- Royal Enfield Meteor 350 spotted
- Will replace the Thunderbird 350X
- Likely to be priced around Rs 1.75 lakh (ex-showroom)
Royal Enfield is likely to launch its much-anticipated offering, the Meteor 350, in India soon. After being spied multiple times before, the production-ready test mule of the motorcycle has been spotted once again.
The test mule sported gloss black paint job and was deprived of any badges, unlike the previously sighted orange coloured bike with ‘Royal Enfield’ and ‘Meteor 350’ decals. Nevertheless, the rest of the bodywork appeared to be in a fully finished form. Since the Meteor will replace the existing Thunderbird 350X model, it boasts of a modern cruiser styling similar to the latter. However, the Meteor incorporates a single-pod instrument cluster, round tail lamp and turn indicators and split seat, all of which are different from that of the Thunderbird.
When it comes to hardware, distinctions are more thorough than those on the cosmetic front. Firstly, the Meteor is underpinned by a double cradle frame, as opposed to the single downtube chassis of the Thunderbird. Also, the sides of the placement of disc brake and drivetrain are opposite. Furthermore, the engine of the Meteor will also be an all-new unit based on RE’s ‘J’ architecture which is likely to be more refined and smoother. The exact displacement of this new mill is not known yet.
Online reports had suggested that the Royal Enfield Meteor 350 was supposed to be launched in India last month. However, the disruptions caused due to COVID-19 may have pushed it ahead. It is suspected to be around Rs 10,000-15,000 more expensive than the Thunderbird 350X which was priced at Rs 1.64 lakh (ex-showroom).
Image Source: Gaadiwaadi
