Royal Enfield Meteor 350 Review

For most riders, probably nothing epitomizes the ultimate dream bike like a low-slung, easy-riding cruiser. Motorcycle manufacturers are acutely aware of this fact that’s why cruisers are usually at the higher end of the budget spectrum in their stable. More often than not, it requires a fair amount of time and financial acrobatics to be able to finally have one in the garage. Hence, the prevalence of cruiser-riding old dudes on weekends. Thankfully, though, a mid-life crisis is no longer a pre-requisite to owning a big, fat machine that is the stuff of wet dreams.

Iconic global brand Royal Enfield has recently brought the much-awaited Meteor 350 to Philippine shores. The Meteor 350 comes in three affordable price points: ₱232,000 for the Fireball, ₱241,000 for the Stellar and at ₱252,000 for the Supernova editions. The Fireball has a minimalist, bobber look with black-out rims and handle bar. The Stellar is fitted with a passenger back rest while the Super Nova has a back rest and a wind screen. Both variants have chrome accents to give them that extra bling.

Propelled by a 349cc air-oil cooled single-cylinder engine, the Meteor generates 20.2 bhp and 27 Nm of torque at 4000 rpm. Its abundance in low end grunt is a fundamental characteristic of a proper cruiser and it more than makes up for the modest engine displacement. It allows for lazy riding around town without having to stress about frequent gear-shifting in stop-and-go urban traffic. The Meteor 350 will happily cruise in top gear at 30 kph.

The five-speed transmission is smooth and surprisingly precise. The hair-raising, false neutral scenarios often associated with Enfield’s old 350s is a thing of the past. Equipped with a balancer shaft, this new platform offers a well-mannered, buzz-free ride experience. This big thumper is virtually devoid of vibration so long as runs under 90 kph. If you decide to go beyond that, know that your ride is equipped with dual-channel ABS system.

Staying true to its character, the Meteor 350 is fitted with 100/90 19-inch front and 140/70 17-inch rear tubeless tires. A beautifully-sculpted tank slopes up towards the slightly-raised handle bar. The foot pegs are placed forward for a relaxed riding posture, whether on quick city jaunts or a cruise in the country side. Given the angle of foot placement, the heel-toe shift lever on the Meteor was much-appreciated. Both seats for rider and passenger have noticeably thick cushioning and they come as a mercy to the old joints given the firm damping of the 6-way adjustable rear shocks. This is so even on the softest setting.

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Making its debut on the Meteor 350 is the new TBT (Turn-By-Turn) navigation pod, known as the Royal Enfield Tripper, a navigation display device for real time directions, built with Google Maps Platform. The Tripper displays the best route to reach a destination using Google Maps’ two-wheeler navigation, a first for any Indian made motorcycle. The pod can be paired to the rider’s smart phone via the Royal Enfield App. No need to worry about your phone battery because there is a discreet USB port under the handle bar so you can charge on the fly.

It’s a shame that you won’t be able to ride this on tollways as the displacement is still below the 400cc minimum requirement but the Meteor 350 is not meant to be ridden in a hurry anyway. This bike is all about taking scenic route and affording the time to stop and smell the flowers. The road out there is virtually endless and surely, you don’t want to miss out on anything.