Meteor 350 Aurora ‖ The Superlative J-series platform from Enfield...

I've had a chance to get back up to Midwest Moto to have a look at the new Royal Enfield collection. One bike that never fails to impress is the plucky little Meteor 350. We've had Fireball, Stella and Supernova and now we are treated to Aurora editions...
See this bike and others at midwestmoto.co.uk/
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[@luddite6239]

All credit to RE for managing to make such a cheap, basic, low spec machine so desirable. I love that colour scheme - it puts me in mind of the old Suzuki GS1000S from around 1980.

[@MindfulMotorcyclist]

Its such a classic looking colour scheme, it looks like a 1950's Chevrolet Bel Air with the cream. The needle on the retro gauge went off the scale on this one...

[@markxt2]

I have the Aurora green , and it's the biggest conversation magnet I've ever owned , also comes with the screen on top of what you said , what an incredible bike , I don't miss the power , it's all smiles and character, in fact I pulled up at a local post office the other day to post a parcel and the guy who runs it originally from India, literally made the cure people wait whilst he came out and took photos to send back to his family he was blown away by it, I also then had several comments from several people also impressed I absolutely love this bike

[@MindfulMotorcyclist]

I can imagine that happening with this bike. Aurora green has the eye catching colours of a 1950s Chevvy Bel Air. Its quite far removed from the standard Meteor in my opinion and worth the £1k ish price increase...

[@jonathandeeley6276]

I also have the Aurora Green. Had the Supernova Blue before and originally the Stellar Blue. It seems they have deleted the restrictor on new models. I won't bore you with the details but I was forced into a situation on a dual carriageway where I had to pin the throttle and it clocked 83mph without the speed limiter cutting in. My previous 2 bikes would cut in at an indicated 75mph. Be interested to know if yours has had the restrictor removed.🤔👍

[@crumblymal8479]

Gotta give it to Enfield they do have a fabulous colour pallet to choose from and present really well ideal for those back roads no doubts on that .Well done guys 👌👍

[@MindfulMotorcyclist]

Thanks Crumbly, appreciate the comment. I think the paint on RE is one of the best out there. It's so rich and deep, the colours are all nice as well but paint quality is up there.

[@richardjohnson3463]

Sean your style of presentation just keeps getting better and better. Relaxed and informative and at the same time interesting and confident. That was an excellent summary of the J series singles and what makes them so appealing. Looking forward to the next one. Your channel deserves at least x10 your current numbers. Keep them coming and it'll happen. All the best

[@MindfulMotorcyclist]

That's really kind Richard thank you. It's very easy to talk about the Meteor in particular as I have a strong affinity for that bike. Who knows what the future holds for the channel, but as long as I'm still having fun, then I'll keep doing it. Thank you again for the comment.

[@2wheeledwillie395]

Great video mate! 👍 looks like an incredible dealer!!

[@MindfulMotorcyclist]

It's got a lot better since I was last there for sure. Drill green or Metal Grey 😄😂😉🤷.

[@exeterrider]

Meteor riders are the best people 😊

[@MindfulMotorcyclist]

Yours is a peach! Fireball red, Stellar Blue or one of these Aurora would be my colours... I tell you what ER I'll be interested to know if you get many more viewers as they are a very very popular and well liked bike!

[@LordTarbicus9497]

They look great 👍 Nice to see you back on the patch

[@MindfulMotorcyclist]

Thank you David. Appreciate the comment.

[@markfortin8286]

That looks like a fantastic dealership, and those two-tone 350s have a great vintage look to them!

[@MindfulMotorcyclist]

Thanks Mark, it's a great place to visit and they've been very good to me letting me ride anything they've got up there no questions asked. Very grateful 🙏. The 350 aurora would be my choice of RE I expect...

[@mikehatswell3961]

Hi Shawn, the 350 meteor is without a doubt the real workhorse of the Enfield range now, it doesn’t make a song and dance about it, it just gets on with it, I love my stellar blue one it’s become my favourite bike and I’ve a couple of much bigger ones, but it’s the meteor I usually get out, all the best buddy 👍

[@MindfulMotorcyclist]

Thank you Mike for the comment. I agree about the Meteor being the workhorse. It's a lovely thing and the owners love them...

