I use my meteor 350 as daily transport. Just over a year of use and its on 12300 thousands miles. Stored outside, never cleaned and it's showing no signs of rust. Service it myself and that's not often. Its still on all the stock parts from factory. People talk about it not being enough or power etc but what use is a high powered bike on modern roads. Glug fuel, eat through parts, high cost to even run and thats coupled with more speed cameras, worse road traffic and conditions. Royal Enfield have created a nicely styled, well priced motorcycle that in my view often outclasses even the Japanese equivalents

@economicalrides

11 ай бұрын

I totally agree with all of that Matthew, my sentiments exactly ! You've never washed it ? Cool. I always suspected that dirt protects but I just don't enjoy riding dirty bikes, so often feel compelled to wash them 🫤 Thanks Matthew. I'm glad to hear that you love and appreciate your Meteor too 👍🏻 It's a great bike for the price, pretty tough to beat really. Cheers, ER / Garry

@matthewS993

11 ай бұрын

@@economicalrides very rarely as it simply just gets dirty again after a wet ride. It gets the odd bucket and soapy water wash at the end of the month but nothing special

@RRRRefuelRideRace

3 ай бұрын

How is the chain at those mileage? Thanks for the answer.

Hit the nail on the head with everything you said. Since I purchased mine two other mates have bought them. I recently road back from Tobermory to Manchester in one day without discomfort such a comfortable bike to ride and not panicking looking for gas stations due to excellent range and mpg. I have been riding motorcycles for over 45 year's on the road and I can honestly say the meteor 350 ticks all my boxes

@economicalrides

10 ай бұрын

Hi Gary, that's great to hear ! The Meteor is certainly way more than the sum of its parts. It is such a well-rounded package. Friendly, hassle-free and above all else so enjoyable to ride. And yes, I love the range the fuel consumption and decent tank size give us too. I've just got back in from my third weekend ride after filling up weeks ago. The fuel gauge is still showing 3-2 bars ( fluctuating a bit, as usual ). I reckon I can get another ride out of that tankful before I have to fill up again. So four weekend rides on one tankful, can't complain about that ! Cheers Gary, glad you enjoyed the video 👍🏻 ER / Garry

I've got nearly 15,000kms on my Stellar version: A brilliant bike that grows on you over time. I have the RE genuine mirrors and have had zero issues. The bar end ones make the bike wider which is a problem for me because I sometimes have to squeeze it through my basement door for security when I'm away, and lane splitting is a bit trickier. We have some really bumpy roads here and I've bottomed the rear suspension a few times - quite a jolt! So would be interested in upmarket progressive springs! I strongly recommend some simple and inexpensive tuning mods: > The larger gearbox sprocket from Hitchcock's brings the practical cruising speed up a few mph to make the bike much more useful on faster highways. > Replace the standard air filter with a DNA one to improve breathing. Very simple and inexpensive. Takes ten minutes to do. > Install the Hitchcock's 'decat' conversion to improve exhaust extraction. Not sure if they sell a black version for the Fireball version. Again, this is inexpensive and can be installed in an hour. Those three mods have improved overall performance no end!

@economicalrides

11 ай бұрын

Hi there Andrew, yes, the bar end mirrors do add width, something which worried me because my garage has very limited space at the moment. I was surprised to discover that actually the bar end mirror heads end up being barely any wider than the heads of the OEM mirrors. That point of maximum width is lower down though, so that might be a problem in some cases. I am weighing up some options for a shock upgrade but before I take the plunge I want to play with the preload on the OEM ones because apparently INCREASING the preload can help ( oddly ! ). I want to try that before giving up on them. Other than that I am not really into modding, did too much of it to my old Bullet. With limited time these days I prefer to keep things stock and just ride. Thanks for your suggestions though which may be of help to others here 👍🏻 Thanks for dropping by and leaving a comment and good luck with your own Meteor ! Cheers Andrew, ER / Garry

Thanks for the tip on the bar end mirrors. I am going to check this out.

@economicalrides

11 ай бұрын

Hi there and you're welcome ! The bar end mirrors are absolutely "spot on" 😂 They really do give an excellent rear view. I'd say they give the best rear view I've ever had on any motorcycle. Just make sure that you also order the fitting kit which is sold separately. You need that to fit them NEATLY to the Meteor because originally the mirrors were an Interceptor/Continental accessory but the fitting kit allows them to be fitted to a Meteor in a slightly different way 👍🏻 Initially my dealer only ordered the mirrors and fitted them without the fitting kit. It looked terrible ! The mirrors are not cheap but honestly, I doubt that you would ever regret buying them, they are that good ! Cheers 👍🏻 ER / Garry

Fantastic review and explanation of short rides / running in terms of exhaust inner condensation.

@economicalrides

11 ай бұрын

Thanks ladyjrider, very kind of you to say so and I'm glad that you found my ramblings somewhat useful 😝👍🏻 Take care ER / Garry

Great review. Loved the ride too.

@economicalrides

11 ай бұрын

Thank you ironcast ! This is not really a review channel, I just share my experiences with the bikes that I actually own - mainly. So doing review type videos is hard work for me but I did feel as though folks needed a general update on how I feel about Buddy after two years of ownership. I'm glad you enjoyed it 👍🏻 That is a gorgeous road but quite dangerous. If you meet a car coming the other way mid-bend, you will have an accident. It's not helped by the fact that some young "lads" in cars use that road as a sort of rally stage, so drive down it far too fast and without much "imagination", if you catch my drift ! Add to that the loose rocks lying in the road and the occasional deer or mountain goat jumping down onto the road and nearly landing on your head and there is plenty of scope for your enjoyable ride to end badly. I think it's a numbers game with that road. Ride it often enough and something nasty will happen. I think I've ridden it four times now and the closest I came to disaster was when a deer jumped down onto the road right in front of me. Luckily it was just far enough in front of me that it didn't land on my head and of course I was riding slowly enough to be able to avoid it ! Thanks for watching and take care 👍🏻 ER / Garry

Really enjoyed this review, high on my list for a second bike mate!..ride safe, Mark

@economicalrides

11 ай бұрын

Hi Mark, thank you, really appreciate you saying that 👍🏻 If you have a bike for the faster roads then the Meteor really is a great second bike. Like I said at the end, it's just a great companion for enjoying the hobby side of motorcycling, the relaxation and enjoyment that riding a bike can give you. If you have nice roads near to where you live, the Meteor will put a smile on your face every time you take it out ! At the weekend I tried something to improve the ride at the rear and it really helps ! That will be the main topic of tomorrow's video. Buddy rides much better at the rear now, so even that problem is now partially resolved ! Cheers Mark, take care 👍🏻 ER / Garry

Fantastic 2 year review, every time I see Buddy I want one, have been looking at the 2nd hand Meteors at my local dealer, still on my list, just saving up. Always great to see Ruby, all the best to the both of you.

@economicalrides

11 ай бұрын

Hi Shardlake ( Ruby says "Fanks for the sossidges Shardlake. Tasty. Nice one !" ) Oh, I didn't realise that you were intending to get a Meteor. That's brilliant news ! Yes, you definitely should get one. No bike has ever made me feel the way that Buddy does. If you are prepared to slow down and just enjoy the ride and the view, then the Meteor is hard to beat ! I hope you have some decent quality road surfaces near you though. Riding through potholes is definitely best avoided on the Meteor, at least on the OEM spring/damper units. So be aware of that. But otherwise, I'm sure you'll enjoy every ride. Good luck finding a good one at the right price Shardlake 🤞 Thanks again for all your support and I look forward to hearing about your own Meteor experiences in the future ! Garry & Ruby ❤🐕

Nice for me to sit down. Relax and see a Cool video 😀 Cheers Ruby & ER 🍻

@economicalrides

11 ай бұрын

Hi William, thanks again. Glad to have entertained and relaxed you 🙂 Cheers my old mucker 🍺🍺 Garry & Ruby

Great video young man,really enjoyed it.😊

@economicalrides

11 ай бұрын

Thanks Michael, that's great to hear ! Cheers from Spain, Garry & Ruby

Excellent review 🎉

@economicalrides

11 ай бұрын

Thank you TwistedMotoGarage, I appreciate you taking the time to watch and leave such a nice comment. I did make a bit of an effort with this video, but I ran out of time to do it how I actually intended to do it. But it's nice to hear that it gets the job done. One day I will hopefully get the hang of this KZread lark 😂👍🏻 Have a great weekend ! ER / Garry & Ruby

Feel much the same way about my Classic 350. Great road you found.

@economicalrides

11 ай бұрын

Hi morrisminor, yes, the Classic 350 had a lot of similar qualities. If I hadn't ridden the Meteor first, I would have felt the same about the Classic. I don't know if it's the ergonomics or the sound but somehow the Meteor always felt a little bit more relaxed than the Classic, it made me want to ride more slowly. So ultimately I chose the Meteor as my keeper and reluctantly sold the Classic, although it was also a great bike and really did nothing wrong. It just didn't slow me down quite like the Meteor does. It's hard to put into words but the Meteor just felt like it was right for me at this moment in my life whereas the Classic was good but didn't quite give me the same feeling. I hope you continue to enjoy your Classic 350 and that it gives you many years of trouble free enjoyment 🙂 Cheers morrisminor, ER / Garry

Bonjour, complètement en accord avec cette vidéo ! J'adore ma Météor, cette moto est super et je ressens vraiment plein de choses positives en roulant !!!! j'ai 62 ans cela fait deux ans que je l'ai et c'est un régal, je la recommande vivement !!! +++

@simonchilli2088

11 ай бұрын

I'm 62 also!

@economicalrides

11 ай бұрын

Merci mon ami 👍🏻 Oui, j'adore ma Météor et c'est tout la moto dont j'ai besoin pour rouler sur route ! 🥰 🥃🥃 ER / Garry

Spot on Indeed. I have the same experience with my RE Classic 350 which has the same engine and platform. It gives so much more enjoyment when cruising on B-roads then my other ,more powerfull, bikes. BTW nice intro on your channel

@economicalrides

9 ай бұрын

Hi HD, yes, I had a Classic 350 for 13 months too and really enjoyed it but eventually wanted something for the trails so swapped it for a Himmy. If I could afford to collect motorcycles I would almost certainly buy another Classic. Unfortunately I have to be a bit sensible at times 😉 Thanks for watching and I appreciate your comments, they are spot on👍 Cheers HD ER

Another excellent review, Gary. More or less, it encapsulates everything I think about my Hntr 350 which I picked up on 1st March here in the UK. I've done about 4500 miles now and it's such a pleasure to be on. These new 350s are glorious motors with fabulous gearboxes and the economy, on mine, is still unreal ...... 115 - 120mpg!!!! Touch wood, my mirrors haven't broken ..... yet 😊, yes, they wobble a bit at certain revs and under certain load conditions but they'll do for now. By the way, your scenery, out there, is still looking stunning. All the best, Phil

@economicalrides

11 ай бұрын

Hi Phil, wow, you really are racking up the miles on that Hntr of yours ! You are obviously enjoying it. I've yet to try one but I'm sure I'd love it. A lighter, more nimble Classic 350 sounds like fun and I imagine that's pretty much what it will feel like to ride. You are right. The gearbox on both my Meteor and my Classic 350 were both so light and precise. It's a lovely engine and gearbox the J-Series. When I ride the Himalayan I do have to consciously give the gear lever a bit more of a shove than normal, just because it doesn't shift as lightly as the 350s do. It is improving with more miles but it still feels quite clunky in comparison. Yes, the scenery here is pretty amazing and I'd say we have some of the best riding roads in Spain surrounding us. I need to ride more ! Take care Phil and keep on enjoying that Hntr. All the best from Spain, Garry & Ruby

Hi Gary, thank you for your review. I bought a Meteor 350 a few months ago and I love it. I did wonder weather the bike would keep its looks so it’s good to see the quality is up to spec, although it must help living in a dry area with good roads as opposed to the south of England.

@economicalrides

10 ай бұрын

Hi Neil, nice to hear from you, thanks to you ! Obviously I try to keep my bikes dry and usually only hose them down and dry them off for cleaning. You are right, since I only ride in the dry, the main dirt here is dust ( which rinses off eventually ) and dead insects ( which require a bit more effort to remove ). My bikes are never really exposed to road salt of road grime, so obviously they have a somewhat sheltered existence compared to many other bikes. Nonetheless, plenty of UK owners are reporting the same after two years, that their Meteors still come up like new. If you keep the bike clean and dry I don't think you need to be too worried Neil, it will last very well, I'm sure ! Enjoy your Meteor Neil, it's definitely a special bike and only those of us who've ridden them will understand why ! 🙂 Overall my Meteor is definitely my favourite bike that I've ever owned. I've definitely had some of the most enjoyable rides of my life on little Buddy. He's proof that bigger and more expensive does not equal more enjoyment ! Cheers Neil and thanks again for your comment 👍🏻 Garry

Great review and video ER. Everything you say is totally correct. I have had my Meteor Supernova 1 year, and it handles brilliantly and handles all the hills int' Yorkshire Dales roads with ease and I always have a smile for every mile. Being a true Yorky it gives me 100-105 mpg so saves money!! and I am no racing snake. Cheers for all your videos, ride safe stay safe.

@economicalrides

10 ай бұрын

Hi Don, thank you, lovely to hear from you ! If you can avoid prolonged spells on fast roads the Meteor really is the most wonderful hobby motorcycle. You rarely have to put fuel in it, it won't cost you thousands in depreciation if you leave it parked in the garage for six months, it should have low wear and tear on chains, sprockets and tyres. They seem incredibly hassle-free to own, they just work when you need them to. They look smart and in no way do they look like a budget bike. And then when you go for a ride, they just remind you why you got into motorcycling in the first place ! For those of us of a certain age with a certain amount of wisdom, the Meteor ( and the Classic really ) is just a perfect hobby motorcycle. Why spend more ? If you haven't done so already and are still running the OEM shocks, make sure to try adding two clicks of preload to the shocks. It makes the rear suspension actually start working ! Quite an improvement ! You go from no suspension at the rear to "some" 😂 Check out my latest video for further details ( shameless plug ! ). Cheers Don, happy Meteoring ! Garry & Ruby

Hi Garry. You've articulated the essence of the Meteor Magic perfectly! Er, spot on! lol I just rode my Fireball 82 miles today. A Zen experience for sure. Challenging to put into words but like you said, even given its lack of performance, I believe 'Mellow Yellow' is my all-time favorite bike. Take care!

@economicalrides

11 ай бұрын

Hi Michael, thanks for that ! Yes. The Meteor is definitely more than the sum of its parts. It has some magic built in. Purring down a straight road at 55 mph is indeed a Zen experience. I spend most of my time hustling Buddy around mountain roads, which he also copes well with, but whenever I get onto the straighter roads which take me back home, that's when the relaxation really comes over me. Such a great feeling to be purring along, making good progress and enjoying the scenery with your "Buddy" or "Mellow Yellow" 🙂 Take care too Michael and thanks again ! Garry & Ruby

Alot to luv this bike. omg.. add thin bags and tote behind the sissybar and wala .. my favorite ever!

@economicalrides

8 ай бұрын

Hi Chris, yes, it really is a stunning bike and such a joy to ride. As long as you are happy at 60 mph and below, it's perfectly adequate, even two up ( you only notice the weight of the pillion on inclines really ). After over two years of ownership, no real issues apart from the mirrors disintegrating. The bike is holding up beautifully, it still looks brand new. I couldn't be happier with it. It has by far exceeded my expectations of it and it is definitely a keeper ( at least for as long as I can still get parts for it ! ). Cheers Chris. Thanks for watching and commenting ! ER.

Hagon shocks are a great upgrade fitted to my classic 350 reborn and a real game changer.

