Royal Enfield Meteor 350 (2021) | Review & In-depth interview 

I really, really like it. I mean, we grieve over not getting enough new riders to the hobby, while bikes get more expensive and more complicated. Sometimes I feel like I'm piloting some sort of intergalactic cruiseship when I sit down on a modern bike. We fuss over whether a bike has a quickshifter and rider modes, cruise control and active suspension, and the bikes keep getting more and more out there and expensive. And we make comments like "Oh yeah out there in China and India they ride lots of little bikes. There's more bikes there than cars! Riding a bike's normal there!" Well guess what. I think this kind of stuff is exactly what we need. Bikes that are simple, fun, inexpensive, approachable but still well built. And we need the image of biking to go from "specialist hobby" to "normal", something anybody could do, or better yet, something anybody would do. Great job RE!

I dont know why but every time I see a Royal Enfield it makes me Smile - love it. Great video - thanks

I`m 63 years old, haven`t ridden for several years and thought my biking days were over but, the meteor has certainly got my attention, particularly the Fireball versions. Think I may need to pay my local RE dealer a visit.

Just got one and it’s brilliant. I’m a 70 year old returning biker who started looking at the meteor at the back end of 2020 and ordered a supernova in January 2021. I’m the first customer from Hayward’s of Cambridge the oldest RE dealer in England. The bike exceeds my expectations and the only niggle is the gear shift mechanism which is ripe for modification and upgrade both in ergonomic design and the quality of the pivot bearing. I feel that the slack in the linkage is going to make it wear out quickly although it will probably continue to function. I can’t wait for an aftermarket upgrade. Despite that, it’s a joy to ride and even though running-in requires a 45mph limit for the first 500km (a mix-up units), it pulls well and sounds great. The quality is good for the price and I paid £3,900 for a Supernova that was probably landed at the importer for £2000 which with UK registration, a three year warranty, three years roadside assistance, a years road tax and a full tank of petrol is a great deal. Oh and you get a key ring, a snood and a mug into the bargain. I’m really pleased with the bike and get a buzz every time I ride it. It’s got the vibe and sound of the old 1960s British bikes of my youth in a modern package with ABS, disk brakes and not an oil leak in sight. Remember The Shangrilas “leader of the pack” from the 60s? The exhaust note is almost identical to the revving on the record!

I'm a big fat 6 footer, and still admire this bike greatly. Looking at it pleases me. I'm a very happy Interceptor rider, and have silly thoughts about having one of these and a Himalayan, too. There are no other bikes that inspire my second childhood like the Royal Enfields. They are rat race escape devices.

I went to my local KTM dealer today, who also sells Royal Enfield! I am 60 years of age next year, I am well built, strong and still quick witted! However, when I saw the size of the big KTM's and realised how complex they were I admitted that I would not be able to fix it or pick it up if it fell over! My wife suggested that I sat on a Royal Enfield, the Himalayan, and it was a great fit! Not at all intimidating, and everything was accesible! My eye was then drawn to the Meteor, what a surprise! Beautifully executed, a nice riding postion and again all the bits were accesible! Just sitting on the RE's reminded me of how lost we get in performance, electronincs and computer aids and dreams of global travelling, when in reality we would be very happy with a simple machine, that can transport us around locally and go further afield if required without having to be super talented rider on a hugely expensive motorbike. It makes sense to me, but the world is full of different riders! I like this meteor. Thank you Royal Enfield for creating bikes that look great, are affordable and serviceable. I sound old!!! O'h dear!!!

What a great bike. There is a groundswell of opinion that’s frankly fed up with bikes that are full of tech and weight you don’t need. Something like this would be a great tourer, commuter and just a fun bike. Yes it’s not fast, but if you tour at 100 mph, your not seeing the scenery anyway. For someone to loves the trip, this could be for you. At the price point it’s an honest to goodness bargain.

But don't forget the appeal of this bike to an old fart like me, who doesn't relish the thought of canning a GSXR around anymore like I did 26 years ago. There is a market for this bike for the likes of me.

