I took delivery of my Fireball Yellow Meteor 350 on September 20th, and I LOVE IT! I'm an experienced rider; the Meteor is my 12th bike. I owned a Kawasaki ZRX1100 at one point, but I got rid of it after a year or so. It was smooth, powerful, and looked great, but I could never just enjoy the ride. Because it was so high performance, I always wanted to ride it fast, especially since, even at 80 mph, it felt like a thoroughbred race horse at a leisurely trot. What you say about a bike influencing your riding style is so true. OTOH, my Meteor encourages me to slow down, smell the roses, and enjoy the ride! Enjoy the ride I do... :) I'd been riding scooters since 2010. My last proper motorcycle was a 2000 Kawasaki W650. I sold my scooters almost two years ago but I got the itch to ride again, so I scratched it by getting the Meteor. BTW, there's a W650 identical to my old one available at a local dealer, and it's in pristine condition. Anyway, when I started looking at bikes, I came across the Meteor 350, and I fell in love! I had to have one, so I contacted the local dealer about getting one. I inquired about the availability of the Fireball Yellow, but they didn't have one. The dealer had some Supernovas, both brown and blue; they also had a couple of Stellars. That said, I wanted the Fireball Yellow and only the Fireball Yellow! The sales guy called RE North America, and asked when the might get a Fireball Yellow Meteor; they told him they didn't know. Lo and behold, an hour or so later, he calls me back to tell me that they got one in that day's delivery-YES! It took all of five seconds to whip out my CC to put a deposit on it, and I picked it up the following week. Why Fireball Yellow? Because I love it; it just looks badass! I love the color and the blacked out look. I also like the fact that there's no backrest to get the in the way; I'm an older guy (60 in Feb) with arthritic knees, so anything that gets in the way (especially something I won't use as I won't carry passengers on my bike) is a no-go. Plus, I got to save a few bucks in the bargain. I didn't relish paying for something that I'd remove soon as I got home. I haven't left my bike stock though. I ordered a blacked out fly screen from Hitchcock's, and I like it. It not only makes the bike look better; it not only protects the instrument cluster from bugs; it keeps some wind off you too. One will never mistake it for a full fairing, but it helps keep some wind off you below 55 mph. It'll allow you to make longer rides in your city or on the country roads, so it's good. Oh, and did I mention that the fly screen makes the bike look even better? It does! So, why did I choose the Meteor? One, it's freakin' GORGEOUS! It's a beautiful bike. Two, as an older guy, I wanted something lighter, easier to manage, and fun. I've had bigger, faster bikes, and I lived to tell about it. Who needs a big, fast bike when you're older? Three, I wanted something economical; I wanted something that was inexpensive to operate and maintain. It sips fuel, and the bike is simple enough for the owner to do most of the work. Four, even when I owned a motorcycle and my scooters, I noticed I wasn't going out on long rides; the vast majority were 1-2 hour jaunts on the local back roads, along the river, and with an occasional day trip thrown in. I didn't need something big, fancy, or fast to do that. Anyway, the Meteor ticked all the boxes, so I got one. It's among the smallest motorcycles I've ever owned, but it's among the best I ever owned.
Hi Mark, thanks for the comment. I also had a Kawasaki (only a 650 mind you, and it was my first big bike) and then a Triumph Daytona 600 (with approx 100 more BHP than the little Meteor). I was always thrashing it, taking more risks than I should when it came to overtakes and speed and always getting annoyed when I was held up by traffic, I was always looking for a point to overtake. None of that with the 350, it's a leisurely pace and if I have to sit behind a car doing 60mph for a while then so be it. There's no stress when on the Meteor. I kept the Daytona but only for track use now. I had actually been looking/admiring the Royal Enfield brand for some time, my Dad and brother have 250cc and 125cc retro bikes so when I saw the first pics of the Meteor I knew it was for me, it wasn't a hard decision at all. I've said a few times now the the Fireball is a cleaner more sporty look, especially compared to the Supernova with the screen, backrest and the chrome everywhere, I actually thought the Fireballs would outsell the other variants by some margin but I was told that they all sell equally. From pictures I have seen the Fireball looks great with the backed out flyscreen, I would prob add bar end mirrors and the sump guard to mine if I had a Fireball. In reference to your last paragraph, completely agree with those reasons for choosing the bike. Very convincing arguments for the 350 there and a few ex sport bike owners have commented saying they love their new Meteor. I would also add that there seems to be less mid range budget friendly bikes out there in general, there seems to be a trend for more power, more technology and more cost. A ZX-10R for example is best part of £20k and you can't use it on the road. Royal Enfield sums up purity and simplicity in the motorcycle space and I am so on-board with that ethos. Thanks for sharing, that was an enjoyable read! Cheers.
It’s March 2022 and I am coming out of my Covid positive quarantine. Been pouring over videos of RE meteor and Triumph Street Twin during quarantine. I’m 50 and had just gotten my license prior to being hit by Covid. The Street Twin looks attractive but I worry it is too powerful at 900cc. The meteor on the other hand looks under powered for highway cruising. Marky Mark, Thanks for sharing your experience. It has me tipped over for the 350. I’ll be looking forward to the day the meteor lands in Malaysia.
@@cyberixus you'll love it! As for highway cruising, if you mean freeway or motorway cruising, then yes, the Meteor is out of its element. It can do the motorway for short stints (say to bypass a traffic jam or bad area), but that's it. On second thought, even the motorways would be feasible if you travel during rush hour traffic, which will be moving slowly anyway. If you travel everything but motorways (A roads, B roads, C roads, country lanes, and the city), the Meteor will be fine.
What a sweet little bike, a friend has one so I'll have a go of it for sure. I'm old enough to remember what biking used to be like and this is it, makes even more sense now with the amount of traffic we have on the roads. This sort of bike encourages you to relax and enjoy the ride where a lot of modern bikes encourage you to not only ride at the maximum speed you think you can get away with and at the same time get wound up about the traffic, which is actually pretty stressful...
This is 100% true, I have found the type of bike you are on really dictates your riding style. Modern bikes give you an adrenaline rush for sure but you are always trying to overtake everything in sight (which is always travelling much much slower than you) and you can finish the ride a little twitchy ☕☕☕ and not at all relaxed. It's also worth mentioning that most of us don't have the skill to use a modern bike with say 160+ Bhp on the road and really public roads aren't the correct place for such antics. When you get off the Meteor you just feel relaxed and calm, not over stimulated.
This has convinced me to sell the 1977 CD175 I have and get a more modern bike! I've not seen a single bad review for the Meteor no wonder there's a few months wait, off to the dealer tomorrow!
There's a few little things that have come to light since people have owned the bikes for a bit longer but still nothing major and they are fantastic bikes
I ordered my red Fireball Meteor on 20th July and finally collected it on 30th October; 14 1/2 weeks. I'm glad I waited because I absolutely love pretty much everything about the bike; handling, feel, looks, fuel economy (yes, 100mpg), riding position and comfort. I wasn't impressed with the Tripper; the first time I tried to use it, I got about a mile from my house with it indicating correctly (I was already familiar with the route), then the Tripper display changed to a spinning compass needle for the rest of the journey. No idea why and it hasn't done it since. My mobile was very hot at the end of the journey. One other little niggle; some rust on the (black) exhaust system where a bracket is welded to the silencer. Doesn't look as if that bit got painted. Niggles aside, I love it. Not for speed freaks, but would recommend it to anybody who enjoys relaxed riding on country roads.
Hi John, thanks a lot for this comment and for sharing your experience. I have never seen a red Fireball in the metal so to speak but I really like the hue. I was in a similar position to you, I ordered in March 2021 and delivery was made early Nov. Same as you I absolutely love the bike, it's such a good price/quality ratio and no regrets here. I haven't been able to set up my tripper as my phone is too old and I'm running and old version of Android. I think next year if/when I upgrade I'll be able to set it up correctly. I'll be sure to check that exhaust system mount and cover it in some sealing compound, thanks for that tip. Also, I haven't completely tested my MPG numbers but I do expect them to be very high, it makes a nice change from filling up every 100miles. Thanks, and hope you keep enjoying the bike ☺
@@MindfulMotorcyclist Filled up again yesterday and the mpg worked out at 87. The earlier figure was when I was running the bike in at 40mph for the first 300 miles. The new figure was arrived at during the 50mph stage of running in. So, yes, 100mpg is achievable, but only if you ride around at 40mph. Which is quite pleasant on this bike. So I can expect the mpg to drop even further when I've finished running in and I can start using the full power of the bike. I'm not bothered by this, I still love the bike. Just putting it out there.
On the subject of the royal enfield app now in 2022 its now got the ability to change the tripper navigation to miles which previously was mentioned in many videos was only in kilometres 👍🏻
Great video and great quality. I got my meteor stellar blue about three weeks ago and absolutely love it. Such a relaxing ride and that thump does make me smile. I’ve also got an interceptor on order for the longer journeys. If I could have the Himalayan aswell I probably would because the value for money with these bikes is incredible. Enjoy your new bike and ride safe 👍
Thanks Steven that's really nice of you to say, appreciate the feedback. I did really love the blue of the Stellar, looks great and I think nicer than the Supernova blue. The thump is almost therapeutic isn't it, it is so relaxing. Which colour Interceptor did you opt for?