@economicalrides

11 ай бұрын

Yes. One of my viewers had some Hagon shocks made for his Meteor but post Brexit buying from the UK is as much hassle as buying from India for me 🤷‍♂️ My viewer didn’t sense much improvement with the Hagons but maybe they went too stiff on the spring ? I was certainly considering Hagon for a while but now the Endurance shocks from India are looking more attractive and they are known to improve matters. Thanks for the input Peter 👍 Cheers, Garry

Hi Garry, I agree with everything. In my opinion, there is another part that can be replaced with appreciable effect, namely the front sprocket, fitting one with 16 teeth. I have done this and the result is very good: the engine in every gear maintains lower revs, so less vibration at the same speed and less consumption. In short, a more relaxed ride. Last but not least, the negligible cost. You can watch various reports on YT. Cheers to you and Ruby from me and Arthur!

@economicalrides

11 ай бұрын

Hi Corrado ! Long time, no hear ! Say hi to Arthur for us ! Thanks for the suggestion but I really don't think gearing up the Meteor is a good option for me. More often than not I am struggling to hold fourth gear in the mountains but can just about manage it if I keep my corner speed up. If I gear up the bike I will be down to third gear, probably doing more revs and that will probably be annoying. If I still lived in Germany it might have been an option. It was mainly flat there and the roads were faster. For the roads I ride here I think gearing up is the last thing I need. I'd be more inclined to gear down to keep the engine "on the cam" in fourth gear more often, at the expense of top speed ( I never reach 100 kph here anyway, let alone 120 ! ). If you predominantly ride on mountain roads with a 70 kph limit, I don't see how gearing up the bike will be beneficial. I think I will end up stuck between third and fourth gears, where neither gear is comfortable for the engine. Correct me if I'm wrong but to me it doesn't feel as if the 350 has the guts to pull higher gearing in the mountains. I'm struggling to stay in fourth gear without the engine lugging already. I don't want to end up riding around in third gear all of the time, that would be terrible ! Cheers Corrado, love to cheeky little Arthur Garry & Ruby

@corradospagnuolo614

11 ай бұрын

@@economicalrides Hi Garry! I have actually been a little busy with health problems, now all OK. As for the increased front sprocket I agree with you, if you only ride on hill or mountain roads. In my case it is different, as I often ride on motorways or at least fast flat roads. In these cases I often reach 110/115 km/h, so I appreciate a little less revs. There are two other upgrades I'm thinking about, namely the Hitchckoc's camshaft (+30% power...) and the Powertronic Fuelx ECU, which seems to give very good performance. Assuming I win the lottery 😆. Cheers Garry, kisses to Ruby from Arthur!

@economicalrides

11 ай бұрын

@@corradospagnuolo614 Sorry to hear about your health issues which I will now grudgingly accept as a valid reason for not commenting on my recent videos 😉😂 I’m glad to hear that you are feeling better and it was lovely to hear from you and Arthur again ! Yes, I think I’d be more inclined to gear down my Meteor but then I’d probably end up riding it like a sports bike, which isn’t really what Buddy was intended for 😂 So I’ll leave him stock for now but let me know if you do have any success with further tuning. I am seriously tempted to do a shock upgrade soon though, even if buying from India is a total PITA for me. Good luck with any future mods. I think a lot of people went for the Endurance shocks based upon your experience ! Take care of each other and love to Arthur from his little Spanish girlfriend ❤️🐕 Garry & Ruby

@markymarknj

11 ай бұрын

@@economicalridesGarry, I agree with you about the gearing. I live in Pennsylvania, which has the Pocono Mountains; that is to say that my area has hilly terrain nearby. The stock gearing on my Meteor is well suited for where and how I ride. If I were to change the gearing, I'd be inclined to change the rear sprocket, as that will make for less drastic changes in a motorcycle's gearing; as a rule, it takes a three tooth change on the rear sprocket to equal one on the front.

@economicalrides

11 ай бұрын

@@markymarknj Hi Mark, it’s been a while ! Yes, Corrado agrees. Gearing up really only makes sense if you ride a lot of fast, flat roads or have made some power increasing mods to the Meteor. I find the OEM gearing to be spot on 😂 for the power the engine has and the roads I ride ! Cheers Mark 🍺🙂 Garry

Is great you have gotten the issues you were having sorted and still love the bike. It is a lovely colour too... you have looked after it well.

@economicalrides

11 ай бұрын

Thanks H-D, really appreciate you taking the time to watch this one, since I know that you are unlikely to be buying a Meteor any time soon. You just couldn't handle the power, right ? 😉😂 It has been a fantastic bike so far and the biggest thing is that it has surprised me, just HOW MUCH I like it. I bought it blind and with a big dose of fingers crossed. I'd never had a cruiser style bike before and was worried that the handling would be vague and scary. But it wasn't. I felt confident in the twisties straight away, on the ride home after picking it up. And the seating position felt perfect for me and then as the engine began to loosen up, just the sound and feel of riding around, shifting up nice and early. It just felt so right. I definitely picked the right bike at the right time ( it had to happen one day, right ? ). Whatever else I end up buying in the future, I'm as sure as I can be that Buddy will be sticking around. Well, at least until he starts causing me problems ! Cheers Pete, have a great weekend ! 👍🏻 🍺🍺 Garry & Ruby ❤🐕

@HippoDrones

11 ай бұрын

@@economicalrides I felt the same about my V7 when I got it... I traded in a 1098cc Ducati Streetfighter S for it, and went from 165bhp to 45bhp and had more fun on the V7, even on track than I ever had on the Ducati... it was a phenomenal engine on it though... mind meltingly fast!

@economicalrides

11 ай бұрын

@@HippoDrones Yeah, that Ducati does sound like a bit of a beast. Bad for the health of your licence I would imagine. Hence why I stick to RE 350s. Although that's not quite true. I have a Himalayan 411. That's my fast bike 😂 Well, it's fast enough to get me into trouble anyway ! Cheers Pete, Garry & Ruby

@HippoDrones

11 ай бұрын

@@economicalrides aye... deceptively so... you'd be doing double the limit before you even realised you were going fast!

A detailed review bro. Enjoyed. I remember you mirror problem and I am glad that you solved it. The bikes looks like brand new. I am already sure that is it gonna stay like this for a very long time. :) Cheers.

@economicalrides

3 ай бұрын

Hi RRR, long time no speak ! The Meteor is coming up to 3 years old now and has done 10k km so far. Still looks brand new :) Nobody else had self ejecting mirrors, so I am pretty sure that RE fitted some odd mirrors they managed to find somewhere, just to get my bike finished. It was an early one and the world was in the middle of the pandemic and supply crisis. In the end it didn't matter anyway because it motivated me to spend the money on the bar end mirrors, which I had always wanted anyway. They give a much better view and they look better ! Thanks mate. I hope all is well with you 🙂 Garry

@RRRRefuelRideRace

3 ай бұрын

@@economicalrides Yeah, I remember those days. I agree. Somehow they had to deliver the bike. Now, as seen, you are very happy with it and that is the most important. Waiting for some other Meteor stuff. :) Cheers bro.

Hallo Garry, freut mich das du nach zwei Jahren immer noch von der Meteor schwärmst. Ich finde sie auch richtig schön und der Motor ist einfach toll. Hätte ich nicht die körperliche Einschränkung gehabt, hätte ich meine bestimmt nie her gegeben. LG nach Spanien Stephan

@economicalrides

11 ай бұрын

Hi Stephan, ja, ich weiß, es fiel Dir nicht leicht die Meteor abzugeben. Aber Gesundheit geht vor und in deinem Fall war es leider notwendig. Du weißt ja wenigstens noch wovon ich schwärme und Du kannst deine Meteor Zeit durch meine Videos immer wieder ins Gedächtnis rufen. Aber am Ende hast Du auch das richtige Motorrad für Dich gefunden. Ich auch. Er heisst in meinem Fall "Buddy" 🥰 Jetzt muss ich nur endlich das mit den hinteren Federn/Dämpfern in Angriff nehmen. Das ist wirklich das Einzige was mich manchmal nervt. Vielleicht schaffe ich das noch dieses Jahr ? Cheers Stephan, Garry 👍🏻

Really well maintained bike cheers mate

@economicalrides

11 ай бұрын

Thanks. Actually I don’t clean it a lot, I just try not to get it dirty in the first place. But I realise that we don’t always have a choice, some folks have more choice than others 🙂 Cheers bud, ER / Garry

Thanks for a fantastic video! I've had mine for a little over 2 weeks and am in love. As you said, I'm not sure what they put into these little bikes, but they really are something special. I've ridden several different motorcycles over my 53 years, mostly mid-sized, and this is my favorite. I was concerned about the smaller engine, but I can relate with what you said about how they ease you into really relaxing and enjoying the ride. And the 80mpg is fantastic, love that too! Cheers to you, Buddy, and Ruby from Arizona, USA!

@economicalrides

10 ай бұрын

Hey thank you KW that's so kind of you ! I'm really glad that you concur with my own opinion of the little Meteor. It really is my favourite bike ever and like you, I've owned many bikes in my 37 years of continuous motorcycle ownership. With age comes wisdom ( well, it SHOULD come 😂 ) and maybe 2021 was the perfect time for me to get a 350 and not the fastest, all-singing, all-dancing crotch rocket available. The Meteor gives me at least as much pleasure as the next best bike I have owned, whilst all the while being cheap to buy and very economical on fuel. Best of all, if I keep it for a few years ( and I will ! ), I really don't need to lose any sleep over depreciation. If I had spent 12k on a bike, I'd be thinking "Well, that's 2-3k down the drain in the first year, whether I use the bike or not !". That's half a Meteor ! So yes, with the right approach these bikes make so much sense. It's funny, like you say, the Meteor in particular appears to have some magic about it. Almost everyone I have managed to convince to try one ( even if they were not remotely interested ) has come back to me and said that they "get it" ! The Meteor is such a friendly, manageable and enthusiastic travelling companion. No bells and whistles, simply everything you need to go out and just enjoy being on a motorcycle. By the way, when you get close to 2000 miles on the ODO is when these bikes really start to develop their full torque, so there should be a fair bit more grunt to come in the coming months ! Thanks for your kind donation KW and we wish you many happy miles on your own Meteor, out there in Arizona 👍🏻 Take care and cheers 🍺 Garry, Buddy, Norman & Ruby

@tf9888

4 ай бұрын

What a nice reply. Glad you’re enjoying your bike.

Having just spent the afternoon polishing the engine cases wheels and forks on my Classic 500 EFI, I am begining to see the benefit of the black parts and I am being drawn more and more to investigate these smaller bikes.

@economicalrides

11 ай бұрын

😂😂😂 Been there, done that DB ! Yes, the crackle matte black finish on the Meteor Fireball is very durable and easy to clean. It probably took me twice as long to clean my Classic 350 chrome to my satisfaction ! The 350s are great bikes and you’ll appreciate the added engine smoothness. You should definitely try to get a ride on a Meteor, Classic 350 or Hunter if you can. The fuel economy is amazing but then your Classic 500 is excellent on that front too ! Cheers DB 🍺🍺 ER

Thanks for the R E Review, it helps me make my mind up , been thinking which one to get 🤔 might just be the Meteor in Yellow .😊

@economicalrides

Ай бұрын

Hi Carl, coming up to three years with the Meteor now and I can honestly say, having had motorcycles continuously since I was 17 years old ( now 55 ), all things considered and for what I need a motorcycle for these days ( leisure only ), the Meteor is probably the best bike I ever owned. Economical, reliable and so enjoyable to take out for a quick ride. It is also low and light enough that I should still be able to ride it as I get older and my mobility inevitably diminishes. For me it is a keeper. If I manage to wear it out, I won't hesitate to buy another one ( if still available ), which is probably the highest praise you can give to any motorcycle. A Fireball in yellow was always the one to have for me. Unfortunately they recently discontinued this wonderful colour. I hope you manage to find a new old stock one or a nice second hand one. Good luck and please let me know how you yourself find it when you have one. The Meteor has something magical about it, it really does ! Cheers Carl, ER

excellent review Gary. The rear shocks would have been changed a long time ago if you lived over hear' I went down some shockers yesterday on my Classic :) Ruby is looking good on her sausages :)

@economicalrides

11 ай бұрын

Hi James, thanks, I did make a bit of an effort with this one. It was supposed to be a quick and easy video but then of course I got carried away. Still, the drinking game is fun ! Yes, I'm sure that the UK Meteor owners will have long since addressed the rear shock deficiencies. The odd time I have had to ride over a rough bit of road here, the Meteor did feel pretty brutal. I imagine it would feel like that most of the time in the UK ! Cheers James. I currently have non English speaking guests here, so I am no longer able to watch KZread all night, I have to try entertain them. So I am currently falling even further behind with my subscriptions queue but will watch whatever I can, when I can. Opportunities are a bit limited at the moment though, unfortunately. Ruby says "Hi Uncle James ! Hope you liked me video !" 🤷‍♂ Take care and love to Mrs Ainsworth and the REOC 👍🏻 Garry & Ruby

Hello there, yes you're absolutely right. I got my Meteor for just under 2 years and it's fantastic. Thanks for the tip regarding the inside the silencer corrosion,I have the same issue. I have it too on the brakes calipers. 😮

@economicalrides

11 ай бұрын

Hi Ran, yes, WD-40 on a rag, wipe it around the inside of the exhaust every time you clean the bike. The first time you do it, you can even spray a load of WD-40 in there, just to give it plenty of protection in future. Then just try to avoid short rides where the exhaust doesn't get really hot. As soon as the exhaust gets properly hot, that condensation burns off and there is no water in there to cause rust. But starting and then stopping the bike before the silencer is very hot seems to be the cause of the problem ! So avoid that if possible. I haven't seen any rust on the calipers but I am guessing that you have used your bike in the rain more than I have ? I don't think I've ever had to ride Buddy in the rain and after washing I always dry him off by hand, so no rust so far. Good luck with your Meteor Ran, it's such a special little bike. Nobody will understand that without riding one. It just has something "special" about it. Cheers, ER / Garry

@RanMachlof

11 ай бұрын

@@economicalrides thanks Gary. About the WD40, just a normal one? You know, the multi purpose one hinge locks etc?

@economicalrides

11 ай бұрын

@@RanMachlof Hi Ran, yep, I don't buy stuff specially for the bike, I'm far too "economical" for that 😂 I just used the can of the normal stuff I had in the garage. It takes a couple of goes at the beginning before the exhaust starts looking more normal. The rust ist still there but you can see it less. Just rub it around the inside and the end face of the silencer. Go for a ride. Repeat. Go for a ride. Maybe repeat again. And maybe spray a good amount in there before the first ride. You will still be able to see the rust if you look for it but from a distance the silencer no longer looks orange inside 🙂 As the WD-40 burns off and drys, the orange becomes a bit more visible again, but then I just give it another wipe and it looks fine for a while. Like I said, I "renew" the WD-40 every time I wash the bike and I am happy with how the exhaust now looks. Cheers and good luck, Garry

Thanks for the great review. I love mine with 3500 miles covered . Yes the rear suspension is a bit tough , mine has improved slightly with miles but it is poor ( I won't bother changing it ) . I added one tooth more on front sprocket and enjoy great mpg 92 worst 106 best . It is a cruiser so speed merchants this bike is not for you . I am totally in love my mine , and every ride on it is an event. I cruise at 55 and occasionally bursts of more for overtaking . 1000 miles tour of Cornwall was a breeze and just made me love my bike more . Superb.