Country lane potterers of the world unite. Lovely pure and simple machine.

Great job! I'm from Brazil and I'm waiting for this release, we hope that the engine works properly with our gasoline, our country is a great consumer of motorcycles and Meteor will be part of our future. Welcome!

Great bike had a road test today put my deposit down straight away

I started riding in the U.K. 1959, on a BSA 250 C11G, which was for me affordable to buy, and to insure and most important......run pretty well as the mood took me. This for a teenager was freedom indeed and as my income increased so did my bikes, and I eventually acquired a 500cc BSA Shooting Star, which was still a very uncomplicated machine, but did give a very good ride for its day. My point is, keep it simple, reliable and fun and these single banger bikes certainly seem to do that. Remind me of the AJS/Matchless rides, and let’s not forget Velocette . Well done India keep them coming......hell I am now in my eighties and they give me the ‘itch’ .......Himalayan would be great here in backwoods Ontario.

To paraphrase, "It's not a spec-sheet bike, it's about the sum-of-the-whole experience," and that rings very true for me after test-riding one last week. I've ridden for more than 50 years, and have had a full range of bikes, from a 1962 Honda 150cc to a 2004 Victory Kingpin 92ci (1507cc). I love riding, but am ready to downsize; and my hunch is that this simple, responsive, well-designed bike will appeal to many of us "oldster" riders who want to continue enjoying the road!

Another lovely review from the classy Michael Mann. I think Enfield have pulled another rabbit out of the hat with this new Meteor. Obviously aimed at younger and new riders who they (R.E.) want to stick with the brand but not outwardly marketed at them so they can trawl a wider clientele. The bike looks good, aside from the awkward looking rear seat and rest. Also the exhaust could do with a makeover but I’m sure the aftermarket accessories will follow. I think further motoring restrictions (traffic cameras, calming schemes, congestion charges and parking restrictions) will reignite the more simple, lighter and less cluttered bikes as a more relevant ownership proposition. Royal Enfield seem on a roll....and similarly Moto Guzzi with their lovely V7.

Great review, I put a deposit on a FIREBALL RED Meteor here in San Diego about 3 week ago and looking forward to getting it. 👍

The best review of the Meteor 350 on YT...bar none. Very informative, especially for someone like myself who is considering one of these.....for pretty much all the same reasons mentioned. Thank you for the review.

Went to take a look at it yesterday. Ordered one right away. Too bad delivery times are uncertain at the moment, at least here in Germany.

A lot of older riders don’t need 1600cc anymore. 70mph is fine for most folks.

Thanks to RE for making a great simple, pure, easy on mind and pocket bike that helps free the spirit.

i am 60 year old and retired, i bought my RE meteor super nova 3 weeks ago. i am still in my break in period. people keeps looking at my motorcycle whenever i passed by. so happy with my brand new motor bike!

Another fantastic video from the team at Bennetts. What a great small capacity bike. Smart touch with the integrated turn by turn sat nav.

Hwy speeds not in the Us markets but the old man got one and it's a killer city commuter.

Had a test ride last week and bought one. Great bike.

There are new bike reviews and new bike reviews but heck, this one blows all the others off of the pillion, very well done Guys and thank you! ( mine is due in 2 weeks)

This is the manifestation of cheap and cheerfull! Plus it sound amazing!

Two and a half years till I am old enough to buy a bike and this is 100% what I’m getting.

I really love the look of this bike.. it give people like myself who hasn't been out much recently (on my bike) due to work commitments another riding experience other than my harley. It looks a great little bike to pop out with your friends for an afternoon cruise....i shall be taking one out for a test ride and very well may add it to my other 2 bikes. Great video lads well done.

Just put my first EVER 100 miles riding the motorcycle with the RE Meteor 350. I would not do it with any other bike out there if I had to start over. Pure joy when riding the Meteor.