@@MindfulMotorcyclist I went with the Sunset Strip. A little less common than the orange crush. Should hopefully get it this week although I doubt I will be riding much in this weather!
@@Steven-Brooks I think getting the less common paint is a good idea. Black, red and gold on the tank will look lovely. I went with the Meteor Supernova in brown on the assumption that most people would be ordering Fireballs and therefore this would be more rare. The dealer recons that they have sold equal amounts of Fireballs, Stellars and Supernovas which was interesting to know!
The route you chose is one I regularly do on my Meteor, stopping off at Sally's Cafe on the top of British Camp! If you bought it from the Malvern dealer, get your first service booked as it's due at 300 miles. Love my Meteor, nearly 3000 miles on the clock and is running great. CEAT tyres are actually very good and I understand they are owned by Pirelli. Bike is not fully run in until 1300 miles and you'll notice a difference in performance as it starts to loosen up around a thousand miles. Look forward to future updates.👍
Hi Jonathon, nice to hear from another Meteor 350 owner especially a local one. I did indeed buy it from the Malvern dealer and I have recently booked my service (there is a little bit more of a wait than I expected but it is booked!). Glad to hear yours is going well. Which variant of the Meteor did you opt for? Thanks for the tip about the tyres, I had not heard of them before so assumed the worst. Looking forward to the performance bump, though I am happy with how it rides now. 3000miles, is that all local riding or have you been further afield on yours?
Hi, yes I plumped for the Meteor Stellar in Blue as I love a bit of chrome and after 3000 miles it's still good as new. Yes I've done several long journey's of around 200 miles per day without any fuss riding into Mid Wales etc. Also ridden on the M5, M42 and M40 for a distance of 40 odd miles maintaining 70mph, yes it's a bit buzzy at that speed but by no means either strained or uncomfortable or felt like it was going to go bang at any time, cracking all round bike, yes, a little more on the acceleration side would be welcome but it's not a deal breaker, it is what it is, a lovely, well screwed together fun motorcycle, mines a keeper!🙂👍
@@jonathandeeley6276 Couldn't agree more, it is early days for me but I can't see me letting it go. It's such an accessible little bike you just jump on and go, feels like superb value too. I think the summer it will really come into its own. Hopefully I'll have mine fully run in by then. Mid-Wales is the place to go... such nice roads there, I think the Meteor makes you a lot less likely to come back with points on your licence too 😄
CEAT is NOT owned by Pirelli. It is a well-known and reputed tyre brand in India. It started life as an Italian company based out of Turin. CEAT used to stand for Cavi Elettrici e Affini Torino. However, it is available only in India right now. In a way, the story of CEAT is also like Royal Enfield. The Indian branch survives, whereas the original company no longer exists in its birthplace.
Well I enjoyed every mile along with you and yes it looks a good looking bike I have 2 bullets. A 500 desert storm and an old 1980 350 with a Watsonian sidecar on it . Ride safe and enjoy your ne bike pal. Im still biking at 75 yrs old
FYI in the states we call the shifter a heel and toe (heel-toe) shifter. You find that on many of your bigger top of the line cruisers. For example it came standard on my Harley Road King. Keep up the good work and ride it like you stole it!
Amazing isn't it. This little bike that isnt fast or full of tech is outselling everything. We covered that in our BnB NEWS video just released as I thought it was of interest as well...
You can buy a wind turbulence deflector for that screen for less than £30 on Ebay or Amazon. It would instantly make your airstream smooth and divert it above your helmet.
I like the relaxed ride of a small cruiser. I can ride and enjoy every mile and see the beauty around me. On a sport bike which encourages you to ride to your limit of skill, you don't have time to see the beauty or to be relaxed. Besides I think one would live longer on a small cruiser than they would on a sport bike. The Royal Enfield Meteor brown super nova would be my choice. It is just the right size to enjoy riding and it is a beautiful motorcycle. Ride safe and enjoy every journey.
I 100% agree, a relaxed ride means you don't take as many risks. Why overtake when cruising at 60mph on the 350 is fun and rewarding? A sport bike just feels frustrated and under utilised at 60mph, which incidentally is the national speed limit here in the UK on most A roads. I will also admit that when I was filming on my other bike (a 600cc) it was easy to 'nudge' over the limit and I had to blur the speedo, to prevent the comments going mad! I haven't done that once on the Meteor 😂. Its well known that motorcycling is dangerous but I'd like to see the breakdown of sports bike accidents versus cruiser and adventure/touring machines. I would guess that it is weighted one way. Thanks for the comment and support 😃
@@MindfulMotorcyclist In the states Alcohol is the problem with cruiser riders. Something like 33% of all day time motorcycles accidents are alcohol related. The percentage goes to something like 70 % for night time motorcycle accidents. You would think people would know that alcohol and motorcycles don't mix.
@@genegoodwin8925 That is an interesting insight from 'across the pond'. I think we have largely removed drink riding/driving from the socially acceptable here in UK. We also have much smaller, busy roads, with in some cases limited visibility due to trees and hedgerows so I expect the risk factor when pressing on is a little higher. Thanks for sharing that.
Interesting to hear your views on the Meteor particularly as you have other sporty bikes. I honestly thought you would find it too pedestrian. My wife and I stayed in Malvern for a holiday this year and loved the towns on your route.
Hi Jonathon, thanks for your comment. I was expecting to find it very slow as it has 100bhp less than my other bike. It is what I would describe as 'peppy' and quite charming in it's own way. Apparently the engine really frees up after you've ridden around 1000miles so I'm looking forward to that too! Malvern is lovely, I rented a flat there before, it was great!
I love my Stellar Blue - but - it's an Indian bike and doesn't like the cold. If you ride it at zero deg. or lower you will get an engine warning light (error code P0196) which will never go out until you get it switched off using a diagnostic tool. It is said that the Indians are looking into it ! Also if you fit an engine guard do not let the bike touch the ground against the guard. The fitting with the logo on it will snap and the whole device will have to be replaced.
Hi Edward, Thanks for the comment and sharing that information. I personally hope I dont get that error! What do you mean about the engine guard, if you drop the bike on its side the guard will snap and the guard will have to be replaced?
As a meteor owner I can confirm that the suspension is really hard but I put that down to my light weight, I am under 11 stone. The screen might look nice but it causes turbulence and a lot of wind noise, I have removed it and it is so much better. On running in I wouldn't nurse it too much, vary the revs and avoid motorways, I have ridden the bike pretty much like any other and the performance is improving all the time. Great bike I love it.
Hi James, thanks for the comment. I've found also that the suspension is fairly hard (I'm 12.5 stone). I'm going to look at adjusting it to the softest setting as I think factory setting has the spring compressed as much as possible. Oh man is the screen annoying for buffeting that wind right into your face, I'm a little disappointed there as I love the look of the screen but as you have done it might have to come off or be replaced with the fly screen (option). On running in I've kept to below 60mph, sometimes 65mph when I've not been looking! I've just clicked over 300 miles now so I'm going to use it a bit more freely as I'm in the 'second stage' running in. Well I'm glad you got yours and that its worked out well for you! Cheers.
Yes I expect a deflector would work but I think it wouldn't look right, I am happy with no screen, in fact I have sold it so it won't be going back on.
There is no softer setting on your rear suspension, you have preload adjust which is to set your SAG. You can set it anywhere in the range and it will not make any difference to the harshness or softness of your ride, that is not what preload does.
I'm no expert in bike suspension and happy to stand corrected but if we put the spring under more compression surely it will take more force to compress further and thus be less reactive to bumps in the road. If you compress a car spring as I have done many times then the force required as the spring gets shorter and shorter is increased proportionally. Coilovers exploit this by allowing manual adjustment of the spring compression by the user allowing The ride to be set softer or firmer. The shock absorber is a dampening device to stop the car bouncing about on the springs with every little bump. Thoughts?
@@MindfulMotorcyclist No, the spring rate is the spring rate and it will take the same force to move it. You are not compressing the spring really as both ends of the shock are free to move. Preload is just there to “preload” the shock to allow for extra weight of a heavier rider or an added pillion. You add you partner to the bike and luggage and you might find yourself using 50-60% of your suspension travel, not good. The preload is there to compensate for that load and have the shock sitting back in a decent part of its stroke. I.e. the same place it sits when you are on the bike alone. If you wind the preload right off to minimum you just get the impression it is softer because it sags down more when you get on. It is not softer, just sitting lower in its stroke with reduced suspension travel.
I'm with you about the rear suspension, it's way too harsh; that is my only complain. I had to wait 4 months for my Fireball red and still waiting for the Touring screen here in So Cal.
