[DieselAddikt]

All of you who voted for H'ness, did you guys actually ride the Meteor ? Asking because I found the Meteor surprisingly refined (marginally) and more comfortable (by a mile) than H'ness. Did you guys feel the Honda is better ?

[ebonho]

Originally Posted by DieselAddikt

All of you who voted for H'ness, did you guys actually ride the Meteor ? Asking because I found the Meteor surprisingly refined (marginally) and more comfortable (by a mile) than H'ness. Did you guys feel the Honda is better ?

I haven't ridden either.

I voted for the Honda because of its pedigree and how it looks over the Meteor.

Also, I don't like Thunderbird looking bikes which the Meteor is a clone of.

I also don't like anything that Royal Enfield has made since the LB 500. Over more than a decade. Since 2010 when I did my last Bullet tour (Himachal) on Figgy (my LB 500). So the choice was a no brainer actually.

Its really not that complicated that you actually need to ride a bike to know whether you like it. Sometimes you just do not want to ride it. Which says a lot in my book.

The last RE I wanted to ride after the UCE (fiasco) was the Himalayan.

Cheers, Doc

[Nilesh5417]

Polls are at best a dip test of people's perceptions and moods. We have options priced from 20lakhs to 2lakhs, bikes we see by thousands on the road vs. bikes we only read of and probably many of the folks (like myself) who vote haven't ridden or taken a test ride of a single bike on the option list. So Honda basically has done something well enough to get people interested and consequently these votes (333 of only ~800). And yet, Meteor will outsell everything else on this list.

[VinNam]

I think it's really cool that the Bajaj Chetak, an electric scooter, has placed 4th in this year's polling. A sign of things to come? Of course there are limitations to India's infrastructure, but I feel a game-changer product from one of the popular names will really get things going. Hoping that day, or rather year, comes soon

[Benoit]

I drove a friend's H'ness for half a day, two weeks ago. It was wonderful. A couple of days ago he faced battery issues which he is battling with the service center 200 km away (tried recharging it. Didn't work. Couriered it to the service center now). All that apart, the ride quality and the feel & comfort I got while driving it was remarkable. I haven't driven the meteor, but I have driven the classic 350 a lot, and the electra and the thunderbird to some extent. Not really a fan of RE and the VW like maintenance overhead. In 4 years, when my cbr150r turns 8 years or when it reaches 1L km mark, I know what to buy.

[unk9ja]

Originally Posted by DieselAddikt

All of you who voted for H'ness, did you guys actually ride the Meteor ? Asking because I found the Meteor surprisingly refined (marginally) and more comfortable (by a mile) than H'ness. Did you guys feel the Honda is better ?

This was one from a close friend of mine.

Did short test rides of both bikes. CB350 felt like a Japanese answer to the Classic 350. Nice engine but steering and front end feel was way too light for me. Kinda like a toy bike to some extent. Reminded me of lightweight feel of Xpulse.

Meteor just felt like the better engineered bike. Better engine easily. RE has moved the game forwards majorly. Not a great fan of the cruiser genre but 2 thoughts kept running through my head - Meteor + 650 will be brilliant and Classic + J series engine will be a smash sales hit.

[DieselAddikt]

Originally Posted by ebonho

Sometimes you just do not want to ride it. Which says a lot in my book.

Cheers, Doc

This is true. Prior experience makes a lot of difference. And the manufacturer is to blame.

[nutcracker]

Between the Meteor and the CB350, I like the CB350 more.
I test rode them both this weekend and the last.

The CB350 feels more much more agile than the Meteor. It is more composed when cornering and hitting speed breakers.

This might be a personal take, but I like the stance of the CB350 more than the Meteor. Its more comfortable (for me) for long rides.

[IP_Man]

When I saw CB 350, it ticked all the boxes for me.

Super light clutch (assisted) and nimbleness makes it perfect bike for the city. Straight seat is easy for pillion riders especially females. Power of 350 CC and low down torque going to make it fatigue free bike for the city commutation.

Power, Honda reliability, fuel injection makes it perfect for long trip tourer. Taking it to mountains of Ladakh or north east is now possible.

In short Honda has a winner that is perfect for city as well as on highways.

[globemaster]

I am surprised/confused on the results as well like a few other BHPians.
Note: I have to agree that I was off Team-BHP for some time now.
But still, why are the Enfield 650's not even on the list? These are great bikes for sure.

[CrAzY dRiVeR]

Originally Posted by globemaster

But still, why are the Enfield 650's not even on the list?

These products were launched in 2018. Won the 2018 poll with 46% votes as well.

[papaboost]

For me its a tough choice between the Honda H'ness CB350 and the KTM 390 Adventure.

A couple of years back I would say KTM 390 Adv but today I would vote for the Honda H'ness CB350.

[ObsessedByFIAT]

Originally Posted by ebonho

I haven't ridden either.

Sometimes you just do not want to ride it. Which says a lot in my book.

The last RE I wanted to ride after the UCE (fiasco) was the Himalayan.

Cheers, Doc

Sincerely respect your honest reply!

Having met you in person in one of the previous meet ups (I think it was pawana lake meet up some pretty many years back) I have had a very positive impression of you! Your reply hasn't changed anything either!

I would, with all respect, request that you ride both the bikes (which I did after your reply that if I really wanted a bike, I can very well visit Thane and buy it), I am sure your perception about the new age RE's will change.

In any case, the Junta has already awarded BOTY to CB350, which has its own strengths. For me, RE has done something really major this time around and consider Meteor has a winner!

[ebonho]

Originally Posted by ObsessedByFIAT

Sincerely respect your honest reply!

Having met you in person in one of the previous meet ups (I think it was pawana lake meet up some pretty many years back) I have had a very positive impression of you! Your reply hasn't changed anything either!

I would, with all respect, request that you ride both the bikes (which I did after your reply that if I really wanted a bike, I can very well visit Thane and buy it), I am sure your perception about the new age RE's will change.

In any case, the Junta has already awarded BOTY to CB350, which has its own strengths. For me, RE has done something really major this time around and consider Meteor has a winner!

Wow! That meet was centuries ago man!

I think my DP here is from that meet.

I'm very happy with my Bullet and my KTM for now.

They are kindred spirits ... the KTM is the new age Bullet.

Which is why you will find many old Bulleteers riding KTMs.

And not new REs.

Cheers, Doc

[amarprusty]

EV Space - Ather 450X deserves the award being Made in India from scratch with global unique patents making it the best city riding EV

NON EV Space -

City & Adventure Hybrid Riding
Hero Impluse 200 - built from scratch

Cruiser Category
Honda 350 for reliability

Adventure Category
KTM 390