Royal Enfield Meteor 350 motorcycle test

Menus

• Entry-level, extra class
• Air / oil single cylinder, 349 cm3, 20 hp and 27 Nm, 191 kg full made, from 4.099 euros
• Discovery
• In the saddle
• In the city
• Motorways and expressways
• On the road
• Cycle part
• Braking
• Consumption
• Conclusion

Entry-level, extra class

Air / oil single cylinder, 349 cm3, 20 hp and 27 Nm, 191 kg full made, from 4.099 euros

Royal Enfield commemorates its 120th anniversary in 2021! And the historic builder born in Redditch, England, but based in India since 1955, is celebrating the anniversary by launching what it wants to be the most important pillar of its expansion strategy with the Meteor 350..

Because with this Meteor 350 2021, the manufacturer is getting back to basics and a simple motorcycle. Above all, this Meteor is a platform with the objective of becoming the best-selling 250cc motorcycle in the world. It must be said that millions of copies of the 350 have been manufactured since its debut in 2008, between the Classic 350 and its now defunct Thunderbird cruiser version. In 2019 alone, more than 430,000 copies were made in India. This is even more than half of the 806,870 Royal Enfields produced in the 2018-19 fiscal year. So for Eicher Motors, owner of Enfield, it was a top priority to develop a modern, emissions-compatible version to replace the 350 Classic..

Royal Enfield Meteor 350 test drive

This replacement therefore took the form of the Meteor 350, an affordable entry-level machine, but with an additional class, for customers in international markets (such as France). But if it represents the entry level with us, it represents the high end in India, at least for now. Remember, since its debut in India in December last year, the Meteor has been so successful that there is currently a four-month waiting list for deliveries to the country with 45,000 orders pending while ‘Enfield in turn struggles with supply issues at its three modern factories around Chennai.

Discovery

The original Meteor was released in 1953. With its 693 cc, it was even the manufacturer’s first model to exceed 100 mph (161 km / h) as well as the first large-displacement British twin-cylinder motorcycle in history, before it was released. be replaced by the Interceptor a decade later. We expected the Meteor to be on a new 650 rather than on a 350, especially since this new model has nothing to do with its ancestor. But nothing says that we will not find a future version on one of the Twin 650s which have been selling so well since their launch three years ago..

The Meteor succeeds the Classic 350

Although primarily targeted for the huge Indian market, the Meteor also aims to win over Western customers, mainly beginners, women and those who are returning to motorcycling after a few years of hiatus, motivated by their reluctance to use the public transport in the context of a pandemic. It is a stylish entry-level motorcycle with lots of character, easy to ride and apparently well designed, with nice finishes for this price and an overall quality in progress compared to the previous 350. The Meteor should thus find its audience. , in particular at the price at which it is offered in its different variants.

The Royal Enfield Meteor Stella

Considered an "Easy Cruiser" by Royal Enfield with its high handlebars and slightly forward footrests, the Meteor 350 is available in three variations. We thus find the Fireball in bright red and yellow colors, the most basic at 4,090 euros. Then comes the Stellar in black at 4,290 euros with some additional equipment such as its sissy bar. Finally, the top of the range Supernova sold at 4,390 euros in blue and brown with its machined rims, its premium saddle and its screen..

The Fireball and Supernova versions of the Meteor 350

Apart from that, the technical basis of the Meteor is similar to the three versions, starting with the engine which will serve as the basis for other models..

Here is a new 349cc long stroke air / oil cooled single cylinder measuring 72 x 85.8mm with single overhead camshaft timing and two valves. Do not expect performance from him with its 20 small horses at 6,100 rpm and 27 Nm at 4,000 rpm. There is also no engine mode, traction control, cruise control or others. The electronics are here reduced to their simplest expression, making an asset for countries where it is necessary to be able to easily repair.

The 349 cc single cylinder delivers 20 hp and 27 Nm

The engine was developed by the engineering team at the UK Technology Center at Bruntingthorpe Airfield in Leicestershire, an entity headed by James Young who also designed the Triumph 675cc three cylinder used on the Daytona and Street Triple. He is just one of many engineers and designers in the 180-strong R&D team that Enfield has assembled under the leadership of Simon Warburton, another Triumph alumnus. The manufacturer’s expertise in the field of chassis is based on the acquisition of Harris Performance Products in 2015..