Thoroughly enjoyed this because I’m in Tewkesbury and have just bought an Interceptor from, I suspect, the same dealer. Also the Ledbury - Malvern road is one I know well, as my folks used to live in Much Marcle, and when my dad died I used to take my mum shopping in Malvern. My last bike was a ZX6R, and as you state in the vid, I came to the conclusion that the environment just doesn’t allow you to exploit it, so I decided to dial it all down with the Interceptor. I’m also in exactly the same position with regards to the weather - I think I’ll only be going out when the roads are dry, and get down to properly running her in in the spring. I’ll wave if I see you!
Hi Simon, thanks a lot for the comment and nice to hear from a local Enfield owner. There are now a couple of people who have commented on here saying they are fairly local and ride the Meteor 350. The road from Malvern to Much Marcle is nice, especially as you come over the Malvern hills on a summers evening. Congratulations on the Interceptor 650 purchase, I really liked that bike as well, in fact I reviewed it on this channel back in the summer. They have also just released a 120th Anniversary variant of the Interceptor in black and gold which looks great. Things just seems to get better and better for us Royal Enfield supporters. My other bike is a Daytona 650 which essentially is Triumph pulling the same trick that Kawasaki did for the ZX-6R 636, that is upping the displacement of the original Daytona 600 to 646cc and for one year only [2005] selling it as the '650'. I have decided that my days of blipping about the roads on a supersport are over (never say never) so I converted that bike into a track day machine, I feel the track is much safer than the road. I'll be the only Supernova Meteor 350 with a big Givi touring screen fitted so I shouldnt be hard to miss! Ride safe.
@@MindfulMotorcyclist I saw my first Meteor chugging through Tewkesbury just yesterday - a blue one which I thought looked and sounded like a fine machine. Have fun!
had mine exactly the same colour as yours. two weeks next tuesday,done 100 miles so far. like the gearchange now am getting used to it. had one or two false neutrals early on.i think my size ten heel touched the pedal inadvertably. they are a lovely bike.
Hi John thanks for the comment. I might be biased but I think brown is one of the nicer colours available on the Meteor. I also got mine around 2 weeks ago and I just clicked it over 300 miles (I've been trying hard to get out on dry days!). Good news is that I can now open up the engine a little but more but I also need to book in for the running in service. The gear change I've also found a bit odd, but as you have I've got used to it. It does mention in the manual if you drop down through the gears when the bike is not moving you can 'damage the gearbox' whether this is true or not I don't know, more likely is you just confused the gear indicator and your not actually in gear. When I've had to stop quickly and haven't had time to go down through all the cogs I've rocked the bike back and forth a little and changed down, then it seemed not to get confused as much. That said, very minor thing and I love owning and riding the bike!
Hi Daniel, that's nice feedback thank you. I was worried the wind noise might be annoying (this was before I realised the screen deflects air up into the helmet) so I added the music which I don't normally do. Perhaps I over thought it! Sorry I haven't yet found any other channels, I don't think the bikes are that comment yet, at least here in the UK. Perhaps more likely in India where they have been selling for some time...
@@MindfulMotorcyclist hi would have to agree with music on bike videos, nicer to hear your voice, engine and wind noise, got my meteor two weeks today love riding it, looking forward to more of your videos on the meteor 👍
Greetings from New York! That is a great looking bike. It seems to ride well, ride it in good health. It's been a while, how is it holding up? I've heard from other RUclipsrs, who have reviewed the Royal Enfields, that after a short while moisture and fog develops in the gauges, foot pegs loosen/break, and rust begins to develop. What's been your experience? Has Royal Enfield remedied these issues? I'm seriously considering a Royal Enfield and appreciate any input.✌🏽👍🏽
Hello Marso, thanks for the comment and for the support from NY. Most of my audience is from the UK so great to hear from you. The Meteor has been widely recognised as a high quality effort by Royal Enfield. It looks lovely as you say and in my experience there are a few minor faults 1) the EML comes on apparently tripped by cold weather, it doesn't affect running but you need to get it reset by the dealer or yourself with the tool. 2) the exhaust tip is prone to rusting or corroding which is why if had my time again I'd go for a fireball with a black exhaust and 3) the tripper is a bit crap and drains the phones battery very quickly 4) service intervals are a bit short 5) the windscreen deflects wind right into the visor if you are my height 5'11''. I have videos showing the top 5 things I like and don't like about the Meteor so please check those out. Thanks!
There are mods out now (not at the time of making this video) like the DNA airfilter, the Kent cam and the Hunter ECU that make this bike faster... 2-3 hp close to your target. Cheers, Sean
It's a pretty bike (eye of the beholder of course) but I can't see it as the best value bike in the last, say three years, and far from being the best value ever. Best value ever was likely the 1970s Hondas that could be bought pretty cheap but were engineered far beyond the Brit bikes that inspired them. In the last three years the Himalayan would beat this for the same price. This bike pushed the Himalayan up in price, but those were about the same as this price a couple years ago. It can go anywhere, has stone and drop protection and more convertability via acessories. However there are several Japanese 300 to 350cc bikes that likely offer more longevity, better motor output, better build quality for only a few hundred more. The warranty on this is great, but the best warranty is one you'll never need, due to build quality. Speaking of warranty, RE requires a warranty service out of pocket that costs 10% above the purchase price....so the real price of this bike is significantly higher than the MSRP. This puts them about where the CB350r, MT-03 (about the same sticker price already) are, which are more versatile street bikes...or the Vstar250 which delivers similar power to the RE350. The Kawasaki and Duke offer much more pep in the price zone, but not everyone needs that much. I think the bike looks great, but it is so plodding it tends to fit into the scooter realm with displacements much lower, like the Grom, Monkey or CBr125....but you get a bigger and much heavier frame to be pulled around by 20hp and 5sp. This is obviously a compliance bike to offer into the niche of restricted licenses in Europe and the UK. The output is specifically governored down...as is the Honda India CB350 Empress offering much less output than Hondas of the past with 350cc.
Hi thanks for your comment, much appreciated. I can't speak for the bikes of the 70's as I wasn't around then but you make a good point about the Himalayan, that is also very competitive price wise. Whilst I also like that bike I bought the Meteor over the Himalayan because of the looks. I will be riding the bike long distance but it will be purely road based and it won't be the only type of riding I do. The warranty service I assume you mean the running in service at 300 miles is a bit annoying but we have got feedback from the community and it is as much as £199 and as little as £85, mine was around the middle at £150. When I ordered the bike it was as low as £3650 for the Fireball variant, admittedly they have have increased each variant in late 2021 by a couple of hundred quid as supply has massively outstripped demand. Everyone I have encountered who has opted for the Meteor (and there's a lot of us-it was the best selling bike in the UK in November) has made the decision not based on motor output, the pep or the 20bhp, it was by and large an emotional decision made by the looks and the feeling you get on the bike. My other bike is a track prepared Daytona 650 so I know how slow the Meteor is, it provides enough ooomf to safely overtake and that's about it. You'd be pushed to break the national speed limit on mine now I have added a larger screen! When we compare RE build quality to the other retro cruisers in this category and at the same price point it is higher, this means bikes like Mutt, Herald and Bullet. We don't know the longevity of the Meteor yet as they are so new, a couple of issues have come up like the cold British weather tripping a EML which needs to be reset or rust at the exhaust tip have come up but not a lot else. It's a bike made to suit its home market of India where the roads do not permit super fast riding and the speed is not really needed. The UK is a relatively small export market for RE. Thanks!
@@MindfulMotorcyclist it is the much more attractive bike for the post war BSA crowd (as is the 400, 500, 600 range REs). Looks alone sell the bike at a fair price. Since the motor is aimed at the restricted license starter rider market...it can ALSO get a kid that doesn't care for the old man and hipster retro...but just wants to ride for low £$. I'm glad they made this. It will wake up Honda, Suzuki, Yamaha, Kawasaki to do in the 300cc range what they are doing in the liter bike range...and also try hard to keep it under $5000. If Yamaha took the MT03 mechanicals and just changed the tank, seat and fenders...they could have this bike with twice the output for $4750. Same for the CBR350 and Kaw300. This is somewhat what the new Rebel is, BUT much better looking. I may buy one of these in future myself...primarily for looks too. I have a old Honda 250 that looks very similar, similar power ...just for nice country road only riding of about 120 miles or less .... but is getting oooollllddddd and could strand one in the middle of nowhere.
Im 39 years old I want a bike like yours probably in the same colour too! Its funny because Im hesitating in between brown or the blue. The biggest problem with that blue its not Supernova and the wheel are painted in black only. I think yours has nicer wheels. What do you think if Im 5`5`` I would still have problem with the buffeting? 7
Hi Balazs, the brown in Supernova which is the bike I have is lovely but I have also seen some amazing pictures of the Stella in Blue. These two are my favourite colours. You could add bits to the Stella in Blue like the touring screen or the brown seat if you wanted it to be more 'supernova if you know what i mean'. The wheels you cannot add but as the bikes become older the might be people selling the wheels with the polished spokes separately. Both bikes are lovely and I would recommend both. As for the wind buffeting this will not be a problem unless you have the touring screen (as fitted to the supernova) and even if you did get this bike at you're height i think you will have much less of a problem, which is good news. Thanks
Hi, great review!! Will you recommended this lovely bike to a total 50 years old beginner or more like cb500x!? Will drive in town and also want some long trip across the country. Thanx and greetings from Serbia ✌️
Hi again Alen. I would certainly recommend this bike for a beginner, it is fun to ride, not too expensive and not too fast. Here in the UK it is pretty dangerous to ride fast on a motorbike. I prefer the slower pace of the Meteor 350. There are many reviews on this bike and they are all positive, it is also the best selling motorcycle of November here in the UK!