ROYAL Enfield deliver fun well made motorcycle for true motorcyclist who have no wish for every rider electronics aid to help you controls your 160+ hp on the road that you can’t use. Back to the true spirit of enjoyment of a motorcycle well done.

Got my Stellar a couple of weeks ago. Went out for a 30 mile ride through the countryside today and was grinning like the proverbial Cheshire cat, all the way! It sounds gorgeous, lots of people look at it and one older gentleman told me he once had one and that I'd done a good job restoring it! It does have an old personal plate on it.... The only thing that is frustrating, is the maximum speed for the first 300 miles is less than 45 mph and then 50 mph for the next 900 miles! Having looked under the rear seat, it's a shame they have a load of metal work and wiring under it, as it would look so cool without the rear seat.

Bought my Stellar Black (2022) on Monday and will take delivery either this or next Saturday. A lovely piece of work.

Just bought one in the USA. Ride it in Lancaster County Pennsylvania - rolling countryside filled with Amish farms. This is an ABSOLUTLY DELIGHTFUL BIKE! Good on highways and winding back roads. Simple and intuitive ride, and quite an eye-turner. Everyone I encounter wants to know about it. I couldn't be happier!

wow this bike has my full attention! I have totally given up on motorways, and as soon as i did that, the royal enfields make total sense. just take your time and enjoy the ride, the feeling of a single thumper is unbeatable.

Test rode one today….. what a cracking fun bike and very nippy. Enjoyed it so much I ordered a Blue Stellar, to keep my Moto Guzzi V7 company in the garage. For the money it’s a unbelievably great quality bike and extremely enjoyable to ride.

absolutely love that design!

As soon as I entered the dealer I fell in love with the yellow one. Didn't leave without buy it. I'm 31 years old, and I've always seen motorcycles like the best way to disconnect from the world and ride for hours. I don't like sports bikes, GS ones, whatsoever. I like it simple, retro style, to ride on mountain roads and enjoy the scenery. This one is perfect for me.

The Royal Enfield meteor 350 is huge stepup from the old Thunderbird 350. Its a great bike with very good looks, decent performance, easy ridability on city. The new 350 cc engine is super smooth. The handling is also great.overall a nice package. 😄😄🤩🤩 chears 👍👍👍Royal Enfield.

A bit of feed back : For me it would be an everyday get me to work , get around, easy to jump on and go kind of bike , I would like it to have a single seat with a rack where the pillion seat is and a top box , somewhere to put a lock and a helmet . I've been on the RE website and can't see any of those things as options or accessories . A pillion back rest on such a bike is imo a bit unnecessary given its power output . I hope RE can start getting some accessories like those I've mentioned , it would widen the appeal .

Great review, nice little bike, i like it.

Awesome review bro 👍🏾

In the 60's if you wanted a British bike and could not afford a Triumph Bonneville or a BSA Lightning, the single cylinder offerings were there form Triumph and BSA for those who did not want a Japanese bike. BSA had a 441 that I remember, one with a low pipe and one with a higher pipe. (and the BSA Gold Star was really something special) Triumph has several upright singles. The upright single Meteor from Royal Enfield reminds me of those bikes, but much better engineered than anything we had back in the 60's. I'm glad there here and hope they sell well.

I bought the same Supernova blue. It's such wonderful dream bike.

I'd have one in a minute. After all the multi cylinder bikes I've had, including a CBX, and a twin, the CX500 Turbo, my favourite was an SRX 600 Yamaha single. I'd love another single, and this one would fill the bill.

I’ve never been a cruiser guy but this looks stellar , has the same lines of the old Harley FXR

My next door neighbor has a 1300cc super duper something or other, it has ride mode and other high tech stuff, it cost him 23k. He was trying to get me to get one, he doesn't even know where the spark plug is. Along comes a guy on a 350 Enfield, simplicity itself. Cut a long story short, I bought one yesterday and should have it delivered in January ❤️

I really love my RE Classic 500. And I really wish to test a Meteor…. For whatever reason my RE-dealer in Switzerland got it promised for June/July - but apparently RE fails to deliver….. Well, I keep waiting…..