@economicalrides

11 ай бұрын

Thanks Edward, glad you enjoyed it. Yes, the fuel economy is a big plus, like I said, mainly because I find filling up bikes to be a bit of a faff. Being able to do two or three long weekend rides on a tankful is a real bonus to me ! I'm still weighing up my options regarding the shocks. The roads here are generally good enough that I can cope with what's on there but when I do hit a bad road I am reminded just how harsh the ride at the rear really is. Interestingly I have had TWO people in the comments to this video suggesting that INCREASING the preload by two clicks actually IMPROVES the ride. I think this is something I need to try before replacing anything and I will definitely report back with my findings in a future video. Thanks Edward, take care, stay safe 👍🏻 Garry

Nice review

@economicalrides

15 күн бұрын

Thanks Kim ! Just coming up to THREE years with the Meteor now and still no issues and still absolutely loving it ! Cheers, ER.

Nice to see Buddy out and about. They, I think are gonna be a reliable bike in years to come if kept serviced. I heard of one with just over 10k miles, and Bruce of Coastrider Scotland, has over 8k on his. She looks fantastic. Away to Ullapool Wednesday and Lochcarron following day, then home, will take Bumble. But only if weather forecast to be dry. Keep up the good work, Gary. Best regards to Ruby, too.😊

@economicalrides

11 ай бұрын

Nice one Mark 👍 Glad to hear that Bumble still gets the odd run out. Hoping that the weather plays ball for you both 🤞 Thanks Mark and have a good trip 👍 Cheers buddy 🍺🍺 Garry & Ruby

@TrailHuntersThailand

10 ай бұрын

10687.5 miles total on my Fireball Yellow now... Zero issues...! She's still Looking great...🎉❤ Took her from Thailand through Laos, some pretty nasty roads but she plodded over everything... Was a 2200 km round trip... I love it...!

@economicalrides

10 ай бұрын

@@TrailHuntersThailand Hi to the artist formerly known as Crap Game 😂 Yes, the Meteor takes some beating overall. The Meteor always feels like it's up for an adventure and happy to take you along. Congratulations on 10000 trouble free miles Videotest ! I think my Buddy is likely to do just as well 👍🏻🤞 Cheers, ER / Garry

Excellent choice 4 the money!

Spot on, El Otro 😎👍🏼

@economicalrides

11 ай бұрын

😂😂😂 It was done deliberately of course 🤔 It's not something I ever normally say really. No idea what was going on the day I filmed this. But I decided to turn it into a "positive" 🥃🥃🥃🥃 Cheers Jeff 👍🏻 Love from Spain Garry & Ruby ❤🐕"Did you like me new hairdo Uncle Jeff ?"

@Saddlebags73

11 ай бұрын

Honestly wouldn’t have noticed if you hadn’t said 🙂 Very pretty, Ruby 😍 Much love from Cornwall 😎

@economicalrides

11 ай бұрын

@@Saddlebags73 ❤❤❤👅🐕

Have to agree 👍SPOT ON😎Sydney is the same age as Buddy and has been a 👍👍bike. Word of advice though do not drop it on your ankle 😱like I did. Sitting here with a ice bag on the bruise tight now.

@economicalrides

11 ай бұрын

Hi Bob, sorry to hear about your dropsie. I hope there was not too much damage to either Sydney or your ankle. Sounds pretty painful though. Wincing just imagining it 😱 I'm guessing that you didn't have boots on at the time ? That does sound nasty - eek ! Get well soon. I'm sure Sydney didn't do it on purpose ! Cheers Bob, Garry & Ruby

A nice review and round up Gary . Buddy has really excelled and still looks like new . I wonder what sort of mileage is the highest at the moment for these models ? so far . best to you and Ruby .

@economicalrides

11 ай бұрын

Hi John, thank you. Well there are quite a few Meteors out there with way more miles on them than Buddy, that I do know. I did A LOT ( for me ! ) of miles with Buddy in the first year but then the mileage started to diminish because of course I was having to share my rides with the Classic 350. I was on schedule to do about 8000km per year with the Meteor, so would have been at 16000km by now, had I not bought the Classic in the interim. But it's an interesting question. As far as I know, even the Meteors with big miles have been pretty reliable in getting there. But I will ask the community in a future Buddy video. Who knows of a Meteor with the most miles on it ? I'd be interested to hear how they are doing as the mileage and wear and tear start to increase. A fine idea for a video John, cheque is in the post ! 😛 Take care you two and thanks for posing an excellent question ! Love from Spain, Garry & Ruby ❤🐕

@davidcann8788

11 ай бұрын

I just filled up for the first time since buying it. Mostly driving in congested Bangkok, with a couple of drives out of the city. I got an impressive 32 km per litre.

@economicalrides

11 ай бұрын

@@davidcann8788 Hi David, yep, that sounds about right ! With a 17 litre tank that gives you a theoretical range of 544 km. I managed 500 km on a tankful once, just riding normally. I didn't push it any further than that because I didn't want the fuel pump running dry ( which will kill it ! ). When I filled up it took 15 L I think, so still had a couple of litres left in there ! Generally I start looking for fuel at 350 km on the trip meter but you can definitely go beyond 400 km without too much panic. Just bear in mind that on a high speed run ( 100 kph and upwards ) these bikes drink about 30% more fuel. On the motorway the fuel light tends to come on after 250 km. So just be aware of that if you are going to be riding faster somewhere where fuel stops are harder to find ! 👍🏻 Cheers David, Garry

cheers ER, i still have my meteor 350 and love it to bits for coutnryside cruising here, but for two up i need the 650, gotta muster up the pies first to buy one haha

@economicalrides

3 ай бұрын

Hi BD, haven't heard from you in a while ! Yes, for two up travelling the 350 might not cut it. As soon as you hit an uphill gradient on a motorway, two up it will struggle. But for everything else and everything I need a bike for, it still gets the job done and costs peanuts to own and run. Keep saving BD, you'll get there in the end. Buddy is coming up to 3 years old now and I still think he's awesome ! Cheers BD, Garry

Garry! Glad you still like Buddy! Damned KZread algorithm stopped telling me about your videos. I sold my Classic to buy a KTM 390 Adventure. It is a fantastic bike but I have decided that “adventure” is not something I still enjoy. I have gone through a few other bikes that just need to go. Maybe a 350 belongs in my garage again. Hi Ruby!❤

@economicalrides

10 ай бұрын

Hi Dan ! I did wonder what was going on with the KTM. I popped by your channel a few times to get an update but that didn't really help too much 😝 I think for the money you can't really go wrong with the RE 350s can you ? You might as well have one for the days when you feel like a fun little blast and can't be bothered hauling the Harley about. I strongly suspect that there will be another 350 in your garage soon. Have you actually tried the Meteor ? Since I added preload the rear ride is no longer as terrible as it previously was and potholes are best avoided on any bike anyway ! It's a really relaxing, fun bike to ride, if somewhat firm for badly surfaced roads. Of course, now there is also the Hunter which is supposed to feel very light and nimble. One of those could be a lot of fun on a country road I imagine and it would probably be very easy to live with ( and cheap to buy ). People say that it feels very much like riding one of the old British lightweight singles, you know, the 50s and 60s 250cc four stroke singles. If you are familiar with that feeling and want to be reminded of your younger days, the Hunter might really appeal to you. Good luck deciding Dan 🙂🤔 Please let me know what you end up buying ! Cheers Dan, it was great to hear from you again 👍🏻 All the best, Garry & Ruby 🐕

Allow me to say, what a beautiful looking bike! Cheers

@economicalrides

5 ай бұрын

Thanks mate. I must admit, I bought it for how it looked but I am keeping it for how it rides and how it makes me feel. An absolutely lovely little bike and after nearly three years of ownership still always a joy to behold ! Couldn't be happier with my choice ! Cheers, ER

Hello Garry. Yes I've decided to add my two penny's worth (can't think how to write that any other way 🤣). I miss the look of my Meteor in Burgundy but for me the semi cruiser riding position just didn't suit me. As you know I was sorely tempted to get hold of the engine cradle from a Classic reborn and chop it about to fit. But it would have nigh on next to impossible to get one so sensibly (🤔) I changed to my Hunter and that, as you know, suits me to a Tee. Great review as always, ER. These RE 350s in all three styles are just BRILLIANT. Cheers ER.

@economicalrides

11 ай бұрын

Thanks Peter and just so you don't feel too bad, I'll keep this reply short for you 😂 I agree, they are brilliant, the pure essence of what it is that we enjoy about motorcycling ! Hoping to watch a few videos tonight myself 🤞 Take care and have a great weekend. I hope Heather is doing well 👍🏻 Love from Spain, Garry and Ruby ❤

Very nice, real-world review of Buddy and I can honestly say Garry, that I feel the same way about my Ruby. I have no intentions of ever selling her and she is running like clockwork. I have never done short, cold starts of any motorcycle and the longest I kept any bike was a fraction under 10 years. I have never bought a motorcycle exhaust on any bike, so I agree that, getting your exhaust hot every time you start it, pays dividends. Love to Ruby from Willow Take care mate 🥃🥃 Dave & Willow🐶❤

@economicalrides

11 ай бұрын

Thanks Dave. Yes, I loved my Classic too, so I can imagine that you are in love with your Ruby in the same way. With me it was just that the Meteor came first, I wasn't really expecting to like it, I certainly had my reservations about what I'd bought and then it totally blew me away, even on the first ride after picking it up. If I had bought the Classic first, I am sure that it would have had the same effect on me, well maybe less so because I would have been expecting to love the Classic whereas with the Meteor I wasn't sure if I'd "get" the cruiser thing. But first impressions are so important. You know right away if you made the right choice. And for me I had that experience with Buddy first and although Metal Ruby was not really worse in any way, being second meant that it didn't surprise me as much as Buddy did because my expectations of the Classic were already relatively high before I rode it. It will be interesting to see how long these bikes can be made to last ! I do worry about the electronic gismos needed to make the darn things run and whether or not they will be available as spares, whenever we come to need them. I don't think the metal bits will ever be a problem. Everything seems to be very well made and finished. But those electronics.....🤔 I'm hoping to get at least ten years out of Buddy but I'm not sure if that's realistic 🤷‍♂ We'll see ! Cheers Dave and Willow 👍🏻 Stay safe ! Love from Spain ❤ Garry & Ruby

@davericketts9101

11 ай бұрын

@@economicalrides Hi Garry, I have only read comments about the 350 Meteor and seen reviews like yours. never ridden one but I am sure I would like it. The thing that wouldn`t work for me is the lower seat height and forward foot pegs but I am sure they are great bikes. That J series engine is a beauty and the sound my Classic makes, even in standard form, is music to my ears. Yep, I think it is love at first ride for whichever bike you ride first. I certainly love my Ruby and she will be a long-term riding partner for me. Yes, the electronics are the unknown but I am fairly confident, as there are now so many being sold, that RE will have to come up with an effective answer to any future problems. Weather here has been `interesting` but hopefully soon get another spell of good riding weather. Stay safe mate Love from Willow to you and Ruby Dave 👍

@economicalrides

11 ай бұрын

@@davericketts9101Thanks Dave ! I hope the weather improves for you soon ! No shortage of dry weather here now but it is a bit hot. Also I am always so busy, so not riding any more than I usually would, which is a pity. I wanted to make the most of the dry weather for as long as it lasts but now time is the big issue. Hi Willow ! ❤🐕 Cheers Dave, take care Garry & Ruby "Sossidges !"

Its a excellent starter bike imo😊

The stocks shocks are adjustable. From what I see in the video, you have them at the lowest setting. You can increase the dampening for carrying more weight by turning the toothed ring near the bottom of the shock clockwise. The toolkit that comes with the bike has a special tool for doing that.

@economicalrides

3 ай бұрын

Hi Munitia- Yes, thanks for that. Shortly after I made this video I did finally add three clicks of preload to the spring/damper units. That was over a year ago now and I made videos about how it improved the ride These units seem to stick when there is no preload on them. Add preload and they start to move properly. I am now happy enough with the factory suspension with the added preload and see no need to upgrade it. Thanks for your comment ! ER.

Hi. Last month I bought a new but manufactured in 2021 Meteor Stellar. Agree with everything you say about the bike. I found something curious about the rear suspension. It felt very firm on its standard position number one compression setting. Out of curiosity I raised it to position 3. It easier than I expected to turn with the short C spanner which made no sense such a "stiff" spring. The ride is so much better now. I can only think that the problem is with the damping and not the springs and by shortening the stroke had improved matters.

@economicalrides

11 ай бұрын

Hi Howard, thanks for that. I will give it a go if I can find an adequate C-spanner. It would make sense to do it now whilst the panniers are still off ! You may be right about the damping. I think the damping is too weak for the force needed to make the very stiff spring move in the first place. So when the spring finally does move, it probably moves all at once and the damping does a poor job of coping. I also observe that the softer part of the spring on the OEM units is at the top, whereas I would have expected it to be at the bottom (?). I notice that the Endurance Classic 500 shocks have the softer part of the spring at the bottom, a smaller spring diameter AND use gas instead of oil for damping. Since the Endurance shocks are significantly more comfortable I think the problem with the OEM shocks will stem from a combination of spring thickness, spring orientation and damping. All three things are different in the Endurance shocks, which are supposed to be significantly better. If I manage to add some preload I will definitely mention it in a future video ! I'm just wary of scratching the paint trying to do it with an inadequate spanner ! Thanks for the suggestion which Colin above has also confirmed to have helped ! Cheers Howard, Garry

@BobfmBali

11 ай бұрын

Thank you for this suggestion, I'm going to trial on my Classic and let you know 👍🤞

@economicalrides

11 ай бұрын

Thanks Howard, tried this today. Two clicks more preload. I definitely felt an improvement. Now the rear only feels AS HARD as the front ( which itself is quite hard ) instead of significantly harder. So I'm pretty sure that's not a placebo effect. Previously the rear always felt significantly harsher than the front, whereas now they feel evenly matched. There is a video about this, incoming on Tuesday. I will be sure to give both you and Colin ( who also made the same suggestion ) a mention during the video. I think you are onto something. OK. The ride is still far from plush. But it is improved and it was a free improvement. Even with the RE supplied C-Spanner it only takes five minutes to adjust both sides, so definitely worth trying for those looking to improve the rear ride of the Meteor. Cheers Howard, Garry

@BobfmBali

11 ай бұрын

Yep, I have to agree also. Rode 150km yesterday on the new settings and I felt the bike was better for it. Another suggestion if you have pannier rails on/or not on the Classic the pre load is really difficult to get to with the C spanner. I used a set of round jaw mole grips with a rag to grab the adjusting ring and it worked fine and I did not need to remove the pannier rail which I had done with the first side 👍

@economicalrides

11 ай бұрын

@@BobfmBali It's surprising but it really does help. I have a theory as to why, which I will expound in tomorrow's video on this topic 😂 There will also be sossidges at the end of course 🌭🐕 Cheers hqmpest, glad that it helped you too. We need to put this out there, starting tomorrow ! As an aside, Exeter Rider tried this on his loaner Meteor after I told him that it helps. He tried it and confirmed that he was now more or less happy with the rear suspension, much improved. So that's five people now that I know of who have confirmed that increasing the preload helps ! I think I too would have resorted to mole grips and a rag if I'd had luggage carriers in the way. I'd have been far too lazy to take them off just to test something with the preload 😇 I was pleasantly surprised by how well the C-spanner from the RE toolkit got the job done. Adjusting preload on the road would actually be a piece of cake, which surprised me ! Cheers hqmpest 👍🏻 Take care ! ER / Garry & Ruby 🐕

That’s a nice bike. 👍

@economicalrides

3 ай бұрын

Thanks Alex. Still loving it after nearly three years and 10.000km now. It's definitely a keeper ! Thanks for commenting 👍🏻 ER

I like this Re 350 Meteor😊👍👍👍

@economicalrides

10 ай бұрын

It's a great bike if you generally ride

Hi Garry, thank you for your nice video. I am getting my Meteor this coming Monday (04-22-2024) and it will be my first ever motorcycle at 68 years young. Can’t wait to live the dream. Spot on!