@@MindfulMotorcyclist Thanx again 👍 as you said, all the reviews I saw are very positive for the Meteor. Speed i not a issue for me, anyway is dangerous everywhere to drive to fast. I like very much the black and the blue stellar. Use to drive maxi scooter and want now to upgrade for a nice bike for town and also some longer road trip im the country so i think the Meteor will be the one!!! Thanx again and cheers ✌️
Does the dealer have a rip-off compulsory service schedule to keep the warranty valid (which works out at about £100 quid an hour for routine servicing)? Honda dealers do it and THAT'S how they make their money.
Hi Tom, ummm yes according to the book there is a service every 3000 miles and that is a bit of a short interval. I should add that every other service is a 'check, lubricate, adjust' service so not changing anything so it remains to be seen if that one is expensive. The routine service is around £150. The running in service after 300 miles is also £150! It does add up.
@@MindfulMotorcyclist Gee what a con. My local bike shop installed a new crankshaft in a loose engine for £400 labour. That's two full days of highly skilled work.
Would you think is a good idea to take a pillion out before the 2000 miles completed? Our weight wouldn't be more then 150-160kg combined! Who can weight 2000km for not taking anyone out with you?I personally think in India being in most cases the only vehicle on the family they weight 2000km till they do that. I probably would ride home with my missus on the back form the bikeshop... 😆
Hi Balazs, thanks for the comment. It doesn't say anything about not riding with a pillion in the manual during the running in phase, it is mainly about the maximum speed in each gear. I have taken my misses on the back of my meteor and that was before 300 miles!
@@MindfulMotorcyclist Good to know that! Thanks! I was just thinking about this because the meteor is a cruiser type of bike and I would love to take my missus with me many times I can! Riding alone is boring I suppose. 😊
Yeah, you're not the first to say that. I was trying to mask the turbulent wind noise I had coming up from the screen. Future vids, no music just engine noise 😀
Indian brands are not cheap like China Indian brands are affordable so there is difference between cheap and affordable. Indians brand are more rough and tough may be finishing is not good as western companies.
Hi Niraj, thanks for the comment. I've heard some good feedback on CEAT from people in the comments. Lets see how the last as I do more miles on the Meteor!
Nice colourm man. I'm a bit stuck between the Meteor and Himalayan myself. Haven't riden either. Meteor price and new engine are standing out to me over the Himalayan - I guess I just don't want to buy the wrong bike.
Thanks! I guess just try and ride both of them if you can. I prefer the Meteor, they both are a similar price and both have the Tripper Navi system. I have reviewed the Himalayan in another video that might be of interest to you.
@@rustyrims05 What a great idea, if you have the resources and the space then it's a no brainer, the Interceptor 650 also peaked my interest from the RE range. 'Meaty' haha!
Great vid ..sorry to hear you had to wait so long for your bike. I ordered a Meteor in September and was told it would be delivered in about 6 weeks. Well, I'm still waiting!....fingers crossed I'll get it by Christmas 🤞😁
Thanks for the good feedback! It was a long wait indeed but oh so worth it. It's strange coming from a 600, you'd think you would miss the power (I've dropped 100bhp) but you really don't. It's just so satisfying to ride and own. Lovely thing. I agree the delivery times are a bit vague, would almost be better if they were up front about the length of time between ordering and delivery. Would be a lovely Christmas present to yourself, I hope it comes sooner rather than later 👍
@NoNicknameJames I presume that's UK. I ordered 2nd week in October and was told it would be here by Christmas so fingers crossed that was a realistic estimate of 10 weeks on their part.
If you are in the UK there might be a long wait, I get the feeling UK isn't a priority market for RE with the longer delivery times for the standard Meteor.
Gave a 👍 but, I have to say, the background music was extremely annoying! At first I thought, „what is that clacking noise?“ I thought it was coming from the bike! 😄
Hi Glenn, really appreciate the thumbs ups and believe me you are not the only one who commented on the music. It is the first and (after viewer comments) the last video I will add a backing track too. The reason behind this idea was that the windscreen was deflecting quite a lot of air straight into my visor and it was making an irritating buffeting noise audible on the video, I was trying to offset that.
It’s a nice bike ,but my perfect meteor bike would have a 450 engine and spoked wheels needs a bit more power for the hills and freeway I tkink it would sell like hot cakes ,jimmy Aust I would pay a bit more for the extra power
Thanks for the comment. You know although this video is a few years old I almost rebought a Meteor 350 over the last few days and the old argument of power came up again! Especially as I now have the 650 single BSA...
Hi Simon, thanks for the comment. Believe me you are not the first to mention that. Every video I've put up since this one I've dropped the audio overlay except on rare occasions when I'm speeding up the footage.
Force of habit I'm afraid. I work for an American company and the amount of times I hear 'often times', 'in a holding pattern' and 'y'all' is a lot. Petrol, Petrol, Petrol, Petrol, I'll remember next time 😁
If you can go and view my latest video, perhaps that's better. I've fiddled with the mic location and recorder settings over and over to get this right... Since this video....
Very hard thing to get right, people want to hear the engine as well. As well as mic position you can edit out wind noise too but that can make your voice sound weird 😂.
CEAT produces over 165 million tyres a year and manufactures tyres for passenger cars, two-wheelers, trucks and buses, light commercial vehicles, earth-movers, forklifts, tractors, trailers, and auto-rickshaws. The current capacity of CEAT tyres' plants is over 800 tonnes per day.
Here in the UK they are not well known, we tend to be a little sceptical concerning performance/wear characteristics of no-name brands even if they are mass produced in India/China etc...
@@MindfulMotorcyclist Pirelli is the owner of the Ceat trademark in the rest of the world. "This acquisition will open up European, African and Latin American markets for Ceat radicals. ... Pirelli is an Italian industrial enterprise that is active in more than 160 countries.
@@TheRmoroni We've def got Pirelli here in the UK. There's also been some brands that have established a reputation quite quickly, 'nexen' for example are quite well regarded for mid range car tyres.
![Trip to Wales on the Royal Enfield Meteor 350 [4K VLOG]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/RayPScYmpCM/mqdefault.jpg)
![Trip to Wales on the Royal Enfield Meteor 350 [4K VLOG]](/img/tr.png)
I took delivery of my Fireball Yellow Meteor 350 on September 20th, and I LOVE IT! I'm an experienced rider; the Meteor is my 12th bike. I owned a Kawasaki ZRX1100 at one point, but I got rid of it after a year or so. It was smooth, powerful, and looked great, but I could never just enjoy the ride. Because it was so high performance, I always wanted to ride it fast, especially since, even at 80 mph, it felt like a thoroughbred race horse at a leisurely trot. What you say about a bike influencing your riding style is so true. OTOH, my Meteor encourages me to slow down, smell the roses, and enjoy the ride! Enjoy the ride I do... :)
I'd been riding scooters since 2010. My last proper motorcycle was a 2000 Kawasaki W650. I sold my scooters almost two years ago but I got the itch to ride again, so I scratched it by getting the Meteor. BTW, there's a W650 identical to my old one available at a local dealer, and it's in pristine condition. Anyway, when I started looking at bikes, I came across the Meteor 350, and I fell in love! I had to have one, so I contacted the local dealer about getting one.
I inquired about the availability of the Fireball Yellow, but they didn't have one. The dealer had some Supernovas, both brown and blue; they also had a couple of Stellars. That said, I wanted the Fireball Yellow and only the Fireball Yellow! The sales guy called RE North America, and asked when the might get a Fireball Yellow Meteor; they told him they didn't know. Lo and behold, an hour or so later, he calls me back to tell me that they got one in that day's delivery-YES! It took all of five seconds to whip out my CC to put a deposit on it, and I picked it up the following week.
Why Fireball Yellow? Because I love it; it just looks badass! I love the color and the blacked out look. I also like the fact that there's no backrest to get the in the way; I'm an older guy (60 in Feb) with arthritic knees, so anything that gets in the way (especially something I won't use as I won't carry passengers on my bike) is a no-go. Plus, I got to save a few bucks in the bargain. I didn't relish paying for something that I'd remove soon as I got home.
I haven't left my bike stock though. I ordered a blacked out fly screen from Hitchcock's, and I like it. It not only makes the bike look better; it not only protects the instrument cluster from bugs; it keeps some wind off you too. One will never mistake it for a full fairing, but it helps keep some wind off you below 55 mph. It'll allow you to make longer rides in your city or on the country roads, so it's good. Oh, and did I mention that the fly screen makes the bike look even better? It does!
