Tag Archives: Meteor 350

Wanderlust: Day trip to Prachinburi

12 October, 2024 Scurvy Dawg Leave a comment

Continuing my series, this is my latest road trip, to Prachinburi province.

Since I installed the CarPlay unit on my motorcycle, I had been eager to test it out on a day trip. The opportunity presented itself last Monday, when I just couldn’t bring myself to go to work. I took the day off and headed out on the highway towards Prachinburi province.

Total Distance: Approx 280 km

I left around 7:30 in the morning and immediately got caught up in morning rush hour traffic. Excruciatingly made my way out of Bangkok and was rewarded with beautiful tree-lined 2 lane roads similar to Nakhon Nayok.

Highway 3481 from Bangkok to Prachinburi

The route follows the Bang Pakong river for much of the way and is dotted with ponds and lakes on both sides.

Khao Ito Waterfall

The approach road to the waterfall turns into a hilly forest-like area and is eerily quiet.

The waterfall itself is not touristy at all and has absolutely no facilities. On the brighter side, there are no entrance fees or parking fees.

There was a lone man at the waterfall, washing his clothes. And a few friendly dogs.

Man washing clothes at Khao I To waterfall

I spent around 30 minutes enjoying the peace and quiet and the washing of clothes) before I headed back.

I had a nice coffee here and then headed back home. Also, on the way back, my motorcycle crossed 2000km and officially finished its running in period, so I opened the throttle. I kept my speed between 90 kmph and 110 kmph and reached before the expected time.

Since this was the first day trip with the new CarPlay unit, I present an addendum to this post on how it performed.

CarPlay on motorcycle

Since I found out that Google Maps doesn’t support motorcycle directions on CarPlay, I decided to try Apple Maps instead. Here’s my feedback on the navigation experience

The POI data on Apple Maps has improved vastly over the last few years. Still, I found myself double checking with Google Maps before leaving.
Apple Maps/Google maps with “Toll Roads” and “Motorways” turned off provide almost the same directions in Thailand as Google Maps motorcycle navigation.
With navigation, Wireless CarPlay, music streaming & location sharing, the battery drained (while connected to the motorcycle USB port) from
- 94% to 81% over 2.5 hours on the way to Prachinburi
- 71% to 58% over 2 hours on the way back
- Approx 5% battery drain per hour – Not ideal, but not too bad.
When I reached my destination, the phone had an overheating message, but I didn’t notice anything different on the CarPlay unit

Apple Maps is much more beautiful to look at, with 3D structures on the map. Also, I really liked how the app switches to 2D and zooms in just before a turn. Also, I found the colours & graphics better than Google Maps.

You have to make a conscious effort to not look at the display too long and focus on the road instead. Also, it is incredibly distracting using the touch screen while riding; I suggest stopping before using it.
While connected to CarPay, Apple Music sends the audio to the CarPlay unit, not the AirPods. It can be overridden from the phone, but not from the unit itself. This means you can start music only from the phone, but can control it from the CarPlay unit later.

An easy workaround to this is to connect your bluetooth headset to the CarPlay unit, not to the phone.
There was an instance while coming back when the phone refused to connect to the CarPlay unit. I restarted the CarPlay unit, which didn’t do anything. Then I restarted the phone and it connected fine. I have seen this before with cars, too, so I blame the phone.

With festivals coming up, there may not be too many solo trips for the next few weeks.

Motorcycle

Apple CarPlay on Meteor 350

5 October, 2024 Scurvy Dawg 1 Comment

As you know, I have been going on road trips infrequently & relying on Royal Enfield’s tripper navigation system for directions. Although, initially I was impressed by the simple nature of the tripper, eventually I found it a bit too simplistic for road trips. I took wrong turns one too many times and got lost. Overall, I must have spent many hours re-tracing my steps. Also, it was not compatible with my polarised sunglasses (Had to tilt my head to see).

Before my next trip, I decided to upgrade the navigation system on my Meteor 350. I initially considered dedicated units from Garmin and TomTom, but found them too expensive and the ongoing subscription fees too cumbersome.

Eventually, I found out that they make Apple CarPlay systems for motorcycles and decided on getting one.

