[Nitrowing]

. Buy a 350, ride it for a year or two, and trade it in, with a pre determined value on an Interceptor when the time is right..

That's a good strategy as it would also increase the availability of 2nd hand bikes for tightwads like me!

[Morgan65]

I think the Meteor 350 is going to be a tuff sell here in the US. 350cc is just to small of bike to be successful in my opinion. As much as I love REs I have no plans on buying one. But if they pump it up to 500cc I would consider it, plastic fenders and all. Just my $.02 cents.

[AzCal Retred]

It would be interesting to know if Hitchcocks already has an Indian Meteor "Test Mule" and are working on the big bore kit...

[Morgan65]

It would be interesting to know if Hitchcocks already has an Indian Meteor "Test Mule" and are working on the big bore kit...

I wouldn’t be surprised if Hitchcocks had a big bore kit out soon for the 350 Meteor. But the only way I’d buy the Meteor is if it came from RE as a 500. Until then l’m keeping a eye out for the new twin cruiser and the KX 838.
 https://bikesquadron.com/royal-enfield-bobber-838/

[AzCal Retred]

I've seen the trade show models, but is there an actual operational, running KX838? Have you run across any road test or track shots? It looks pretty cool, but wouldn't something like a 1,000cc Interceptor parallel twin be easier to produce & market?

[Nitrowing]

838 looks really nice 

[axman88]

I've seen the trade show models, but is there an actual operational, running KX838? Have you run across any road test or track shots? It looks pretty cool, but wouldn't something like a 1,000cc Interceptor parallel twin be easier to produce & market?

The KX838 cruiser that they were showing at EICMA was just a mock up with many components including the engine block, carved out of model maker's foam.  I've read that the engine was built with help from Polaris, perhaps they supplied the cylinders and heads?  RE had a velvet rope around it at the show, so nobody could get close enough to gouge a chunk out of the engine case with their fingernail.  To me, the girder fork looked pretty sketchy, it didn't appear to have any moving elements, as constructed for the mockup.  But the display did it's job and drew MUCHO attention.  There were even articles published in the India moto press, predicting sale price and release date.  Sidhartha Lal said it was just for show, there was no plan at the time to take it into production.  I have seen no sign since, that an operating prototype or anything other than the show dummy was built, no video of engine running, no recordings of engine sound, no still shots of a development bike wearing breakup camo.

You can see the foam parts before they are sprayed in this video:  https://youtu.be/em01i-NlP94?t=54

Plans for the KX838 are discussed in this article, from 12/18, including a link to the interview with Sid Lal:  https://www.cartoq.com/waiting-for-the-royal-enfield-bobber-dont/

[Nitrowing]

Would it be so difficult for a company to make a crank&case to accept a pair of their own cylinders?
700cc, 838cc, 1000cc, 1070cc

[Paul W]

The largest market for RE, by a large margin, is in their home country and the 350 has always been very popular there. If they invested in a far larger engine size it would probably only sell in small numbers in India.

Seems to me that they are taking things very sensibly and gradually improving their reputation across the rest of the world. Let's face it - until very recently RE was seen as an enigma, a "dinosaur" brand, almost a joke outside of India. However, by sensible management they are emerging as a world brand, offering good, middle range bikes at a sensible price. Hopefully in time they will be able to expand further and be able to sell bigger bikes which appeal to those wanting more power, which probably still won't be their home market.

They have undoubtedly taken trade from Triumph, which I'm not alone as seeing as very much overpriced now. I can see them also producing something like a reasonably priced version of a modern Norton sporting twin, possibly an 850, which I think would sell very well. How about Royal Enfield "Commander" as a name.....? 

[Morgan65]

As far as I know at this point the KX 838 was a concept show bike.  But I believe it was 2018 Dallas TX motorcycle show where I saw the new Himalayan. Also the 650 GT and the Intercepter was also there as a none running bike up on a platform so no one could not set on it.  It maybe two four years but I’d be surprised if RE didn’t have some version of the KX 838 out in production. This bike is just to sexy not have to sell. I know the motor was a joint venture between RE and Polaris some time back, so they have a good start there.  I very much love the looks of this motor with the built in oil reserve right up front. The hole bike really is a work of art. I do know the final production model maybe deferent but I have to own it if and when it’s available.

[Morgan65]

I can see them also producing something like a reasonably priced version of a modern Norton sporting twin, possibly an 850, which I think would sell very well. How about Royal Enfield "Commander" as a name.....? 

The model name Commander has all ready been take buy Norton.

The Commander was a Norton motorcycle with a Wankel rotary engine.

The first Norton Wankel motorcycle was the 1987 Classic using an air-cooled engine, built as a special edition of just 100 machines. It was followed by the air-cooled Interpol 2 model.

The Commander was a liquid-cooled successor to the Interpol 2, liquid cooling being adopted for greater power and reliability. The Commander's final-drive chain was protected by a full enclosure. Some cycle parts (such as wheels, forks, switchgear, clocks & brakes) were bought-in Yamaha items from the XJ900.

Two types of Commander were built. The P52 was a single-seat model equipped for police use. The second was the dual-seat P53 civilian tourer. Both the P52 and P53 had panniers integral with their fibreglass bodywork.

[Richard230]

I wonder what it is like to find engine parts for the Norton Commander rotary nowadays?      Are there any still running? 

[Paul W]

I should have remembered that, bearing in mind that my work place is less than two miles away from the most recent Norton factory! 

[ace.cafe]

Would it be so difficult for a company to make a crank&case to accept a pair of their own cylinders?
700cc, 838cc, 1000cc, 1070cc

Carberry did it with the Double Barrel, Aniket Vardhan did it with the Musket, Norcroft did it.
It seems to be beyond the technical abilities of the Royal Enfield company, sadly.

[Karl Fenn]

Well l suppose the moral of the story is don't compare a little bike with a small one, your expectations will be dissapointing.