[AzCal Retred]

Thanks for that! Never saw a "Goose" in the USA. Too practical I think for our crazy market segment...
https://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/model/suzu/suzuki_goose_350.htm

This may be the closest similar US available "old" machine today, about $4500. 5 speed, 25ish HP, 350 pounds.
https://www.motorcycle.com/manufacturer/genuine/2019-genuine-g400c-review.html

The Yamaha R3 is about $5K with 36 HP, 370 pounds and a 6 speed.
https://www.cycleworld.com/story/buyers-guide/2020-yamaha-yzf-r3/

[Nitrowing]

Although it's a twin (stop spitting  ) the MT-03 https://www.cycletrader.com/listing/2021-Yamaha-MT-03-5014786294 is one I seriously considered along with my most recommended beginners bike, the SV650.
I also considered the Kwak W650 (the 800 is too expensive and big) but if pushed, I'd go for the KTM RC390 - it's small, lightweight, single cylinder and has a modicum of performance.

If the H'ness arrives in the UK in large numbers, I'd probably swap put my Electra-X for a decent used one.

That G400 does look cool though!

[axman88]

This article directly compares December 2020 sales of the H'ness CB350 to the various Royal Enfield 350cc models:

https://www.rushlane.com/350cc-motorcycle-sales-dec-2020-12390920.html

Honda CB350     1564 units
RE Meteor 350    8569
RE Classic 350  39,321
RE Bullet 350   10,480
RE Electra 350    3490

Those who said that the more advanced H'Ness and/or Meteor, will crush the older, pushrod engine equipped models in sales, will have to be patient.   It appears that the India market is a very conservative one.

I do find it interesting that the Classic outsells the Bullet by an increasing margin.  The Bullet is priced almost 25% lower.  If the relatively sales of UCE 350 vs H'ness and Meteor  were to be motivated solely by price, one would expect the Bullet to outsell the Classic.  I'm having difficulty finding sales vs model breakdowns from years past, but I seem to recall the Bullet / Classic sales numbers being much closer when I first started looking at these figures a few years ago.

The one place that the Honda H'ness is outselling the RE 350s is in the export market, but these numbers are quite small, compared to RE's domestic sales:

Honda H'ness 350     510 units
RE Classic + Meteor  332

[axman88]

The 290 to 400cc market segment has a lot of players in India.  Here are some of the major alternatives that a RE Meteor 350 buyer can consider before they buy:

   Make                              CC    Power   Torque     Weight    Wheelbase   Price
Royal Enfield Meteor           349   20.1 hp  19.9 ft-lb  420.2 lb  55.1 inch  1.84 lahk
Royal Enfield UCE Classic    346    19.1       20.6         429         54.7        1.72
Honda H'ness CB350          348    20.7       22.1         399         56.7        1.86
Jawa 42                            293    26.9       19.9         378         53.9        1.84
Benelli Imperiale 400         374    20.7       21.4         410         56.7        1.89

These are only the classic, or retro styled bikes in the segment, there are many more in the same power/ capacity range if one considers more modern styles like the KTM Duke 250, and the Yamaha YZF R15.

All the machines in the list above have single cylinder engines.  All except the Jawa have long strokes and 5 speed transmissions.  All have ABS brakes.

Another thing almost every one of these bikes share in common, are that they are not sold in the USA.  As it enters, the RE Meteor will find itself in a market segment with very few contenders.

[Rick Dangerous]

Uh.....I'll take the Honda.  That thing is glorious looking, plus it's a Honda!  Probably has much smaller maintenance intervals, etc. etc.

I'm sure Royal Enfield is hoping they don't bring that to the US; and i'm sure Honda is keeping an eye on the Meteor to see how it sells.

I was checking the Honda website; not really much in the "classics" category that they sell, like nothing; which is their loss because their certainly is a market in the US.   A couple of scooters with the retro look but no real motorcycles in the classic/standard category.  Just a few ugly cruisers.

[AzCal Retred]

CB500X - a little Buck Rogers, but a nice "adventure bike" effort at 430 pounds and 50 HP. A mere $7000...

https://www.hondaprokevin.com/2021-honda-cb500x-abs-review-specs

[jez]

Nobody has mentioned what potential, or not, the Himalayan has to get through ever tighter emissions standards.
Also when you make as many units as RE what is more important is how easy and quick and cheap it is to build the motor, not trying to save  costs by modifying an existing design

[axman88]

It's encouraging to see the Meteor gaining ground in India against it's biggest competitor in the segment, which is the Royal Enfield Classic 350 UCE, along with the Bullet and Electra 350 UCEs.

Comparing the sales numbers from March to those from last December, we see the Meteor gaining a bit of ground on the UCE machines:

                            All RE 350 UCE         RE Meteor 350    (% of total RE 350)
December  2020        54,679                      8,569       (13%)
March 2021               46,301                    10,596       (18%)

Although the acceptance of Meteor is apparently increasing, the average India buyer still seems to prefer the UCE 350 machines at better than a 4:1 ratio.