@economicalrides

2 ай бұрын

😂😂😂 Spot on indeed ! After this video I made a conscious effort to say that less, probably with mixed success 🤷‍♂️😂 Great news about your Meteor, I’m sure you’ll love it. Be extra careful the first few weeks and then you’ll start to gain confidence and start to really enjoy the bike. The engine won’t be making full power until it hits about 2000 miles / 3200 km so be patient with it, it will improve a lot in that time 👍 Good luck on Monday, I’m excited to hear how you get on but I’m sure you’ll find your Meteor to be absolutely spot on….oops I did it again 🤗 Cheers my friend 👍 Exciting times ! Garry & Ruby

@sellignomod83

2 ай бұрын

@@economicalrides Thank you, I will give you an update eventually. And indeed I will be extra careful. Although I haven’t ride a motorbike for the last 30 years, I am pretty sure I will gain confidence over the weeks to come. I will attend a refresh training in June, so I should be good to go. Here in Canada, we ride from mid March to mid October, whether permitting. Can’t wait, exited and at the same time anxious about riding it… Futur will tell. Cheers and best regards to you two, I really enjoy your vids. Spot on! Sellig

@economicalrides

2 ай бұрын

@@sellignomod83 Thanks Seilig ! All the best for tomorrow 🙂👍

@sellignomod83

2 ай бұрын

Hohoho what a nice ride I just had today. Love it! Stalled it a couple of times but overall I am enjoying every kilometers. Will get better as the days go by. 84km today. Yesterday just a few km since it was very cold. Spot on!

@economicalrides

2 ай бұрын

@@sellignomod83 Hi Sellig ! Brilliant news mate, delighted to hear that you are really appreciating the joy that the Meteor delivers 👍 As I mentioned, just be EXTRA careful in the first couple of weeks, particularly when moving the bike about at home. An annoying little „dropsie“ can really knock the confidence and any small damage to the bike can ruin your enjoyment of it, at least for a little while, until you realise that it’s still a brilliant bike, slightly damaged or not. But I‘m sure you’ll be fine 👍 Once you get to 3000km / 2000 miles he/she should be smoother and more torquey 😍 Take care Sellig. It sounds like your Meteor too is going to be absolutely „Spot on“ 👌😂 Now you just need to figure out a name for it…. 🙂 Cheers Sellig 👍 Garry

Almost 7k km on mine, yellow as yours, and I am very happy with the purchase. The only little issue is a tappet sound the bike developed after the 5k service that they couldn't fix after working on the engine twice already. The tappet sound is always there after a certain amount of RPM and drives me nuts.

@economicalrides

11 ай бұрын

Hi Alaowyn, so sorry to hear about your tappet problem. Something like that would REALLY ruin my enjoyment of the bike, so I can imagine that it's frustrating that nobody can sort it out for you. I hope you manage to get it sorted or better still, that it goes away again on its own 🤞 The Meteor really is such a friendly little bike. If you don't try to ride it like a multi-cylinder, it really is a rewarding and relaxing ride. Good luck with yours 👍🏻 Garry

@davesy6969

11 ай бұрын

I saw a video on KZread that said that the original gap was set at the Indian market levels, they have a very hot climate and using a slightly smaller tappet gap could be better in a cooler country.

@economicalrides

11 ай бұрын

@@davesy6969 Thanks Davesy. It sounds as though Alaowyn's dealer has had a look and presumably checked the valve clearances. If they are known to be ok, it's hard to imagine where else the noise could be coming from. It's certainly not a common issue but without hearing it for myself it's really hard to know what's causing it. As far as I am aware, UK owners who do the first valve check themselves, tend to find the exhaust valves to be too tight from the factory. This could indeed be due to the lower ambient temperature in the UK meaning that the valve is "shorter" when cold ( just think of going for a swim in the sea in winter and the effect that has on your own "valve" 😂 ) which would result in a tighter gap. If you set the gap correctly for 40C ambient in India, that gap is likely to be slightly less at 20C in the UK. So yes, it probably has to do with the ambient temperature that UK owners often find the valves set too tight from the factory. Cheers Davesy, Garry & Ruby

I would love to do a back-to-back test drive of the Classic and the Meteor as I suspect I would fit better on the Meteor. I suspect my ideal bike would be the Meteor but with mid-mounted pegs. At present RE can do no wrong and long may it continue 🤩👍

@economicalrides

11 ай бұрын

Hi CC, yes. Apart from the lack of ride comfort you'd almost certainly enjoy the Meteor too. Going from a Classic 350 on spoked wheels to the Meteor 350 on cast wheels is a BIG difference. There is no doubt that my Classic 350 rode way softer than the Meteor does. The ride quality at the rear really is the only thing I would like to improve. I do love the ergonomics of the Meteor, it fits me so well and I feel so relaxed on the bike. The low seat height also gives me more confidence that I am unlikely to drop it when moving it about on gravel at home. Trying to paddle the Classic 350 about using just the balls of my feet was a little precarious but fortunately I was still able to avoid any disasters in my time with it. Try to blag a test ride on a Meteor sometime. I can almost guarantee that you will like it but will also instantly say "need to do something about the ride quality though !" 😂 Cheers CC 👍🏻 Garry

@PhilipBallGarry

11 ай бұрын

@@economicalrides we tried all three of the 350's. The Hunter was ruled out quite quickly. The suspension seemed over firm and the riding position for the main pegs - though not exactly "sporty" was a little too far back. The Meteor was the opposite of course but along with the heel/toe shifter soon mastered. I preferred the Meteor to the Classic for the way you sit "in" the bike rather than on it. Also, as Garry has mentioned, it's a little tall for me too. I'm 5' 6" with a 29" inseam and I'm on the balls of my feet. But, the all important pillion provision was what trumped the deal with the Classic having more room and increased comfort over the Meteor. In fact, my Fiancé Kelly thinks there's actually more room than on some much bigger bikes we've owned. Good luck on your choice, definitely get a test ride. We were prepared to be underwhelmed by the 350's and this ended up being totally wrong. 👍

@economicalrides

11 ай бұрын

@@PhilipBallGarry Well of course the pillion thing is never an issue for me 😂 One of the upsides of being an unbearable human being I suppose 🤗😇 Thanks for your input. I never really consider the pillion aspect for obvious reasons 😂 Cheers Garry, Garry 😝

@TrailHuntersThailand

11 ай бұрын

I did that. Actually hired a Meteor, Hunter and a classic each for a day.. Now I loved them all... Given 99% of my driving is around town I had settled on buying a Hunter, just that tad more flickable and tiny bit more responsive... However a meteor then came up second hand at a price I couldn't ignore, 6 months and 3500 miles later I can say it's been an absolute joy.. Truth is I would have them all if I could.. Along with a Himi and a Scram.. 😂🎉

@economicalrides

11 ай бұрын

@@TrailHuntersThailand Thanks videotest7878. Yes, all of the 350s are lovely bikes and each has its own character and is perfectly suited to a certain type of riding. RE have done really well to make three bikes based on the same platform which feel so different from one another. I was late to the party because I got distracted by the Meteor launch but now that I've finally got a Himalayan I have been really impressed by it. The Swiss Army knife of motorcycles. Does everything pretty well and with the luggage fitted, extremely practical for all kinds of errands. Loving Norman so far and he is doing all of the little trips I used to use my scooter for ! Cheers 👍🏻 ER / Garry

I have had my Sportster for 25 years. I have had my Triumph Tr-6 with a hard tail and magneto for 40 years.

@economicalrides

3 ай бұрын

Sounds like you got your money's worth there then Frank 👍🏻

Hi mate . Not going to argue about the J series or the bar end mirrors. I can't comment on the model as I ride a classic. Saw a recent moan about Enfields resale value being low which for me says if you're thinking of resale value as a serious factor you may well buy a less enjoyable bike because of that factor. Bought mine as a keeper not to have for 12 months then chop it in which seems common for many bike owners. Obviously too many impulse buyers. Took 12 months of various test rides studying them and waiting to see there reliability figures prior to buying. Absolutely chuffed with Ethel . She's a peach.

@economicalrides

10 ай бұрын

Hi Track2U, yes, the resale value on these bikes is currently not great because they are cheap to buy in the first place. For 1000 EUR more, many customers would prefer to buy a brand new one rather than take a chance on a low mileage second hand one. BUT and this is the key point, they only really lose their value in the first year, possibly two. I think a low mileage three year old Meteor would sell pretty well for 2500 EUR or more in the second hand market. It's just that in the first year, 3300 EUR or so seems quite expensive when for 1000 EUR more you can get a new one. These bikes will have a depreciation sweet spot eventually but it certainly won't be in the first year or two ! If you think that 2500 EUR is a realistic price for a three year old bike, then having paid 4000 EUR for my Meteor when it was new, I would lose 1500 EUR in the first three years, so 500 EUR per year, which really isn't too bad. Keep it a fourth year and that annual loss becomes even smaller. I have traded in a Classic 350 with 3700 km on it, brand new looking and 13 months old. It cost me 5k new and I got 3600 EUR when I traded it in. I lost 1400 EUR in the first year but to be honest I expected that. The dealer does tend to have the trade-in REs stood around in his shop for a long time. When the price of entry is so low, a second hand model is just a lot less appealing with these lower end RE bikes. Buddy is definitely a keeper and the Classic was intended to be another one but then the off-road bug bit me and I decided that really a Himalayan would be of more use to me than the Classic 350. If you buy these bikes to keep or you at least manage to keep them for three years or more, suddenly the depreciation becomes a non-issue. It's bad in the first year ( still way better than with a GS 1250 though 😂 ) for the reason I described but after that it flattens off pretty quickly. Enjoy your Classic mate, loved mine. Just try to keep that speedo in the shade on sunny days !!! Cheers and thanks for your comment 👍🏻 I'm actually surprised that people are surprised that the REs, like all other motorcycles, lose a fair proportion of their value in the first year. It was forever thus !!! Garry

a great review, thank you. I have a Classic and looking to buy a second bike and struggling to decide on the Meteor or Super Meteor, whichever bike I decide on I will only be riding and touring around Europe for about 3 weeks and the UK for 5 weeks. I saw your review on the SM when you were considering the change up, and I'm struggling to decide because I just love both models 😀

@economicalrides

11 ай бұрын

Hi hqmpest, thank you, I hope this video helps you to decide. If you've seen the SuperMeteor test then you will understand that I didn't go for the SuperMeteor in the end, purely because I do not need the extra potential that bike has ( which also comes with a hefty price tag, let's not forget ). For your touring plans you might come to a different conclusion. If you are looking to do big miles per day, partially using motorways etc., then I think you will be much better off with the SuperMeteor. The Meteor is a great weekend bike. You can even go touring on one but then you need plenty of time because ideally you would pick a route which avoided having to maintain speeds of 60 mph and above ( not much fun and the Meteor. It might not even attain 60 mph solo into a headwind or up a steep hill, let alone with a ton of luggage and / or pillion on it ! ). So Meteor or SuperMeteor really depends upon your budget and the type of riding you will mainly be doing. For me the SuperMeteor was too expensive considering that it added nothing that I currently need but don't have. For my rides, the Meteor 350 has me covered. There was no need for more power, expense and weight in my case. Your case may be different though.... If you have any further questions which I may be able to help you with, feel free to ask away ! Cheers hqmpest, Garry

@BobfmBali

11 ай бұрын

@@economicalrides Garry, thank you for taking the time to reply with your thoughts. Yes, I annually have to ride from Santander to Central Portugal then down to Faro and along the Mediterranean coast before heading back to Santander. I'm looking for secondhand as I do not want to tie too much money up n this bike as I will only be riding it for around 8 weeks a year, but it is one of the main reasons for flying back from Bali.

@economicalrides

11 ай бұрын

@@BobfmBali No problem, happy to help. It's why I do this 🙂 If you can avoid motorways ( and it sounds like that is the intention ) then the Meteor 350 might be a genuine option. You'll certainly save a lot on fuel costs. I remember that the SuperMeteor supped a fair bit, the tank level went down very quickly on my test ride. A second hand Meteor is likely not to be very expensive but should be reliable. If you find that you are needing to ride more fast roads, you could probably sell it for a pretty small loss later on and get something bigger. I mean, second hand SuperMeteors are few and far between at the moment, but in 12 months time you might have more options. Second hand Meteors are cheap and readily available. If you can avoid fast roads for the most part, the Meteor 350 would be an enjoyable travel companion, I'm sure ( and an economical ride !!!!!! 😝 ). Do you go to the big bike meet in Faro ? I went there in 2011. We spent six months prepping my old Bullet 500 in the hope that it would make it to Faro and back without breaking anything. Amazingly it did but then it fell apart again soon afterwards, just to prove to me that it hadn't turned over a new leaf 😂 But the sense of achievement I felt when I made it back from Faro without breaking down was immense. Ewan and Charlie have it easy. My trip to Faro on a Bullet 500 was a proper adventure !!! Let me know if you have any further questions, happy to help 👍🏻 Garry

Hallo Garry, ich habe meine gelbe Fireball nun auch schon 2 Jahre. In der Zeit bin ich 16000 km mit ihr gefahren. Nach einer Sommertour von 2 Wochen im Erzgebirge und zurück gelegten 1400km kann ich alles bestätigen was du sagst. Meine Koffer sind noch montiert und den Touringsitz habe ich vor der Tour angebracht. Auf dem Rückweg hat sich meine Kette dermaßen gelaengt das sie ersetzt werden musste. Der Händler hat mir eine von DID montiert die länger halten soll. Wünsche dir weiterhin so viel Spaß mit Buddy. Grüße aus dem verregneten Deutschland. Robert.

@economicalrides

11 ай бұрын

Hallo Robert, es freut mich zu hören dass Du immer noch mit deiner Meteor zufrieden bist und sie auch ordentlich benutzt ! Ich hatte relativ viele Kilometer in den ersten 8 Monaten oder so und danach deutlich weniger da ich irgendwann die Classic gekauft hatte und die Kilometer ab dann teilen musste 🤷‍♂️ Aber das ist ok so. Von mir aus darf Buddy noch VIELE Jahre halten ! 🥰 Dann weiterhin viel Spaß mit deiner Meteor Robert. Es war schön wieder von Dir zu hören ! Wir haben in der Meteor beide eine super Wahl getroffen ! Cheers Robert 🍺 Garry

I still love my meteor and added a triumph Bonneville.

@economicalrides

2 ай бұрын

I totally get that. The Meteor, once it gets to you, quickly becomes a „keeper“. I really can’t imagine ever selling mine either. It will be a cracking bike when I‘m older and can’t manage anything bigger. It will almost certainly be around when that day comes ! Enjoy your lovely bikes 👍 Garry

Brill bike! Enjoying my Himalayan just got to 1300 miles.

@economicalrides

11 ай бұрын

Thanks mate 👍🏻 Yep, my Norman has just passed a 1000 miles and I'm hoping to pile on a few more soon but it is currently a bit warm and I'm also pushed for time at the moment. One of my next videos will be my Himalayan initial verdict after 1000 miles. Basically, it has all been great so far and I am enjoying the Himalayan much more than I thought I would. Himalayan PLUS Meteor is a lovely combination to have. It feels like I have every kind of riding covered now 👍🏻 Cheers and take care ! Garry

@MauriceTarantulas

11 ай бұрын

@@economicalrides Yeah I'd love the sup meteor 650 and my life is complete😂

Great review, nice to hear a fellow meteor owners view of the bike. I've had mine for 16 months and covered 12,000klms. The bike still looks brand new and runs well. I absolutley love it. The only problems I've had is the battery failed after 9 months, the dealer said it was a cheap make and suspect RE had difficulty sourcing good batteries during the pandemic. The other problem was the engine light came on at 600klm but the bike was still running perfectly so I continued riding and it went out at 1100klms and has been fine since. I also have a little rust on the inside of the exhaust but I think this is normal and nothing to worry about. I hope you have many more enjoyable rides on Buddy and I look forward to your long term review in a couple of years.

