Royal Enfield, the most sought-after bike by most of the bikers in India has given the much-needed update to the Thunderbird series by launching the all-new Royal Enfield Meteor 350. While I have already given my first ride impression of the older generation Royal Enfield Thunderbird 350, click here. But this time I have got a chance to ride Royal Enfield Meteor 350. To my amaze, the difference between both versions are just huge. Let’s unroll the Royal Enfield Meteor 350 review in detail.
Looks and Design-
This is the department where you must applause the design team for the remarkable upgrade they have given to the motorcycle and not merely a facelift. Starting from the complete body, tyres, seats, instrument cluster, headlamps, etc everything has been designed afresh to redefine the bike as a brand. The 10 spoke alloy wheel, the lower profile seat, the newly designed handlebars, taller windshield, and more add to the elegance of this comfortable bike.
The front view is dominated by the LED DRL and the chunky 41mm twin forks and the large windshield and not to forget the chrome-finished clutch and brake levers.
The right side view of the bike gives a detailed view of the chrome-finished exhaust pipe.
One thing to note is that Royal Enfield has taken a new step by omitting the kickstart in this bike.
The backrest for the pillion rider is also raised a bit to increase the comfort level. The 140/70-17 tyre at the rear side gives the bike much-needed grip along with the sheer aggressive look. The tail lamp of the Royal Enfield Meteor 350 is of LED type.
The instrument cluster has also been given a major update. The complete design of the instrument cluster of Royal Enfield Meteor 350 has been revamped. Add-on features like gear position indicator, navigation display, ABS light indicator, etc differentiate the Royal Enfield Meteor 350 from the previous generation model. To my surprise this time Royal Enfield has removed the tachometer from the instrument cluster of Meteor 350.
The quality of the switch gears has also been improved. You get a round knob for engine kill, ignition, and passing light. In order to start the bike, you need to rotate the knob which ignites the engine thereafter.
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Ergonomics-
The Meteor 350 riding dynamics fits all height people. The foot pegs are placed in the front to make the riding style extra relaxing for long rides. The handlebars are adequately raised for easy reach and better wrist support. The seating position is upright which makes the bike comfortable for cruising. The pillion seat is softer and also has a backrest to make the pillion rider feel comfortable.
The best part of the design which I personally liked the seating height of 765mm which makes the bike comfortable for all people. Which part of the design you like, leave your reply in the comments section.
Performance-
Royal Enfield’s are known for their thumping performance and the Meteor 350 is no exception to that. The J series single-cylinder, 349cc, 4 stroke, air-cooled engine produces 20.2bhp@6100 rpm and 27Nm@4000 rpm of torque. The transmission system consists of a 5-speed constant mesh gearbox. Coming to the riding experience the Royal Enfield Meteor 350 feels very light as you ride. In the first gear, you can drive anywhere between 25kmph to 30 kmph. In the second gear, the motorbike goes up to 40kmph and so on. Since the peak torque comes at 4000 rpm, the Meteor 350 pulls effortlessly. The vibrations in the handlebars have been reduced to a large extent. The 300mm front disc with the twin-piston floating caliper and the 270mm rear disc with a single-piston floating caliper offers a stupendous braking bite. The inclusion of Dual-Channel ABS is an added feature and lets you ride with more confidence.
Ride up to a speed of 80kmph and you will not feel any vibrations, but beyond that vibrations start to pick up. The stock seat has been replaced with the company’s Black Touring seat, which increases the seating comfort. The 100/90-19 tyre in the front and 140/70-17 tyre at the rear offer the much-needed road grip. Compared to the previous generations Royal Enfield Thunderbird 350 the tyre size up-gradation has bought a massive change in the riding dynamics.
Tank Capacity and Fuel Efficiency
The Royal Enfield Meteor 350 mileage is around 35kmpl approximately in the city and 40 kmpl or more on highway.
The tank capacity of Royal Enfield Meteor 350 is 15 litres which is combined with the Electronic Fuel Injection and fuel efficiency of 35kmpl (approximately) and gives a full tank range of 500kms plus.
Please note that real-world fuel efficiency depends upon various factors and may vary from person to person riding habit. If you want me to explain the various factors affecting the mileage, then leave your reply in the comments section.
Modification on Royal Enfield Meteor 350-
The RE Meteor 350 has been modified by the owner to fit the company’s accessories which includes the large front visor , rider seat, silver sumpguard to protect the engine from dirt, back passenger rest. To know more about the company accessories please visit- Genuine Motorcycle Accessories by Royal Enfield.
Cons of Royal Enfield Meteor 350-
- Vibration above 80kmph can increase fatigue in longer rides
- Better accessories are available on a chargeable basis even after spending around 2.5Lacs like better seats, crash guard, etc
- High turning radius makes the bike tedious for city rides
- Kerb Weight of 191kgs is difficult to handle
Verdict-
The Royal Enfield Meteor 350 has been updated vastly from its predecessors. This bike is now suitable for average height people. The ride quality has improved a lot plus the addition of Dual-Channel ABS and wider tyres set boosts the riding dynamics. If you are an avid tourer of motorcycles then you could consider this bike. The only setback can be the pricing of Meteor 350 around 1.98Lacs (ex-showroom Delhi) which brings enough space for competitors like Jawa 42, Benelli Imperiale 400, Dominar 400, Honda Hness CB350, etc.
[…] Ans. Both of these bikes come from the same brand and have many similarities in terms of parts used, but going by the driving dynamics they are very much different. As per the recent trends offering performance and technology these two bikes are more or less similar with differences coming from the very nature of the bike i.e. Meteor is more of Cruiser oriented and Himalayan Scram 411 is a sort of adventure tourer bike. So deciding the better of the two has to be more user-specific as to what is your requirement. Do follow our link if you have not read our review of the Royal Enfield Meteor 350. […]
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