It's a lovely bike, but I'd really, really like to see that engine in an 'interceptor 350', in a roadster chassis with better clearance I bet that would be a proper hoot!

Lovely Sunday bike for town/country A or B roads, however my commute takes in stretches of fast duals and motorway so I opted for a year old CB 500. I wish it well and at the price I expect to see a lot about.

mine delivered today to dealer in crate.look foreward to picking up next week.

Doesn't the supernova also have the two tone metallic paint and the polished wheels spokes sides

If you add larger chain sprockets at the back does it increase top speed?

Wish they would have done this as a 350 twin. What would be a hoot, is it if they would do something like the old early 70's Honda CB450 twin....not too big...not too small......just right. This 350 single is a good start and it's obvious they were focusing on Indian and east-asia as the primary markets but bound to be popular in Europe as well.......in the USA maybe not so much....

Wow what a bike ok I've only had it just over a week at time of writing. But its eating up the miles on the motorway getting me to and from work. Well done Royal Enfield 👏

ceat tyres are very good for regular use. nothing wrong with them, i use them for my motorcycles all the time.

I like it, a lot. Could see me getting one of these….

I think that the Royal Enfield Meteor 350 is an amazing bike, looks stunning, has an absolutely fantastic build quality, and the price of them in the UK is really good, I would like to make a suggestion that could potentially improve the bike: increase the bhp in the engine from 20bhp to 30bhp, give it a little bit more power.

I wanted to get an RE Classic 500. Too bad it's discontinued. The Meteor is a beauty, but I can't take an on road 350 seriously to keep up with traffic. Off road, a 350 dual purpose is great, but not on road. It would be great to see the 650 twin in this chassis.

The best entry level cruise bike.

In India this bike is best quality product..... very long Life bike.one time investment bike.very low maintenance.

I wish you'd asked why the new Tripper only displays in kilometers or meters and cannot be set to display miles or feet, or why they saw fit to basically steal that "Fireball" submodel moniker from a venerable Royal Enfield performance group here in the USA who'd been using the name for its products for decades.

I’m 6’2” and fit very comfortably on it.

I looked at these back in the spring with a mate of mine. The finish looks good. A bit too cruiser for my tastes. I just can't justify the outlay. My old 1997 Gpz500S twin has 60bhp, can do 40 around country lanes and 70 easily on the open roads. It'll do 50-70 mpg. Has a useful top fairing and 90's comfortable riding position. I can service it, and it cost me £1350.

Love this bike and wish they would do a bigger one too like a 450 or 500 single with same stying. I've tested one in Thailand and loved it

Now make one with a side car and I will buy . Great looking bike It’s tempting to buy.

Some nice touches. Looks well made and good value. However, what about a normal naked style bike rather than a cruiser? Like a replacement for the bullet? I'm not really into the "Cruser" style. I wouldn't mind a nice lightweight as a retirement present to myself. Also, I don't understand why a modern bike with fuel injection and electronic control, new design OHC, only produces 20 bhp from 350 cc.

Good revue nice bike ,, but,,,,,, spoke wheels would look a lot better ,,,keep up the good work

I'm 76 and just bought a Meteor. Been pottering for long time on my trusty Van Van. Hope the Meteor will give me some fun.

Everything is almost perfect, lovely bike, great looks. wish they would have inserted the updated 411cc engine of the Himalayan in this because power is lacking just a bit in adequacy. Such a beautiful bike does not a have a more powerful engine is kinda sad.

Good bike great vid.....

Why didn't they just use the Himalayan's 411cc Thumper? It is quite close to that 349cc, therefore I asked myself why someone would develop a completely new engine for the Meteor/Classic...