@economicalrides

11 ай бұрын

Hi Phil, thanks ! I know that RE batteries don't have the greatest reputation. I recall that there were a lot of complaints about Himalayan batteries failing within a few months, back in the day. I have all of my bikes plugged into maintenance battery chargers, which just check and top up the charge as needed. Effectively they are just doing what the bike's charge circuit does as you are riding around. I've had great success with the maintenance chargers. I went from buying two batteries per year for various bikes, to not having bought one for many years now. The battery on my scooter is ancient but it's still working fine, despite its furry terminals, which I really should clean up and lubricate someday 😂 So if you have power where you park your bike, a maintenance charger can save a lot of battery hassles, particularly when you have a prolonged spell of terrible weather and little bike usage. I just buy the cheapo ones from that famous huge online retailer. They work absolutely fine and cost about 25 quid. The engine warning light issue was a common one when the Meteor first came out. Lots of people had it but I never did. I believe the ECU light comes on when any sensor is delivering a value outside of an acceptable range. Due to the variance in these components, occasionally you would get a sensor reading more or less than the ECU deemed to be an acceptable value. Then the light would come on. In all cases I've heard of, people were able to continue riding without any issue. I imagine that RE adjusted the acceptable ranges for sensor values in the ECU software, to allow for a slightly wider variance of readings. I think RE underestimated the variance in values out in the field initially, hence loads of people getting the ECU light come on. By the time the Classic 350 came out, there were far fewer incidences of the ECU warning coming on, I suspect because the new ECU software accepted a broader range of values for certain sensor readings. In your case I suspect that you had a sensor which took a while to break in and settle down. It probably doesn't take a lot for the ECU light to be triggered. The rust inside the silencer is definitely caused by firing up the engine and then shutting it off again before the exhaust is properly hot. Then the condensation just sits there and dries out very slowly, causing the rust. If you do a few short runs to the local shops then the rust is probably inevitable. Since my rides are always quite long ( even the nearest shop is a decent ride away ) I have been able to avoid the condensation from occurring, and the rust has gotten no worse since I've figured out why it was happening. Anyway, that was a long answer, sorry ! Thanks Phil and good luck and many happy miles with your own Meteor. Yes, it's likely that there will be a 10 000 mile review in a couple of years time. I think Buddy is going to be around for.a good while yet ! Cheers Phil, Garry

@philedwards2679

11 ай бұрын

​@economicalrides, thanks for the reply Garry. I will definitely be investing in a battery tender as you recommended. 👍

@economicalrides

11 ай бұрын

@@philedwards2679 Awesome ! I can guarantee that you won’t regret it. A 20-30 EUR one does just as well as the 100+ EUR Ultimate 4 I also have. At that price you really can’t go wrong 👍 Check out my early Classic 350 „Give it the juice“ video to see a decent Amazon low cost tender option ! Cheers Phil, Garry & Ruby 🐕

@davesy6969

11 ай бұрын

@@economicalrides i found a smart charger with the desulphating option is a great investment in the long run.

@economicalrides

11 ай бұрын

@@davesy6969 I have all of my bikes on maintenance chargers these days and haven't had to buy a battery for a bike in 5-7 years, possibly even longer. I started out with an Optimate 4 but now just use the cheapo ones you can find at everybody's favourite online retailer. They cost about 25 quid but seem to just keep on working, haven't had one die on me yet. Definitely cheaper than buying new batteries every 1-2 years and of course a lot less hassle. Prior to getting kitted out with maintenance chargers one of the bikes always needed a new battery within 18 months to two years. An absolute "must have" in my book ( but only if you happen to have bike storage with power of course ! ). Cheers Davesy Garry

About the suspension part , I got the RE classic 350 nitrox suspensions REPLACED and it works like a charm I am also upset about strength of headlamps I got auxillary lights you may decide to replace headbulb altogether, also you can get the RE himayalan knuckle gaurd to save your hands from wind blast.

@economicalrides

11 ай бұрын

Thanks again. Yes, lots of people are fitting those shocks and feeling a big improvement. I have a video coming out tomorrow about the OEM shocks. Adding preload actually improved the ride significantly 🤷‍♂️ I think I will now wait a bit longer before swapping out my shocks ! Fortunately I don’t ride at night normally but the odd time that I did I found the headlight to be adequate if not brilliant. Cheers matey 👍, thanks for your input ! ER / Garry

the meteor looks it's best stock standard , without all those extras ;;; yes - ruby i agree ;;

@economicalrides

11 ай бұрын

Hi Simon, yes, it is a handsome looking bike when it's stripped naked like this, I have to agree ! I do love my panniers though, just for the practicality of not having to lug a backpack about with me. So the panniers will be returning, whenever I can get around to fitting them !!! 😝 Cheers Simon & Zen, Garry and Ruby

Enjoyed your review, am I correct in thinking your meteor is in standard trim regarding silencer and air filter, there seems to be an obsession on changing the filter and cover and the silencer on the 350s

@economicalrides

11 ай бұрын

Hi Andy, yes, spot on 😂, my bike is standard apart from the mirrors and panniers ( when fitted ). There is a bit of an obsession with high flow air filters and different exhausts but I prefer to keep my bikes as standard as possible these days. I used to do a lot of mods to my bikes but these days I prefer to just ride them really. I have also heard of quite a few Meteor owners who began to go down that route before eventually deciding that standard was best overall and putting everything back to how it was 😂 So no, I don’t expect to be making any performance mods any time soon 😂 Thanks Andy, take care 👍 ER / Garry

@RockDinosaur695

11 ай бұрын

@@economicalrides thanks Garry, totally agree with that, ride safe mate 👍

Would like to see the bike with the bags on, they are a must for me at least a top box large enough to put my helmet and riding gear in, Love the heal toe shifter, all it needs is a kick start. Not sure about the navigation system having to hook it up to your phone, not good at that kind of stuff, think I would rather have a tack and a speedometer, I still know how to read paper maps. Like the look of the classic but not the smaller gas tank. Put the a larger gas tank on the classic and would be right up my alley.

@economicalrides

8 ай бұрын

Hi Hilton, at the beginning of this video below you can see Buddy with his cases on. kzread.info/dash/bejne/q6WIpKWYqraonag.htmlsi=Opd8cFVWKY5nRIqN I went for some small, cheap universal ones and figured out a way to fit them. I didn't want them to be too big for the bike and I only need them for carrying my paperwork, some water, some waterproofs, my camera stuff etc. These cases wouldn't be any good for you because there is NO WAY you could get a helmet in them. I believe that SHAD does pannier racks and panniers for the Meteor,. Those panniers are quite big and SOME ( although not all ) helmets fit inside them. I agree that a kickstart would be nice, just for that old school vibe but having owned a Bullet 500 for many years ( with no electric start ) I quite enjoy just pressing a button to get things moving ! After a couple of software updates, the navigation system became useful. I do use it from time to time but most people have their phone mounted to the bars these days anyway, so you might as well just use that. Less of a faff. Good luck deciding. For me the Meteor is a fantastic motorcycle and I think I will be keeping it for as long as I can still get parts for it ! Cheers Hilton, ER

hi garry ive just fitted bar ends after fifteen months on mickey mouse mirrors i love them cheers mate ! bill

@economicalrides

9 ай бұрын

Hi Bill, that's brilliant news. The bar end mirrors are FANTASTIC. Such a large, vibe free view on each side. I absolutely love them. Probably the best 120 odd quid I ever spent on accessories for a bike. Glad you weren't disappointed when you got yours Bill 👍🏻 Nice one ! Cheers, Garry & Ruby

I saw a guy trouble shooting his Metior which turned out to be a bad battery but he was swapping relays with another bike and l couldn't believe how much stuff it has. Thank God and Lucas l just have a headlight and tail light with the battery on my BSA C-15 250 single. Now that is an example of a simple bike. Reliable and dependable transportation in their day. Rebuidlable forever ♾️ w/o fancy electronic tools and a degree in electronics. Today's motorcycles are a collection of government regulations on 2 wheels.😢

@economicalrides

3 ай бұрын

Indeed. But when they work, they work well. Swings and roundabouts. I've done the old bike thing and it's fine if you have the time to tinker with them. I am currently in a "ride at short notice when I can" phase of my life. I need a bike that will just work any time I have an hour to go for a ride and doesn't need any preparation at all before taking it out.

@frankmarkovcijr5459

3 ай бұрын

@@economicalrides l commuted with my Triumph Tr-6 with a hard tail and magneto, my BSA C-15 for 20 years. Maintain them properly and they are reliable and dependable transportation. I never had to do stuff to them just to go for a ride. If you had one that was neglected and abused that's different. Plus they are exempt from many of today's stupid regulations.

As someone else has said, adjusting the rear shocks up a notch or two does seem to help with the rear suspension when riding solo. I did that and found a great improvement. I'm 5' 11" and found I was leaning forward just enough to put strain on my lower back. Handlebar risers of 20mm solved that problem, they bought the handlebar up and back so that my riding posture is straighter and arm position more comfortable. Also seems to make the standard seat more comfortable on longer rides, probably because I am more upright.

@economicalrides

11 ай бұрын

Hi Colin, thanks for that. I might try to adjust the shocks now, whilst the panniers are still off. It seems like it might be worth a punt before deciding to bin them. If I do, I will report back in a future video 👍🏻 My concern is that I may not possess an adequate C-spanner for the job and I don't want to break/scratch anything ! I'll see what I can find in the garage ! Cheers Colin, Garry

@corradospagnuolo614

11 ай бұрын

@@economicalrides Hi Garry, Maybe you missed it, in the Meteor's on-board tool kit there is a special C-spanner (with extension) to adjust the preload of the shock absorbers... cheers!

@economicalrides

11 ай бұрын

@@corradospagnuolo614 Hi Corrado ! Thanks, I was aware of that one but isn’t that the one which keeps sliding off and is basically only good for scratching the paint ? I thought I heard a load of people complaining about it but I might have just dreamt it 😂 Maybe they were using their own C-spanners rather than the intended short handled one ? Maybe that was it ? So the on bike one worked for you ? Cheers you two 🍺 Garry & Ruby

@corradospagnuolo614

11 ай бұрын

@@economicalrides Hi Garry, I only used the original one, with the extension, a couple of times and it didn't give me any problems.Cheers!

@economicalrides

11 ай бұрын

@@corradospagnuolo614 Thanks Corrado, that’s good to know 👍 I will give the OEM C-spanner a go ! Cheers you two 🥃🥃 Garry & Ruby ❤️🐕

It should have hydraulic valve adjustment and belt drive. Belt drive is so much cleaner and cheaper as well. The domestic bike in India is 1/3 of the price in the UK or the USA. The only reason people in India use RE 350 for transportation is because they can't afford a car 🚗.

@economicalrides

3 ай бұрын

I agree. I do love belt drives. Such a shame that most smaller capacity bikes don't have them. I would have thought that they would have been ideal for smaller bikes ! I guess they are more expensive so cheaper bikes get fitted with the cheaper option of chain and sprockets.

@frankmarkovcijr5459

3 ай бұрын

@@economicalrides Many of the Japanese motorcycles that didn't have shaft drive had belt drive in the 1980's. Kawasaki 750&400&305 twins all had belt drive versions for $100 more than a chain drive version. Belt drive on my Sportster lasts for over 100,000 + miles. In 400,000 miles on my Sportster l would have paid more for chains, sprockets, and lube than l paid for the bike.

Nice review. No-one seems to have a bad word to say for Meteors. I'm a returning biker and there's one going for £3K at my local bike shop, sub 500mls. I suspect it's a trade in. I'm in mountainous country, love thumpers rather than screamers, and at that price, it looks a steal. Checking it out today.

@economicalrides

3 ай бұрын

Hi Niall, the ONLY bad words I have, after nearly three years and 6000 miles on mine, are in relation to the rear spring/damper units. The bikes arrive set to the lowest preload setting on the rear. Fully extended like that, the dampers seem to stick, which stops the spring from compressing, So you end up with more or less no rear suspension. Fortunately this is easily solved. Add two clicks of preload or even three and suddenly the rear springs start compressing and extending as intended ! A twin shock cruiser will never be a plush ride, because the low rear end necessitates short springs but with the preload added, the ride is acceptable to me and probably about average for this style of bike. As a returning rider, with easy access to twisty roads, I think the Meteor should be absolutely perfect for you, as long as it fits you. If you do end up buying it ( and you should, sounds like a no-brainer 😉 ) please be patient with it. Only after about 2000 miles will the engine be making full power and torque. If this one only has 500 miles on it, it won't be the real deal just yet and you might find yourself shifting down on inclines more than you would like. But it's exactly here that the J Series engine improves. Over time you notice that the bike almost made it in the same gear and eventually that it made it up the same hill in the same gear quite comfortably. So don't write it off as gutless or slow until it has a good 2000 miles on it. Mine will now climb over a mountain pass in top gear without me having to carry crazy speed in the bends. Previously, even when scraping the pegs to keep the speed up, it would run out of puff and I would have to drop down to fourth. So be patient with it. If you rarely ride above 60 mph and the bike fits your body shape, I can't think of a better bike for your return to motorcycling. At the price of this one you're looking at, you are saving a decent amount for a practically new bike. You can spend the money that you're saving on some decent riding gear and you'll be all set for years to come. Good luck Niall. Please let me know how you get on 👍🏻 All the best, Garry & Ruby

@niallwildwoode7373

3 ай бұрын

​@@economicalrides Thanks for the advice. Unfortunately when I nipped into town, the bike shop's closed for Easter hols....doh! Should have checked first. I've already got most of my bike gear, on the 'Field Of Dreams' misquote "if I buy them, it will come". I got the mileage wrong BTW, - it's done even less, at 146mls, so maybe ex-demo. I'm already looking at bar-end mirrors, removing the pillion seat to install canvas panniers, and getting rid of the screen. I'm old school, don't intend to carry passengers and want to remove/trim down extraneous fluff. I'll definitely monitor engine run-in and tweek the stock rear suspension as you've suggested. Cheers, mate👍, Niall

@economicalrides

3 ай бұрын

@@niallwildwoode7373 Hi Niall, just to mention that the Meteor is not really suited to single seat conversion. The rear pad attaches to an ugly bracket which is welded to the rear mudguard. So if you remove the pillion pad, you get to look at the ugly seat bracket the whole time. I believe that there is a rear rack which covers the bracket up somewhat, but it's always there and can't be removed. So if that's important to you, check out all available single seat mods first. There might be a kit out there but it will be a big job to get a tidy single seat conversion. They remedied this on the Classic 350 by attaching the pillion seat to a separate subframe rather than directly to the rear mudguard ! Yes, it's Easter, hadn't you heard ? 😉😝 Cheers Niall, Garry

My grandson wants one..

@economicalrides

6 ай бұрын

Hi Morris, I would certainly recommend one, wholeheartedly, as I hope that this video conveys. Judging by the comments to this video, lots of folks feel the same way about this lovely little bike. If it’s going to be his first bike, then it’s definitely a great choice 👍 If you have any specific questions I didn’t answer in this video, just get back to me and I will try to help you further. Cheers Morris and Happy New Year 🥳 ER

On your way home, is that a one way road? Where is all the traffic? That looks so peaceful.