We know from the India Moto press that release of a "J" (OHC 350) engined version of the Classic 350 is imminent.  It seems reasonable to expect that this will replace the UCE version.  We've also heard about the upcoming "Hunter 350", which is to be a sportier cafe / scrambler styled OHC 350.  I wonder how RE expects to handle the transition from UCE to  "J" engine.  Let's hope they don't handle it like HD did when they introduced their Revolution engine in the V-Rod, or like Coca Cola did when they introduced "new Coke".

Seems to me like a good opportunity to start raising the price of the UCE models, while introducing the J engine versions at lower margins and let demand curve economics manage the most difficult bits of customer relations.

If RE engineers have done their job well, the "J" engines, even with more performance and superior technology, should be less expensive to manufacture than UCEs anyway, due to lower labor content.

[axman88]

It took quite a while, but finally starting to see some media shootouts comparing the RE Meteor to machines that riders in the USA can actually purchase.   Like this one featuring the Honda Rebel 300:

https://www.cycleworld.com/story/motorcycle-reviews/2021-honda-rebel-300-abs-vs-2021-royal-enfield-meteor-350-comparison-test/

[Richard230]

I see that CW's Supernova has a windshield. I thought that accessory was hard to come by in the U.S. 

[zimmemr]

It took quite a while, but finally starting to see some media shootouts comparing the RE Meteor to machines that riders in the USA can actually purchase.   Like this one featuring the Honda Rebel 300:

https://www.cycleworld.com/story/motorcycle-reviews/2021-honda-rebel-300-abs-vs-2021-royal-enfield-meteor-350-comparison-test/

I'm glad to see it, once you start seeing shoot outs like this it lends the marque a lot of credibility. Even more so when it's compared to a Honda.

[axman88]

The Meteor's biggest competitor continues to be Royal Enfield's other 350 cc products, but the Meteor continues to gain market share.

                            All RE 350 UCE         RE Meteor 350    (% of total RE 350)
December  2020        54,679                      8,569       (13%)
March 2021               46,301                    10,596       (18%)
June 2021                 25,831                      8,770       (25%)

https://www.indiatoday.in/auto/bikes/story/royal-enfield-model-wise-sales-in-june-2021-classic-350-at-top-meteor-350-bullet-350-make-key-contributions-1833861-2021-07-28

Meanwhile, the Honda CB350 H'Ness remains well behind all the RE 350s in sales volume.  Honda is selling about 3-4K units per month, 18,000 total units in the first 6 months of sales, with a trajectory that does not seem to be increasing.   

https://www.rushlane.com/honda-cb350-sales-cross-18k-units-new-may-2021-price-list-12401860.html

The recall in last march probably didn't help matters.  https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/auto/bikes/honda-hness-cb350-recalled-over-faulty-transmission/articleshow/81480602.cms

Since RE elected to offer the Meteor to the USA, I wonder if that means they will also offer us the upcoming Classic 350 with the "J" engine?  What I'd like even better, would be if they decided to come out with a 500 version, and offer us that, ( and at a sweet price couldn't hurt) .

[Dexter]

I see that CW's Supernova has a windshield. I thought that accessory was hard to come by in the U.S. 

Apparently, the windshield does not meet DOT standards, possibly meaning that RE has never applied, or paid for, that certification. So all the Supernovas for RE North America have either been shipped without it, or RE NA has a whole bunch of windshields in their warehouse that they can't and won't sell. I tried to get one through them, but was told RE NA does not and will not have that part available for sale, so I ordered mine from across the pond.

[markm228]

From the ancient Hailwood Honda 250/6, 125/5 & 50cc twin to the current crop of 170 MPH out-of-the-crate Suzuki Hayabusa, Kawasaki ZX12(14?) & ??, Japan has built a long string of "affordable" giant killers. Folks still buy BMW's, Triumphs, Moto Guzzi's, Ducati's, Royal Enfields, but not for their absolute asphalt shredding prowess. I've posted pics of motorcycles equipped with aircraft radials here, but those are curiosities, not track (or street, really) worthy. India mostly buys motorcycles for practical reasons - fuel economy, longevity, ease of maintenance. Enfield has a formula that fits that model well. If it changes, then they will have to start out-Japanese-ing the Japanese. The H'ness is a shot across Enfields bow from Honda.

ACR,

In its early days, the new Triumph tried to go head to head with the Big Four in 600 cc I4 sportbikes; they failed. The bikes themselves were fine, but they didn't have the horsepower the Big Four machines had. Once they changed to the 675cc triple, they were great! They had their own, unique character; they had a lovely sound. That is to say that, after Triumph stopped trying to out Japanese the Japanese, they did better. I think RE sees that, and they won't make the same mistake.

[Richard230]

ACR,

In its early days, the new Triumph tried to go head to head with the Big Four in 600 cc I4 sportbikes; they failed. The bikes themselves were fine, but they didn't have the horsepower the Big Four machines had. Once they changed to the 675cc triple, they were great! They had their own, unique character; they had a lovely sound. That is to say that, after Triumph stopped trying to out Japanese the Japanese, they did better. I think RE sees that, and they won't make the same mistake.

BTW, wasn't Triumph talking a few years ago about producing a 250cc-class motorcycle to be sold in the Indian market in an attempt to get a piece of that action? I wonder what happened to that plan? They could have called it the Tiger Cub.