface.
A stitched seat and a sporty grab rail have also been added, enhancing both comfort and finish. The motorcycle features single-channel ABS and is equipped with a slip and assist clutch.
The alloy wheel upgrade enables tubeless tyre compatibility — a practical advantage for urban riders who would otherwise face the additional inconvenience and cost of tube puncture repairs. Single-channel ABS and a slip-and-assist clutch, both previously limited to higher trims in the Hunter range, bring meaningful safety and ergonomic improvements at the entry level. The Base Premium is available exclusively in Tarmac Black.
It is worth noting that the halogen headlamp on the Base Premium, while an upgrade over the lowest-spec base variant in terms of power output and the inclusion of a pilot lamp, does not match the LED headlamp that was introduced on the Hunter 350 in a previous update. Buyers seeking the LED unit will need to step up to higher trim levels.
New Colours for the Top Variant
Alongside the new Base Premium, Royal Enfield has also introduced two new colourways for the top-spec Hunter 350 variant — Mumbai Yellow and Moonshot White, both priced at ₹1,69,804 (ex-showroom, Chennai).
The Mumbai Yellow features a combination of yellow on the top half of the tank, blue on the lower half, and white stripes on the side, with a Royal Enfield graphic on an orange background. The Moonshot White features a more graphic-heavy design, with an ocean theme graphic on the side of the tank and a rocket graphic on the tank indents, with bold graphics extending to the side panels as well.
Mumbai Yellow is described by Royal Enfield as reflecting the energy of urban life, inspired by city culture, art and movement. Moonshot White takes a more artistic approach, with graphics inspired by celestial themes.
Also Read:
Engine and Platform: No Mechanical Changes
At the heart, the 2026 Hunter 350 houses the same 349cc single-cylinder air/oil-cooled engine, generating peak power of 20.2 bhp at 6,100 rpm and peak torque of 27 Nm at 4,000 rpm, linked to a five-speed gearbox and a slip-and-assist clutch.
Sitting on the same twin downtube spine frame, the motorcycle rides on 17-inch wheels shod with 110/70 front and 140/70 rear tubeless tyres. Suspension is handled by 41mm telescopic front forks and dual-shock rear absorbers with six-step adjustable preload. Braking is provided by a 300mm front disc and 270mm rear disc.
Note that the tyre section sizes cited above are for the top variants as per publicly available specifications; the Base Premium’s tyre profile may differ slightly at the front and rear based on the wheel and tyre configuration carried over from the base variant, though exact sizing for the Base Premium has not been separately confirmed in official communications.
Pricing in Context
The ₹1,49,900 entry price for the Base Premium is a notable commercial signal. The Hunter 350 was originally launched in August 2022 at ₹1.50 lakh (ex-showroom). The Base Premium essentially resets that price point for 2026, offering a meaningfully better-equipped motorcycle than the 2022 base variant for nearly the same cost — reflecting both Royal Enfield’s intent to hold the Hunter accessible and the competitive pressure from an expanding entry-level motorcycle market.
The Base Premium is now the most affordable variant in the Hunter 350 lineup with alloy wheels. The addition of single-channel ABS as standard on this variant is also relevant: ABS is increasingly expected across the 150cc-and-above motorcycle segment, and its presence at the ₹1.5 lakh mark strengthens the Hunter’s value argument in this specific price band.
The top variant’s two new colours, priced at ₹1,69,804 each, represent standard colour option additions and do not alter the variant’s mechanical specification.
Strategic Context: Expanding the Hunter’s Reach
Since its launch in 2022, the Hunter 350 has played a key role in attracting younger buyers to the Royal Enfield brand. Its lightweight nature, compact proportions, and city-friendly dynamics have made it a popular choice among urban riders. With the addition of the Base Premium variant and new colour options, Royal Enfield is looking to expand the Hunter’s reach beyond metros into smaller towns and emerging markets.
Yadvinder Singh Guleria, Chief Commercial Officer at Royal Enfield, was quoted at the launch as saying that the Hunter 350 continues to resonate with a new generation of riders who value simplicity, usability, and a strong sense of identity. He stated that the Base Premium was designed to strengthen the Hunter’s proposition by offering meaningful upgrades that enhance the everyday riding experience while keeping the platform accessible to a wider set of riders, including in smaller towns and rural markets.
The HunterHood platform itself — a combination of motorcycle culture, music, and street art — reflects Royal Enfield’s broader effort to position the Hunter as a lifestyle product rather than purely a commuter or performance motorcycle. The 2026 edition arrived in Lucknow after previous editions in Chennai, Delhi, Mumbai, and Shillong.
Competitive Positioning
The Hunter 350 goes up against the Yamaha XSR155 in the entry-level retro roadster segment. More broadly, it competes with other 150cc–200cc performance and style-oriented motorcycles that target younger urban riders. Within Royal Enfield’s own range, the Hunter 350 remains the brand’s most affordable 350cc model, with the Classic 350, Bullet 350, and Meteor 350 all priced higher.
The Base Premium’s inclusion of single-channel ABS and alloy wheels at ₹1.5 lakh makes it the most feature-complete entry point into the Hunter range to date — a development that may raise the bar for what riders expect at this price from competing products in the modern-retro segment.