Royal Enfield Super Meteor
 | |
| Manufacturer | Royal Enfield |
|---|---|
| Production | 1952–1962 |
| Engine | 692 cc air-cooled overhead valve parallel-twin |
| Transmission | four-speed, chain final drive |
| Weight | 410 pounds (190 kg) (wet) |
The Super Meteor was a British motorcycle made by Royal Enfield for export to the US between 1952 and 1962, when the Super Meteor was replaced by the 736 cc Royal Enfield Interceptor.[1]
Development
In 1953, the US export market led
Amal Monobloc carburettor. Modified engines, incorporating electric start, were also produced and supplied by the factory for the Berkeley B95 and B105 car models during 1959 and 1960. The Super Meteor and the sporty Constellation were replaced by the 736 cc Royal Enfield Interceptor in 1962.[1]
Anti-lock braking experiment
In 1958, a Royal Enfield Super Meteor was used by the
anti-lock brake on motorcycles.[2] The Maxaret works by detecting rapid decelerations of the wheel that may cause it to lock and releases and re-applies hydraulic pressure to the brake several times a second, keeping the average braking effort at the maximum that can be used by the road surface and tyre combination. The experiments demonstrated that anti-lock brakes could be of great value on motorcycles, where skidding is involved in a high proportion of accidents. Stopping distances were reduced in almost all the tests, compared with locked wheel braking, but particularly on slippery surfaces, where the improvement could be as much as 30%. Royal Enfield's Technical Director at the time, Tony Wilson-Jones, saw little future in the system and it was not put into production by the company.[2]
References
- ^ a b "Super Meteor". Retrieved 31 March 2009.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-85260-033-4.