Royal Enfield Meteor 350

How is the design of the Royal Enfield Meteor 350?

The Royal Enfield Meteor 350 is the premier cruiser and the design still draws from the original Thunderbird 350 in terms of its original silhouette. The only difference lies in the new color options for the Royal Enfield Meteor 350 and the revamped tail lamp portion. The fit and finishing has improved greatly along with superior quality of parts. The new rotary switches and tapered hand grips come with a retro-esque vibe although the pass switch will require some time before you start getting used to the same. The Supernova variant is the top-end variant that gets a standard pillion back-rest and windscreen and the design is quite attractive although the tail section does look a little out of place including the tail lamp and rear fender.

How does the Royal Enfield Meteor 350  ride?

The Royal Enfield Meteor 350 feels brand new while riding. The refinement levels are really impressive and the engine has no clatter at all. The revs feel free and super smooth while cruising in the city. Refinement has gone up considerably from the two valve engine and vibrations have been reduced with sheer engineering excellence. Throttle responses are crisp and accurate while fueling is top notch with the bike responding fabulously even at speeds lower than 60 kilometres per hour. It rides in a more eager and sprightly fashion.

How comfortable is the Royal Enfield Meteor 350 ?

The riding position is akin to a regular cruiser and although 765 mm of seat height has been lowered in comparison to the earlier Thunderbird 350, there are forward-set foot pegs which contribute to the slightly tight and difficult riding stance and position. The ergonomic issue here is that the new position does not offer as much comfort as the previous Thunderbird models, particularly the one from the first generation. The Meteor 350 offers good riding experiences for long distances although ergonomics still leave something to be desired. The rear suspension is on the stiffer side with the brand new double cradle chassis that make the bike more planted and sure footed even when it is venturing around a corner or taking a curve. The tyres do not offer ample confidence for going full throttle. Softer rubber may have ensured better grip levels in this case. The bike feels a little edgy around corners when you push it harder. The new chassis does improve overall riding dynamics and comfort levels. Braking and stopping prowess is adequate though, enhancing comfort by a great deal.

How’s the tech?

The Royal Enfield Meteor 350 comes with a striking asymmetric twin pod instrument console. The bigger dial has the analogue speedometer while the LCD cluster offers trip meter, clock, odometer, fuel gauge and gear position indicator read-outs. The right smaller pod also shows a larger clock read-out while functioning as the turn by turn navigation display too. This works through the Royal Enfield Tripper app complete with Bluetooth connectivity. Navigation works smoothly and other features include creating ride events. There is the Make It Yours customization feature that buyers can use for personalizing their model.

How’s the mileage of the Royal Enfield Meteor 350 ?

The Royal Enfield Meteor 350 offers decent fuel economy of 41.9 kmpl.

How is the performance of the Royal Enfield Meteor 350 ?

The Royal Enfield Meteor 350 gets a new twin-cradle frame for underpinnings while getting power from a single cylinder 349 cc four stroke SOHC mill that churns out a whopping 20.2 bhp at 6100 rpm and 27 Nm of maximum torque at 4000 rpm. The new motor is a replacement for the conventional pushrod design seen on the previous Royal Enfield engines. There is now a primary balancer shaft accompanied by the overhead camshaft, enabling higher revs and better refinement in turn. There is a new 5-speed gearbox that is paired to the engine for ensuring convenient and hassle-free gear shifting as compared to previous models. Kerb weight stands at 183 kg, making the Meteor 350 considerably lighter than the Royal Enfield Thunderbird 350. The wheelbase is also longer in comparison to the Thunderbird 350, enabling enhanced straight-line stability.

Is the Royal Enfield Meteor 350  good value for money?

The Royal Enfield Meteor 350 is a value for money proposition at its price point. For starters, there is ample brand value on offer along with imposing road presence in tandem with improved refinement and ample engine power. It works wonderfully as a cruiser, offers decent fuel economy and is equipped with Bluetooth connectivity and navigation among other features.