Royal Enfield Meteor 350: One Motor, Many Personalities

The all-new 349cc born of the new J-platform is set to be the heart powering several delectable machines. Here’s what they are all about

The J-platform has heralded a new era for Royal Enfield, starting with the Royal Enfield Meteor 350. The core of this versatile platform is the all-new 349cc counterbalanced, single-cylinder, air-cooled and fuel-injected engine. This heart is set to power a range of motorcycles to be launched in the months ahead. We explore the various personalities:

Royal Enfield Meteor 350:

As mentioned earlier, the Royal Enfield Meteor 350 is the first product to be born of the new J-platform. The Meteor 350 is the successor to the famed Royal Enfield Thunderbird 350 and is a more well-rounded motorcycle than its predecessor. 

The 349cc motor churns out 20.4PS and 27Nm. The engine’s torquey nature coupled with the laidback ergonomics makes the Meteor an ideal motorcycle to cruise down the highways lazily. Thanks to the counterbalancer, the engine doesn’t feel strained even when you’re cruising at around 100kmph.

2021 Royal Enfield Classic 350:

Royal Enfield is set to launch the 2021 Royal Enfield Classic 350 this month. It was supposed to be launched earlier but the second wave of the pandemic affected the brand’s plans. Nevertheless, this will be another big-ticket offering from the brand, considering it will succeed the extremely popular BS6 Royal Enfield Classic 350.

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Royal Enfield has kept the new Classic’s design essence intact, only with a few tweaks here and there. The brand has deliberately done this as the Classic’s evocative silhouette is one of the primary reasons why it became the Chennai-based bikemaker’s cash-cow year after year. Expect the upcoming motorcycle to get the same motor, but the ergonomics will be different. 

Royal Enfield Hunter 350:

Found the Meteor 350 too laidback and the 2021 Classic 350 too old-school? Well, how about a neo-retro roadster package? That’s what the Royal Enfield Hunter 350 is all about.

Expect Royal Enfield to follow up the 2021 Classic 350’s launch with the Hunter 350. The Hunter gets a slightly sportier riding stance, thanks to the contoured single-piece seat, neutral footpegs, and a wide handlebar. It is likely to make the same power and torque as the Meteor 350, but its ergonomics package should make it a slightly livelier motorcycle.

The Royal Enfield Bullet 350 is unlikely to receive the new engine, considering the UCE lends the motorcycle its characteristic thump. Royal Enfield will not want to tinker with its USP. Moreover, it will also help the bike maker retain the Bullet as the most affordable motorcycle in its portfolio.