Is The New Classic 350 Quicker Than The Meteor 350?

Despite being powered by the same J1-349 thumper which makes an identical 20.2PS and 27Nm, the way in which the power is delivered is quite different. Royal Enfield impressed us with the eagerness with which the motor revved on the Meteor. However, to suit the Classic’s easy-going chill vibe, ignition timing was retarded amongst other minor tweaks. Plus, the Classic weighs 4kg more than the Meteor. So, it was obvious that the roadster would end up being slower than its urban cruiser counterpart.

• 2021 Royal Enfield Classic 350 Road Test Review
• Royal Enfield Meteor 350 Road Test Review
• Royal Enfield Meteor 350 - 4,500km Long Term Review

In-gear Acceleration

	2021 RE Classic 350	RE Meteor 350
30-70kmph in 3rd gear	6.97 seconds	6.46 seconds
40-80kmph in 4th gear	9.46 seconds	8.67 seconds

The same story continues here. The relaxed engine tune means there is a noticeable difference in roll-on acceleration when you ride the two bikes back to back. The Meteor’s lightness and wider bars also help it steer through traffic quicker than the Classic.

Fuel Efficiency

	2021 RE Classic 350	RE Meteor 350
City	41.55kmpl	41.88kmpl
Highway	37.77kmpl	38.77kmpl

It is pretty much even stevens as the motorcycles can cruise at 85-90kmph effortlessly. The motor has the capability to sustain triple-digit speeds as well.

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Braking

	2021 RE Classic 350	RE Meteor 350
80-0kmph	31.93m	34.01m
60-0kmph	18.01m	19.12m

The Classic finally outscores its sibling in one area and that is braking. Both motorcycles share the same braking hardware. However, we found the system on the Classic had better feedback that allowed for better brake modulation in panic braking scenarios.