Royal Enfield Meteor 350
Digital display Yes | Tachometer No | Fuel gauge Yes | Electric start Yes | Disc brakes Both | Tyres Tubeless | Price Rs 1.90 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi) | Warranty 2 year/ 30,000km
The Royal Enfield Meteor 350 has been in the fleet for a couple of months now and it’s caused quite the stir in the Auto Today team. Not being inclined to cruisers myself, aside from a single ride I haven’t really had much time to get to know 2021’s IMOTY winner. Then the second wave happened, and through a chain of unseemly events the Meteor 350 ended up in my care, albeit temporarily. Even if cruisers are not on-brand for me, they are still motorcycles and there’s no way I was just letting it sit in my basement without taking it out on a ride. Early one morning, I geared up, masked up and got the Meteor 350 out on the road just as the curfew lifted. The Meteor 350 may look like it, but this isn’t your daddy’s Enfield. That new generation appeal makes its presence felt from the moment you thumb the starter. This brand new 350cc single idles quicker, thanks to the shorter stroke, unlike the lazy thump of the Classic 350. That’s not all though, the new chassis with a sharper rake angle allows for quicker turn-ins adding to an equally engaging ride experience. In the end, what stands out, is how much Royal Enfield has been able to evolve its cruiser without really alienating the original silhouette of Royal Enfield’s 350cc cruiser. Another thing I love about the Meteor 350 is the new seat, which’s so plush and spacious tucked behind the windscreen that it makes for very pleasant highway riding. My only issue with the Meteor 350 so far is the fuel gauge which refuses to accurately indicate how much fuel there is in the tank, switching between reserve and half a tank without warning. Hopefully, once we put this pandemic in the rear-view we’ll be able to put the Meteor out on the highway and see what it’s really like.
THE METEOR 350 MAY LOOK LIKE IT, BUT THIS ISN’T
YOUR DADDY’S ROYAL ENFIELD