It was Harris, therefore, who created the Meteor’s double backbone cradle frame with a non-adjustable 41mm Gabriel telescopic fork that travels 130mm and a dual shock rear end adjustable over 6 preload levels, but not offering than 80 mm stroke. The wheelbase is quite short at 1,400 mm. The set displays 179 kg dry and is advertised for 191 kg with the 15 liter tank 90% full.

The Meteor is compact with its wheelbase of 1,400 mm

Braking is provided by ByBre floating calipers (the Indian subsidiary of Brembo) with two pistons biting a single 300mm disc up front and a single piston on the 270mm rear disc.

All three models are equipped with a standard center stand and a side stand that sinks very easily into any ground and would have benefited from having a wider support support to be effective. There are then 19 "aluminum alloy rims at the front and 17" at the rear shod with Indian CEAT tires..

The center stand is installed as standard

There’s also Enfield’s new Tripper turn-by-turn navigation module. This navigation system works thanks to Google Maps via a connection to a smartphone and a dedicated application. Simple to use and rather unobtrusive with its display housed in the smaller of the two rounds of the instrumentation, the Tripper adds to the classic feeling that comes from the Meteor, as does the chrome fuel filler cap..

The Tripper navigation system is even found on all three versions.

In the saddle

The dashboard also has an elegant analogue meter which incorporates a digital display showing the fuel level, the gear selected, the time, the mileage and a trip meter. All this data scrolls through an easy-to-use button from the left stalk. There is also a USB port discreetly mounted under the handlebars to allow charging of your phone.

The instrumentation plays the classic card, but does not have tachometers

To get a taste of the Meteor on a test day with the manufacturer, I took a seat aboard the brown Supernova version for a ride on the lush country roads of southern Warwickshire, along the same roads to the south. from the Redditch factory where Royal Enfield testers were developing the 50s / 60s models, especially on the dreaded 14% hill from Sunrising Hill on the road to Stratford-on-Avon with its odd hairpin bend in the middle.

The Meteor offers an upright riding position with the feet slightly forward

With a height of 765 mm, the saddle is accessible for the smallest riders. We then appreciate its width and comfort. It is combined with a high, but set back handlebars and thicker than usual grips which add extra comfort. The footrests are placed slightly forward, but not as much as you would expect on a real cruiser. The ergonomics are quite good with an upright position which always remains comfortable.

In the city

The clutch lever is not adjustable in gauge, but provides a smooth action and is not too hard. The whole thing offers an easy motorcycle in traffic. While I didn’t think I’d like the very Latin left-foot shifting, it’s actually very easy to use once you get used to it. The gear selection is smooth in all gears and this is the best gearbox I have tested on a Royal Enfield single cylinder. We will just avoid fifth gear, except for cruising on a straight line, this one is really not the best on this small cubic engine. And you must always use the clutch, even when upshifting. It’s the best Enfield gearbox but not so much that you can shift gears on the fly. On the other hand the neutral is very easy to stop.

The flexibility of the motor makes it a machine well suited to the city.

With a wheelbase of just 1400mm, the Meteor is a bit short for two-man riding and this is also reflected in the very lively steering. It is really agile and allows it to take it quickly in the corners, with enough ground clearance. Either way, the footrests are foldable. The bike is therefore very manoeuvrable with a very tight turning radius which greatly facilitates maneuvers when stationary..

The upright position also provides good visibility into traffic

Motorways and expressways

The engine is barely powerful enough to exceed the UK national speed limit of 70 mph (112.6 km / h) with only 8 km / h of headroom as top speed tops out at 120 km / h, odometer. Royal Enfield talks about a top speed of 114 km / h. I was only able to reach this one on the flat, lying on the 15-liter tank and well launched, after waiting a while for the throttle open wide, to get there very gradually..

The Meteor lacks speed to be taken serenely on the expressway

The little bubble mounted above the retro-looking round headlight deflects a lot of the wind, but there’s nothing to worry about. The performance of the Meteor 350 is closer to a 125 than to a 400 and is therefore limited on the motorway. She will clearly prefer the departmental roads to cruise quietly.