So, why did I choose the Meteor? One, it's freakin' GORGEOUS! It's a beautiful bike. Two, as an older guy, I wanted something lighter, easier to manage, and fun. I've had bigger, faster bikes, and I lived to tell about it. Who needs a big, fast bike when you're older? Three, I wanted something economical; I wanted something that was inexpensive to operate and maintain. It sips fuel, and the bike is simple enough for the owner to do most of the work. Four, even when I owned a motorcycle and my scooters, I noticed I wasn't going out on long rides; the vast majority were 1-2 hour jaunts on the local back roads, along the river, and with an occasional day trip thrown in. I didn't need something big, fancy, or fast to do that. Anyway, the Meteor ticked all the boxes, so I got one. It's among the smallest motorcycles I've ever owned, but it's among the best I ever owned.
Hi Mark, thanks for the comment. I also had a Kawasaki (only a 650 mind you, and it was my first big bike) and then a Triumph Daytona 600 (with approx 100 more BHP than the little Meteor). I was always thrashing it, taking more risks than I should when it came to overtakes and speed and always getting annoyed when I was held up by traffic, I was always looking for a point to overtake. None of that with the 350, it's a leisurely pace and if I have to sit behind a car doing 60mph for a while then so be it. There's no stress when on the Meteor. I kept the Daytona but only for track use now.
I had actually been looking/admiring the Royal Enfield brand for some time, my Dad and brother have 250cc and 125cc retro bikes so when I saw the first pics of the Meteor I knew it was for me, it wasn't a hard decision at all. I've said a few times now the the Fireball is a cleaner more sporty look, especially compared to the Supernova with the screen, backrest and the chrome everywhere, I actually thought the Fireballs would outsell the other variants by some margin but I was told that they all sell equally. From pictures I have seen the Fireball looks great with the backed out flyscreen, I would prob add bar end mirrors and the sump guard to mine if I had a Fireball.
In reference to your last paragraph, completely agree with those reasons for choosing the bike. Very convincing arguments for the 350 there and a few ex sport bike owners have commented saying they love their new Meteor. I would also add that there seems to be less mid range budget friendly bikes out there in general, there seems to be a trend for more power, more technology and more cost. A ZX-10R for example is best part of £20k and you can't use it on the road. Royal Enfield sums up purity and simplicity in the motorcycle space and I am so on-board with that ethos. Thanks for sharing, that was an enjoyable read! Cheers.
It’s March 2022 and I am coming out of my Covid positive quarantine. Been pouring over videos of RE meteor and Triumph Street Twin during quarantine.
I’m 50 and had just gotten my license prior to being hit by Covid. The Street Twin looks attractive but I worry it is too powerful at 900cc. The meteor on the other hand looks under powered for highway cruising.
Marky Mark, Thanks for sharing your experience. It has me tipped over for the 350. I’ll be looking forward to the day the meteor lands in Malaysia.
@@cyberixus you'll love it! As for highway cruising, if you mean freeway or motorway cruising, then yes, the Meteor is out of its element. It can do the motorway for short stints (say to bypass a traffic jam or bad area), but that's it. On second thought, even the motorways would be feasible if you travel during rush hour traffic, which will be moving slowly anyway. If you travel everything but motorways (A roads, B roads, C roads, country lanes, and the city), the Meteor will be fine.
What a sweet little bike, a friend has one so I'll have a go of it for sure. I'm old enough to remember what biking used to be like and this is it, makes even more sense now with the amount of traffic we have on the roads. This sort of bike encourages you to relax and enjoy the ride where a lot of modern bikes encourage you to not only ride at the maximum speed you think you can get away with and at the same time get wound up about the traffic, which is actually pretty stressful...
This is 100% true, I have found the type of bike you are on really dictates your riding style. Modern bikes give you an adrenaline rush for sure but you are always trying to overtake everything in sight (which is always travelling much much slower than you) and you can finish the ride a little twitchy ☕☕☕ and not at all relaxed. It's also worth mentioning that most of us don't have the skill to use a modern bike with say 160+ Bhp on the road and really public roads aren't the correct place for such antics. When you get off the Meteor you just feel relaxed and calm, not over stimulated.
This has convinced me to sell the 1977 CD175 I have and get a more modern bike! I've not seen a single bad review for the Meteor no wonder there's a few months wait, off to the dealer tomorrow!
Nice one! It won't be a decision you regret. People really do love them.
Good luck! My local dealer can't keep them in stock.
Did you get it delivered yet?
There's a few little things that have come to light since people have owned the bikes for a bit longer but still nothing major and they are fantastic bikes
I ordered my red Fireball Meteor on 20th July and finally collected it on 30th October; 14 1/2 weeks. I'm glad I waited because I absolutely love pretty much everything about the bike; handling, feel, looks, fuel economy (yes, 100mpg), riding position and comfort. I wasn't impressed with the Tripper; the first time I tried to use it, I got about a mile from my house with it indicating correctly (I was already familiar with the route), then the Tripper display changed to a spinning compass needle for the rest of the journey. No idea why and it hasn't done it since. My mobile was very hot at the end of the journey.
One other little niggle; some rust on the (black) exhaust system where a bracket is welded to the silencer. Doesn't look as if that bit got painted.
Niggles aside, I love it. Not for speed freaks, but would recommend it to anybody who enjoys relaxed riding on country roads.
Hi John, thanks a lot for this comment and for sharing your experience. I have never seen a red Fireball in the metal so to speak but I really like the hue. I was in a similar position to you, I ordered in March 2021 and delivery was made early Nov. Same as you I absolutely love the bike, it's such a good price/quality ratio and no regrets here. I haven't been able to set up my tripper as my phone is too old and I'm running and old version of Android. I think next year if/when I upgrade I'll be able to set it up correctly. I'll be sure to check that exhaust system mount and cover it in some sealing compound, thanks for that tip. Also, I haven't completely tested my MPG numbers but I do expect them to be very high, it makes a nice change from filling up every 100miles. Thanks, and hope you keep enjoying the bike ☺
@@MindfulMotorcyclist Filled up again yesterday and the mpg worked out at 87. The earlier figure was when I was running the bike in at 40mph for the first 300 miles. The new figure was arrived at during the 50mph stage of running in. So, yes, 100mpg is achievable, but only if you ride around at 40mph. Which is quite pleasant on this bike. So I can expect the mpg to drop even further when I've finished running in and I can start using the full power of the bike.
I'm not bothered by this, I still love the bike. Just putting it out there.
On the subject of the royal enfield app now in 2022 its now got the ability to change the tripper navigation to miles which previously was mentioned in many videos was only in kilometres 👍🏻
I just love it how 'our nice n empty ' translates into 'nice n busy' when they skip locations.
Great video and great quality. I got my meteor stellar blue about three weeks ago and absolutely love it. Such a relaxing ride and that thump does make me smile. I’ve also got an interceptor on order for the longer journeys. If I could have the Himalayan aswell I probably would because the value for money with these bikes is incredible. Enjoy your new bike and ride safe 👍
Thanks Steven that's really nice of you to say, appreciate the feedback. I did really love the blue of the Stellar, looks great and I think nicer than the Supernova blue. The thump is almost therapeutic isn't it, it is so relaxing. Which colour Interceptor did you opt for?
@@MindfulMotorcyclist I went with the Sunset Strip. A little less common than the orange crush. Should hopefully get it this week although I doubt I will be riding much in this weather!
@@Steven-Brooks I think getting the less common paint is a good idea. Black, red and gold on the tank will look lovely. I went with the Meteor Supernova in brown on the assumption that most people would be ordering Fireballs and therefore this would be more rare. The dealer recons that they have sold equal amounts of Fireballs, Stellars and Supernovas which was interesting to know!
I hope the Super Meteor launching next year will also interest you
@@kyakaruvlogs2784 I did hear whispers of a 650cc Meteor. Wow that would be a lovely thing. I expect a long time before it is delivered to the UK tho!
The tyre is a ceat zoom plus which is specifically designed by ceat for royal enfield meteor, they have a collaboration with enfield for their bikes
The route you chose is one I regularly do on my Meteor, stopping off at Sally's Cafe on the top of British Camp! If you bought it from the Malvern dealer, get your first service booked as it's due at 300 miles. Love my Meteor, nearly 3000 miles on the clock and is running great. CEAT tyres are actually very good and I understand they are owned by Pirelli. Bike is not fully run in until 1300 miles and you'll notice a difference in performance as it starts to loosen up around a thousand miles. Look forward to future updates.👍
Hi Jonathon, nice to hear from another Meteor 350 owner especially a local one. I did indeed buy it from the Malvern dealer and I have recently booked my service (there is a little bit more of a wait than I expected but it is booked!). Glad to hear yours is going well. Which variant of the Meteor did you opt for? Thanks for the tip about the tyres, I had not heard of them before so assumed the worst. Looking forward to the performance bump, though I am happy with how it rides now. 3000miles, is that all local riding or have you been further afield on yours?
