Honda Rebel 300 vs Royal Enfield Meteor 350: Competition Check

The upcoming Honda Rebel 300 will be going up against the Royal Enfield Meteor 350, once it is launched in India. Although both are cruiser motorcycles, they couldn’t be any more different. Here, we will be comparing the two to see how they stack up against each other:

Design

The Royal Enfield Meteor 350 has a proper retro cruiser design, with the round headlight, teardrop-shaped tank, and the generous use of chrome on the exhaust (in the Aurora and Supernova variants). The simple air-cooled engine and its cooling fins also add to this character. There’s also a windscreen available with the Aurora and Supernova variants that gives the bike the proper cruiser look.

The Honda Rebel 300, on the other hand, has a different design language. It features a neo-retro design, with the relatively compact fuel tank, chopped fender, and chunky tyres. The low-slung stance and wide handlebars also add to the cruiser’s overall appeal. The blacked-out components used also make it feel more modern than the chrome finish on the Meteor 350.

Performance

The Honda Rebel 300 is powered by the same 286cc, liquid-cooled, single-cylinder engine as the CB300R. For reference, it produces 30bhp and 27.5Nm on the CB300R, and could likely output a similar power figure on the Rebel 300.

The Royal Enfield Meteor 350 is powered by a 349cc, air-cooled, single-cylinder engine producing 20.2bhp and 27Nm. While on paper, the Honda Rebel might be the more powerful one out of the two, the riding experiences that both offer will be entirely different.

The Rebel produces most of its power and torque at the higher rev ranges, and should be better suited to highway cruising. The Meteor’s motor produces most of its power at the lower rev ranges, and should make for a torqueier riding experience. This is something retro-motorcycle enthusiasts would prefer.

Underpinnings

Both motorcycles feature a telescopic fork and twin rear shock absorbers, and roll on a 19-inch front and 17-inch rear wheel setup. The Rebel is likely to be offered only with alloy wheels, whereas the Meteor 350 comes in alloy, spoke, and tubeless spoke wheel options depending on the variant.

But the biggest changes come to the numbers, and this will impact buying decisions. Although both bikes are known for their lower seat height, the Rebel 300’s is more accessible, coming in at 680mm compared to the Meteor 350’s 765mm.

The Rebel 300 has a kerb weight of 172kg, whereas the Meteor 350 has a kerb weight of 191kg. The lower seat height and weight should make the Rebel 300 appeal more to female riders and shorter riders in general. It will also appeal to those who are looking for a lighter cruiser as well.

Features

The Royal Enfield Meteor 350 has a semi-digital instrument console, with an analogue speedometer and a digital inset for fuel level, time, gear position, trip and odometer readings. The addition of the tripper navigation module also offers turn-by-turn navigation. It also features dual-channel ABS for added safety.

The Honda Rebel 300 has a TFT console with smartphone connectivity for turn-by-turn navigation. The Rebel 300 will also get a traction control system and the E-Clutch technology, in the E-Clutch variant. The E-Clutch allows clutchless starts and gear shifts while still retaining the clutch lever for manual operation whenever required.

But for a retro-style motorcycle like the Meteor 350, given its performance, not having a traction control system isn’t a dealbreaker.

Verdict

The Honda Rebel 300 and the Royal Enfield Meteor 350 are aimed at different sets of riders. The Rebel 300, with its lighter weight and lower seat height, should offer a lower barrier of entry. It will appeal to those looking for a cruiser motorcycle that is light and has a modern look and feel to it. That said, it is yet to be seen how Honda chooses to price the Rebel 300.

The Meteor 350 is perfect for those who are looking for a proper retro-riding experience and want the iconic looks. It currently starts at Rs. 1,99,990 (ex-showroom, Chennai).