Meteor 350 console before starting — Meteor 350 console

I did some research and found out that there are no “reputable” companies that make Apple CarPlay systems for motorcycles. However, there are many Chinese brands, all cheap as dirt. I decided to get one with the highest ratings on Lazada. It was so cheap, I had almost no expectations from it.

CarPlay unit with power cables and mount — CarPlay unit

It came in a simplistic box with power cables and a mount.

My aims from this project were:

Use the same power supply/cable as the tripper – Partial success
Fit it in the same space as the tripper – Partial success

Bye Bye Tripper

The first step was getting rid of the Tripper. To give myself more space, I needed to remove the windshield first, which can be done using an Allen Key.

Removing the tripper from the Meteor 350 involves unscrewing 2 bolts, one of them the main handlebar bolt.

Meteor 350 Handlebar nut — Meteor 350 Tripper, exposed

Unscrewing and screwing back the main handlebar bolt requires epic strength and I had to do it twice because the first time I forgot the washer.

Power supply

I really-really wanted to re-use the existing connector of the tripper to connect the new CarPlay unit, but the holes were too small to fit the cables in them. Also, I couldn’t find a matching male connector for the other side, seems proprietary.

It pained me to no extent to take a blade and chop off the connector; on a brand-new bike, possibly voiding the warranty.

Here. I also discovered that the Tripper supply had 3 wires, red, black and white. After different combinations, I realised

Red-to-Red & Black-to-Black – Always ON : Not good
White-to-Red & Black-to-Black – Power ON with ignition : What I wanted

CarPlay wiring connected to tripper power supply

Tripper power used for CarPlay unit — CarPlay wiring connected to tripper power supply

I taped up the electrical carnage the best I could, but it felt dirty and a “jugaad“. So I went to an electrical store and purchased a cheap terminal block and connected the wires to that. Then I used copious amounts of acrylic sealant to waterproof it the best I could.

Terminal block sealed with Silicone — Terminal block to connect the power

For good measure, I also wrapped it up with weatherproofing tape.

Mounting the unit

For me, the ideal situation would be if I could fit the unit in the same location as the Tripper, recessed inside. However, even with a 5″ display, the unit is a bit too big and must hover above the handlebars.

Also, it clashes with the classic/old-school aesthetics of the motorcycle.

CarPlay unit mounted — Apple CarPlay unit on Meteor 350

Final result, from front (Apple Carplay on Meteor 350) — Final result, from front

The Unit

The unit itself seems to be incredible value for money. Apple CarPlay works as expected.

Google Maps navigation on Apple CarPlay — Apple CarPlay Home Screen

The display is relatively low-res which may be a good thing because I am concerned about battery drain on the phone.

The display is bright enough to be seen in full sunlight through sunglasses. Additionally, the brightness can be increased above the default.

CarPlay unit software version — CarPlay unit display settings

The unit boots up within 5 seconds of Power ON and the phone automatically connects via Apple CarPlay within a few more seconds.

One strange thing is, the aspect ratio of the physical display and the aspect ratio of the beamed display are not exactly same; consequently, the Apple CarPlay UI seems a bit squished from the sides. It is barely noticeable and certainly not bothersome.

The worst thing to come out of this project is that Google Maps doesn’t seem to support motorcycle routes on Apple CarPlay (Or on Android Auto, it turns out).

Google Maps doesn't support motorcycle directions on Apple CarPlay — Google Maps doesn’t support motorcycle directions on Apple CarPlay

This means Google Maps and Apple Maps are now on equal footing for me. The workaround with both is to disable Toll Roads and Motorways and use car navigation.

Ongoing concerns

Some things I am concerned about, which only time will tell

I am concerned whether the USB port that charges the phone (Nothing to do with this unit) can provide enough juice to keep the phone topped off during operation. Worst case, I am expecting wireless Apple CarPlay to consume more power than the charger can provide and the phone to eventually discharge over a trip.
Only time will tell how rugged the unit is – Concerns are temperature, vibrations and water resistance. Even if it lasts 1 year, it would be worth the monies.
I am not at all confident about how good a job I did with the waterproofing the terminal block. Of course, I may have void the warranty on the motorcycle already by snipping the wires.

Overall, excited to test this out during my next trip!