[@TheAgalmic]

Damn, if I'd known you were going to Midwest Moto I could have been there so you could buy me a tea 🙂

[@MindfulMotorcyclist]

I should be up there tomorrow Andy after lunch 😊. As for the tea 🤣🤣

[@namduran]

Great rundown on the RE range. Like you I had a brown supernova and enjoyed riding around the lanes. The engine is a peach and the quality was a big improvement on the Interceptor. Would love to pop in and have a look around but a bit too far for a days bimble 👍

[@MindfulMotorcyclist]

Thank you Nigel, yes it's about 15-20 mins from me and I'm very happy to hang around up there! The don't have Scram 411 in however, perhaps a Scram 450 is planned? Who knows!

[@-old-school-motorcyclesltd]

Love the Meteor really nice bike Sean Great video 😊😊

[@MindfulMotorcyclist]

It's hard not to love the Metwor isn't it. Such a charming little bike..

[@pmhague]

I know it's not a UK model but the Honda CB350 interestingly has the same bore and stroke as the original bullet 350: 70mm x 90mm. The Classic 350 reborn I think is 72mm x 86mm. Good to see someone else building a long stroke thumper though.

[@MindfulMotorcyclist]

It's something I would look for now, because long stroke engines do really feel different. The new Sherpa 452cc engine is long stroke no?

[@larrywade9041]

Well done video Sean & Suzie. I don't own a Royal Enfield, but I sure like the looks of them. If I were to purchase a R.E. now, it would definitely be a 350c.c.. I'd have to take them all on a demo ride & then decide which one mostly suits me. Why did you sell your brown Meteor? Have a beautiful day! Cheers!! Illinois, USA

[@MindfulMotorcyclist]

Thanks Larry for the comment. Much appreciated. I sadly sold my Meteor a bit early, I wanted to do longer trips down into Europe 1000+ miles and I wanted a bit more power. In hindsight I should have kept the Meteor and just had more patience! Thanks, Sean

[@trevortrevortsr2]

I like it however it needs to be able to do 90mph so that on the motorway it is not flat out at 70mph - maybe if they made a 500 4 valve and threw another disc on the front?

[@MindfulMotorcyclist]

They did a 500cc bullet, but iirc it was around 27hp and not much faster than this one. The new 450 sherpa engine with liquid cooling would be able to do 90mph. Let see where they fit that engine in a new lineup....

[@leegreveson]

Well... I passed my test and bought an ER6F in red/black for a little less than the price of a brand new Meteor Aurora probably 😅 My thought process being it'll be a bike that can do most things well. But should my fortunes change, (ie get a house with a garage or suitably large shed) I'd still be looking at adding a RE350 of some sort because they do have character and presence, and despite being popular sales wise, I really don't see that many out on the roads here in north Derbyshire. Maybe I will now that I'll be out more myself, if it ever stops raining that is 😮 Welcome back by the way 😎

[@MindfulMotorcyclist]

Thanks Lee, oh and you won't go wrong with an ER6! Amazing bike and it was my first big bike after passing my test too. Oh you're going to have so much fun on that Kawa 650 Twin! Congrats again!

[@leegreveson]

@@MindfulMotorcyclist Thanks Sean, it is rather "spirited" 😲

[@MindfulMotorcyclist]

Easy if you get to a junction or roundabout in the wrong gear... it'll just carry you through on the torque. Also I noticed if you need to slow down quickly I.e there's a man in a blue jumper up ahead with a camera. Then the engine braking, plus sitting up in the saddle will drop 20mph off your speed in a sec or two. It's very handy and that's before you've even applied the brakes.

[@andersbarfodsvaneskolan9378]

The enfield bikes are rather heavy for their displacement.. even the smaller hunter weighs 181kg wet.. an yamaha Vstar 250 twin weighs 147kg wet.. (though have a smaller 9.5 liter tank).. The meteor 350 at a a hefty 191kg wet,,

[@MindfulMotorcyclist]

This is true but not a concern of Meteor riders...

[@FrokieKlarth-qe3ei]

I ride the twin cylinder 650cc Interceptor. When I saw the specifications for the single cylinder 650cc Mash Six Hundred, I thought, for the price, there's got to be a catch. What do people think of Mash motorcycles?

[@MindfulMotorcyclist]

They don't sell unfortunately, sorry but that's according to the industry insider that I spoke to and anecdotally when do you see one out and about? I like the look but I've never ridden one so can't comment on the ride/quality/performance etc...

