The next Royal Enfield Hunter's launch date has apparently been disclosed. Unfortunately, the much-anticipated roadster is still more than a month and a half away. The 'Block Your Date' invitation was sent to media outlets by the Chennai-based bike manufacturer.
According to the invitation, the corporation has set the dates of August 4th to 8th, which suggests that the launch and first ride events will take place on those dates. With the bike already fully revealed, the only thing left to confirm is the pricing.
The roadster, designated JIC1, is built on the brand's now-ubiquitous J series platform. We previously speculated that the Hunter would receive a cheaper model, which has been designated J1C2.
The pre-production prototype photographs of the bike revealed it to have a modern vintage roadster style that mimics the Triumph Street Twin, with a single-piece seat and a teardrop-shaped fuel tank. RE's distinctive rounded headlight, taillight, turn indicators, and rearview mirrors add to the retro look.
We believe the J1C2 to have a single disc with a single-channel ABS, similar to the Bullet 350s and the Royal Enfield Classic 350 Redditch series. They will equip the rear wheel with a 153mm drum brake. In contrast, the J1C1 will feature a proper rear disc and dual-channel ABS.
The 349cc single-cylinder engine from the Meteor 350 and Classic 350 will power the motorcycle. It is also predicted to have the same output figures of 20.4 PS and 27 Nm as its siblings, it might be tuned similarly to the Meteor 350, which is slightly sportier than the Classic 350.
We expect the price to be around Rs 1.70 lakh (ex-showroom) and it would be available in two configurations. At this price, it will be the cheapest bike built on the J-Series platform, with the Honda CB350RS and Jawa 42 2.1 serving as direct competitors.