Keeway V302C and Royal Enfield Meteor 350 Compared In 13 Images: Cruiser Or Loser?

Two sub-350cc cruisers and a battle between authentic and value explained through detailed images

If the new Keeway V302C intends to entice sub-500cc cruiser fans in India, it has to cross swords with Royal Enfield’s Meteor 350. So, we thought it’d be interesting to put the two cruisers against each other and see which one comes out on top.

Design:
The Keeway V302C gets a muscular design, true to form. Be it the fat tyres, teardrop-shaped fuel tank or the mid-rise and wide handlebar, it has a similar silhouette to the recently unveiled Harley-Davidson Nightster.

Alternatively, the Meteor 350’s styling is an evolution of the Thunderbird 350’s design. Just like on the Keeway, the Meteor too gets a 15-litre teardrop fuel tank, but thanks to its 19-inch front rim, the stance is slightly more chopper than cruiser, unlike on the V302C.

Seat:

The Keeway V302C features a scooped-up, single-piece seat. However, with a seat height of just 690mm, this motorcycle would be super friendly for even shorter riders.

The Meteor 350 on the other hand gets a taller saddle height of 765mm but gets a rather spacious split-seat design that looks a lot more comfortable for two-up riding unlike the Keeway V302C’s cramped rear seat.

Engine:

The engine on the Keeway V302C is a 298cc, liquid-cooled, V-twin unit which is mated to a six-speed gearbox. The motor produces 29.9PS at 8500rpm and 26.5Nm at 6500rpm. What distinguishes it  from most other cruisers in its segment is its final belt drive which gives it a very unique look.

The Meteor 350 gets a 349cc, air-cooled, single-cylinder engine which makes 20.48PS at 6100rpm and 27Nm at 4100rpm and is mated to a five-speed gearbox. Hence, even though the Meteor makes less power than the V302C, it makes all that grunt low down in the rev range, giving it more useability in the city. In comparison, the Keeway should theoretically have better highway performance.

Features:

On the Keeway you get LED lighting and a centrally mounted monopod digital instrument console. However, it misses out on Bluetooth connectivity, which is a big downer especially at its price point.

Between the two, the Meteor 350 is the better-equipped motorcycle. It too gets a monopod digital instrument console, but positioned off-centre. Royal Enfield also offers the Tripper navigation assist pod as an optional extra which allows for Bluetooth connectivity and turn-by-turn navigation. Also on offer is a very usable USB charging port.   

Underpinnings:

The Keeway’s 167kg (dry) mass is supported by upside down front fork with 120mm of travel and twin shocks in the rear with 42mm of travel. Sure, it’s staying true to its cruiser-like low stance, but this could become a little cumbersome on our broken Indian roads.

In comparison, there’s no escaping the fact that the Meteor is a heavy motorcycle, weighing 191kg (kerb). Even its hardware seems a bit budget-conscious with a simple 41mm fork with 130mm travel and pre-load-adjustable twin shocks managing suspension duties.

Brakes:

Braking on the V302C is managed by a single 300mm front disc and a 240mm unit at the back. It also gets the safety net of dual-channel ABS. 

Meanwhile, braking on the Meteor is managed by a 300mm front disc and a larger 270mm disc at the back and also gets dual-channel ABS. 

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Verdict:
The Keeway retails the V302C in India at Rs 3,89,000 which is a considerable chunk of cash to spend on a 300cc motorcycle, especially when you consider a top-end Meteor 350 costs Rs 2,17,469 (all prices ex-showroom). Sure, you miss out on some power and the bragging rights of a V-twin engine, but with Royal Enfield, you get an established community, group rides and events to interact with apart from a well-sorted product.