Royal Enfield Bullet 350 vs Royal Enfield Meteor 350: Same Badge, Different Attitude

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

• 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 

• 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

• 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

• 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. There are also a wide variety of other bikes that are available for around the same price as the Bullet.

Comparisons With Other Rivals:

• When compared to the Triumph Speed T4, the Bullet is all about chilled-out riding.
• Between the TVS Ronin and the Bullet 350, the former is a lot cheaper, while also having a longer list of features.
• The Bullet 350 is a laid-back roadster whereas the Jawa 350 has a hint of sportiness to it.
• If you prefer roadster format but want a bit more performance, then you may go for the Jawa 42 FJ.
• The Honda H'Ness CB350 isn't as torquey as the Bullet but comes with a few more modern features.
• The Honda CB350 is also similar to the H'Ness 350 but looks a lot like the Bullet.
• The Hunter 350 is a better choice than the Bullet 350 if everyday commuting is your priority.
• There's also the Classic 350 which comes with the advantage of alloy wheels with tubeless tyres as a variant.