Royal Enfield

Image – Abhinav Bhatt
Both Meteor 350 and H’Ness CB350 have distinct exhaust notes and both have been appreciated by audiences

We have covered both the Royal Enfield Meteor 350 and Honda H’Ness CB350 quite extensively ever since they were launched. These two motorcycles have been compared to each other in many different aspects such as their real-world performance, highway performance, acceleration test and even their service costs.
It’s now time to compare an inherent quality of these motorcycles, something which has been a point of attraction for both these bikes- their exhaust notes. Now, Royal Enfield has always been known for its classic thump which gave it its famous recognition in a neighborhood. Does it still sound the same or does Honda stake a claim here?
A video, uploaded by Abhinav Bhatt on YouTube shows the comparison between exhaust notes of the two motorcycles. The vlogger rides both bikes individually one after another to give us an idea of what these bikes actually sound like.
While many might have heard these exhaust notes individually when tested side by side it gives us a difference in sounds of the two exhausts. Abhinav has ridden the two bikes on the same road, in the same manner, giving us a better idea at how the two bikes actually sound while riding in similar conditions. Take a look at the video below.
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Meteor 350 Exhaust Note
We already know that both are completely new bikes with brand new powertrains. Starting with Royal Enfield, this new generation 350cc engine is starkly different from the previous UCE 350 engine present. The prime difference being the use of an overhead camshaft (OHC) setup instead of a traditional pushrod setup. While the former has many benefits it dilutes, Royal Enfield’s signature ‘dug dug’ sound has been diluted which is a damper for many.
The engine is definitely quieter and refined thanks to the addition of a counter balancer shaft. This has also led to a reduction of vibrations quite considerably, therefore improved ride and handling. The exhaust note is a lot more pleasant and linear thump to it which would definitely lure young riders. Although its signature thump has not completely vanished and one can still get the same feel by the number of exhaust options offered by the company.
Honda CB350 Exhaust Note
On the other hand, Honda CB350 does remind us of an old school Royal Enfield motorcycle to some extent. It has that robust and raw thump of a retro motorcycle which older RE bikes were known for. In other words, traditional Royal Enfield lovers would like the sound of CB350 more than that of Meteor 350. However, by no means does this engine sound crude in any way and is equally refined as its nemesis.
Powertrain, Transmission Details
Meteor 350 is powered by a new 349 cc single-cylinder air-cooled engine which returns an output of 20.2 bhp at 6,100 rpm and 27 Nm of peak torque at 4,000 rpm. This unit is mated to a new 5-speed gearbox. The CB350, on the other hand, is powered by a 348.36cc, air-cooled, fuel-injected, single-cylinder engine which makes 20.8hp at 5,500rpm and 30Nm at 3,000rpm. It is paired with a 5-speed gearbox as well. More

Image – Techno Rahil
First service details of Royal Enfield Meteor 350 are out and it is one more thing for RE fanboys to cheer about

Royal Enfield recently launched ints Meteor 350 and the cruiser seems to have lived up to everybody’s expectation. Such has been its craze as per our last update within the first ten days, the Chennai-based bikemaker has received over 8000 bookings for the new generation cruiser.
Since its launch, there have been lots of content available online which have been dissecting Meteor 350’s every attribute against Honda H’Ness CB350 which is also relatively new in the market. Another major aspect of both the bikes which needs to be scrutinised are the service costs of the two retro bikes.
We have already discussed H’Ness CB350’s first service cost details in our previous report. Now, we have details of the first service of Royal Enfield Meteor 350 which might give us an insight which motorcycle is easier and less expensive to maintain and repair. In a video uploaded by Abhinav Bhatt on YouTube, he discusses each and every little detail of all the procedures and costs incurred at Meteor’s first servicing.
Meteor 350 Service Schedules
Royal Enfield had earlier claimed that Meteor 350 will be much easier and cheaper to maintain as compared to the older generation bikes. The service schedule of Meteor is similar to that of Interceptor 650. The first service is scheduled at 500 km or 6 months whoever comes earlier. The second and third services are scheduled at 5000 km or 6 months and at 10000 km or next 6 months respectively whichever comes earlier.
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Procedures Involved
In its first service, Royal Enfield replaces the engine oil. The company also recommends the owner to get his/her tappings adjusted. However, due to shortage of time, the vlogger in this video chooses to skip it.
The second service is just a normal check-up where the engine-oil is refilled in case it has been burnt up. The third one is a full service where the air filter and engine oil are replaced. Hence the engine oil and air filter are replaced every one year which helps in bringing down the cost.
One thing to point out is that Royal Enfield only dry washes the motorcycles in Delhi whereas Honda’s Big Wing’s service station does a wet wash. Interestingly, RE did not monitor the tyre pressure in the first service whereas Honda did in the case of CB350. The engine oil used by Royal Enfield is a semi-synthetic one from Liquid Gun made by Total for RE and its grade is 10W50 whereas Honda uses a semi-synthetic engine oil.
Cost of Services
Coming to service costs, since this was a free service there was no labour charge involved, however, it does cost you for the change in engine oil, air filter and other replacements. RE offers four such free services for Meteor 350 whereas Honda is offering only three for CB350. The cost of labour in Royal Enfield is Rs 850 while for Honda it is Rs 700.
The cost of Royal Enfield’s semi-synthetic engine oil for 1.7-litre capacity is Rs 576. The air filter and oil filter cost Rs 150 and Rs 95 respectively. Finally, there is the cost of the lube/cleaning kit which is Rs. 232. The service team also cleans the air filter, spark plug chain and lube the chain also.
Thus total service cost for Meteor 350 turns out to be Rs 904 excluding the labour charge. This is substantially less than CB350’s first service cost of Rs 1,469 excluding labour. On comparison of the service costs for the first two years, CB350 is much more expensive at Rs 6,607 than Meteor’s Rs 2,424 thanks to an extra free service. Therefore, we can see for ourselves that Meteor 350 is a much cheaper bike to maintain. More

