With the arrival of new competitors like the Honda CB350 twins and, more recently, the TVS Ronin, the market for entry-level retro-style roadsters has been growing in popularity. In addition, the Kawasaki W175 has recently entered the market as a rival.
The Royal Enfield Hunter 350 costs Rs 1.49 lakh (Retro) and Rs 1.65 lakh (Metro), while the Japanese roadster is priced at Rs 1.47 lakh for the Standard and Rs 1.49 lakh for the Ebony Red (both ex-showroom India) (both ex-showroom Delhi). Therefore, if you're searching for a vintage-inspired roadster, our comprehensive comparison of Kawasaki W175 & Royal Enfield Hunter 350 should assist you in choosing the best choice for your specific needs.
Kawasaki W 175 | Royal Enfield Hunter 350 | |
0-60 kmph | 6.15 s | 5.24 s |
0-80 kmph | 11.12 s | 9.16 s |
0-100 kmph | 23.82 s | 16.40 s |
30-70 kmph (3rd gear) | 7.35 s | 6.47 s |
40-80 kmph (4th gear) | 8.55 s | 8.87 s |
As expected, the Royal Enfield Hunter 350 easily defeats the W 175 in the majority of our acceleration tests despite having almost twice the displacement and 7.2 PS more power. However, the roll-on acceleration test of 40–80 kmph is where Kawasaki's engine truly shines.
That is a result of the motor's tractability and the larger gearing. The W175 can do it in fifth gear, but both bikes are tractable enough to move through traffic at a crawl in fourth. However, the manner it uses its meagre 13PS and 13.2Nm is the issue. You would rather shift down and return to those speeds more quickly because it takes so long to get to reasonable, safe city speeds.
However, the light clutch of the Kawasaki—in contrast to the heavy clutch of the Hunter—works to its advantage. The large, vintage levers on Hunter's clutch are another drawback because they could be difficult for folks with little fingers to use.
Kawasaki W 175 | Royal Enfield Hunter 350 | |
80-0 kmph | 35.50 m | 32.08 m |
60-0 kmph | 19.71 m | 18.13 m |
Both bikes have less spectacular braking. Although the Kawasaki W175 has a powerful braking force, its lack of feedback from the spongy lever and lack of feedback from the Royal Enfield Hunter's wide levers make it feel more like a commuting bike.
Kawasaki W 175 | Royal Enfield Hunter 350 | |
City | 39.71 kmpl | 40.19 kmpl |
Highway | 37.10 kmpl | 35.98 kmpl |
We had anticipated that the Kawasaki W175 would be more fuel efficient given that it has almost half the displacement of the Hunter 350 and is approximately 50 kg lighter. However, this is not the case. The W175's engine is so commuter-like, but Hunter's generous low-end torque and advantage in displacement make it easier on the wallet. Yes, the Hunter has a marginally lower highway efficiency, but that is a minor price to pay for a faster top speed.
Kawasaki W 175 | Royal Enfield Hunter 350 |
Rs 1.47 lakh (Ebony) | Rs 1,49,900 (Retro) |
Rs 1.49 lakh (Special Red) | Rs 1,66,900 (Metro) |
The Kawasaki W175 is nothing more than a pricey commuter due to its underwhelming engine, mediocre build quality, and commuter-centric personality. But, of course, the W175 will make sense for you if you love Kawasaki and want a retro-style roadster for city rides. The Royal Enfield Hunter 350, though, makes a lot more sense for everyone else. The Royal Enfield roadster is a better value when you take into account the service network and the cost of replacement parts, in addition to the fact that you would be receiving more for your money.
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