Motorcycle

Wanderlust: Day trip to River Khwae Bridge, Kanchanaburi

28 September, 2024 Scurvy Dawg Leave a comment

Continuing my series, this is my latest road trip, to River Khwae Bridge, in Kanchanaburi province.

The Bridge Over the River Kwai

The Bridge over the River Kwai is part of the infamous Death Railway that was constructed during World War II.

The bridge was built by the Japanese to support their military campaigns. Over 60,000 Allied prisoners of war and 200,000 Asian laborers were forced into backbreaking labor under brutal conditions to build this railway. The construction resulted in an enormous loss of life, earning the railway its grim nickname.

The bridge itself became an iconic part of this story, tragically immortalized in the 1957 film “The Bridge on the River Kwai” which brought international attention to the horrifying conditions endured by the workers.

Total Distance: Approx 340 km

The Trip

This trp was not planned in advance. However, I couldn’t sleep well the night before and after wasting many hours doing nothing, I decided to make a day trip out of it.

I left at 7 in the morning and didn’t encounter much traffic leaving Bangkok. The highway 338 to Kanchanaburi wasn’t as intimidating as Pattaya or Ayuthaya. In fact, it felt like most Indian highways.

Meteor 350 on Highway 338 from Bangkok to Kanchanaburi

Things got better through the trip, the roads within Kanchanaburi criss-crossing small villages with ponds around them.

I stopped only once on my way there and it took me 2.5 hours to cover the 170km distance.

At the bridge itself, there were not too many tourists, just one Japanese group.

River Khwae from the bridge, Kanchanaburi

After pending some time at the bridge, I went to the Starbucks at TMK Park, Kanchanaburi for a snack and a coffee.

Espresso Frappuccino & Chicken and Mushroom Pie

Meteor 350 at TMK Park, Kanchanaburi — Espresso Frappuccino & Chicken and Mushroom Pie

Fun Return Trip

The return trip was much more adventurous. First I did what I always do and accidentally entered a motorway; requiring me to back-track for many kilometres. When I did get on the right route, it started raining heavily, and I had to stop. I started again when the rain stopped, but it started raining again and I had to stop for the second time.

Second Rain Stop at Kanchanaburi — First Rain Stop at Kanchanaburi

After waiting for a while, I realised that if I keep stopping like this, I won’t get home, so I powered through the rain. It was exhilarating riding at 80 kmph on a 2 lane road during heavy rain.

Soon, the rain stopped and the sun came out in full force, burning my skin because the rain had washed away the sun block. I went through 2 such cycles of wet-dry, but my shoes and socks remained wet throughout.

Eventually, I reached Bangkok via Chinatown, completely filthy and was glad to take a shower.

This was one of the best road trip I ever had and I look forward to doing it again in the future.

Motorcycle

Wanderlust: Half-Day trip to Ayuthaya

14 September, 2024 Scurvy Dawg 1 Comment

Continuing my series, this is a recent road trip, to Ayuthaya. I did this trip because Wanderlust suddenly struck me, but it was too late in the day to go any further.

Ayuthaya: A Glimpse into History

Founded in 1350, it served as the second Siamese capital after Sukhothai. The city flourished as a major trading post and diplomatic hub, connecting the East and West through maritime routes. Its strategic location along the Chao Phraya River made it an essential nexus for international commerce. By the end of the 17th century, Ayuthaya had become one of the world’s largest urban areas and cosmopolitan centers.

Ayuthaya is famous for its impressive ruins of temples, monasteries, and statues of immense historical and cultural value. The cityscape is dotted with towering prangs (reliquary towers) and stupas that are quintessential to Thai architecture.

I had been here before, but I wanted to make the short trip on motorcycle.

Total Distance: A pprox 170km

The Trip

I left after a heavy lunch, around noon. The initial route within the city was same as Nakhon Nayok, once out of the city, it was similar to the highway to Pattaya. I was always a bit stressed that I would unknowingly stray on to the motorway where motorcycles are not allowed.

Meteor 350 on the highway from Bangkok to Ayuthaya

The highway was dotted with big factories each giving off a different smell, some really pungent. All concrete, no greenery to speak of.

One thing I noticed during this trip that the Sump Guard which I had installed recently is reflecting more engine noise towards me. I am not exactly sure whether I would keep it or get rid of it.

I did the entire trip in one go. At Ayuthaya, I just drove around the city aimlessly without stopping.