Siddhartha Lal with RE Meteor 350
Royal Enfield continues to enjoy a monopoly in the 200cc to 700cc motorcycle segment in India

Rivalry in the mid-segment retro classic motorcycles has heated up quite a few notches higher in recent years. The segment which only had Royal Enfield motorcycles on offer a few years ago, now has players like Bajaj, Jawa, Honda, Suzuki, Yamaha, etc. In spite of this, Royal Enfield has a market share of over 81% in the 200cc-700cc segment motorcycles in India.
In recent years we have seen more and more new motorcycles getting launched, with the aim of eating into the market share of Royal Enfield. Apart from launching motorcycles in a similar price and engine size segment as Royal Enfield, some rivals are even launching motorcycles which look similar to Royal Enfield.
Benelli launched Imperiale 400. Mahindra formed Classic Legends to revive Jawa brand. And one of the biggest blow / surprise came from Honda Motorcycle India; when they launched the H’Ness CB350 a month and a half back. Amidst this growing competition Eicher Motors MD, Siddhartha Lal has made a frontal attack.
In an interaction with Times of India, Siddhartha has stated that “imitation and trying to copy doesn’t work”, thus taking a shot at his company’s rivals. He further added that his firm is “ten steps ahead of the market”. Royal Enfield currently retails 350cc bikes such as Bullet, Classic and Meteor, 410cc Himalayan and 650cc twins Interceptor and Continental GT.
Foreign Brands setting up JVs in India
Rivalry is set to intensify in coming years with the joint venture between American bikemaker Harley Davidson and Indian manufacturer Hero MotoCorp. The latter will develop, manufacture and sell motorcycles under the former’s brand name in India which will specifically target the mid-segment displacement bikes.
Although, this is not the only joint venture that will come in future. It is already known that Bajaj had partnered with Triumph to develop bikes under the latter’s name in the country which will be more India-specific. Both locally produced Harley and Triumph motorcycles could generate great interest in the premium bike segment.
Royal Enfield’s strong points
However, Siddhartha added that every time some other two-wheeler brand comes up with a new product in the mid-displacement segment, it has turned a habit for everyone to sound a death knell for Royal Enfield. Although he claims that the brand has the experience and expertise in sales, dealership walk-ins, after-sales and marketing which have kept the brand going strong.
In the last few years, Royal Enfield has shown a tremendous resurgence after many years of dull performance in the market which has seen a huge surge in sales thanks to its solid products on offer. The company is looking to further solidify its position in the automotive sector by launching as many as 28 new bikes in the next seven years.
It is definitely hard for any other manufacturer to displace Royal Enfield from its position in the premium motorcycle segment and the Chennai-based bikemaker in all likelihood will continue to dominate this segment. However, with strong products from rival brands at competitive prices would mean that RE will no more enjoy a clear monopoly.
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Royal Enfield Meteor 350 Launched in Thailand. Image – Vimal Sumbly
After its debut in the domestic market earlier this month, Royal Enfield Meteor 350 has been launched in Thailand

