The raindrops pelting my cheeks through the slit of my Bell Equaliser helmet were both bothersome and refreshing at the same time.
I am at the tail end of a long line of bikes – roughly 100-strong – snaking our way through Banting, Selangor.
Chocks were pulled and engines were fired up at 9am from the Royal Enfield showroom at the Gasket Alley in Petaling Jaya, Selangor.
After a quick pit stop to fill up and check tyre pressures, the marshallers shepherded us to Pantai Batu Laut, Tanjung Sepat – a beach holiday destination near Morib.
‘One Ride’ is a two-day shindig organised by bike maker Royal Enfield over the Malaysia Day weekend. It is a global event to celebrate the riding culture, and Enfield owners worldwide. More than anything, it’s an excuse to let your hair down. This year’s theme was ‘Military Ride and Camp’.
Already in its 12th iteration, the Malaysian edition targeted 500 participants from all points of the compass, including Singapore.
With its proud WWII heritage, there was no shortage of Royal Enfield riders, owners, and reenactors decked out in pre-war uniforms, tunics, and flight suits, finished off with Brodie helmets used by British troops during the war, RAF goggles, riding boots, ammo pouches, bandoliers, and medals. A couple of riders wearing German WWI ‘Model 1916 Stalhelm’ helmets somehow got past the ‘Home Guard’ and snuck in behind ‘enemy’ lines. Malaysia’s strict gun laws meant that no one toted a Lee Enfield or an M-1 Garand rifle to complete the ensemble. Pity.
Malaysia’s doyen of male fashion, Wak Doyok – his ample moustache neatly coiffed and able to withstand an 80kph windblast – made an appearance as well, astride his 1940 British BSA M20, in full military regalia. His bike even sported a rifle scabbard. Monty would have been proud.
Since breaking my wrist in May, I have not been on a proper motorcycle, preferring to just get around on the little Vespa. It’s light, nimble, easy to throw around, and most importantly, it doesn’t weigh like a pregnant hippo.
Rusydi Razali, Dealer Principal for Royal Enfield Petaling Jaya, offered an elegant solution when I told him that I wasn’t quite ready to get back on my 214kg Interceptor 650, and would therefore, not be joining ‘One Ride’.
“Takpe… Abang ambik jer the Hunter,” he offered. The 350cc Hunter straddles nicely between the behemoth that is the Interceptor and the Vespa. What’s a guy to do…
At 181kg wet weight, Royal Enfield’s ‘new-ish’ offering (it was launched in Malaysia in March, 2023) had been getting rave reviews as a ‘city carver’. But it’s equally at home on the highways. Power delivery is smooth and linear, and the five-speed gearbox is very forgiving of an uncoordinated clutch klutz.
A common gripe is that the clutch on the Hunter is “too heavy”, and that the gears feel “agricultural”. Personally, I prefer the reassuring ‘thunk’ of the gears sliding into place. Makes me feel like this bike is bulletproof. The clutch was never an issue, even for a rider recovering from a broken wrist.
Its 349cc, air cooled engine puts out 20.2 horses at 27Nm of torque. The powerplant, while not exactly a Saturn V’s F-1 engine, is more than up for the job, delivering tons of power, enough to see the needle come alive and hit 120kph. The only limiter is the size of your brass ones.
The single instrument clock is also an improvement over the Interceptor’s, with a gear position indicator, easily readable symbology, and good sunlight readability, with none of the chrome bling threatening to poke your eyes out. The Hunter also comes standard with the most necessary of all modern accoutrements – a USB charger.
The brakes were more than adequate for me, with the single channel ABS, 300mm disc brakes up front providing a surefootedness under heavy braking, supplemented by the 153mm, rear drum set.
The front telescopic, 41mm forks and rear twin tube Emulsion shock absorbers with a 6-step adjustable preload, soaked up all the bumps, divots, potholes, and three roadkill squirrels easily.
In the more than 200km ride over the two days I had the bike, there were no major issues. If anything, it does get a little ‘toasty’ on the calves. Having said that, it does not take away from the fact that this is a fun little ride, an ideal first bike.
Especially if you’re nursing a sore wrist.