On the way back, I ran into some drizzle, so stopped at a Gas station for a few minutes. Luckily it was over soon and I returned home on time.

Overall, not a very pleasant motorcycling trip.

Motorcycle

Wanderlust: Day trip to Nakhon Nayok Province

27 July, 2024 Scurvy Dawg 1 Comment

Continuing my series, this is my latest road trip, to some scenic places in Nakhon Nayok province. The province of Nakhon Nayok is dotted with beautiful places, with more than 10 waterfalls. Covering all of them will take multiple trips, so I decided to do 2 places in this first trip:

Total Distance: Approx 280km

This time, I used the lessons learnt from my previous road trip and did not have to stop many times.

It had rained the entire day and night before my trip, so I was a bit apprehensive about getting stuck in rain. Once again, I stated my journey on rain-soaked streets with BBC World Service in my ears.

Unlike Pattaya, heading out of Bangkok was a breeze. There was hardly any traffic and within 30 minutes, I was on the 6-lane highway 305 to Nakhon Nayok.

Unlike the motorway to Pattaya, highway 305 is much more biker friendly and much less scary. In fact, after 50kms or so, it turns into a 4-line winding road running parallel to a Khlong. The entire route smelled of rain-soaked vegetation which I loved. Reminded me of early morning bicycle rides in Durgapur.

Highway 305 to Nakhon Nayok Adjacent to a Khlong

There are quaint little bridges all over the Khlong for people to cross.

My motorcycle is on its second phase of running in, so I rode at a base speed of 70kmph with bursts up to 80kmph.

Wang Ta Krai National Park

First stop was Wang Ta Krai National park with a waterfall of the same name. You can ride your motorcycle a bit into the park.

I was surprised to see that cars, on the other hand, could go all the way in. Perhaps it is because of the horrible noise that Thai scooters make.

The waterfall is not very impressive; is a series of small falls over a long distance. Next to the gentle stream, you can see people picnicking.

Wang Ta Krai national park — Stream in Wang Ta Krai national Park

I spent an hour there and then moved on to my next stop.

Khun Dan Prakarn Chon Dam

The dam is only a short distance away and the last few kms are winding hilly roads which I loved to navigate. The dam itself is quite imposing.

Khun Dan Prakarn Chon Dam

I was happy to see some fauna there.

Soi dogs at Khun Dan Prakarn Chon Dam — A pet dog at Khun Dan Prakarn Chon Dam

After the dam, I went for a coffee to Nong Coffee, a modern cafe nearby.

The trip back was as fun; I stopped only once for a bio-break. Also, unlike the last trip (where I couldn’t wait to get back, this time I was a bit sad as the distance to home wound down to zero.

Looking forward to many such trips in the future.

Motorcycle

Wanderlust: Day Trip to Pattaya Beach

13 July, 2024 Scurvy Dawg 4 Comments

Phrom Phong Bangkok to Pattaya Beach — Phrom Phong to Pattaya Beach

Total Distance: Approx 300km

As you can see from my last post, I bought a new motorcycle. Since then, I had been bitten by the wanderlust bug. My hands had been continuously itching to take the motorcycle on the highway. So, the soonest I could, I decided to drive from Bangkok to Pattaya Beach.

I have done this trip before, but that motorcycle was not suitable for highway riding and I wanted to do it again, the right way.

Bangkok to Pattaya

On the morning of the ride, I woke up to find the city soaked in rain overnight, so I left with caution. The way out of the city was painful with morning traffic, but outside, I opened up the throttle a bit.

Since the motorcycle is new, I had to follow running-in restrictions. I drove at a steady 60kmph with occasional 10-20 second bursts up to 70kmph. At this speed, I could not keep up with traffic on the motorway, so had to drive on the frontage road.

The motorway from Bangkok to Pattaya is highly developed, with 22 lanes (8 lanes on the upper level, 8 lanes in the lower level and 6 lanes frontage) in most places. There are restrictions on where motorcycles can be driven, so need to pay close attention to Google Maps, which is mostly correct as long as you select the motorcycle option.

The route is mostly scenic, passing near some lakes and khlongs and over the Bang Pakong river.