Just like India, customers in Thailand will have access to all three variants – Fireball, Stellar and Supernova. Prices are in the range of 150,000 – 159,500 Thai Baht, which is approximately 3.67 lakh to 3.90 lakh in Indian Rupee. In comparison, Meteor prices in India are Rs 1.75 lakh for Fireball, Rs 1.81 lakh for Stellar and Rs 1.90 lakh for top-spec Supernova variant.
Same as India-spec Meteor 350
Meteor 350 launched in Thailand is the same as India-spec Meteor. There are no major changes or updates. Some of the key features include round headlamp, chrome accents, broad rear fenders and tear drop shaped fuel tank, turn indicators and rear tail light. The motorcycle has a comfortable riding stance and comes with high set handle bars, forward set foot pegs and low seat height.
Royal Enfield has equipped Meteor with some unique features, one of which is Tripper Navigation. It comprises a dedicated display unit that offers turn-by-turn navigation when connected to the rider’s mobile phone. The motorcycle also comes equipped with USB charging port.
Meteor 350 gets its power from a new J series 349 cc, air-oil cooled, SOHC engine that is capable of producing max power of 20.2 hp and peak torque of 27 Nm. The transmission is a 5-speed unit.
Unlike India, where the launch of Meteor 350 was online, in Thailand launch event was on ground.
Royal Enfield exports outlook
It is to note that Thailand is an important South East Asian market for Royal Enfield. This is why the company has planned a dedicated assembly plant in the country, which will soon get operational.
Most of their products such as Classic 350, Bullet 350, Himalayan, Interceptor 650 and Continental GT 650 are also available in Thailand. Apart from South East Asia, Royal Enfield is also focusing on expanding its presence in Latin American markets. Just a few weeks back, RE announced their first assembly plant outside India, in Argentina.
As things stand now, exports by Royal Enfield are just a fraction of the company’s domestic sales. This presents both an opportunity as well as a challenge to expand presence in global markets. In October 2020, Royal Enfield exported a total of 4,033 units. Most in demand products included 650 Twins, Classic 350, Himalayan and Classic 500. In comparison, domestic sales were 62,858 units with bestsellers being Classic 350, Bullet 350 and Electra 350.
In comparison to Royal Enfield, other domestic two-wheeler manufacturers in India have much higher export numbers. If we compare in terms of quantity, companies like Bajaj, TVS, Yamaha, and Honda have higher export figures.
Royal Enfield is aware of the possibilities that exist in international markets and is actively working to increase share of exports in its overall revenue pie. In the initial phase, the company has planned to achieve 20% of total revenue from exports. More

Royal Enfield Classic 350
Royal Enfield sold a total of 62,858 motorcycles in domestic markets in October 2020, witnessing a decline of 6.93 percent

Royal Enfield, with its motorcycle range that includes the likes of the Bullet 350, Classic 350, Himalayan, Continental GT 650 and Interceptor 650, noted dip both in domestic sales and exports in October 2020.
When taking into account total sales (domestic + exports), the company sold 66,891 units in the past month, down 7 percent as against 71,964 units sold in the same month of the previous year.
Domestic sales dipped 6.93 percent to 62,858 units, down from 67,538 units sold in Oct 19 while exports dipped to 4,033 units, down 8.88 percent as against 4,426 units sold in the same month of the previous year. The company’s market share in the two wheeler segment in India stood at under 4 percent during the past month.
Classic 350 Best Selling RE
In terms of domestic sales, it was seen that the Classic 350 commanded a major chunk of total sales along with the Bullet 350 and Electra 350. Classic 350 sales increased 7.75 percent to 41,953 units in the past month, commanding a 66.74 percent share while Bullet 350 sales dipped 27.51 percent with share of 17.82 percent.
Royal Enfield Oct 2020 Domestic Sales
Electra sales also noted a significant increase of 14.11 percent to 6,405 units in Oct 20, up from 5,613 unit sold in Oct 19. The Himalayan and 650 Twins – Interceptor and Continental GT also contributed 1,791 units and 1,506 units to domestic sales.
The TB 350, Bullet 500, Classic 500 and TB500 which were on sale in the past year. But have not been on sale since BS6 was implemented in India since April 2020. However, the Classic 500 continues to be exported to global markets.
Royal Enfield Oct 2020 Exports
Where exports were concerned, it was the RE 650 Twins that noted the maximum sales despite de-growth. 1,571 units of these two bikes were exported, down 44.78 percent as against 2,845 units exported in Oct 19. There was a surge in demand for the Classic 350 with exports increasing to 906 units, up 642.62 percent over 122 units exported in the same month of the previous year. The Classic 500 noted a 67.14 percent increase in exports to 712 units, up from 426 units exported in Oct 19.
No
RE Domestic
Oct-20
Oct-19
1
Classic 350
41,953
38,936
2
Bullet 350
11,203
15,454
3
Electra 350
6,405
5,613
4
Himalayan
1,791
1,172
5
650 Twins
1,506
1,724
6
TB 350
0
4,108
7
Bullet 500
0
49
8
Classic 500
0
391
9
TB 500
0
91
–
Total
62,858
67,538
RE Meteor 350 a recent addition
Earlier this month Royal Enfield launched the new Meteor 350 in India. It is priced from Rs.1.76 lakhs and presented in three variants of Fireball, Stellar and Supernova. The Meteor 350 is positioned on a new J platform and takes the place of the new defunct Thunderbird X. It sports some similarities in its design but gets a new engine. The 350cc air cooled, single cylinder engine makes 20.2 hp power and 27 Nm torque mated to a 6 speed gearbox. More