How high do you set your expectations before swinging a leg over a $4399 motorcycle? That depends entirely on what you're looking for. Are you an experienced rider looking for peak performance? Or are you someone looking for an entry point into motorcycling? If your goal is to simply get onto two wheels and fall in love with twisting a throttle, then take a good long look at what Royal Enfield has come out with.

CYCLE NEWS FEATURE STORY: "One Fine Day"
More with the Royal Enfield Meteor 350
https://www.cyclenews.com/2021/05/art...

We explore the all-new 2021 Royal Enfield Meteor 350 and tap into the basis of its appeal, which is undoubtedly its accessibility. This handsome little cruiser is the gateway–the Royal Enfield Meteor 350 is the bike that will open doors for many new riders. It is an ideal entry-level motorcycle that is affordable and accessible in terms of its size, power, weight, and how easy it is to ride. But don't write it off as a budget model, or an afterthought from a company more interested in high-dollar items. The crew at Royal Enfield put a great deal of time and thought into the design of the all-new Meteor 350 and its three different trim levels: Fireball: $4399; Stellar: $4499; Supernova $4599.

The Meteor 350 gets an all-new frame, all-new engine and is purpose-built from the ground up. What results is a very well executed motorcycle, wonderfully attractive with seven different color options, flowing lines, symmetry that will catch eyes and turn heads everywhere you go (and I would know. Because it did during my three weeks with the Meteor 350). You can choose from the blacked-out version (Fireball) with its matching color accents, or the chrome of the upgraded models (Stellar and Supernova) with dual-tone paint and accessory options.

When it comes to the power of the Meteor 350, we're not talking about a whole lot of ponies here. But you already knew that. With the 350cc single-cylinder air-cooled power output that it does have, Royal Enfield created a very nice spread of power on the Meteor. The five-speed gearbox is very well thought out, and the Meteor manages to produce nice torque on the low-end, but not so much that it sacrifices top-end power. Once on the freeway you'll really feel the counterbalancer come into play, and the engine smooths out very nicely, inviting you to cruise along at 70-75mph pretty easily. I'd much prefer a windscreen for highway cruising, but I spent the majority of my time with the Meteor on back roads.

A trip to California's Central Coast wine country in Paso Robles, home to some of the best backroads in the West, was a real treat on the Meteor 350! Cruising in and out of turns, flowing along on a ribbon of pavement as it dips in and out of oak tree tunnels, past vineyards and ranches, was exactly what the Royal Enfield Meteor 350 was designed to do. It's not built for punching in and out of turns with hard accelerating and hard braking. But when you sit back into the low seat and let the Meteor rock back and forth through the turns, you'll find its sweet spot. The light weight and low center of gravity make it so light on its feet, and it will just glide along with a silky smooth flow. That is... until you hit any big bumps.

Suspension action could be softer on the Meteor 350. I feel like Royal Enfield missed the mark on the initial comfort level with both the suspension and the seat. Neither is very supple, which can be a really big turn-off to beginner riders. If you want people to love it, you HAVE to make them comfortable. Perhaps it will break in–and in fact, I did feel a difference in the suspension from my first ride to my last, but it's that initial impression that you won't get a second chance to make with new riders. Cushy seats, Enfield! And a more plush ride with better bump absorption that won't kick lightweight riders (women!) up out of the seat.

The most impressive part to me, and an unexpected touch, is the Tripper Navigation. The Royal Enfield Meteor 350 actually has a built-in dial for GPS with turn-by-turn navigation. This is extremely nice to have in this day and age, since we've learned to function by our phones (like it or not). You simply download the Royal Enfield app, which is built on the Google platform, punch in your destination and let the Meteor guide you to your destination. Pretty dang cool, especially on a sub-$5000 motorcycle.

WATCH NEXT:
2021 Royal Enfield Himalayan - Good Beginner Bike? A Female Perspective
   • 2021 Royal Enfield Himalayan - Good B...  

2021 Triumph Tiger 850 Sport Test Ride Review | Adventure, Touring and Sport - The Ultimate Hybrid?
   • 2021 Triumph Tiger 850 Sport Test Rid...  

2020 Glen Helen 2-Stroke Motocross World Championships
   • 2021 2-Stroke MX World Championships ...  

SAY HELLO:
Blogger: https://crossrutted.blogspot.com/​
Site: www.CrossRutted.com
IG: @Kalamity_Jean // @Crossrutted
FB:   / jean.turner.98