Top 3 reasons to buy the Royal Enfield Meteor 350 and 2 to skip it

The Royal Enfield Meteor 350 received a host of updates recently that make it more feature-rich and easier to live with than before. The update brings some additional equipment and refinement, while keeping the smooth 349cc J-series engine unchanged. If you're considering buying one, here are three reasons it's worth considering, and two reasons it might not be the bike for you.

Reasons to buy the Royal Enfield Meteor 350

Now gets a slip and assist clutch

The most significant update on the new model is the addition of a slip-and-assist clutch, which noticeably reduces clutch lever effort and makes downshifts smoother. During our time with the bike, we found that the clutch no longer feels heavy in traffic jams, and this improvement comes without compromising clutch feel. While this may seem like a relatively small update on paper, it has made a substantial difference to the overall riding experience, especially since a heavy clutch was one of the few complaints we had with the earlier Meteor 350.

Smooth and characterful engine

The 349cc single-cylinder motor continues to be the Meteor's biggest strength. It pulls cleanly from low revs with a pleasant thump, making city riding relaxed and enjoyable. On the highway, the bike feels most pleasant cruising between 70-80kph, but it'll happily sit at 90-100kph without harsh vibrations. 

Stable handling and low seat height

The Meteor uses a twin-downtube frame and 19-inch front wheel that give it solid stability in a straight line, while still being impressively agile when threading through traffic. The suspension setup is better than expected, soaking up broken roads with ease. Plus, with a seat height of just 765mm, shorter riders won't struggle to flat-foot the bike at stops, which is a big plus.

Reasons not to buy the Royal Enfield Meteor 350

It is a heavy bike

Tipping the scales at 191kg, the Meteor feels hefty when you're parking or manoeuvring at walking pace, and you will have to wrestle it onto the centre stand and shuffling it around in your garage can be tiresome. Once rolling though, the weight isn't an issue thanks to good chassis balance, and you’ll only notice the mass in heavy traffic.

Dull front brake

Braking continues to be dull at the front, which is disappointing considering how well-sorted the rest of the bike is. While the front brake is effective when used in conjunction with the rear, and the dual-channel ABS keeps things safe, the lack of initial bite and feedback from the front brake can be frustrating. A more responsive front brake would make the Meteor 350 feel more confident during braking.

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