1960 Royal Enfield 496cc Meteor Minor

As the last of Royal Enfield 500cc Twins, the now very rare Meteor Minor formed part of a small number of models that became the cornerstone of Royal Enfield’s production. The Meteor Minor’s production run was relatively short from 1958 until ’63 and despite being widely considered now as one of the more superior models, at the time it struggled to compete with its 500cc rivals. The machine was powered by a 496cc overhead valve, vertical twin unit driven through an Albion four speed gearbox, and design features included Siamesed exhaust pipes and a lightweight construction, which aided a top speed of just under 100mph.

This example was first registered to its supplying dealer, Charles E Cope and Sons (Coventry) Ltd. The machine remained in that area until the 1970s; in 1995, the previous custodian purchased the Royal Enfield and used the motorcycle infrequently, covering just fifty-nine miles in eighteen years. At present, the odometer reading is 19524 miles. The Meteor Minor remains in good, smart and clean condition.

The history file includes an original workshop maintenance manual, two 1995 MOT test certificates (at 19465 miles), the RF60 registration book, the V5 document and the V5C registration certificate.