Hitchcocks Forum

I rode a friend's 1959 Meteor Minor over the weekend. These small wheel (17") 500 twins are quite unusual, many having been altered to fit larger Connie or Super Meteor engines, or even Bullets. Consequently I've never ridden one (although I do have an engine and a frame kicking about somewhere, you know how it is...) but had read in magazine articles how nice they are supposed to be. Well, they are right, it's a cracker. Low, feels light and goes really well. Not at all like a small 700; the big Twins (even the soft tuned Meteor) have massive torque at any speed but the 500 likes revs, more like a modern twin. If anything it feels like a doubled up Crusader, not surprising as they share the same bore and stroke. Highly recommended and with the bonus that if you are short in the leg the ground is reassuringly near! Thanks for the ride John, next time your go on the Interceptor!

REgards, Mark

Mark M you may be interested in reading this:-


http://www.realclassic.co.uk/royal_enfi ... guide.html

Thanks, I have read it. My post was intended to (perhaps) interest folk who may not be aware of the existence of these sweet little bikes and prompt some more discussion, so maybe it's worked...

REgards, Mark

Hi Mark

A friend of mine recently bought a Meteor Minor and I agree, it is a very nice bike to ride and very underrated. We've done some back lane scratching with my 500 Bullet and on the straights it's off and I can't keep up. It sounds awesome and he's promised me first refusal if he ever sells.

The problem was the US market-led obsession with bigger displacements left all the UK factories' 500 twins overshadowed by the 650+ bikes, so it's no surprise that the Meteor Minor is so highly regarded in some quarters. Having owned a Tiger 750 in the late 1990's, I'm convinced that the T100A my father owned a few years previously was a nicer bike. A.

Couldn't agree with Mark more about the Meteor Minor, I've recently bought one, to replace my Connie I have reluctantly parted with, due to having a gammy right knee which was getting painful to kick over. It is a cracking bike and is more or less like kick a crusader over. And as Mark said a double Crusader.