[@FrokieKlarth-qe3ei]

Thanks for that little tidbit. Where I am, I neither see many classic- nor retro bikes of any make. Found a German reviewer who says Mash bikes are of French design and built in China and that it's worth double checking everything on a new bike. Then they're good.

[@LumpyCarbs]

There were a few things that put me off when I test road the early Meteor, my plan was to customise a nearly new one which were accessible at very eroded secondhand prices. However after riding, I found it a bit small, uncomfortable and hugely under powered. On top of that the rear seat could not simply be removed as there a lot going on under it that needs hiding. I also heard the Hunter was coming at less cost and easier customisation. Then the BSA changed my plans completely. So I’m wandering why are there so many secondhand, do people get board quickly because all accessorised bike just look like clones? Who actually buys these bikes and keeps them for say more than 18 months? I certainly respect its success and VFM but never understood it. I’m also wandering why you would de-black the engine when the classic 350 exists? No disrespect and genuinely interested to know what makes it appeal to others.

[@MindfulMotorcyclist]

Thanks Lumpy for the question. I'd say the engine character beats the T400s and the BSA. It's authentic single with a long stroke. As for why they sell so well, Royal Enfield just have it together, well priced and quality finish with hosts of accessories. There are many dealers and positive owners who don't grumble and tear down the bike at every opportunity. There are younger, happy demographics supporting the brand enthusiastically. Interestingly, every time a fault is found through a warranty claim the company takes this back to HQ and redesigns the componentry. Can you imagine how constant refinement propels the quality of these bikes. Bike turnover is high because many people buy them on a whim and sell on in 12 months as it's not a big loss comparatively speaking. The UK bike market is increasingly crowded and fighting over a smaller pool of customers, some brands will inevitably die off. Royal Enfield won't be one of these. The numbers don't lie, I think their marketing is very good too, but the pricing is also just right. Imagine the BSA landed at £4,999 or £5,499.

[@LumpyCarbs]

@@MindfulMotorcyclist I guess that also makes it a great bike secondhand as a second bike and also step through.

[@Sankara561]

I've had mine 2 years. It's adequate for what I need it to do and it's very very cheap to run. I bought it nearly new for a knockdown price and now of course it's worth even less. I think about getting a bigger more expensive bike but I don't do enough miles to justify one, so in the meantime the Meteor is so cheap to run and worth so little to sell that I am sticking with it.

[@LumpyCarbs]

@@Sankara561 sounds like a plan, cheap to keep and run and a,ways there when you want it👍

[@MentatOfDune]

I loved my Meteor (Stellar Blue) but it just needed to be 40hp imo to stop it being a one trick pony for me (as a back lane bike).

[@MindfulMotorcyclist]

A Stella blue with brown seats would be my favourite colours I expect. You don't often see Stella blue ones come up for sale. Must be one of the rarer colours...

[@BobfmBali]

Hi Guys, as you know I own a Classic as well as a Meteor and the Meteor wins hands down. I enjoy the Classic but wouldn't ride the Classic doing the long distances I do.

[@MindfulMotorcyclist]

That's very interesting Bob, I've never heard someone make such a comparison between the two 350s like that. I know a few people who've owned both. I myself liked the Classic but the Meteor wins for me too.

[@Jonathan-L]

If I wasn't addicted to power, I would consider a Meatier. Did I mention that I love a good steak?

[@MindfulMotorcyclist]

😂😂😂

[@2wheeledwillie395]

1st!! 😂

[@user-sw2lv3zp6o]

Not an RE fan, although I wouldn't object to a Scram. Nick

[@MindfulMotorcyclist]

The one bike they didn't have in the showroom, perhaps a 450 scram is in the works and 411 is discontinued...

[@user-sw2lv3zp6o]

@@MindfulMotorcyclist I don't like the sound of the 450, if the Himalayan is anything to go by. Buzzier than the 411 engine.

[@jonathandeeley6276]

​@@MindfulMotorcyclist I understand that a revised Scram is due later this year. Its not going to get the new 450 engine but a reengineered version of the outgoing 411cc unit, upping the cc to 440. I'm led to belive there is going to be a 450 cc version of the HNTR. Watch this space.🤔👍

[@MindfulMotorcyclist]

Wow, a long stroke 440 cc that could be the bike to tick all the boxes!!

[@user-sw2lv3zp6o]

@@MindfulMotorcyclist I meant the 411 version. Less buzzy than the new Himalayan engine.