On a bridge over Khlong near Bang Pakong

Near a lake at Bang Pakong — On a bridge over Khlong near Bang Pakong

Stopped to take breaks many times to give the engine a break (and also sneak in some photos). Was quite impressed with the low-end performance of the engine. Gear shifts were mostly not required, as the bike can thump its way up in 5th gear from as low as 35kmph.

In Si Racha district, the view is quite nice as the road passes in between various hills.

Pattaya Beach

Because I stopped so many times, it almost took me 3 hours to get there. Once there, I spent some time chilling at Pattaya beach.

After getting my feet wet, I went to a cafe to drink some coffee and have a snack. It was typical below-average tourist fare.

Bruschetta at a cafe at Pattaya beach — Coffee at a cafe at Pattaya beach

Pattaya to Bangkok

On the way back, I focused on making good time and only stopped at one place to take the below photo of the Bang Pakong river.

On the way back, it only took me 2 hours to get back home.

Tripper

The Tripper proved its worth, as it provided very clear directions and I didn’t have to stop and look at my phone (which was nested safely away in my saddle bag) even once. On the 3 hour ride to Pattaya, my phone lost 23% charge, with tripper navigation as well as audio streaming (And the occasional photo).

Also, found a weird bug in that the tripper’s display and my polarised sunglasses seem to have the same polarisation plane when I am seated normally, which completely blanks out the tripper. If I move my head 10 degrees to the left or right or rotate my head 10 degrees clockwise or counter-clockwise, the display comes back.

This happens only with polarised glasses, regular sunglasses work fine.

Lessons Learnt

Learnt the below lessons which I plan to apply to my next trip(s).

Need to buy thick handlebar grips, as the factory default is too thin and cramps up my hands.
Always wear AirPods even if I don’t want to listen to anything. Active (and worst case Passive) Noise Cancellation is worth it to protect ears from traffic and wind noise.
Always wear sunglasses during the day time, even if it is not too bright, to protect eyes from the wind (I cannot, for the life of me, see through any helmet visor And keep it lifted up).
The USB charger is quite slow. So rather than wait for battery to drain and then charge the phone (Phone gained only 11% on the 3 hour trip back on charge, with navigation and audio), it is better to keep it connected from the beginning.

This trip also pushed my motorcycle over the first stage of running in, next trip should be faster.

Motorcycle

Royal Enfield Meteor 350 First Impressions

29 June, 2024 Scurvy Dawg 13 Comments

You all know I have a long history with motorcycles, of which I have owned quite a few over the years. This post is about my latest one, the Royal Enfield Meteor 350. I didn’t really like the last motorcycle I had or the one before it so I was hesitant to buy another one. But I hated waiting for Grab Bikes and ashamed of riding bitch. So I decided to buy one.

I did have my eyes set on this one, but after a test ride, I didn’t find its riding stance suitable for long highway rides. Coming from a long history with the RE Thunderbird, the natural progression would have been to buy an RE Meteor 350, but at first, I didn’t like the Meteor 350 I saw on Royal Enfield’s website (I found it too modern, especially the allow wheels and the powered coated engine) and I found the Super Meteor 650 too busy, so initially decided to buy the Classic 350.

2022 Royal Enfield Super Meter 650 — 2022 Royal Enfield Meteor 350

However, when I went to the showroom, I saw the new Aurora Blue variant of the Meteor 350 and fell in love immediately and decided to buy that one.

Anyways, these are my views after 10 days/200km, specifically, comparing it to my previous motorcycles.

The Good

The engine is so refined, I can hardly believe it is a Royal Enfield engine. There’re hardly any vibrations and absolutely no clanking. I am so glad they removed the pushrods and replaced them with a chain and overhead cam system. Even with a reduced stroke, the bike pulls quite well at low RPMs.
There’s still the trademark thumping. I was pleasantly surprised to see that the exhaust actually sounds good/better than the completely muted Thunderbird Twinspark. The exhaust-to-engine noise ratio is vastly improved. When cruising at constant speed, you can hardly hear the engine, only the soft, bass-rich exhaust.
I really like the dual-tone design, the chrome parts and the overall retro look compared to the regular Meteor 350. I love the spoke wheels, although that does mean giving up on having tubeless tyres.
The new rider seat is quite comfortable with a subtle but useful back-rest.
The LED headlamp is quite nice and illuminating at night.
The Tripper is useful, but a bit limited. I will dedicate a separate section for the Tripper.
Overall switchgear feels refined and comfortable to use.
The USB port for charging is very useful.
I didn’t like how the windshield looks, but I found it immensely helpful at moderate-high speeds. Allows me to keep my helmet visor open.

