Motorcycle specifications Royal-EnfieldMeteor 350 2023 Little Indian star

A major manufacturer in India, Royal-Enfield's 350 Meteor is the successor to its ageing but iconic Bullet. In the local market, medium-displacement bikes are gaining ground. It is therefore essential to maintain one's position in the sector.

Benefiting from a new engine and joint development by Indian and British staff, this custom roadster (or the other way round) will be a big seller in its homeland, but, surprise, it will also be found in Europe.

The Meteor's name is a sure-fire way of attracting the curiosity of enthusiasts: it takes us back to the 1950s, when Royal Enfield launched its twin engines. The Meteor of the time had a cubic capacity of 693 cm3 and produced 36 horsepower, slightly more than a Triumph 650 Thunderbird 6T of the same period.
70 years on, the new Meteor is thinking outside the box. Its engine is more modest, doesn't distort the manufacturer's mechanical tradition, and is Euro5-approved. With its 349 cm3, it produces 20.2 hp at 6,500 rpm, as well as 27 Nm (2.9 mkg) of torque at 4,000 rpm. Injection on one side and air-cooled and finned on the other, the single-cylinder looks pensive.

An engine for relaxation, not ugly to look at and embedded in a classic chassis. A double-cradle steel frame with a 41 mm fork, a pair of shock absorbers at the rear and a brake disc on each side - 300 mm at the front with a double-piston caliper and 270 mm at the rear with a single piston to push the pads. The wheels are slim, with sizes of 100/90 - 19 and 140/70 - 17. A dual-channel ABS is there to keep an eye on braking. When it comes to suspension adjustment, only the rear is adjustable, and only in terms of preload. A logical restriction, given the range and price.

This handsome little cruiser could easily lead us to believe that it was inspired by a distant decade, but once you're on board, you'll be struck by its modernism. These two dials are full of surprises. The tachometer on the left contains a digital window displaying trips, fuel level and other information. The block on the right is surprisingly small, with a color display. Via the 'Tripper' app, backed by Google Maps, the bike and smartphone communicate via Bluetooth to offer a GPS navigator. A USB socket is also included.

The Meteor will not be the only model in the catalog. It comes in a 'Stellar' version, with a sissy bar, chrome exhausts and other colors; and in a 'Supernova' version, adding a windshield, different rims and two-tone colors.
At 191 kilos and just a ladle more power than a 125, the 350 Meteor won't be a racer. That's not what Royal Enfields are made for. We ride them for the charm and to take our time.

M.B - Manufacturer's photos