Both are Royal Enfield 350cc bikes on paper but that's where similarities kind of end. Here's which one you should buy:
Back in the day, Royal Enfield had two very distinct lines of fanboys/fangirls.
There were the Bullet 350 fans and then there were the Thunderbird 350 fans. Today, the Bullet 350 is still the Bullet 350, while the Meteor 350 is the reincarnation of Thunderbird, in a modern package. And today we'll put those two bikes against one another:
Price & Variants
Royal Enfield Bullet 350 | Royal Enfield Meteor 350 | ||
Variant | Ex-showroom Price | Variant | Ex-showroom Price |
Standard-Black | Rs 1,63,783 | Fireball Grey & Fireball Orange | Rs 1,95,762 |
Battalion Black | Rs 1,63,783 | Stellar Matt Grey & Stellar Marine Blue | Rs 2,03,419 |
Military Black | Rs 1,64,423 | Aurora Red & Aurora Retro Green | Rs 2,06,290 |
Military Red | Rs 1,64,424 | Supernova Black | Rs 2,15,883 |
Standard-Maroon | Rs 1,87,038 | Sundowner Orange | Rs 2,18,882 |
Black Gold | Rs 2,04,434 |
The Royal Enfield Bullet 350 wins this familial battle rather easily. In fact, its top variant costs a bit more than the Meteor 350's base variant and it shows that the Bullet 350 is meant to be the most affordable Royal Enfield bike after the Hunter 350. The Meteor 350, meanwhile, has been positioned as a more premium offering.
Dimensions & Design
Specifications | Royal Enfield Bullet 350 | Royal Enfield Meteor 350 | Difference |
Ground Clearance | 170mm | 170mm | 0mm |
Seat Height | 805mm | 765mm | +40mm |
Wheelbase | 1390mm | 1400mm | -10mm |
Weight | 195kg | 191kg | +4kg |
Being a cruiser, the Royal Enfield Meteor 350 is longer and has the lower seat height of the two. It's also slightly lighter than the Bullet 350 but that doesn't necessarily mean it's the easier one to ride. It's still a heavy bike and if you end up tipping it over a bit, it's still hard to save it from falling over.
The point is that most people who can handle the Bullet 350 will be able to handle the Meteor 350, and vice versa. They're both long and heavy motorcycles. While you might have to be a bit careful with that in the beginning, we assure you that it is something that you'll get used to pretty quickly and it's not that they're difficult bikes to get along with.
Both bikes' design languages are completely different and you won't get confused between the two. The Bullet 350 is long, heavy and substantial and overall, its silhouette has remained the same over the years. If you like its macho appeal, there's nothing else quite like it.
The Meteor 350, on the other hand, gives you that quintessential cruiser feel with its forward-set footpegs and the laidback riding posture. Back in the day, if you were more of a Thunderbird 350 person, then the Meteor 350 will be your thing for sure.
Features & Safety
Key Features | |
Royal Enfield Bullet 350 | Royal Enfield Meteor 350 |
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Being the more premium of the two, the Meteor 350 has dual-channel ABS and a tripper pod as standard, something that the Bullet 350 misses out on. That said, it still can't be classified as a feature-rich bike and we're not mad about it.
In a world full of fancy TFTs and 125cc bikes having ride modes, the Bullet and Meteor's old school approach is charming and we appreciate that they're just simple bikes. Even the tripper pod is surprisingly simple to use and it shows you directions in the simplest of ways.
That said, if you're going for the Bullet 350, we'd advise you to go for the dual-channel ABS trim. You can never be too safe on our unpredictable roads.
Engines
Specifications | Royal Enfield Bullet 350 | Royal Enfield Meteor 350 |
Engine | 349cc air-cooled engine | 349cc air-cooled engine |
Power | 20.2PS at 6,100rpm | 20.2PS at 6,100rpm |
Torque | 27Nm at 4,000rpm | 27Nm at 4,000rpm |
Gearbox | 5-speed | 5-speed |
Both the Bullet and the Meteor have the exact same engine and for the most part, it feels like the exact same powerplant too. The one difference is that the Meteor's engine feels just a bit more rev-friendly, and that means it feels just a little bit less stressed while sitting at highway speeds.
Where there's a genuine difference in the feel is the overall riding experience and that's because of the riding postures. You sit upright and more 'on top' of the bike on the Bullet, which gives you the open-chested macho riding experience.
On the Meteor, with your legs more forward-set and the riding experience being a lot more cruiser-like, you feel like you're sitting 'inside' the bike a lot more. Both riding experiences have their own charm and feel, so it's a completely personal choice.
Where the cruiser aesthetic and feel takes away from the experience is the suspension. Contrary to popular opinion, cruisers aren't comfortable bikes (especially on bad roads) and the Meteor's suspension is firm. You will feel most bumps and potholes right up your back and while it's not jarring, it's not something you will be able to completely ignore as well.
The Bullet 350, on the other hand, feels like it flattens the road undulations like a big road roller. It just steamrolls over bad roads with a 'I got this bro' attitude.
Verdict
Both the Royal Enfield Bullet 350 and the Royal Enfield Meteor 350 are enjoyable bikes to ride, especially with that refined yet characterful engine. But ultimately, it all depends on you: whether you prefer the Bullet's butch appeal or the Meteor's laidback feel.