@economicalrides

11 ай бұрын

It’s not one way but if something is coming the other way mid-bend you will probably have an accident. It’s the sort of road where you hope not to meet oncoming traffic 😝 For this reason I classify it as a dangerous road but nine times put of ten you’ll probably make it down without incident 🤞 This road for me is the definition of “a numbers game“ 😱 Cheers Bobby 🥃🥃 ER

I've been trying to choose between the Meteor 350 and the SuperMeteor 650. Your love for the 350 makes it even harder for me to decide on which one would be right for me. My wife has rode with me for over 300,000 miles, but due to battleing cancer eight times she might not be able to ride with me anymore. If she can't ride with me the 350 would give me something to ride once in a while. However if she can, sometime in the furure ride with me again I think I'd like the Super Meteor 650. I just can't make up my mind. I like them both. There is a RE dealership 100 miles North of where I live. I guess I'm going to have to make a trip there to sit on both the Meteor 350 and the Super Meteor 650 and maybe take each one out for a drive to make up my mind. Thanks fpr the video. Ride safe and enjoy every journey.

@economicalrides

3 ай бұрын

Hi Gene and thanks for your wonderful comment. Well, I might have some good news for you. If where you live it is not extremely hilly or mountainous, the Meteor 350 will cope surprisingly well with a pillion passenger. The only time you notice that there is a passenger aboard is when you have to go up a steep incline. Otherwise you barely notice at all. Because the engine was designed to make good power and torque at low revs, it copes really well with the weight of a pillion passenger ! Just be sure to give the engine 2000 miles before passing your verdict on it. The 350s can feel a bit asthmatic in the beginning but once the engine is fully run in, that's when you notice how torquey that engine can be. Based on what you've told me about your use case, I would only recommend the 650 if you are going to be doing a lot of high speed miles, i.e. 60 mph and above. For anything up to 60 mph the 350 has you ( and potentially your pillion ) covered and is a lot cheaper and easier to heave around. If you can get a test ride on both bikes, then of course that is the best idea. We all have different tastes. But I suspect that you will find that the Meteor 350 is easier to deal with and if your wife feels up to it, it will happily transport her on the pillion pad if required 🙂 Good luck choosing your bike Gene. If I can help you to decide in any way, then feel free to just ask away. Cheers Gene, Garry & Ruby

@genegoodwin8925

3 ай бұрын

@@economicalrides Thank you for your opinion on the two bikes. The Meteor 350 is just about half the cost of the Super Meteor 650. I can buy a 2023 left over Meteor 350 Supernova with the windscreen and passenger backrest for $3999. Where the Celestial blue Super Meteor with a windscreen and passenger backrest is $7499. I do live in SE Ohio where it is hilly, but not really mountains, just hills and valleys and beautiful scenery. I live just across the Ohio River from West Virginia with all of its beauty and not too far from Kentucky. I thank God often for putting me here where there are so many beautiful motorcycles roads to travel. After reading your reply I think I'm leaning more toward the Meteor 350. There is just something about the charm of a single cylinder motorcycle, especailly one that has enough torque and is geared right. Thanks again.

@economicalrides

3 ай бұрын

@@genegoodwin8925 Yes Gene, the gearing on the Meteor is spot on, it is never between gears even though it only has a five speed gearbox and a small capacity engine. And I agree with regards to engine character. That 350 single is so much more satisfying than the 650 twin in my opinion. It is a soulful engine and it suits the lazy cruising vibe perfectly. Please do let me know which one you end up getting but I think that as long as your performance expectations are realistic, the Meteor 350 will be just perfect for you ! 👍🏻

@genegoodwin8925

2 ай бұрын

@@economicalrides If I buy the 350 I might order a air box cover from HItchcocks which will improce the air flow. It is suppose to add close to two horsepower and it is very inexpensive. I also might play with the gearing by changing the front spocket. I've read where some have went to a larger front spocket but that would gear it higher and would have less power at highway speeds. So I might go one tooth smaller to increase the power at highway speeds and live with a slightly higher rpm. As long as the 350 can cruise at 60 to 65 mph I'll be happy with it. I'm too OLD to go any faster any way.

@economicalrides

2 ай бұрын

@@genegoodwin8925 Hi Gene, personally I wouldn't mess with the gearing because it seems to have been really well chosen to match the engine performance in all situations. Some have gone one tooth higher at the front, just to drop the revs at 60 mph a bit when they are riding on highways. Trouble is of course, that then becomes a nuisance when you are riding in the mountains. So it's all a matter of where you spend most time riding really. I've also heard mixed reports about changing the air box and filter- It seems to affect fuel consumption, smoothness and noise negatively. But if 2 HP is important to you, it might be worth trying. If it's non-destructive you can always go back to stock, as many who tried it have done. Personally I see little point in trying to tune the 350 engine. I love the smoothness and economy that it has from the factory and however much I mess with it, it's never going to be powerful, so I just take it as it is. Cheers Gene, Garry

change your rear suspension setting to it's tighest setting and it will be an instant improvement for your rear suspension. What is happening is that the coil is soft and the dampener is firm in the default setting - so, while the coil is flexing, the dampener is kicking it back harder making it unpleasant. Changing the setting to it's tightest setting makes the Coil and dampener's tensions match and that results in a better response - no need to change your rear suspension - trust me, that would improve it for you. As such you have more or less decided to change the rear suspensions - just go ahead and give it a try - no harm in trying it out.

@economicalrides

6 ай бұрын

Hi there, no, actually, shortly after this there are videos where I added preload to the rear suspension and found that it massively improved the ride ( as you say ). So since then I have decided that the OEM shocks are good enough and I will not be changing them. Thanks for your advice though and you are right. Adding preload enables the suspension to actually start moving as intended !!! Cheers, ER.

So the only real weakness is the rear suspension, but there's not a lot you can do with only 3 inches of travel (when sitting on the bike), unless you go with high-quality (and expensive) shocks. I ran into the same annoyance with my '11 Bonneville's meager rear suspension; I replaced the shocks with some fairly-good ones, but the problem with sharp bumps transmitted directly to the spine, remained.

@economicalrides

5 ай бұрын

Hi Ken, yes, with this style of bike ( twin shock cruiser ) rear travel is going to be limited which more or less obligates stiff springs and dampers. However, with the Meteor I subsequently discovered that adding three clicks of preload to the factory setting actually got the rear suspension working properly. It seems as though the damper units tend to stick in the fully extended position which then stops the spring from compressing. By compressing the spring with the added preload, it seems to push the damper further up its stroke to where it no longer sticks. This enables the spring to compress when needed and the damper to damp properly. The ride at the rear is still firm but now it's about the same as at the front and not three times stiffer like it was previously. Previously the rear units were not really moving at all, the bike was basically a hardtail. I would say that for this style of bike the rear ride with the OEM shocks is now absolutely acceptable, although as you say, somewhat compromised by the limited stroke available. Cheers Ken, Garry

Bought mine in January this year, had no issues the the stock mirrors, all clear. We always ride 2 up, often with luggage, thinking about a bigger engine model, but it is a great bike for everything except 2 up on mountain roads.

@economicalrides

11 ай бұрын

Yep, two up up a mountain would be a struggle. Fortunately nobody likes me, so I get to always ride on my own 😂 Cheers CS 👍🏻 ER

@allanb52

11 ай бұрын

@@economicalrides I understand, like you I wish I had born rich, instead of just handsome and intelligent. Seriously you need to get a bird, nothing better than riding 2 up with a nice gal's legs wrapped around your waste. If you are not a narcissist you'll find a better class of woman...Back to bikes.....thinking of the 650...or just take it steady on the hills. Doing the Mae Hong Song Loop again this year, Google it, or KZread.

@economicalrides

11 ай бұрын

@@allanb52 😂 I think the Super Meteor 650 would suit you well for your two up riding. It does feel very different to the 350 ergonomically though. Not as nice IMO, so don't expect it to feel the same, because it won't. But definitely far more capable for two up riding and maintaining a speed up hills ! Thanks for the relationship advice Cosmo, most kind 😝👍🏻 I have Ruby, my dog. She keeps me on my toes and keeps me busy 🐕 Unfortunately I have no time for anything more high maintenance than that 🤗 Cheers buddy, good luck deciding. The Meteor 350 will certainly do for now, as you have demonstrated, but I suspect that you would really appreciate the extra power of the Super Meteor 650. Just make sure that you and your pillion both sit on one before buying because the ergonomics are completely different and obviously it's not a cheap purchase ! ER

@allanb52

11 ай бұрын

@@economicalrides You think a GF is high maintenance, I find the exact opposite with my wife, she cooks I wash up and everything is shared? I find it safer on the bike having another pair of ears and eyes, especially in Thailand, or places like Vietnam, but if you really want to die, try Istanbul. We have a dog too and some hens and two homes (small) in Thailand and Portugal, mind you I don't do what you do. I looked at the 650 Interceptor when I bought the Meteor, not my cup of tea at all, though 40 years ago I borrowed a mate's Bonny, with no riding skills at all, and loved it. But 71 is not 31...and the 350 Meteor is a hoot around town. The first time I rode the Meteor I mistakenly let the clutch out on tickover and it didn't stall, I just rode away 2 up...amazingly forgiving.

@economicalrides

11 ай бұрын

@@allanb52 It sounds like you both love exploring together on a bike. You clearly found a good ‘un 👍 Be careful in that asian traffic chaos, not something I am familiar with over here 😂 May you both enjoy your bike journeys for many years to come 🤞 Garry 👍

Great review. I was very happy to hear you 've named your motorcycle! I thought I was the only one! And to call it a "he" nevertheless! Finally someone who doesn't call his motorcycle or car a "she"! o7

@economicalrides

8 ай бұрын

Thanks John. I always hold back before naming my vehicles. I like to get a sense of their character before deciding upon the gender and then I decide upon a suitable name. So some end up being female and some end up being male. My Meteor always felt like an enthusiastic friend, ready to share any adventure with me, so he ended up being my “Buddy”. My Himalayan is called Norman for a totally different reason 😂 Thanks for commenting. I‘m glad you enjoyed my little review. The Meteor is a charming, special little bike. For me it epitomises the fun to be derived from riding a motorcycle. Every ride is relaxing and pleasurable ! Cheers John, stay safe Garry

@googlecontrolled

4 ай бұрын

My bike reg number finishes with the letters ' HMF ' We call him Humphrey. 😊

Takk!

@economicalrides

11 ай бұрын

Thank you Bjorn, very kind of you. I hope you found the video helpful 👍🏻 Thanks again and take care ! Cheers, Garry & Ruby ( and Buddy and Norman of course ! )

Hi Garry .. As far as I know the engine is the same on the classic.. So, the only thing I did not like about the gearing was that 4th and 5th are very close to each another. So the 5th can be longer gear for flat speedy roads.. But to be fair, most bikes suffer from that same thing even double priced ones!

@economicalrides

11 ай бұрын

Hi Stefan, the ratios and sprockets are the same, as are the engines. However the Classic has a larger rear wheel and the effect of that on the gearing can be felt. A Meteor always feels a little bit livelier than a Classic. I suppose with so little power, these small changes in effective gearing can really be felt. Particularly if you mainly ride in mountains as I do. Maybe on the flat it would be harder to notice. Fifth gear is basically an overdrive so it’s understandable that it’s not very different to fourth. One of the reasons I really missed a gear indicator on the Classic ( which the Meteor has ! ). I was often not sure if I was riding in fourth or fifth gear on the Classic, so a gear indicator would have been helpful. Cheers Stefan 👍, take care ! Garry & Ruby

@UncleWally3

11 ай бұрын

Recently, from a certain point of view at the local dealership, I could eyeball two bikes at the very same time, a Royal Enfield Classic and a V4 Ducati Multistrata Rally. The experience left a cognitive dissonance I’m still not sure how to interpret; I want both. I’m now in search of a support group . . .

@economicalrides

11 ай бұрын

@@UncleWally3 😂😂😂 Good luck with that ! There are so many bikes I'd love to own but fortunately (?) my poverty keeps my feet planted firmly on the ground ! If you can only have the one, go with the Classic. You'll definitely get less speeding fines on one of those, so it's a double saving 👍🏻 Cheers Wally and good luck with the therapy ! ER / Garry

I also have a yellow meteor 350 like yours. I absolutely love it. Wow, thanks for the tip about the bar end mirrors. I will look into those, because the original ones do vibrate a heck of a lot.

@economicalrides

11 ай бұрын

Don’t be put off by the price of the RE bar end mirrors because once you have them, you’ll realise that they are worth it ! They are not cheap but are beautifully finished and give a massive vibe free view on each side 👍 So sexy AND a safety plus. I really do think they are a must have mod, broken OEM mirrors or not ! Just make sure that you also get the adapter kit. My dealer didn’t bother and they looked like a dog’s breakfast. You need the adapter kit because they were originally an Interceptor and Continental accessory. On the Meteor they have to be mounted in a different way, which necessitates the adapter kit which is sold separately. There is a video on my channel about how they were fitted originally and how they SHOULD be fitted once I’d received the adapter kit. Highly recommended. Worth the asking price ! Let me know how you find them if you get some but I’m sure you will be delighted with your purchase 👍 Cheers 🍺 ER

@davidcann8788

11 ай бұрын

My right OEM mirror vibrates more than the left one, but I hadn't found the vibrations as annoying as many other reviewers. But I don't like the plastic back - they are beginning lose their finish.

@economicalrides

11 ай бұрын

@@davidcann8788 I highly recommend the bar end mirrors David. They are not cheap but they do give an excellent view. The OEM mirrors, which eventually shook themselves to bits, vibrated so badly that at night the headlights of the cars behind me appeared as rings of light, not circles. It was pretty unnerving ! Never seen anything like it, not even on my old Bullet 500 which vibrated like a jackhammer ! The RE bar end mirrors give me the best view rearwards on both sides of any mirrors I've ever had on any bike. I'd go so far as to say that they are "spot on !" 😝 Cheers David, Garry

I am considering this bike for the UK. I have sat on one and it is comfortable, but can it hold 70 on a motorway so that you are not being swallowed up by lorries etc. I don’t need more than70, just want to cruise at the limit on the few times I use the motorway. My other option is the Himalayan, and a, trying to decide between the two

@economicalrides

4 ай бұрын

Hi Derek. Unfortunately no. Absolutely not. It is limited to 72 mph anyway but it will only do that on the flat or downhill and without a headwind. Hit any kind of incline or ride against the wind and you will struggle to maintain 60 mph. A 70 mph cruising speed is too much to ask of ANY single IMO. Some will manage to hold it but it will be a vibey and unpleasant experience. My Himalayan has a top speed of about 80 mph but it would also struggle to hold 70 mph up an incline or into a strong headwind. Also it doesn't feel comfortable at 70 mph, I would only do that in short bursts. The Himalayan wants to cruise at 60 mph, which it will do all day, even up an incline. Frankly you need to be looking at a larger twin, if you need to cruise at 70 mph rather than 60 mph. I think you probably need to be looking at the RE 650 twins, if you are a fan of the brand. Unfortunately the 350s, 411s and the new 450 will not really be able to sustain 70 mph with any degree of comfort. It's a big ask of a single cylinder machine and it wouldn't be enjoyable to man nor machine. 60 mph, yes. The 350s, the 411 and the 450 will all be happy cruising at that speed. 70 mph, no, not really ! I hope this helps. If you have any further questions, feel free to get back to me 🙂 Cheers Derek, Garry

Nice video sir! Kindly advise which Is better the Himalayan? Or the meteor for the relaxing rides

@economicalrides

10 ай бұрын

Hi Christy, for relaxing rides, for me, the Meteor wins by a mile. The Himalayan is of course much more versatile but I definitely enjoy my weekend rides on the Meteor more. The Himalayan is a great all-rounder if you need a bike for different kinds of rides. As a hobby motorcycle I think the Meteor is hard to beat, as long as you can avoid long stretches on fast roads where you live. I hope this helps. If you have any further questions, please just ask away ! Cheers Christy, ER

@christopherfernandez4982

10 ай бұрын

@@economicalrides hello sir Thank you for the message ! I have an halcyon black which I bought in 2022…I was always wanting to buy a Himalayan as well.. but this time when I went down to india I checked out the meteor which you have which was lovely.. I agree on the love you have for the meteor.. I love the classic reborn but I feel it’s not very comfy for long rides

@christopherfernandez4982

10 ай бұрын

@@economicalrides good luck sir .. with both your bikes ..thanks for replying

Excellent build quality, You cannot get the same build quality in India from RE, its unfortunate.. their export quality is awesome..