Hi, yes I plumped for the Meteor Stellar in Blue as I love a bit of chrome and after 3000 miles it's still good as new. Yes I've done several long journey's of around 200 miles per day without any fuss riding into Mid Wales etc. Also ridden on the M5, M42 and M40 for a distance of 40 odd miles maintaining 70mph, yes it's a bit buzzy at that speed but by no means either strained or uncomfortable or felt like it was going to go bang at any time, cracking all round bike, yes, a little more on the acceleration side would be welcome but it's not a deal breaker, it is what it is, a lovely, well screwed together fun motorcycle, mines a keeper!🙂👍
@@jonathandeeley6276 Couldn't agree more, it is early days for me but I can't see me letting it go. It's such an accessible little bike you just jump on and go, feels like superb value too. I think the summer it will really come into its own. Hopefully I'll have mine fully run in by then. Mid-Wales is the place to go... such nice roads there, I think the Meteor makes you a lot less likely to come back with points on your licence too 😄
CEAT is NOT owned by Pirelli. It is a well-known and reputed tyre brand in India. It started life as an Italian company based out of Turin. CEAT used to stand for Cavi Elettrici e Affini Torino. However, it is available only in India right now. In a way, the story of CEAT is also like Royal Enfield. The Indian branch survives, whereas the original company no longer exists in its birthplace.
Well I enjoyed every mile along with you and yes it looks a good looking bike I have 2 bullets. A 500 desert storm and an old 1980 350 with a Watsonian sidecar on it . Ride safe and enjoy your ne bike pal. Im still biking at 75 yrs old
Hi Terry, thanks for the comment and for the kind feedback. Much appreciated. I hope to still be biking at 75 too!
@@MindfulMotorcyclist You will but it all sneaks up on you a bit quick. ha ha
FYI in the states we call the shifter a heel and toe (heel-toe) shifter. You find that on many of your bigger top of the line cruisers. For example it came standard on my Harley Road King. Keep up the good work and ride it like you stole it!
Hi Dennis, thanks for the comment and the information 'Heel-toe'. Really appreciated the support as well!
I just looked at November sales figures. The Meteor was the top selling bike model in the UK. 284 sold in November.
Amazing isn't it. This little bike that isnt fast or full of tech is outselling everything. We covered that in our BnB NEWS video just released as I thought it was of interest as well...
You can buy a wind turbulence deflector for that screen for less than £30 on Ebay or Amazon. It would instantly make your airstream smooth and divert it above your helmet.
Thanks for the comment and the tip, this might be something I go back to if I don't click with the looks of the touring screen as time goes on...
I like the relaxed ride of a small cruiser. I can ride and enjoy every mile and see the beauty around me. On a sport bike which encourages you to ride to your limit of skill, you don't have time to see the beauty or to be relaxed. Besides I think one would live longer on a small cruiser than they would on a sport bike. The Royal Enfield Meteor brown super nova would be my choice. It is just the right size to enjoy riding and it is a beautiful motorcycle. Ride safe and enjoy every journey.
I 100% agree, a relaxed ride means you don't take as many risks. Why overtake when cruising at 60mph on the 350 is fun and rewarding? A sport bike just feels frustrated and under utilised at 60mph, which incidentally is the national speed limit here in the UK on most A roads. I will also admit that when I was filming on my other bike (a 600cc) it was easy to 'nudge' over the limit and I had to blur the speedo, to prevent the comments going mad! I haven't done that once on the Meteor 😂. Its well known that motorcycling is dangerous but I'd like to see the breakdown of sports bike accidents versus cruiser and adventure/touring machines. I would guess that it is weighted one way. Thanks for the comment and support 😃
@@MindfulMotorcyclist In the states Alcohol is the problem with cruiser riders. Something like 33% of all day time motorcycles accidents are alcohol related. The percentage goes to something like 70 % for night time motorcycle accidents. You would think people would know that alcohol and motorcycles don't mix.
@@genegoodwin8925 That is an interesting insight from 'across the pond'. I think we have largely removed drink riding/driving from the socially acceptable here in UK. We also have much smaller, busy roads, with in some cases limited visibility due to trees and hedgerows so I expect the risk factor when pressing on is a little higher. Thanks for sharing that.
You should give thought to ceramic coating on the bike if are afraid of the rain, it's around £360 for three years treatment
Interesting to hear your views on the Meteor particularly as you have other sporty bikes. I honestly thought you would find it too pedestrian.
My wife and I stayed in Malvern for a holiday this year and loved the towns on your route.
Hi Jonathon, thanks for your comment. I was expecting to find it very slow as it has 100bhp less than my other bike. It is what I would describe as 'peppy' and quite charming in it's own way. Apparently the engine really frees up after you've ridden around 1000miles so I'm looking forward to that too! Malvern is lovely, I rented a flat there before, it was great!
I would like to add that this is with tripper not connected to the phone.
I love my Stellar Blue - but - it's an Indian bike and doesn't like the cold. If you ride it at zero deg. or lower you will get an engine warning light (error code P0196) which will never go out until you get it switched off using a diagnostic tool. It is said that the Indians are looking into it !
Also if you fit an engine guard do not let the bike touch the ground against the guard. The fitting with the logo on it will snap and the whole device will have to be replaced.
Hi Edward,
Thanks for the comment and sharing that information. I personally hope I dont get that error! What do you mean about the engine guard, if you drop the bike on its side the guard will snap and the guard will have to be replaced?
As a meteor owner I can confirm that the suspension is really hard but I put that down to my light weight, I am under 11 stone. The screen might look nice but it causes turbulence and a lot of wind noise, I have removed it and it is so much better. On running in I wouldn't nurse it too much, vary the revs and avoid motorways, I have ridden the bike pretty much like any other and the performance is improving all the time. Great bike I love it.
Hi James, thanks for the comment. I've found also that the suspension is fairly hard (I'm 12.5 stone). I'm going to look at adjusting it to the softest setting as I think factory setting has the spring compressed as much as possible. Oh man is the screen annoying for buffeting that wind right into your face, I'm a little disappointed there as I love the look of the screen but as you have done it might have to come off or be replaced with the fly screen (option). On running in I've kept to below 60mph, sometimes 65mph when I've not been looking! I've just clicked over 300 miles now so I'm going to use it a bit more freely as I'm in the 'second stage' running in. Well I'm glad you got yours and that its worked out well for you! Cheers.
You can put a wind deflector on that screen and I can attest to it completely removing the turbulence. Doesn't look pretty but it solves the problem.
Yes I expect a deflector would work but I think it wouldn't look right, I am happy with no screen, in fact I have sold it so it won't be going back on.
@@MindfulMotorcyclist How may miles is the break in period? How many for the first service?
There is no softer setting on your rear suspension, you have preload adjust which is to set your SAG. You can set it anywhere in the range and it will not make any difference to the harshness or softness of your ride, that is not what preload does.
I'm no expert in bike suspension and happy to stand corrected but if we put the spring under more compression surely it will take more force to compress further and thus be less reactive to bumps in the road. If you compress a car spring as I have done many times then the force required as the spring gets shorter and shorter is increased proportionally. Coilovers exploit this by allowing manual adjustment of the spring compression by the user allowing The ride to be set softer or firmer. The shock absorber is a dampening device to stop the car bouncing about on the springs with every little bump. Thoughts?
@@MindfulMotorcyclist No, the spring rate is the spring rate and it will take the same force to move it. You are not compressing the spring really as both ends of the shock are free to move. Preload is just there to “preload” the shock to allow for extra weight of a heavier rider or an added pillion. You add you partner to the bike and luggage and you might find yourself using 50-60% of your suspension travel, not good. The preload is there to compensate for that load and have the shock sitting back in a decent part of its stroke. I.e. the same place it sits when you are on the bike alone. If you wind the preload right off to minimum you just get the impression it is softer because it sags down more when you get on. It is not softer, just sitting lower in its stroke with reduced suspension travel.
If you want to plod along I'd say that country roads are way better than in town riding, although I have to admit that it's good for city/town riding
I'm with you about the rear suspension, it's way too harsh; that is my only complain. I had to wait 4 months for my Fireball red and still waiting for the Touring screen here in So Cal.
Thoroughly enjoyed this because I’m in Tewkesbury and have just bought an Interceptor from, I suspect, the same dealer. Also the Ledbury - Malvern road is one I know well, as my folks used to live in Much Marcle, and when my dad died I used to take my mum shopping in Malvern. My last bike was a ZX6R, and as you state in the vid, I came to the conclusion that the environment just doesn’t allow you to exploit it, so I decided to dial it all down with the Interceptor. I’m also in exactly the same position with regards to the weather - I think I’ll only be going out when the roads are dry, and get down to properly running her in in the spring. I’ll wave if I see you!
