revreadsblog-blog

[revreadsblog-blog]

Royal Enfield Meteor 350

https://revreads.com/2020-royal-enfield-meteor-350/

From the past few years, Royal Enfield is evolving with its machines and want something that their machines can do a long journey without any hassle, fewer vibrations and something that rely on for a comfortable journey. Royal Enfiled already had Classics, Trails, Adventure Tourer, and 650 Twins with the parallel-twin engine. But the company is lagging in cruisers and less vibey engines with a capacity of 350cc. The company already has thunderbird 350 & 500cc. But these are somewhere lagging in terms of performance.

So, the company wants something that fits in this segment also like there other machines are the market’s finest competitors. This time Royal Enfiled comes with the Meteor 350cc with an all-new engine, instrument cluster and introducing navigation system to its machine.

Styling :

The perfect cruising machine when it comes for the cruise at some certain speed with sit low positioned seat height and relaxed position for a longer period. But round headlights, tank shape and some design element somewhat remind of thunderbird. But it makes up with the all-new seat, front wind-shield visor and switch gears U-shaped 10 spoke alloy wheels, LED DRL ring in the Halogen headlamp, backrest for the pillion which makes it premium.

There are three variants- the fireball, the steller and the supernova. The windshield is only available in the top variant and the backrest is available in top two variants.

Engine :

The Royal Enfield meteor gets an all-new engine powered with 349cc with fuel injection BS-6 compliant and produces 20.2 BHP at 6100 RPM and 27 nm of torque at 4000 RPM. The numbers are quiet decent enough, to be practicle these numbers are not too great and even are not class leading, but it can easily give you a better feel for day to day ride and occasional cruising.

But what we are expecting this time from Royal Enfield is refinement and we are happy to say that this engine is very much smoother and gets a very refined ride through out the ride.

The engine has linear power delivery with some peppy nature which helps in city conditions and also have a higher top-end and reaches very quickly at its peak when it compare with the thunderbird and classic.

Gearbox :

Like the engine, the gearbox is also new as-well and gear shift are also smooth. Gear ratio is somewhat on the taller side and doesn’t feel its stressed out even in the triple-digit. But the slipper clutch and sixth gear is also missing.

The output of this transmission is decent and get an efficiency of 35kmpl which lasts 525 km of range with the 15 litres of fuel tank capacity.

In conclusion, the all-new engine and transmission is the meteor 350 is a complete blend of refinement and peppier version of RE’s and making it’s one of the best motorcycles of Royal Enfields.

Instrument Cluster :

The cluster is very much clear and easy read for the rider. Cluster gets a gear positioning, fuel meter, 2 trip meters, clock and odometer in digital part and gets an analogue meter for the speedometer. And a basic telltale lights. The speedometer also has a reading in MPH format.

The second display consists the Royal Enfield’s new tripper navigation system which can connect with mobile phone via Bluetooth

But the worst part of the instrument cluster is the fuel indicator it gets confused all the time and does not show the proper fuel level until and unless the bike gets stable. Every time we have to calculate from the trip meter from the last fuel stop.

Tripper Navigation System, its the first attempt that Royal Enfield is doing something new with the electronics. The new tripper navigation system is powered by the Google maps which very simple to use and read and easily connects with via Bluetooth of mobile phone. It has all the necessary symbols shows while riding through merging traffic lanes.

The bike also has a dedicated USB slot for charging up devices On The Go.

Ergonomics And Suspension:

The ergonomics of the is pretty much familiar with its predecessor thunderbird. The riding posture is foot forward position with forwarding footpeg positioning. The riding position is relaxed sit back type the typical cruiser style.

The suspension of meteor 350 is using 41 mm front fork and 6-step adjustable twin shock setup at the rear. The rear suspension setup is slightly firm, could have been softer side, while the front suspension setup is on the softer side which leads in difficulty into the cornering at higher speeds.

Brakes and tyres :

The meteor gets the bigger 300 mm front disc at the front and bigger 270 mm rear disc. The brakes are having a good bite and ABS also performs very well. The bike gets a dual-channel ABS as standard which ensures that the rider has confidence over the bike in the panic situations. And wheelbase is also on the longer side that also helps in better stability of the bike.

The meteor 350 equipped with the Ceat rubber which gets 100/90–19 at the front and 140/70–17 at the rear. Its get a U-shaped machine cut alloy wheel setup which looks quite well with the overall fit and finish of the bike.

The final verdict: The Royal Enfield Meteor 350 (ex-showroom price is 190,500 Supernova variant) is not the cheapest bike. But when it comes to its predecessor thunderbird it gets an updated engine, brakes, smoother ride, better features, new instrument cluster, the most important the tripper navigation system which is power by the google maps, the more premium fit and finish. The bike gets a whole new experience with the older RE’s is somewhat justified to its price point.

It’s definitely the head turner in the traffic and people get more curious about the machine. But we Indian have a habit of comparing each and everything with its competitor. The Honda H’ness CB 350 is also a good bike and standing head to head with this baby.