The Cheapest Cruiser Motorcycle In America For 2023

If you’re looking to embrace the Cruiser lifestyle without spending big, Royal Enfield has got you covered with its extremely affordable Meteor 350

If you’re in the market for a brand-new cruiser motorcycle and you don’t know where to start, this single-cylinder cruiser made by Royal Enfield might tickle your fancy. It’s not the cheapest cruiser in the world, the Chinese market can lay claim to that – but if you are looking for something cheap and cheerful in the USA, this could be your bet.

This motorcycle has a rich heritage and has undergone a few re-brands and redesigns, but the essence is always the same- it’s a reliable and stylish cruiser that wouldn’t look out of place in any era. When looking for the cheapest brand-new cruiser, this motorcycle will give most big manufacturers a run for their money.

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History Of The Royal Enfield 350

Royal Enfield

A front 3/4 studio shot of a Royal Enfield Thunderbird

The Royal Enfield Meteor 350 is the fourth-generation 350 cc engine introduced by Royal Enfield since it started developing motorcycles in India. The new model replaces the Thunderbird 350, a model that is not sold in the U.S. but has been India’s top-selling cruiser over the past 20 years, according to Royal Enfield’s U.S.-India chief, Siddhartha Lal.

The Meteor 350 seems significantly inspired by the Thunderbird 350 when it comes to cosmetics, but the rest of the motorcycle sees welcome improvements for 2023. The new model is set to become the first Royal Enfield motorcycle to use the new twin-cradle platform, the J, The refinement quality – the mechanics, fittings, and trim have all been taken to new heights whilst still keeping that all-important Royal Enfield DNA intact.

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The Cheapest Cruiser On Sale Today

Royal Enfield

A city backdrop whilst a cruiser motorcycle rides past. 

The 2023 Royal Enfield Meteor 350 comes in at an MSRP of $4,699 if you choose a cheaper colorway. The bike maker has introduced some new colors to the Meteor 350 in 2023, and both the Fireball and Supernova versions see visual upgrades. The Supernova colorway will cost you almost $200 extra, however. The premium Supernova edition also now comes in “Supernova Red”. The Stellar edition features the same visuals as 2022.

The pricing is a slight increase from 2022’s Meteor 350, which can be picked up a fair bit cheaper now from a dealership and originally retailed at $4,549.

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What’s Powering This Thing?

Royal Enfield

A Fireball Red and a Stellar Black 2023 Royal Enfield Meteor 350 on the road

The Meteor 350 is powered by an all-new single-cylinder engine with a displacement of 349cc, producing 20.2 horsepower and 19.91 pound-feet of torque. This 4-stroke, 349cc, single-cylinder, oil-cooled engine provides a decent amount of torque for the weight, which is 421 lbs (190kg). Royal Enfield claims plenty of low-end torque, and the stiffer chassis contributes to improved handling.

If you just want to get on the road and put a smile on your face, this isn’t looking like a bad option. If you’re interested in comfort, the Meteor 350 comes with telescopic forks and Twin tube Emulsion shock absorbers, with the upright seating position that should make for comfortable cruising.

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Does It Come With Any Tech?

Royal Enfield

2023 Royal Enfield Meteor 350 head-on shot

The Meteor 350 comes with a Tripper navigation system as standard, a great feature for what could be considered an entry-level cruiser. This is a first for Royal Enfield, powered by Google Maps with Royal Enfield integration, this is a pretty advanced navigation system that you can connect to with Bluetooth.

There’s also a USB charging port, perfect for those longer cruises. In terms of rider-assisting technology, the Meteor 350 has dual-channel ABS which should be sufficient given the smaller power this engine outputs.

RELATED: 2014 Royal Enfield Thunderbird 350

There’s Still Competition In This Market

Honda 

Stock image of a Honda Rebel 300 Candy Diesel Red 2023 facing right on a white background. 

The battle for cheaper cruisers among motorcycle manufacturers wages on, however. The Meteor 350 is a viable contender and comes in around the cheapest, but it does face some hungry competition.

Coming slightly more expensive at $4,749 is the likes of the Honda Rebel 300, which looks like a fun ride but it doesn’t come with navigation or ABS. At a similar level is the Yamaha V-Star 250 which is a hugely popular cruiser that retailed for $4,699 in 2022. Despite the smaller engine capacity, the V-Start thumps out 21 horsepower from its V-twin engine; the bike has ABS but nowhere near the advanced navigation display of the Meteor 350.

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Should You Get One?

Royal Enfield

A Fireball Red and a Fireball Yellow 2023 Royal Enfield Meteor 350 parked in a lot

Depending on where you live, this could well be the cheapest cruiser motorcycle you can buy from a reputable manufacturer – if you were going for a brand-new motorcycle. If you want cruiser-style looks, heritage, and even sound, the Meteor 350 is probably going to tick all of those boxes. No other big manufacturers are able to compete with the technology on this bike at this level, and if you’re a commuter the navigation system is going to be extremely useful.

Maybe you’re a commuter, or an entry-level rider looking for a cheap cruiser, or maybe you simply love what this motorcycle has to offer – the price point doesn’t leave much to be desired when it comes to the modern market.