Hi Simon, thanks a lot for the comment and nice to hear from a local Enfield owner. There are now a couple of people who have commented on here saying they are fairly local and ride the Meteor 350. The road from Malvern to Much Marcle is nice, especially as you come over the Malvern hills on a summers evening. Congratulations on the Interceptor 650 purchase, I really liked that bike as well, in fact I reviewed it on this channel back in the summer. They have also just released a 120th Anniversary variant of the Interceptor in black and gold which looks great. Things just seems to get better and better for us Royal Enfield supporters. My other bike is a Daytona 650 which essentially is Triumph pulling the same trick that Kawasaki did for the ZX-6R 636, that is upping the displacement of the original Daytona 600 to 646cc and for one year only [2005] selling it as the '650'. I have decided that my days of blipping about the roads on a supersport are over (never say never) so I converted that bike into a track day machine, I feel the track is much safer than the road. I'll be the only Supernova Meteor 350 with a big Givi touring screen fitted so I shouldnt be hard to miss! Ride safe.
@@MindfulMotorcyclist I saw my first Meteor chugging through Tewkesbury just yesterday - a blue one which I thought looked and sounded like a fine machine. Have fun!
had mine exactly the same colour as yours. two weeks next tuesday,done 100 miles so far. like the gearchange now am getting used to it. had one or two false neutrals early on.i think my size ten heel touched the pedal inadvertably. they are a lovely bike.
Hi John thanks for the comment. I might be biased but I think brown is one of the nicer colours available on the Meteor. I also got mine around 2 weeks ago and I just clicked it over 300 miles (I've been trying hard to get out on dry days!). Good news is that I can now open up the engine a little but more but I also need to book in for the running in service. The gear change I've also found a bit odd, but as you have I've got used to it. It does mention in the manual if you drop down through the gears when the bike is not moving you can 'damage the gearbox' whether this is true or not I don't know, more likely is you just confused the gear indicator and your not actually in gear. When I've had to stop quickly and haven't had time to go down through all the cogs I've rocked the bike back and forth a little and changed down, then it seemed not to get confused as much. That said, very minor thing and I love owning and riding the bike!
Very nice, no need for the elevator-music in the backround, rather listen to the engine. Any suggestions on other Meteor RUclips channels?
Hi Daniel, that's nice feedback thank you. I was worried the wind noise might be annoying (this was before I realised the screen deflects air up into the helmet) so I added the music which I don't normally do. Perhaps I over thought it! Sorry I haven't yet found any other channels, I don't think the bikes are that comment yet, at least here in the UK. Perhaps more likely in India where they have been selling for some time...
EconomicalRides is a pretty good channel...the guy has a Meteor Fireball and has made some interesting and amusing vids 👍
@@nonicknamejames2666 i agree and he always replys to everyone.
@@johnbellamy6449 Yes, a top bloke!👍
@@MindfulMotorcyclist hi would have to agree with music on bike videos, nicer to hear your voice, engine and wind noise, got my meteor two weeks today love riding it, looking forward to more of your videos on the meteor 👍
Not sure when you did the video but the supernova is over four grand as of now Jan 2022
Yes it was £3900 ish when I ordered with very little chance of a discount. You can add £200 across the range since then. Supply and demand at work!
Greetings from New York! That is a great looking bike. It seems to ride well, ride it in good health.
It's been a while, how is it holding up? I've heard from other RUclipsrs, who have reviewed the Royal Enfields, that after a short while moisture and fog develops in the gauges, foot pegs loosen/break, and rust begins to develop. What's been your experience? Has Royal Enfield remedied these issues? I'm seriously considering a Royal Enfield and appreciate any input.✌🏽👍🏽
Hello Marso, thanks for the comment and for the support from NY. Most of my audience is from the UK so great to hear from you. The Meteor has been widely recognised as a high quality effort by Royal Enfield. It looks lovely as you say and in my experience there are a few minor faults 1) the EML comes on apparently tripped by cold weather, it doesn't affect running but you need to get it reset by the dealer or yourself with the tool. 2) the exhaust tip is prone to rusting or corroding which is why if had my time again I'd go for a fireball with a black exhaust and 3) the tripper is a bit crap and drains the phones battery very quickly 4) service intervals are a bit short 5) the windscreen deflects wind right into the visor if you are my height 5'11''. I have videos showing the top 5 things I like and don't like about the Meteor so please check those out. Thanks!
@@MindfulMotorcyclist Thanks very much. Continue with the fine content.👍🏽✌🏽
For highway ride in the USA, I wish this bike had just little more of extra power. May be 5HP.... giving me a pause because of that
There are mods out now (not at the time of making this video) like the DNA airfilter, the Kent cam and the Hunter ECU that make this bike faster... 2-3 hp close to your target. Cheers, Sean
It's a pretty bike (eye of the beholder of course) but I can't see it as the best value bike in the last, say three years, and far from being the best value ever. Best value ever was likely the 1970s Hondas that could be bought pretty cheap but were engineered far beyond the Brit bikes that inspired them.
In the last three years the Himalayan would beat this for the same price. This bike pushed the Himalayan up in price, but those were about the same as this price a couple years ago. It can go anywhere, has stone and drop protection and more convertability via acessories.
However there are several Japanese 300 to 350cc bikes that likely offer more longevity, better motor output, better build quality for only a few hundred more. The warranty on this is great, but the best warranty is one you'll never need, due to build quality. Speaking of warranty, RE requires a warranty service out of pocket that costs 10% above the purchase price....so the real price of this bike is significantly higher than the MSRP.
This puts them about where the CB350r, MT-03 (about the same sticker price already) are, which are more versatile street bikes...or the Vstar250 which delivers similar power to the RE350. The Kawasaki and Duke offer much more pep in the price zone, but not everyone needs that much.
I think the bike looks great, but it is so plodding it tends to fit into the scooter realm with displacements much lower, like the Grom, Monkey or CBr125....but you get a bigger and much heavier frame to be pulled around by 20hp and 5sp.
This is obviously a compliance bike to offer into the niche of restricted licenses in Europe and the UK. The output is specifically governored down...as is the Honda India CB350 Empress offering much less output than Hondas of the past with 350cc.
Hi thanks for your comment, much appreciated. I can't speak for the bikes of the 70's as I wasn't around then but you make a good point about the Himalayan, that is also very competitive price wise. Whilst I also like that bike I bought the Meteor over the Himalayan because of the looks. I will be riding the bike long distance but it will be purely road based and it won't be the only type of riding I do.
The warranty service I assume you mean the running in service at 300 miles is a bit annoying but we have got feedback from the community and it is as much as £199 and as little as £85, mine was around the middle at £150. When I ordered the bike it was as low as £3650 for the Fireball variant, admittedly they have have increased each variant in late 2021 by a couple of hundred quid as supply has massively outstripped demand.
Everyone I have encountered who has opted for the Meteor (and there's a lot of us-it was the best selling bike in the UK in November) has made the decision not based on motor output, the pep or the 20bhp, it was by and large an emotional decision made by the looks and the feeling you get on the bike. My other bike is a track prepared Daytona 650 so I know how slow the Meteor is, it provides enough ooomf to safely overtake and that's about it. You'd be pushed to break the national speed limit on mine now I have added a larger screen!
When we compare RE build quality to the other retro cruisers in this category and at the same price point it is higher, this means bikes like Mutt, Herald and Bullet. We don't know the longevity of the Meteor yet as they are so new, a couple of issues have come up like the cold British weather tripping a EML which needs to be reset or rust at the exhaust tip have come up but not a lot else.
It's a bike made to suit its home market of India where the roads do not permit super fast riding and the speed is not really needed. The UK is a relatively small export market for RE. Thanks!
@@MindfulMotorcyclist it is the much more attractive bike for the post war BSA crowd (as is the 400, 500, 600 range REs). Looks alone sell the bike at a fair price. Since the motor is aimed at the restricted license starter rider market...it can ALSO get a kid that doesn't care for the old man and hipster retro...but just wants to ride for low £$.
I'm glad they made this. It will wake up Honda, Suzuki, Yamaha, Kawasaki to do in the 300cc range what they are doing in the liter bike range...and also try hard to keep it under $5000.
If Yamaha took the MT03 mechanicals and just changed the tank, seat and fenders...they could have this bike with twice the output for $4750. Same for the CBR350 and Kaw300. This is somewhat what the new Rebel is, BUT much better looking.
I may buy one of these in future myself...primarily for looks too. I have a old Honda 250 that looks very similar, similar power ...just for nice country road only riding of about 120 miles or less
.... but is getting oooollllddddd and could strand one in the middle of nowhere.
I had to drive 500 miles to pick up my bike but I have to say that I love everything about it.....
Hi, thanks for the comment and congratulations on the new bike. which variant did you go for Fireball, Stellar or Supernova?
@@MindfulMotorcyclist Supernova Dark Metalic Blue!
@@adventuresofdragonfly2231 Lovely choice!
Im 39 years old I want a bike like yours probably in the same colour too! Its funny because Im hesitating in between brown or the blue. The biggest problem with that blue its not Supernova and the wheel are painted in black only. I think yours has nicer wheels. What do you think if Im 5`5`` I would still have problem with the buffeting?
