Royal Enfield Meteor 350

What is the 2026 Meteor 350?

The Meteor 350 is Royal Enfield’s entry-level cruiser: a 349 cc air/oil-cooled single, a 765 mm seat, forward-set footpegs, a 15-litre tank and a 191 kg kerb weight. Launched in India in late 2020 and in Europe in 2021, it received an update in September 2025 that is sold in France as the 2026 model year.

The update leaves the engine and frame unchanged. It brings:

• Euro 5+ homologation;
• LED headlamp and indicators and Tripper navigation as standard on every trim;
• a USB-C fast-charging socket;
• an assist-and-slipper clutch;
• adjustable levers on the Aurora and Supernova.

The Euro 5+ owner’s manual and the French website announce this slipper clutch, but the June 2026 French and British specification sheets still describe a conventional wet multi-plate clutch (“Conventional Wet Clutch” in the UK).

How much does it cost?

Royal Enfield France offers four trims with the same mechanicals: Fireball at €4,790 (Fireball Orange), Stellar at €4,890 (Stellar Grey), Aurora at €4,990 (Aurora Green, spoked wheels, windscreen) and Supernova at €4,990 (Supernova Black, windscreen, backrest, chrome exhaust). The website states that these 2026 colours “will be imported later during 2026”. 2025 bikes remain in stock: Fireball Red at €4,790, Aurora Blue and Supernova Blue at €4,990. In the United States, the 2026 Meteor 350 costs $4,899 as a Fireball and $5,099 as a Supernova.

How good is the engine?

The long-stroke (72 x 85.8 mm) J-series single, with a single overhead camshaft, two valves and a balance shaft, makes 20.2 hp (14.87 kW) at 6,100 rpm and 27 Nm at 4,000 rpm; the French specification sheet rounds this to 15 kW and 20 hp. It is A2-compliant without restriction. The gearbox has five speeds and the throttle is cable-operated.

Reviewers praise its smoothness: 1000PS finds it responsive to the throttle, MOTORRAD likes its deep sound and long-stroke character. Its limits show on fast roads: MOTORRAD finds it laboured above 100 km/h, 1000PS a little short on the motorway, and Moto Magazine regrets its limited power. Royal Enfield does not publish a top speed in France; the British sheet gives 114 km/h in fourth gear and MCN records 71 mph (114 km/h). BikeSocial had fifth gear jump out a few times.

How does it ride?

The steel twin-downtube frame sits on a non-adjustable 41 mm fork and twin shocks with six-step preload adjustment. Braking combines a 300 mm disc with a twin-piston caliper, a 270 mm rear disc and dual-channel ABS. The 19- and 17-inch wheels are cast alloy with tubeless tyres, except on the spoked Aurora, which uses inner tubes.

MCN finds the chassis wonderfully reassuring and BikeSocial praises the chassis and tyre combination. Criticism focuses on brakes and damping: a front brake lacking power for BikeSocial and Moto-Net, spongy for Cycle World; shocks that pump for Cycle World, too firm for Le Repaire des Motards, less at ease over sharp bumps for MOTORRAD. Cycle World weighed the bike at 418 lb (190 kg) wet.

What equipment does it have?

The electronics are limited to ABS: no riding modes or traction control. The analogue speedometer includes an LCD screen and the Tripper pod provides turn-by-turn navigation via Bluetooth. Lighting is full LED. The bike also gets centre and side stands and a heel-and-toe gear lever.

Who is it for?

Visordown sees it as a choice for riders seeking a stylish, comfortable bike who are not bothered about outright speed; 1000PS sees it as a beginner bike or a second bike, and Moto Magazine as an excellent little cruiser for beginners. Riders who often use motorways will look instead at the Super Meteor 650 (€7,890) or a Honda Rebel 500.

Fuel consumption and maintenance

Royal Enfield quotes 2.79 L/100 km. 1000PS recorded 3.4 L/100 km and MOTORRAD about 3 L/100 km, giving a range of around 440 km from 15 litres. The manual requires an oil change every 10,000 km or every year, with an intermediate inspection at 5,000 km. The warranty is 3 years.

Recalls

No recall affects the Meteor 350 in Europe. In the United States, some 2023 model year Meteor 350s were recalled for non-compliant side and rear reflectors (NHTSA 24V713000).

Where does it come from?

The Meteor 350 succeeded the Thunderbird 350 and Thunderbird X 350, carburetted 346 cc singles sold in India. Its name comes from a Royal Enfield twin of the 1950s.