Royal Enfield To Launch More Affordable Bullet 350X

[Update: The Royal Enfield Meteor 350 has been spotted in a production-ready state. The bike is likely to replace the Thunderbird 350X. Head here for more details.]

• It will be offered in two variants: electric start and kick start 
• The Bullet 350 & Bullet 350 ES retail at Rs 1.21 lakh and Rs 1.35 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi) respectively.
• The ‘X’ model features a blacked-out theme and some cost-cutting measures.
• Aside from this, the bike remains unchanged.

Royal Enfield is reportedly working on an affordable motorcycle that would help it target a wider audience. Christened the ‘Bullet 350X,’ it has now been spotted at dealerships, hinting at an imminent launch. The bike gets a number of colour options paired with a blacked-out theme which should keep costs in check. While the brand has been tight-lipped about the bike's cost, dealerships suggest that the standard Bullet 350X will be priced at Rs  1,42,731 while the 350X ES retails at Rs 1.61 lakh (on-road, Pune). It’s ex-showroom price would be around Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000 lower. 

To put things into perspective, the Bullet 350 and the Bullet 350 ES currently retail at Rs 1.21 lakh and Rs 1.35 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi) respectively.

A closer look at the pictures reveals a square(ish) saree guard and conventional rear shock absorbers instead of the gas-charged units - features identical to the base variant! That said, Royal Enfield will be offering the bike in two variants: electric start and kick start. How do we distinguish these? Well, simply put, the standard Bullet 350X only gets part of its engine painted in black along with simple Royal Enfield stickers on the fuel tank. 

On the other hand, the slightly more premium model presumed to be the Bullet 350X ES features 3D logos and a complete black engine casing. Both the Bullet 350X models stick to blacked-out spoke wheels as opposed to alloy wheels and tubeless tyres seen on the ‘X’ variant of the Thunderbird 350. What’s also given a miss is the handmade pin-stripes on the fuel-tank and the 3D logo on the side quarter panels.

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On the mechanical front, the bikes are likely to run the same 346cc, single-cylinder motor that produces 20PS at 5,250rpm and a peak torque output of 28Nm at 4,000rpm. Single-channel ABS comes as standard.

The two-wheeler market is going through a tough time thanks to low demand, increased insurance costs and the government's push towards adoption of EVs. Royal Enfield is one such manufacturer that has been hit hard in terms of sales. Introducing a cheaper Bullet 350 would help the brand attract potential customers on a budget thereby increasing its sales.