The Neutral

I am not entirely sure I prefer the new digital cluster as compared to analog dials. I don’t really like or hate it.
I don’t care for the ECO indicator or the gear indicator.
Because of the refinement, the engine feels the same every time I ride, which is different from the carburettor Thunderbirds I was used to, which felt different based on temperature, humidity etc.
This is my first motorcycle with a rear disc brake. The Dual-channel ABS is nice to have. The brakes do feel a bit mushy compared to what I am used to, though.

The Bad

I really-really miss the tachometer. I won’t forgive Royal Enfield for removing it.
They removed the kick starter to simplify the engine design. This means if the battery dies, you are screwed.
The engine does get hot during start-stop traffic in the city and could have benefitted from liquid cooling. However, unlike the carburettor motorcycles, it does not cause the Idle RPM to runaway or cause knocking during acceleration, thanks to the ECU.
The fuel level indication is wonky.

The Tripper

The Tripper is a pseudo-navigation system developed by Royal Enfield. Here are my thoughts on it:

The tripper connects to the Royal Enfield app on your phone and receives instructions from your phone, hence is dependant on it. However, unlike doing navigation directly on the phone, using the tripper uses much less battery on the phone itself (I measured 6-7% drain per hour on my phone, all inclusive).
It uses Google maps data, so navigation is quite accurate. Supports live re-routing and previewing multiple routes before starting the trip. Has the regular Google Maps options to exclude things like tolls, ferries, highways etc.
At first, I struggled to understand tripper’s instructions and found myself stopping and reaching for my phone. However, once you make an effort to understand the symbols, it feels quite useful. I am now forcing myself not to look at my phone.
This has also increased my directional awareness of and I find myself paying more attention to the road and signs instead of my phone.

Technical comparison with Previous Motorcycles

Here’s a comparison of specifications of different motorcycles I have had over the years (All single cylinder):

Specification	RE Thunderbird	RE Thunderbird TS	Stallions CT400	RE Meteor 350
Displacement	346cc	346cc	397cc	349cc
BorexStroke	70x90mm	70x90mm	85x70mm	75×85.8mm
Max Power	18bhp 5500rpm	19.8bhp 5250rpm	29bhp 7000rpm	20.2bhp 6100rpm
Max Torque	26.97Nm 3500rpm	28Nm 4000rpm	30Nm 5500rpm	27Nm 4000rpm
Compression Ratio	8.5:1	8.5:1	8.8:1	9.5:1
Engine Name	AVL	UCE	—	J series
Wheelbase	1370mm	1370mm	1410mm	1400mm
Kerb Weight	175kg	175kg	160kg	191kg
Fuel Tank	14.3l	14.3l	13l	15l
Fuel injection	Carburettor	Carburettor	EFI	EFI
Valve Operation	Pushrods	Self-adjusting Pushrods	DOHC	SOHC

Motorcycle Spec comparison

Looking forward to many long rides!

An Insight into my Hindside

Tag Archives: Meteor 350

Wanderlust: Day trip to Prachinburi

Khao Ito Waterfall

CarPlay on motorcycle

Apple CarPlay on Meteor 350

Bye Bye Tripper

Power supply

Mounting the unit

The Unit

Ongoing concerns

Wanderlust: Day trip to River Khwae Bridge, Kanchanaburi

The Bridge Over the River Kwai

The Trip

Fun Return Trip

Wanderlust: Half-Day trip to Ayuthaya

Ayuthaya: A Glimpse into History

The Trip

Wanderlust: Day trip to Nakhon Nayok Province

Wang Ta Krai National Park

Khun Dan Prakarn Chon Dam

Wanderlust: Day Trip to Pattaya Beach

Bangkok to Pattaya

Pattaya Beach

Pattaya to Bangkok

Tripper

Lessons Learnt

Royal Enfield Meteor 350 First Impressions

The Good

The Neutral

The Bad

The Tripper

Technical comparison with Previous Motorcycles

Earth bound misfit, I