@economicalrides

9 ай бұрын

Hi Green9, I didn't think that the Indian market REs were any different ? That's a real shame if they are ! I'm certainly happy with the quality of all three REs I have recently owned. Take care and thanks for watching ! ER.

@Green-6937

9 ай бұрын

@@economicalrides Thank you very much for your reply.. Yes its true, but the quality level is not poor..especially engine quality is same, But their general quality level in the abroad is far better, indian versions get rust very quickly, Engine paints and silencer paints fades quickly, and the gear box in the Indian versions is not as good as the foreign versions. By viewing lots of reviews in the KZread I can say this fiirmly, I am also a proud owner of Meteor yellow.. I think RE makes the Most beautiful retro bikes, their designes are simply the Best..

Your end summery was almost exactly the same as mine, so when you see mine, the word essence was used in my last ride video but not copied, I filmed it 2 days ago 😂 I love mine also and it's not mine, I am very tempted to get rid of the beemer for one but it's strange times. The meteor is a cracking bike even if it does have it's follys. I'm trying the Hunter at some point, I may like the ride more but I won't like the look as much as the meteor. Excellent video ER, I will have to watch this one again, I didn't know you had the touring seat by the way. We should cruise Exmouth sometime, perhaps when you come over for the SB73 rideout next year. Still the bike needs a Ruby carrier. It's the one mod missing. El Outro😊

@economicalrides

11 ай бұрын

Thanks Exmouth, I thought that this one might be right up your street, for some strange reason ! How was Bognor ? I hope you managed to switch off for a few days. At least now you can look at and ride the Meteor again for a bit. I look forward to your follow up videos on the Meteor and don't worry, I would never suspect you of plagiarism. You are always just giving your own honest opinion in your videos. Based on what you've told me about your feelings for the Meteor, I doubt that the Hunter will float your boat in the same way. It doesn't have the same vibe although it will undoubtedly ride a fair bit softer. No, I think you like the easy cruising thing too much. I think you have the Meteor virus now and there can be no turning back 😛 I look forward to bringing Buddy over some time and then you and I, the Exmouth Angels, can cruise on over to the SB73 Social Ride on our Meteors and cause some mayhem. Can't wait mate ! Are you going for the chaps with the detachable codpiece or sticking with the standard ones ? I'm torn myself 🤔 I can see advantages to both ! Take care Steve and enjoy the Meteor while you still can. Just keep telling RE that you're not ready for the Hunter yet, still have Meteor content to make. That way I think you can probably drag out returning it by a month or two 😂 Cheers Exmouth, love from France ! El Outro and Roby

@exeterrider

11 ай бұрын

@@economicalrides yes I will be dragging my heels and holding on tightly! I adore the blimming thing. I haven't looked up cod pieces yet, I guess that's a French thing. I do like your country alot and the Alps looked amazing with the snow melted in this video. Please don't make any more videos like this. My situation is hard enough as it is. El outro 📺🦧

@economicalrides

11 ай бұрын

@@exeterrider 😂😂😂 The timing of this video was purely coincidental. I wasn't trying to rub it in or influence you in any way mate, honest 😉🤔 You know how to get hold of me if you need any help deciding Steve. Everybody has a different use case but as I said in this video, Buddy fits my use case for an economical, enjoyable, reliable and relaxing hobby motorcycle perfectly. The Meteor won't work for everybody. But if it fits what you are buying it for then it definitely delivers and you won't be disappointed. Cheers mate. I hope work is picking up. You need to start saving up 😉 Buy the chaps first, then the bike 👍🏻 Garry

Sossidges!😊

@economicalrides

10 ай бұрын

Ruby says "Fanks Dan, nice one !" 🐕 I agree with her. Thank you Dan, very kind of you. I hope my long reply to your recent comment is of some use to you 😉 It's a shame that it didn't work out with the KTM but with limited space it is important to have the bikes you actually need, hence my difficult decision to swap the Classic for the Himalayan. Good luck deciding and thanks again for your kind sossidge donation 👍🏻 Garry & Ruby

Is it the 350 good for someone tall 6'2 feet (1.90 cm)? Or is better the 650?

@economicalrides

2 ай бұрын

Hi Simone, that's really tough for me to answer because I am only 5'8" but I do know some people over 6' who happily ride a Meteor. It depends upon your entire body shape really. To be sure, you really should try to ride one if you can, or at least sit on one. I hope that helps. I do know some viewers who are over 6 feet tall and can ride the Meteor 350 comfortably but that might not be the case for you. Try before you buy, would be my advice. Cheers ER.

Im thinking between this or the hunter 350 royal .for traveling and for work 25min road time betweem 80-110 kph wich one is good ?

@economicalrides

5 ай бұрын

Hi there. Either bike will be ok to get to 110 kph, so it just comes down to your personal preference really. If you ride to work in dense traffic, then maybe go for the Hunter because that will feel a bit lighter and more nimble dodging through traffic than the Meteor. Both bikes will be very economical and cheap to run and would make excellent commuter bikes 🙂 Cheers, ER.

@yahonawaka7119

5 ай бұрын

Ohh so i will go for the hunter thank yoy very much 😊​@@economicalrides

@economicalrides

5 ай бұрын

@@yahonawaka7119 You are welcome ! Enjoy your new bike 👍 ER

Does anyone know if the Tripper gadget works with off line maps? Cheers

@economicalrides

10 ай бұрын

Hi Chris, no, it needs an internet connection the whole time unfortunately. It reconnects automatically should you briefly lose internet coverage and resumes the route correctly. So it's not an issue in use but unfortunately it won't work at all with offline maps. It seems as though RE is collecting data about where their bikes are being ridden, through the Tripper app. It's constantly sharing your location with them, presumably that's why it insists on having an active internet connection. I have the Tripper on two bikes now but more often than not, it's too much of a faff to log in ( it always asks me to login and I ALWAYS have to go looking for my bloody password !!! ) set up the route and connect everything. Nine times out of ten I just fire up Google Maps on my phone. I would recommend saving the money and putting it towards a decent phone holder. Google Maps on your phone obviously works fine with offline maps, so that's another plus. Tripper is ok but it's a faff to set up and always needs an active internet connection, so a smartphone seems like the easier option. Cheers Chris, Garry

@chrisbrown4396

10 ай бұрын

@economicalrides Thanks for the feed back Garry, appreciate it. I took my CB500F (with touring screen and handle bar raises) to Vienna and back last year and used an old iPhone with offline maps downloaded on it, and it worked great. Had a decent waterproof case with a kind of flexi-arm thing. I did notice though, in some places the Google maps would show you your speed and tell you what the speed limit was in that particular stretch of road, but in other places it did not which I always thought odd, but didn't really faze me. Maybe someone here knows. Any, back to the Meteor, I'm really considering getting one as they're now going for around £3000 for a '21 or even a '22 model, with around 1000miles on the clock.. Makes me wonder why people are selling them, but more importantly, have they run the engines in properly in accordance to the manual.. I'm going to try and get a test ride at a local dealer first anyway.👍

@economicalrides

10 ай бұрын

@@chrisbrown4396 Hi Chris, a one or two year old Meteor is great value. Saves you the early service costs, should be run in ( they take about 2000 miles to really bed in by the way ) and by all accounts they are very reliable for a very long time. Even if you don't get on with it, it will have lost a fair amount of its value already, so if you decide to move it on, you probably don't stand to lose too much money either. Particularly with the Meteor, there should be trade-in bikes for those folks wanting to "upgrade" to the Super Meteor. Find the right bike at the right price and you won't go far wrong 👍🏻 Good luck ! As you know, I am a total Meteor fanboy 😛 Cheers Chris, Garry

Please give my best to Ruby.

@economicalrides

3 ай бұрын

Thanks D L. I just did and Ruby was very pleased to hear from you 🙂 "Fanks DL ! Nice one !" 🐕

I've owned my Meteor for 1 year now and covered about 5,000 miles. I have several complaints about it. Firstly that toe - heel gear change is pants. They must have given the design of that to the apprentice. I bought a Tec Bike Parts replacement and it has transformed the gear change. The second complaint is the most serious. The brakes, particularly the front, degrades alarmingly in the wet. I'm going to try scintered pads to see if that improves it but if you're unaware this can happen it can be dangerous. For me the seat height is rather high for a cruiser. At 30.5" it's too tall. The last cruiser I owned was a Triumph Speedmaster 900, which had a seat height of 27.1" almost 3.5" lower and with my 28" inside leg that makes a big difference. I also find that it's rather too heavy. I used to own a MZ251, which had a 21hp, 20lbft engine, pretty much the same as the Meteor but it weighed 145kg where the Meteor weighs 195kg. Which would you put your money on for a 0-60? All this makes it sound like I hate the bike. I don't. The low revving grunt is delicious. The riding position is comfortable and fuel economy is astonishing (I get 130mpg on a run).

@economicalrides

11 ай бұрын

Hi Andy, yes, the shifter linkage is not the greatest bit of engineering ever but mine is still working fine and I've never missed a shift. As you say, upgrades are available but I won't be doing anything until the bike is out of warranty and the shifter that RE put on there starts playing up. I've not heard about the brakes being so bad in the wet but I suspect that a change of pads will indeed help with that. I get the feeling, even in the dry, that the OEM pads are not the greatest. Blimey, that Speedster did have a low seat ! That's one of the lowest I've seen ! The only way to get the Meteor's seat any lower would be to get a seat made with less padding in it. As you know, the seat sits directly on top of the frame rail, so it is already as low as it can go. The fact that you still appreciate your Meteor despite your issues with it just goes to show that it does indeed have something special about it 🙂 Thanks for your input Andy, good luck with your Meteor and take care ! ER / Garry

@andyworsley3908

11 ай бұрын

@@economicalrides The problem I had with the shifter is that when I took delivery of the bike I couldn't get my foot under it to shift up. Moving it round two teeth on the spline resulted in the linkage fouling on the foot peg. So there is only one position where it works. The Tec Bike parts replacement is expensive but you only buy it once and is fully adjustable and the linkage goes over the foot peg not under it. RE do a low seat but it only takes out 11mm. I might still do it when it's available in my country. As for the weight that double skinned exhaust has got to add a ton. I'm also thinking of changing the lead-acid battery for a Li-ion, that should shave off a few kilos as well.

@economicalrides

11 ай бұрын

@@andyworsley3908 HI Andy. Why didn't you just press down with your heel to shift up ? You're not supposed to need to get your toe under the shifter, you shift up with your heel and down with your toe. Or did you just not get on with that and wanted a more "normal" toe toe shifter ? There's certainly plenty of scope for weight saving on the Meteor, that's the same for ALL Royal Enfields really 😂 They're all pretty lardy for their power output, it's true. Exhaust and battery sounds like a good starting point 👍🏻 Good luck with any future mods and I hope you can make your Meteor a little bit more to your liking Andy ! Cheers. ER / Garry

@andyworsley3908

11 ай бұрын

@@economicalrides Like a lot of people I don't get on with the heel change. I've done some other mods too. I replaced the Tripper with a rev counter and I've changed the rear shocks for softer and shorter ones. The stock ones are really hard, even on the softest setting. Last week I fitted a less restrictive air filter, which makes it louder (not necessarily a bad thing) and a little more peppy.

@economicalrides

11 ай бұрын

@@andyworsley3908 It sounds like you are getting stuck right into your Meteor there Andy ! I don't really enjoy doing mods myself anymore. I also don't really have the time. If I have any motorcycle time at all, then I prefer to ride rather than fettle. I'm sure I'd be more inclined to tinker if I had more spare time though. Which shocks did you fit and would you say they are a significant improvement ? Lots of us are looking at options but it's hard to know whether the ones you buy are going to be any better than the OEM ones. Cheers Andy, Garry

RE is now good at quality

@economicalrides

11 ай бұрын

I've owned the Meteor, the Classic 350 and recently bought a Himalayan. All three have been perfectly dependable and with normal cleaning hold up really well. I used to own a 2004 RE Bullet 500 Classic. Back then it was a different story. That bike was either broken or shaking bits off as it went down the road 😂 Love RE now but it is amazing that I gave them a second chance after my experience with that Bullet ( which I also bought brand new ! ). Today I would recommend RE bikes to anybody. Their quality is as good as if not better than any other brand out there. Their bikes also always seem to have "soul" built in. Not sure how they manage it but they do ! Cheers Enfielder ER

@HunterVlog350cc

11 ай бұрын

@@economicalrides that was not a UCE, i had 2010 tbts with uce and was very dependable now j series is even more better , i don’t have multiple bikes just one hunter which does all daily duties with pride and absolute performance

@economicalrides

11 ай бұрын

@@HunterVlog350cc Yes you are correct. It was one of the last British style Bullets with the four speed gearbox on the right hand side and drum brakes front and rear. I think by 2004 the tooling was completely knackered and the last generation of those bikes had terrible quality. The tooling was not going to be replaced either because they knew that the old Bullet would soon no longer pass emissions tests for export. By that time it was a model which they were already planning to delete from the range, so they just kept making them for as long as they could without investing anything into the tooling or the production line. It was unfortunate but understandable. They were making the Thunderbird and Bullet Electra at the same time and I believe that those bikes were nowhere near as terrible. RE have come a long way in the past decade or so and now they are reaping the rewards of those efforts !

hagon shocks are cheap and re - buildable ;;

@economicalrides

11 ай бұрын

Hi Simon, well one of my viewers paid 300 quid or something like that to get some Hagons made for his Meteor. So I wouldn't call that cheap. No doubt they are excellent quality though and could last you a lifetime. Unfortunately since Brexit, buying ANYTHING from the UK is a total PITA with regard to getting stuff through customs. So Hagon and Hitchcock's ( with whom I did a great deal of business back in my Bullet days ) are now off the menu for me, unfortunately. Cheers Simon & Zen Garry & Ruby 🐕

@simongilbert2704

11 ай бұрын

@@economicalrides yes that's a pity because the shocks are 190 here ,

One winters use in Scotland it'd be a pile of rust!

@economicalrides

8 ай бұрын

I do have viewers in the UK and Scotland and their Meteors are holding up just as well as mine, even after all year use. You just need to take normal care of them, as you would have to do with any other motorcycle, to keep them looking nice. The finish on these bikes is extremely hard wearing and easy to keep clean. Rust really isn’t an issue, possibly even less so than with other brands.