It looks good. I'm amazed it can only do 70 MPH. I'd have thought it could do a little bit more, say about 75. Even a fat middle aged so and so like me got to 65 MPH (speedo said 68, GPS said 65) on my former learner bike ( a 13.3 BHP 2018 Honda CB125R ). Although it did take a long time to get to 65 ! I'm going to have to get a test ride of one of these. It's cheaper than my former 125 too !

I live in Germany, I ride a bike that's capable of 150 mph but I avoid the autobahn like the plague. It's great if you want to get somewhere fast but stressful and boring. I think I'll be visiting my Enfield dealer.

RE have nailed this. Take note big four and bring us good looking simplicity. Yamaha bring back the Xt500 and I’ll buy one.

I read that the Royal Enfield classic 500 would cruise at motorway speeds all day long before I bought one.Yes it will, but it will be one boneshaking experience.If the Meteor is capable of doing this without the strong vibes it will do well. Note; I didnt or wouldnt buy this bike for motorway work but just mentioning when it says it will do motorway speeds.

Any 6ft riders try this one? Is it a bit too small for us taller fellas?

Love this bike. It’s too bad it’s so under powered especially for the US Market. Here there is more highway driving and at 20hp it just won’t keep up with traffic running 70 to 85mph. It’s actually more dangerous as you have no power left to get out of serious situations. Love the looks especially the Tank Badge!! Looking forward to the new 2022 RE line up!

A perfect every day bike.

love the look but i dont like that when you are in 5th gear for a few mins it basically dies on you and you need to go back on 4th to keep it going 😕

Lovely little bike, if I wasn’t 6 foot 3 I’d have one!

If only this came in the 650cc avatar. Anyways Royal Enfield is on a roll. It has alot in store for the next 12-24 months. A model every quarter. The following models are up for launch - Classic Roadster Shotgun Hunter Sherpa Scram Flying Flea and An Electric Motorcyle Also BSA will be launching its 650cc motorcycle by the end of the year.

Test rode 1 & yea! Wow! Ahhh! 🤣 For the price tag I will give this little fello 4 🌟 it's surprisingly smooth, just enough pick up, thick cushionsy seat & yes it will cruise on highway comfortably like other cruiser 👍 If it has alittle more torque & top speed I will give it a 5!

Nice pocket friendly good looking bike.

I suspect they will bring a 500 out as well , I hope so , it wouldn't take much to do would it the 350 is a nice little bike though .

So at a guess this motor/gearbox is going to go into the replacement Bullet 350 now emmisions killed of the old RE engines in India and a version of the Himalyian engine in the 500 replacement.

Bloody shame you didn't make the gear linkage a bit more of a quality item rather than a piece of coat hanger wire, also if you are going to make exposed forks then put a fork protector on the bike, overall it's great, but just a few little bits which spoil it

Started off nicely, but then the exec was wheeled on, it turned into an advert and I got bored by the half way mark, so I switched off 🤭

Hello Michael, well I did get the Meteor and am really enjoying it. I'm considering a Touring screen, what do you think, does it do a good job? I enjoy taking long trips and was hoping it would benefit it. Thank you, Artie

When’re RE releasing the finance figures for these? If they do a low/0 rate finance they’ll shift a boat load! I don’t think 6.9% is competitive…

Not quite sure what the point of this given the Interceptor/Continental GT are already A2 compliant, felt like RE could have either gone a step up to a full licence bike getting towards 1000cc (a Moto Guzzi/Bonneville rival for example) or made a 125 and actually accessed a new part of the market.

tachometer?

Nice

Its a shame Honda aren't importing the CB350 & CB350RS, I'm not a big fan of forward controls. l like the the idea behind this sort of bike is brilliant for real world use. 200+bhp and a load of electronics to help control it does absolutely nothing for me. An Interceptor styled bike would be brilliant.

It is a real beast❤️🔥

5:34 exhaust scraping on corners

What is your tall please

🤘🏻

Pretty little thing. It looks like a triumph thunderbirds baby brother.

Love from India, I own the meteor its really a great bike

Torn between this and the classic

Take my money