On paper the gap is small, but in daily life they behave very differently. One looks retro but is packaged in a modern way, is light and agile, while the other leans on displacement, an easy going nature and of course, the Royal Enfield name. If you're cross-shopping between the 2 as well, here's which one you should go for:

Price & Variants

• With the TVS Ronin's prices starting from just above Rs 1.25 lakh, ex-showroom, it beats the Royal Enfield Hunter 350 comprehensively here.

• For someone who's looking for his/her first bike, the Rs 12,000 difference in the base variant prices could easily translate to at least 7-8 months of petrol. And with fuel prices going through the roof, that's not nothing.

• That said, on the whole both bikes can be said to be competitively priced and the top variants are in a similar ball park.

Dimensions & Design

• This is where things get interesting. While both bikes claim to be retro motorcycles, there's no mistaking one for the other.

• The Ronin looks modern, quirky and at times odd. The LED headlight and its raked-out USD fork give the impression of a long, laidback cruiser. But then the rest of the bike gives the impression of a more standard bike with upright seating and that confusing nature will not be to everyone's tease.

• That said, it does attract attention thanks to its quirkiness and if we're talking about the sheer eyeballs grabbed, the TVS Ronin might end up grabbing a couple more than the Hunter 350.

• The Hunter 350, meanwhile, is smaller, narrower and more classically proportioned. Yes, it's still a bit too small to be the absolute attention magnet that some Royal Enfield bikes are, but it's still proportionate and pleasing to the eye.

• Its seat height is approachable and while it's on the heavier side, the compact proportions make it easier for all sorts of riders. Short or tall, new or experienced, men or women, the Hunter 350 feels approachable for everyone.

• Who wins here? It has to be the Hunter 350, thanks to its classic proportions. It seems like the more cohesive of the 2.

Features & Safety

• There's no competition here. TVS targeted the Ronin to be feature-rich from the outset and it's packed to the T to impress the younger audience. Its fully-digital instrument cluster is packed with data (turn-by-turn nav, Bluetooth, alerts), it gets an LED headlamp, dual ABS modes, a slipper clutch and TVS' Glide Through Technology for slow traffic.

• By contrast, the Hunter keeps things simpler: a semi-digital console and a basic tripper navigation pod as an option. If you want modern rider aids and connectivity straight out of the showroom, the Ronin leads comfortably.

• On safety, both bikes offer dual-channel ABS at higher trims; braking hardware and real-world stopping distances are similar in tests. But the Ronin's ability to creep in traffic (Glide Through) and lighter clutch action reduce low-speed incidents and fatigue — a subtle safety-ish advantage in cities.

• On the whole, the Ronin wins this battle, being a more modern, safer and commuter-friendly package with urban usability and tech in mind.

Engines

• Here's the surprise: did we ever think that between a Royal Enfield bike and a TVS bike, the latter would have the more easy going engine? Well, that's the case here!

• The TVS Ronin makes its peak torque at just 3750rpm so it's clear that you do not have to rev the bike out to do anything. Up till about 5000rpm, the bike has plenty of torque everywhere and you can be a gear or two higher than required and just comfortably cruise around town without the bike demanding much from you.

• That said, the Hunter 350's engine, in no way, is demanding. It has a lot of torque too and it can easily potter around town in higher gears as well. Both engines feel a bit similar in that way, it's just that the Ronin does things a bit more effortlessly in the lower revs.

• Where the Royal Enfield Hunter 350's displacement advantage shows is on the open roads. It's the calmer of the 2 at a 90-100kmph cruise. For longer trips with a pillion and luggage, the Hunter's bigger engine makes it less work on the highway.

• If you have a substantial amount of highway jaunts on your everyday commutes, the TVS Ronin might feel like it's working very hard to keep up with highway speeds and that might fatigue you out a little bit more than the Hunter 350.

Verdict

Both the TVS Ronin and the Royal Enfield Hunter 350 are two reasonably good retro bikes but if one has to pivot towards one, most will prefer the Hunter 350. It's the bike that looks better, feels properly old school, has the bigger engine and if you're looking for that bigger, more premium feel with your first bike, a 350cc Royal Enfield bike will feel more premium than a 225cc bike. In its last update, Royal Enfield also solved the Hunter 350's biggest issue, its firm rear suspension, and the bike now feels a lot more compliant and comfortable than before. So objectively, the Royal Enfield Hunter 350 looks and feels like the better of the two. And if you have decided to get the Hunter 350, here's a detailed booking guide which will help you in your decision. If you want more information on the Hunter 350, check out its detailed explainer.

The TVS Ronin will be for someone who wants to stand out. Its quirky looks aren't for everyone but they stand out in the crowd, for sure. There are also a lot of Hunter 350s out on our roads so if you want something that not as many people around you have, the Ronin might attract you just a little bit more.