7
Hi Balazs, the brown in Supernova which is the bike I have is lovely but I have also seen some amazing pictures of the Stella in Blue. These two are my favourite colours. You could add bits to the Stella in Blue like the touring screen or the brown seat if you wanted it to be more 'supernova if you know what i mean'. The wheels you cannot add but as the bikes become older the might be people selling the wheels with the polished spokes separately. Both bikes are lovely and I would recommend both. As for the wind buffeting this will not be a problem unless you have the touring screen (as fitted to the supernova) and even if you did get this bike at you're height i think you will have much less of a problem, which is good news. Thanks
Hi, great review!! Will you recommended this lovely bike to a total 50 years old beginner or more like cb500x!? Will drive in town and also want some long trip across the country. Thanx and greetings from Serbia ✌️
Hi again Alen. I would certainly recommend this bike for a beginner, it is fun to ride, not too expensive and not too fast. Here in the UK it is pretty dangerous to ride fast on a motorbike. I prefer the slower pace of the Meteor 350. There are many reviews on this bike and they are all positive, it is also the best selling motorcycle of November here in the UK!
@@MindfulMotorcyclist Thanx again 👍 as you said, all the reviews I saw are very positive for the Meteor. Speed i not a issue for me, anyway is dangerous everywhere to drive to fast. I like very much the black and the blue stellar. Use to drive maxi scooter and want now to upgrade for a nice bike for town and also some longer road trip im the country so i think the Meteor will be the one!!! Thanx again and cheers ✌️
Does the dealer have a rip-off compulsory service schedule to keep the warranty valid (which works out at about £100 quid an hour for routine servicing)?
Honda dealers do it and THAT'S how they make their money.
Hi Tom, ummm yes according to the book there is a service every 3000 miles and that is a bit of a short interval. I should add that every other service is a 'check, lubricate, adjust' service so not changing anything so it remains to be seen if that one is expensive. The routine service is around £150. The running in service after 300 miles is also £150! It does add up.
@@MindfulMotorcyclist Gee what a con. My local bike shop installed a new crankshaft in a loose engine for £400 labour. That's two full days of highly skilled work.
Would you think is a good idea to take a pillion out before the 2000 miles completed? Our weight wouldn't be more then 150-160kg combined! Who can weight 2000km for not taking anyone out with you?I personally think in India being in most cases the only vehicle on the family they weight 2000km till they do that. I probably would ride home with my missus on the back form the bikeshop... 😆
Hi Balazs, thanks for the comment. It doesn't say anything about not riding with a pillion in the manual during the running in phase, it is mainly about the maximum speed in each gear. I have taken my misses on the back of my meteor and that was before 300 miles!
@@MindfulMotorcyclist Good to know that! Thanks! I was just thinking about this because the meteor is a cruiser type of bike and I would love to take my missus with me many times I can! Riding alone is boring I suppose. 😊
Lovely...pity about the background plinky music though
Yeah, you're not the first to say that. I was trying to mask the turbulent wind noise I had coming up from the screen. Future vids, no music just engine noise 😀
i have ordered a brown Super Nova today. don´t know how long it takes to deliver.
Congratulations on your new bike, you definitely won't be disappointed!
@@MindfulMotorcyclist thank you! Greetings from Germany.
Indian brands are not cheap like China Indian brands are affordable so there is difference between cheap and affordable.
Indians brand are more rough and tough may be finishing is not good as western companies.
Hi Niraj, thanks for the comment. I've heard some good feedback on CEAT from people in the comments. Lets see how the last as I do more miles on the Meteor!
Nice colourm man. I'm a bit stuck between the Meteor and Himalayan myself. Haven't riden either. Meteor price and new engine are standing out to me over the Himalayan - I guess I just don't want to buy the wrong bike.
Thanks! I guess just try and ride both of them if you can. I prefer the Meteor, they both are a similar price and both have the Tripper Navi system. I have reviewed the Himalayan in another video that might be of interest to you.
I’ve got a Himmy, which I love and test rode the Meaty😝 while the Himmy was having its 3000 mile service. I’m probably going to end up with both.
@@rustyrims05 What a great idea, if you have the resources and the space then it's a no brainer, the Interceptor 650 also peaked my interest from the RE range. 'Meaty' haha!
@@MindfulMotorcyclist I like the Interceptor too.
Great vid ..sorry to hear you had to wait so long for your bike. I ordered a Meteor in September and was told it would be delivered in about 6 weeks. Well, I'm still waiting!....fingers crossed I'll get it by Christmas 🤞😁
Thanks for the good feedback! It was a long wait indeed but oh so worth it. It's strange coming from a 600, you'd think you would miss the power (I've dropped 100bhp) but you really don't. It's just so satisfying to ride and own. Lovely thing. I agree the delivery times are a bit vague, would almost be better if they were up front about the length of time between ordering and delivery. Would be a lovely Christmas present to yourself, I hope it comes sooner rather than later 👍
i was told about 6 weeks and got it in 3 best wishes and you wont be dissapointed they are a lovely bike.
@@johnbellamy6449 Great to hear John, cheers👍
@NoNicknameJames I presume that's UK. I ordered 2nd week in October and was told it would be here by Christmas so fingers crossed that was a realistic estimate of 10 weeks on their part.
@@johnbellamy6449 You got it ahead of schedule! That's a treat!
Going to wait for the classic 350 like the look better
If you are in the UK there might be a long wait, I get the feeling UK isn't a priority market for RE with the longer delivery times for the standard Meteor.
@@MindfulMotorcyclist True. On another note what you think about the new 120 year addition all black 650cc ?
@@maitlandju I wish you hadn't shown me those, now I want one. I think perhaps the Continental is marginally nicer? Black and gold looks stunning.
@@MindfulMotorcyclist I know looks so nice. If you get one that would be cool
Gave a 👍 but, I have to say, the background music was extremely annoying! At first I thought, „what is that clacking noise?“ I thought it was coming from the bike! 😄
Hi Glenn, really appreciate the thumbs ups and believe me you are not the only one who commented on the music. It is the first and (after viewer comments) the last video I will add a backing track too. The reason behind this idea was that the windscreen was deflecting quite a lot of air straight into my visor and it was making an irritating buffeting noise audible on the video, I was trying to offset that.
I need to buy
I think most people see this bike would agree with you!
It’s a nice bike ,but my perfect meteor bike would have a 450 engine and spoked wheels needs a bit more power for the hills and freeway I tkink it would sell like hot cakes ,jimmy Aust I would pay a bit more for the extra power
Thanks for the comment. You know although this video is a few years old I almost rebought a Meteor 350 over the last few days and the old argument of power came up again! Especially as I now have the 650 single BSA...
Great video ! new subscriber here!
Thanks Richard, really appreciate the comment and the Sub.
Whats your bike color
It's called Copperbeech Bronze officially I believe. Thanks
Great video, just a pity about the annoying background music !
Hi Simon, thanks for the comment. Believe me you are not the first to mention that. Every video I've put up since this one I've dropped the audio overlay except on rare occasions when I'm speeding up the footage.
First service is 300 miles not 500 as you seem to be intimating.
Its 500kms/2000kms which as you say is 300 miles. I added a correction to the video...
i was told by my dealer btween 300 and 500
@@johnbellamy6449 I called mine and unfortunately he said 300 really and not much over 🤨. No more big rides for me until next Friday then!
Lose the music - it adds nothing! Nice video otherwise though.
Quite a few people have mentioned that now. Noted for future videos! Thanks
'Gas' tank?????! You are British!!
Force of habit I'm afraid. I work for an American company and the amount of times I hear 'often times', 'in a holding pattern' and 'y'all' is a lot. Petrol, Petrol, Petrol, Petrol, I'll remember next time 😁
Too much wind noice..
If you can go and view my latest video, perhaps that's better. I've fiddled with the mic location and recorder settings over and over to get this right... Since this video....
@@MindfulMotorcyclist will look into it. Thank you
Very hard thing to get right, people want to hear the engine as well. As well as mic position you can edit out wind noise too but that can make your voice sound weird 😂.
@@MindfulMotorcyclist one step at a time. Will create a great difference eventually.
That idiotic "music" was just awful to listen to. Otherwise, nice little review video.
Thanks and for the record I took on this feedback and removed it from videos going forward...
CONCERNING TIRES, CEAT IS A BIG COMPANY AND HAS BEEN AROUND A LONG TIME.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CEAT_(company)
CEAT produces over 165 million tyres a year and manufactures tyres for passenger cars, two-wheelers, trucks and buses, light commercial vehicles, earth-movers, forklifts, tractors, trailers, and auto-rickshaws. The current capacity of CEAT tyres' plants is over 800 tonnes per day.
Here in the UK they are not well known, we tend to be a little sceptical concerning performance/wear characteristics of no-name brands even if they are mass produced in India/China etc...
@@MindfulMotorcyclist Pirelli is the owner of the Ceat trademark in the rest of the world. "This acquisition will open up European, African and Latin American markets for Ceat radicals. ... Pirelli is an Italian industrial enterprise that is active in more than 160 countries.
@@TheRmoroni We've def got Pirelli here in the UK. There's also been some brands that have established a reputation quite quickly, 'nexen' for example are quite well regarded for mid range car tyres.
@@MindfulMotorcyclist CEAT has been making tyres for nearly a century. And they are the third largest tyre manufacturer in India