Being one of the most reputed manufacturers of tyres in India, CEAT is and has been trusted by many manufacturers to be the OEM tyre supplier for their motorcycles. We have also experienced the bankability (both literally and figuratively) of CEAT tyres firsthand. And now, the new Royal Enfiled Meteor 350 has been announced with CEAT Zoom Plus being the official tyre for all the variants of the motorcycle. Another feather in the cap and another testament to the tyre designing and manufacturing prowess of CEAT.
This is not the first time that Royal Enfield has chosen CEAT as the official tyre supplier for their motorcycles. In the past as well, CEAT has played the role of the OEM tyre supplier for models like the Bullet Standard/Electra, Classic 350/500 and even the venerable Himalayan. With the torque monsters that Royal Enfield motorcycles are, tyres play a crucial role in keeping the motorcycles glued to the tarmac.
Based on the past success of their collaboration, Royal Enfield has once again decided to go with CEAT tyres for their latest motorcycle, the Meteor 350. The Meteor 350 which comes in as a replacement for the Thunderbird X, is a cruiser with a new 349cc single-cylinder air/oil-cooled engine with 20 bhp of maximum power and 27 Nm of peak torque. The power is transmitted to the rear wheel via a 5-speed gearbox.
The Meteor 350 is based on the new J-platform and it rides on a Twin Downtube Spine Frame. The suspension system comprises of 41mm telescopic forks at the front and 6-step preload adjustment twin-tube shocks at the rear.
Despite the motorcycle being touted to be new from the ground up, the highlight is the instrument cluster which is a twin-pod semi-digital unit. The main console on the left has an analogue speedometer with a small digital display for more information. Towards the right, there is a small colour screen which can be used for turn-by-turn navigation which Royal Enfield is referring to as the Tripper Navigation feature. It can also be paired to a smartphone with Bluetooth via a dedicated app.
Being a hotly anticipated motorcycle, the Meteor 350 has a lot riding on its shoulders. And CEAT Zoom Plus tyres are poised to do well to share the burden. The Meteor 350 will be shod with a 100/90-19 Zoom Plus F at the front and 140/70-17 Zoom Plus at the rear.
The tyres are sturdy enough to be able to deal with the amount of torque on offer and still offer remarkable mileage. The tyres ensure optimum comfort and stability on long highways and therefore, will complement the character and rideability of the new Meteor 350. While the sturdy carcass ensures stability in a straight line, the profile will provide confidence while cornering.
CEAT is renowned for manufacturing tyres with excellent grip in wet conditions and the same can be said about the Zoom Plus range of tyres that graces the new Meteor 350. The tread pattern on the tyres is effective in dispelling water from the tyre surface even in the most treacherous of conditions.
With the experience that we have had with CEAT tyres in the past, we are sure that the Meteor 350 will also take advantage of the remarkable capabilities of the Zoom Plus tyres. While prior experience is a factor, we can’t wait to check out the CEAT Zoom Plus tyres on the Meteor 350.
The Royal Enfiled Meteor 250 has been launched in 3 trims which differ from each other in terms of styling and accessories. The Fireball trim is priced at INR 1.76 lakh (Ex-showroom), the Stellar variant is priced at INR 1.81 lakh (Ex-Showroom), and Supernova, which is the top-spec, is priced at INR 1.90 lakh (Ex-Showroom).