@anmolmahajan

8 ай бұрын

I have this bike and I can guarantee it will hold it's ground you cant judge any bike unless you drive it

@economicalrides

8 ай бұрын

@@anmolmahajan Absolutely. This bike has something special about it. I always recommend that people try it before dismissing it. Once ridden, impossible to forget ! Cheers my friend, thank you for watching and commenting 👍🏻 ER

How would it be doing 70 mph for an hour? Would it be too stressful for the engine? Thanks

@economicalrides

8 ай бұрын

I wouldn't recommend it. This bike will do 72 mph absolutely wringing its neck. A realistic cruising speed for this bike is about 60 mph in my opinion. Beyond that it really feels as though you are thrashing the bike too hard. If you need to ride much faster than 60 mph regularly I think you need to be looking at a slightly larger bike. The upcoming Triumph 400 singles will apparently just about do 100 mph, so could well be a better option for you (?). As long as they don't produce bad vibes at 70 mph, the Triumph 400s would have enough headroom left to be fairly comfortable at that speed. Cheers PBKB ER.

@PBKB

8 ай бұрын

@@economicalrides thank you. Unfortunately I live 101km away from my job (highway) longer using the back roads. So I might need something bigger as you suggest.

@economicalrides

8 ай бұрын

@@PBKB If you're not happy with riding at a steady 60 mph on those roads, then yes, you'll need something with a bit more headroom on the top speed front 👍 Good luck ! ER

Just passed my A2, and I'm horrendously torn between the Royal Enfield Meteor 350 and the Triumph Speed 400. Can anyone give me any advice ?

@economicalrides

Ай бұрын

Hi James, well the Speed 400 will feel a lot quicker but will be buzzier and pretty much devoid of any character. It has been compared to a larger 125cc single 😂 The Meteor is all about cruising, it likes you to shift up nice and early and just sit back and enjoy the ride. The Meteor has bucketloads of character, more in fact than almost all bikes out there ! It’s an amazing package. For me it would be the Meteor by a mile. It is pure motorcycling pleasure. If you want to get everywhere in a hurry and don’t need your bike to have character or move your soul, you’d probably be better off with the Triumph because you probably wouldn’t appreciate the virtues of the Meteor. That’s my honest opinion, although I would of course recommend that you try both bikes before deciding ! I hope this helps 👍 ER

@jamesnoonan7450

Ай бұрын

@economicalrides Wow, you literally read my mind with that reply, so thank you. I'm looking for that exact sort of bike. I think the Royal Enfield Meteor will have to be my choice. Thanks for such an extensive reply. You've earned a follower here.

@economicalrides

Ай бұрын

@@jamesnoonan7450 Hi James. Well in that case 100% Meteor over the Triumph. The Triumph won’t float your boat at all, the Meteor might not either but I’d say that there is a strong probability that it will ! You sound like a Meteor guy to me James. Thanks for the sub and please let me know how you find the Meteor should you get it. If you buy a brand new one, don’t be too hasty to call it too gutless. They need 2000 miles on them before you get the full joyful experience 🥰 Chuffed if I could help you mate 👍 Cheers, Garry

@jamesnoonan7450

Ай бұрын

@economicalrides I'm going to the dealer this weekend to have a sit on the RE Meteor 350 and maybe a little test ride. Thanks again, Gary. Happy riding, my friend 👍🙏 I'll deffinetly keep you updated.

@economicalrides

Ай бұрын

@@jamesnoonan7450 Brilliant James. Thanks for that and all the best for your trip to the dealership 👍🙂 Have fun mate ! I’m sure that you’ll love it. Three years and 6000 miles later, I love my Buddy more than ever ! 🥃🥃 Garry

Occasionally put a cap of two stroke oil in your tank when you fill up. It will stop the tank and the exhaust rusting. It will also ensure adequate lubrication of the engine internals despite today's additive starved 'eco' fuels.

@nathanhenry.

11 ай бұрын

I would think that some marvel mystery oil would be better.

@xtc2v

11 ай бұрын

@@nathanhenry. Two stroke bikes never have rust silencers. Obviously your experience of motorcycles is limited

@economicalrides

11 ай бұрын

Hi xtc2v, thanks for the suggestion. I'm not sure how the ECU would react to that. It's possible that oil in the fuel will cause some of the sensors to start panicking and then the ECU warning light will come on. I don't think you can be so gung-ho with these fully computerised bikes, there are too many variables in the system and everything is monitored, metered and adjusted to the nth degree. On an old school engine I would be inclined to do the same though, there would be no harm in it. Cheers, ER

@xtc2v

11 ай бұрын

@@economicalrides All fuels have some additives when you buy it though less than in the past. Many people put in additions like Redex (advertised as a system cleaner) or E10 fuel treatment or octane improvers, injector cleaners, fuel stabilisers etc. I've not heard of these affecting the ECU. This makes sense as firstly they are very dilute in a full tank of fuel so make no difference to combustion and secondly the sensors on an engine are concerned with rpm, crankshaft position, load, exhaust oxygen level and throttle position and do not measure the chemical composition of the fuel (or exhaust).The fact is that lubricant additives have been taken OUT of the retail petrol we use. This has reduced the engine lifespan on diesels. I'm suggesting putting a bit back. My diesel car runs quieter and smoother with two-stroke added and I've been doing this for years with no issues

@economicalrides

11 ай бұрын

@@xtc2v Sure. But a diesel is designed to run on oil ( effectively ) anyway, so there is not likely to be anything in the system sensitive to it. I wouldn't bother with my bikes, just in case it causes issues further down the line. At the same time, I don't use additives either, although I know that they are available. I guess it depends what your expectations of vehicle life expectancy are. I suspect that after 10 years my bikes will need replacing for a myriad of reasons, most likely because some unobtainable electronic gismo has failed, rendering the whole bike scrap. To be honest, these days, I think these things are more likely to kill my bike than any lack of additives. Also, by the time my bikes finally die, as leisure vehicles, they may have only done, let's say, 20 000 miles. So engine or mechanical wear is not going to be an issue either. I genuinely expect to have to replace these bikes after 10 years, just because there are so many electronic components in there which can fail and stop the bike from running. And since the manufacturers are not obliged to maintain a spares supply for ten years, there's a good chance that one day I will need something which is no longer available. I've already had that happen twice with my Bullet 500 and at the time it was only 7 years old ! Since the use of electronic gismos has increased, I tend to see those gismos as the most likely point of failure. I think mechanically nothing much will break in that time. I suppose if a tank or exhaust rusts out in that time, I will be able to replace them. I just think that these days, like all things, cars and bikes have built in obsolescence. They are not designed to last. It sucks that it's like that but the fact that it is like that has changed the way I go about looking after my bikes. There are many things I could do to theoretically improve the life expectancy of my vehicles but none of that is of any use to me if I have to throw it away after ten years anyway, just because some important electrical component is no longer available. But I understand your point of view. I have just adjusted my attitude towards vehicles because I think trying to keep them alive beyond their intended life expectancy is going to be fighting a losing battle. The manufacturers will ensure that I need a new one in ten years or so, whatever I do to try to prevent that. Well, that's how I see it anyway 🙂 I was brought up to try to make things last as long as possible and that is still my go to attitude. It's just that I am realist enough to see that it's unlikely that I will be able to continue to use these vehicles for too long, whatever I do it probably won't be enough. The bike will either break on its own or better yet I will be told by the government that I am no longer allowed to use it ! We live in strange times and as a result, in recent years I have adjusted my expectations of vehicles' useful life 🤷‍♂ I do understand how others may view the situation differently though. I'm sure my late Dad would have done so ! Cheers xtc2v ER

Still cant think why buy it or buy hntr....if you cant run it on the highway....with the speed limited to 120 km/h. It should be,able to produce 25 hp and develop speeds up to 140km. Also a 15 liter tank.. Thats safety..... But then who would buy a bigger bike like super meteor or interceptor. Thats,a cunning way of thinking....i know its just a commuter a backroad bike... and i sure like its looks...and build quality...

@economicalrides

11 ай бұрын

I wouldn't recommend any of the RE 350s to somebody who needs to ride a lot on fast roads at 100+ kph. The bikes struggle to hold 100 kph up a hill or against a strong wind. Therefore your speed will vary, which can annoy other road users. For everything else they are powerful enough and extremely economical. You just have to decide what kind of riding you will be using it for. Even without the speed limiter, doing 140 kph, these 350s are just not powerful enough to maintain those 100 kph+ speeds in all conditions. If you need a bike which can do that, then as you suggest, you need to step up to their 650 twins, definitely. Good luck deciding 👍🏻 ER

Half the price of the bike is for pollution controls. From the EFI- Catalytic converter with all the O2 sensors and all that crap.

@economicalrides

3 ай бұрын

Most likely it is, but if you want a new bike then you just have to suck it up ! Unfortunately nothing we can do about it. Considering the km I manage in one year, I can't see that I would be producing enough emissions to make any difference to anything but these days the governments feel like they just have to legislate for everything, probably to justify their existence in a time when people are beginning to question why we even bother with them ! Cheers Frank 👍🏻

@frankmarkovcijr5459

3 ай бұрын

@@economicalrides you can get the carburetor conversion, and put a new exhaust but then it is another $1,500 just to do that. EFI makes your engine run lean and hot as Hades cooking the oil to ☠️ death. I have a nice collection of BSA C-15 250 singles great little bikes that truly are simple. You can pick up one for so much less than a RE 350 with low mileage and simple maintenance they are good little bikes. 2 years old brand new RE 350 for less than a used one. Once you replace all the cheap parts on one they are not a cheap bike anymore. Over here they are a sales dud. Too slow for our roads. They don't hold their value well either. A 2 nd hand one picked up for cheap as a 2 nd bike maybe but not as a primary bike. In the UK maybe but not here. Ride safe.

@economicalrides

3 ай бұрын

@@frankmarkovcijr5459 Hi Frank. Unfortunately I live in Spain and because it was a fascist regime at the time, they didn't sell BSAs over here. And importing from the UK isn't a viable option. A friend of mine brought a BSA 250 single over from the UK and it was a nice little bike. Unfortunately he couldn't get a part that he needed for love nor money and ended up selling it back to the UK as a project. Even if I did manage to get a BSA over here, getting it registered in Spain would probably be near impossible because they don'r have the OEM specs for those bikes on record. If they were easy to come by, I would have picked up a decent British classic single or twin years ago. Not as my main bike but it would be nice to tinker with and ride from time to time. One of the downsides of living in Spain is the lack of British iron ! Cheers Frank, Garry

@frankmarkovcijr5459

3 ай бұрын

@@economicalrides Such a shame.

tring to send you a price , but keep getting -error , it's 245 . 15

@economicalrides

11 ай бұрын

Thanks Simon ! 👍🏻

I've eaten a biscuit with every "spot on", now feel a bit sick 🤮

@economicalrides

11 ай бұрын

😂 Sorry Paul but if you are going to substitute alcohol with biscuits then it's hardly my fault, is it ? Stick to the rules 😉 👍🏻🥃 Garry

@davidcann8788

11 ай бұрын

Be thankful you didn't eat a "sossidge" each time.

@economicalrides

11 ай бұрын

@@davidcann8788 😂😂😂 Particularly the ones Ruby likes !!! They're awful !!! I ran out of food once and in desperation I tried one. Never again ! But she loves them, clearly ! ❤🐕 Cheers David, Garry & Ruby

@paulholmes1682

11 ай бұрын

@@davidcann8788 Mmmmm "sossidges" I'm sure Ruby could manage that 👍

I can see you have a garage for the bike. My kawasaki is not the same with a two year with some small rust spots . It's OK, I love riding. Not cleaning

@economicalrides

11 ай бұрын

Hi BlakesPipes, exactly ! That's the right attitude. I am fortunate that I usually only ride in dry conditions, so that enables me to keep my bikes looking new for quite a while. I try to keep the bikes looking good for as long as possible but if Buddy should someday get some rust on his fasteners or wherever, it won't diminish my enjoyment of riding him. I will try to keep my bikes looking good for as long as possible but they are there to be ridden, first and foremost. I mean, I dropped my Himalayan for the first time when it only had 700 km on the clock. I bought it for off-road riding. It's going to get dropped. It was a brand new bike but I was happy to take it off-road knowing that eventually I would drop it. Ride first, clean/cry later 😂 Cheers, ER 👍🏻

@BlakesPipes

11 ай бұрын

@@economicalrides I too agree with you, the rust on mine is due to my stupid injury and not able to still get on my hands and knees and simply can't squat. But I do love a clean bike. Have a great morning as I go to the doctors and backe to editing after that

@economicalrides

11 ай бұрын

@@BlakesPipes Cheers and good luck at the doctors 🤞 Garry

A great bike for a beginner......once you gain enough experience you will most certainly outgrow it.

@economicalrides

11 ай бұрын

Totally disagree. I have been riding motorcycles non-stop for 37 years and have owned amongst other bikes a Triumph Street Triple R and a GSX-R 750. I have not outgrown the Meteor and I do not believe that I ever will. You will eventually reach a point in your life where you realise that you cannot use the performance of a bigger bike these days. There is too much traffic, too many restrictions, very little fun left to be had. Ultimately you end up with a bike with way more performance than you ever use and you begin to question the sense of it. I understand what you are saying because when I was younger I would have said the same. But with age comes wisdom. The Royal Enfield 350s are enough for what most people need from a hobby motorcycle, as the sales figures seem to confirm 🙂 They are great bikes for beginners and for those riders who have finally seen the light and have realised that riding a 350 is just as enjoyable as riding anything else these days. Cheers Christopher, ER / Garry

@2ndcornets

11 ай бұрын

I'm with you. I have been riding for over 50 years and have a Honda 750 as well as the Meteor, but for a trip to the shops, or a lollop around the lanes the RE is my go to bike. Hop on, start and go.@@economicalrides

@ChadWinters

11 ай бұрын

I agree, I could buy a bigger CC bike, and try to ride it the same way I do my Meteor, but it wouldn't be as much fun. I don't want to win any races or go over 80 MPH@@economicalrides

@economicalrides

11 ай бұрын

@@ChadWinters Thanks Chad ! I think for a lot of us it’s something that comes with age, the realisation that we ACTUALLY don’t need any more. It’s extremely difficult to go out and enjoy a high performance bike these days. I have just as much fun on my Meteor and also scare myself a lot less ! I‘d struggle to justify a significantly more powerful bike these days, to be honest. Cheers Chad 🍺 ER/Garry

Ruby wants Royal Enfield Meatier Sausages.

@economicalrides

11 ай бұрын

😂😂😂 RE Meatier "sossidges", nice one Davesy, never thought of that ! Actually she probably could do with meatier "sossidges". In desperation once ( I ran out of food - I'm single - it happens 😝 ) I tried to eat one of Ruby's "sossidges". They are pretty grim and based on my own personal experience, there is not a lot of actual meat in there. Probably just a lot of lips, eyelids and other unspeakable parts of a pig 😂 So yes, meatier "sossidges" would probably be a good idea ! Cheers Davesy Garry & Ruby ❤🐕🌭

@davesy6969

11 ай бұрын

@@economicalrides I'm seriously thinking about a RE in the unlikely event that i ever have any money. The entire range looks good.

@economicalrides

11 ай бұрын

@@davesy6969 Well, so far I've had very positive experiences with the Meteor, the Classic 350 and now the Himalayan. As long as you have a decent RE dealer nearby you can't go far wrong with any of the current REs IMO. Good luck finding the pennies ! Have you looked behind the sofa cushions ? 😉 I'd love to hear how you get on, should you get something, so don't be shy 👍🏻 Cheers Davesy, ER / Garry

How can u jude a bike over 9000 kms. It should be barely run in. Buy it , ride it for sunday runs for the warrenty period, keep it dry and keep it foir less than 3 years and 10000 miles it will just about stay together. Its not a patch on the british made bullets.

@economicalrides

7 ай бұрын

I respectfully disagree, speaking from actual personal experience, which I respectfully believe that you lack.