Hitchcocks Forum

My friend called round on his Meteor Minor today, fresh out of hibernation. Here it is with my Bighead Bullet, both 1959 although mines 1960 spec.




We went for a short spin today and swapped bikes, quite a contrast. The MM is really smooth and sophisticated by comparison. Even though they have the same frame they both have a very different feel. They are both very tractable and will pull from 30 in top, but the bullet has quite a bit more low to mid range grunt. The MM comes into its own at higher speeds and will keep on going when the Bullets running out of puff, but overall there's not much in it. It was good to compare two under rated classics.

If it weren't for the car in the background, this would have been the dream picture so far for this year.


What a lovely pair of RE's!

Yes should have shifted the car :-/ Both bikes should hopefully be making the epic journey down to the REOC 40th in June, along with a diesel, an EFI Woodsman and an Electra, round trip of over 500 miles, I think I'll be joining the AA!

Forget the car, a REAL nitpicker studying the photo would moan about those (very practical!) Indian centre stands... Lovely to see those two bikes together, perhaps you might get an opportunity to re-create the photo with a suitably period neutral background in June? Anyone good with Photoshop?



Going for nostalgia, car or no car...







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Adrian, you ever tried getting a bike on a Redditch stand? Even Kevin lost his, terrible things.

Yes, awful stands, but be fair Scaley, that one on Kevin is completely worn out, even Enfield stands aren't that saggy! What I don't understand is why they abandoned the up to 1953 steel centre stand. It was the same design and location but didn't wear away like Parmesan cheese!

REgards, Mark

Next time no car! The Meteor Minor still has its unworn alloy stand, put away for provenance, the Indian stands are a revelation. Often wonder why Redditch didn't really 'get' stands, the side stand spikes were also not great.

I agree Chris, and also, the 250 Crusader range didn't have a side stand at all!

REgards, Mark

Ok, different angle but no car. Its not just the camera angle, the 17 inch wheels and smaller tank of the Meteor Minor make it look a much smaller bike, although it doesn't feel any lighter to wheel around. I don't know if this one has the special light frame or not, don't know how you can tell. It has the single small lug at the front.

Chris, the "small frame" has two through fastening stud tubes on the front downtube, just like a Crusader so this one is a normal big twin frame.

REgards, Mark