New, More Affordable 650cc Royal Enfield On The Cards?

The new bike named Meteor could be a Classic-style version of the Interceptor 650

[Update: Royal Enfield Meteor 350 Spotted Sans Camouflage, Launching Soon]

• Royal Enfield filed a trademark for the Meteor name in Europe in February 2019.
• The new name has been filed under bike, bike parts, apparel and accessories classes.
• The new bike could be a more affordable variant of the Interceptor 650.

Royal Enfield has filed a trademark for the name ‘Meteor’ with the European Union Intellectual Property Office. The trademark for the Meteor name has been filed under different classes including motorcycles, parts and fittings and clothing which includes headgear, apparel, footwear, gloves and riding gear. All this hints at the development of a new Royal Enfield motorcycle.

We believe the new motorcycle would be based on Royal Enfield’s relatively new 650cc platform. Given the fact that the Interceptor 650 is doing well, Royal Enfield would want to utilise the 650cc powertrain and underpinnings to build more bikes. It currently has the Interceptor 650 and Continental GT 650 based on the same platform. And given the fact that the Interceptor’s prices may go up in the future, RE could make a stripped-down bike with classic lines to undercut the Interceptor 650. Just the way the Bullet 350 undercuts the Classic 350. 

To keep costs in check, RE could equip it with a single-pod instrument console, locally-sourced tyres and a flat paint job with fewer chrome elements. Even the Interceptor 650’s spoked wheels with aluminium rims could be replaced with more affordable units with steel rims. And you never know, the Meteor could end up looking like the Triumph T100. 

Royal Enfield might even detune the engine for a more relaxed nature and improved fuel efficiency. All these updates could allow Royal Enfield to aggressively price the Meteor at around Rs 2.3 lakh, undercutting the Interceptor 650’s current starting price of Rs 2.5 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi).

And since the trademark has been filed under classes which include riding gear, expect Meteor branded accessories, apparel and riding gear too. Whether they will be vintage-inspired or more hipster, is something only time will tell. 

The trademark for the bike parts and clothing was filed in February this year and is expected to be approved by July. There is a strong possibility then that Royal Enfield would unveil the Meteor at this year’s EICMA.