ROAD NEWS
ROYAL ENFIELD METEOR
R oyal Enfield has announced an all-new model set to join the Indian owned firm ’ s 2021 lineup in the form of the 350cc Meteor . Built around a new oil and air-cooled singlecylinder engine , the Meteor 350 is targetted at the entry-level cruiser / commuter market and is expected to arrive in New Zealand dealerships next year with an as yet to be released price . The stylish new Meteor shares a similar design aesthetic to the previously released Royal Enfield Thunderbird – which was released in New Zealand and Australia under the Rumbler 350 name tag – but with a smaller 15-litre fuel tank and larger 140 section rear tyre giving the bike a more traditional cruiser aesthetic . Power from the EFI single-cylinder is similar to that of the Rumbler , with 20.2hp at 6100rpm backed by 27Nm of torque from 4000rpm . This should be ample for the task of commuting and enough to keep pace with traffic at highway speeds . Sadly for some , unlike the previous offering in the segment , the Rumbler 350 , the Meteor 350 appears to have done away with the kick-start option leaving starting a push-button only affair . Rolling stock comes in the form of a cast alloy 17-inch rear wheel and a 19-incher out the front
with braking taken care of by a 300mm disc and two-piston caliper combo in the front and a 270mm disc and single-piston unit in the rear . As you ’ d expect the now mandatory ABS backs up the brakes to prevent unwanted lock-ups . While it seems like a relatively low-fi commuter so far , Royal Enfield has included some useful technology into the Meteor as standard equipment to help ensure it is a strong contender in the commuter segment . This is perhaps most evident in the inclusion of the new Tripper navigation system ( the first built-in navigation system on any Royal Enfield that ’ s more sophisticated than a simple compass ) which is mounted to the handlebar next to the analogue speedo . The Tripper nav system uses a combination of Google Maps and Royal Enfield ’ s new app to deliver turn-by-turn instructions straight to the Meteor ’ s dashboard via a Bluetooth connection and Royal Enfield has also provided a charging option in the form of a built-in USB port to ensure the rider ’ s device doesn ’ t go flat while riding . Other useful features include a low seat height of just 765mm for ease of access for a wide variety of riders and a removable windshield for added comfort .
92 KIWI RIDER