On the road

At lower speeds, however, the 349cc engine shows itself to be quite purposeful, both smooth and easy to use, but also quiet when winding towards its maximum power revs of 6,100 rpm. Thanks to the balance shaft, there is no vibration on the bike, even what looks like its peak rpm (the Meteor does not have a tachometer). This makes it a pleasant motorcycle in the end. The mirrors, which are quite effective, also remain devoid of vibrations.

The single cylinder does not cause vibrations, even at the highest revs

However, frequent shifting is required to climb Sunrising, even solo and without luggage, and just as much to overtake even on flat roads. Overtaking is a maneuver that requires good judgment and an alert gaze to monitor slopes, even slight ones, and oscillate between 3 and 4, at respectively 90 km / h and 110 km / h. The Meteor drives more easily at an average 105 km / h with a clear advantage in terms of fuel consumption. In short, it is better to avoid highways and expressways.

It is necessary to constantly play with the clutch

But this is only the judgment of an experienced rider who loves to ride. The Meteor is tailored for its target audience who will be happy to drive at 80 km / h in the great outdoors, as well as between lines of cars in town, exploiting this vertical position and the view it offers over the rooftops of cars to navigate their way through traffic, aided by clean pickups at low revs. Above all, there is a direct response when turning the handle. Instead, the Meteor is very predictable in the way it responds to the demands of the right hand, aided by good injection mapping. Without motor mode or electronic assistance, this makes it an ideal machine for novices who will feel in control of the bike at all times and will not be put off by a sudden response..

The Meteor is a machine for cruising, not for arson

Cycle part

The Meteor’s front suspension works well when flying over bumps on the corner, despite a fairly stiff, unmodifiable setting. This configuration means that there is little diving when braking, but also little feedback via the CEAT tire when braking hard on the angle. Conversely, the rear suspension is a real disappointment and by far the biggest weak point of this otherwise attractive motorcycle. This 80mm stroke says a lot, despite tests on different preloads, it is difficult to properly tune the suspensions when these shocks are too stiff. Concretely, the saddle taps up and down as soon as you roll over the slightest bump or fault. I suspect that the root of the problem is with Indian customers who will inevitably be driving with one or two passengers, plus loads. Even with the preload on the softest setting, the stiffness is too great. Royal Enfield would benefit from modifying these shocks for European customers to provide greater travel and better suspension tuning..

The shocks are way too hard and the big black spot of the Meteor

The tires, which are also a reason for the liveliness of the bike with the front 100 / 90-19 and the rear 140 / 70-17, offer decent grip in dry weather but are far from reassuring on wet. You should not hesitate to change the tire fitting unless you only go out under the sun.

Braking

The Meteor is equipped with dual channel ABS but to stop this bike it is imperative to use the two ByBre calipers while braking hard, especially on the front. The floating rear disc and single piston caliper also seem to be effective. But for the Meteor to stop properly you need both together. Beginners will not be surprised by hard braking.

Braking is correct, provided you fully squeeze the lever.

Consumption

With its 15-liter tank, the Meteor can approximately more than 400 kilometers of autonomy with an average consumption significantly above 3 liters per hundred..

Conclusion

Despite its very responsive suspension on bumps, the Meteor is a welcome new model for riders looking for a pleasant motorcycle to cruising quietly at 80-100 km / h, a speed where this supple engine runs at a very smooth and relaxing pace. The Meteor 350 is a pleasant, accessible, accommodating, easy to ride motorcycle, with the capabilities of a 125 but more rewarding than a 125 and at the price of a 125. And this platform will serve as a basis for other models..

The Royal Enfield Meteor 350

Opposite, we will oppose the Benelli Imperiale 400 with a more classic style, but a little heavier and less well equipped, sold for 4,599 euros, as well as the Mash 400, a little less expensive, but less well equipped. Its biggest rival could be the Honda CB350, but this would require the Japanese manufacturer to import its H’Ness to Europe..

Strong points

• Linear and progressive motor
• Agility
• Standard equipment
• Simplicity

Weak points

• Top speed
• Rear suspension

The Royal Enfield Meteor 350 technical sheet

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