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[Riggers]

Hey Norm - Have you any experience of the Meteor Minor? I believe that was a 500 twin. How did that perform I wonder? Maybe that might be a better bet than a 700. I guess it would also bolt straight in without major problems.


Tony R.

[Norm]

 Hi Tony,


      I've never read up on the Meteor Minor but I think it had a coupe of name changes from 500 Twin,Meteor Minor and something else for the last models. I'm not sure if the 500 twin performed much better than the single because the engine is quite a bit heavier and bulky. Basicly the motor cases are the same size so no changes there  but as they were not produced in large numbers and the early ones did have a few development problems along the way, as did the 700 Meteors, if someone was to  remake a motor the Super Meteor is the best one to base it on We can only dream but if nobody talks about it nothing will ever happen. Some directors of the Carberry Co would like something like this to happen, but enough interest would have to be shown for serious talks to begin. The "V" twin is not an option due the the frame alteration and engineering problems associated with this

[Norm]

 Tony,


    Just to add a bit more to the 700 saga, I have seen previously on our hosts  news/offers on the right of screen that they now have available new barrels for the Super Meteor/ Connie. They are also listing new conrods for them as well at the moment. They also list the right hand footpeg for the Twins. Only things missing is new crankcases, crank,timing cover and heads and maybe cams, not sure, all other bits are available ex stock

[simon]

I had a good long ride on a Meteor and whilst it was a lovely smooth bike for a parallel twin it wasn't vastly more powerful than my tweeked bullet. The big issue apart from brakes (the real elephant in the corner!) is the very lighweight frame with a single downtube and main tube. most modern frames are considerably more robust and whilst its a nice handling bike I think with considerably more horse power it might begin to twitch a bit. Riding a Musket would be interesting although its still probably only producing 35 to 40 bhp or there abouts.

[grunda 12]

hi alan r, the diesel engine is no more noisier than the petrol,it also comes with a lovely diesel knock ,think dumper truck!!! the conversion i did was fairly straight forward ,1st job buy your engine (ebay)then  get a spacer made for inbetween the engine an primary case o.d 160mm  i.d 75mm ,cost me £15 local eng firm,25 tooth sprocket to suit engines 1 inch output shaft ,then make your engine cradle i used various pieces of steel i had to hand,convert bullet gearbox to sealed bearings ,use a 17 tooth gearbox sprocket ,make other varios part and your in business ,if you look on our facebook site west riding of yorkshire reoc there are some photo,s on there of various stages of my conversion also some lovely pictures of grundas restoration ,from rotting pile to nato green pile all the best paul. p.s the engine has a staight shaft not tapered.10 hp yanmar clone

[Riggers]

Hi Norm - very interesting! I've been looking up some articles on Enfield twins. Classic Bike says of the Meteor Minor 'A very capable 500, usually relatively cheap to buy'. And of the Super Meteor '....the first true 100mph Enfield and a bit of an undiscovered classic gem'. It also benefitted from the stronger, later frame not used by the Indians.


What a shame the Indians didn't pick up on these bikes where the Brits left off.


As you say - we can dream!


Tony R.

[SteveH]

i know they used to put triumph twins in them hence the trifield but i can,t see the point of spending a at least a grand on a motor which may  be as bad if not worse than the one you have tacken out ,i would say that the bullet engine is probably the cheapest to rebuild how ever much damage,so i would say better the devil you know

[Graham43]

I put a Honda FT500 single engine in.  The main thing to note is that the frame down tube which was/is located between the engine and gear box may have to be shortened or modified to suit a 'modern' engine, the Honda engine was a differnet shape with the integral gearbox than the original engine.  In the end I bought a new Electra X engine.  Now getting that to work is a whole other story.

[Leon Novello]

I bought my Bullet because of its classic looks and the unique thump of the exhaust; fitting any other engine is not an option, as it would render the bike just another motorcycle without personality, and it would become a mongrel / bitzer.

[Alan R]

Hi Grunda 12 ----- thanks for all that diesel info. I've spent the majority of my working life involved with diesels in one form or another so would feel quite at home with the technology, slippery spanners etc. I've even "Googled-up" the history of YANMAR----there's a company I've not come accross before.----very interesting and a very prolific producer of a wide range of engines. Quote from their web-site------" over 5 million  units sold to date" -----  So it's the L100 with the parallel crankshaft that's the one to go for ??  What's the name of the Clone manufacturer and are they ok instead of Yanmar ???  Finally, I'm not on Facebook ( and don't want to be) can you put up a link here such that I can watch the video-read the info etc from West Riding Yorkshire REOC and Grunda ??  Best regards-------------