After four years and countless modifications to my daily rider, I finally found the upgrade that actually matters. Here's why the TEC Performance Camshaft is the best money I've spent on my Meteor 350.
I'll be straight with you. I've thrown quite a few modifications at my Royal Enfield Meteor 350 over the past four years. High-flow air filter? Check. EMGO exhaust? Done. Various cosmetic bits and pieces? Guilty as charged. But when I heard that TEC Bike Parts had released a performance camshaft for the J-Series platform, I thought, "You know what, it's my bike, I can do what I want with it."
So I did. And honestly? It's been a game changer.
I reckon the Meteor is the best bike in Royal Enfield’s J-Series platform, and they're all good bikes, but this one just suits me. I love the size of it. It feels like a substantial bike. I love the sound. I love how easy it is to ride. I love how simple it is.
Case in point: I hadn't ridden this bike in over a month, it literally just at my office. I put the key in, turned it over, and it fired up straight away. No dramas at all. That's the beauty of these J-Series bikes, they just work.
Enter the TEC Performance Camshaft
When TEC released their performance camshaft, I was intrigued but cautious. My main concern was losing torque. These J-Series bikes have so much character because of that long-stroke, single-cylinder, thumping engine. It's got so much more vibe to it than the 650s cross-plane twins, which I also love ( I own a Continental GT but it's a different beast entirely). But, first ride with the new camshaft? I've got to be honest, I didn't really notice much of a difference. I was just riding back to work, cruising down through Newtown, and I was like, "Yeah, okay, don't really notice any difference."
But here's the important bit: I didn't notice any negative torque impact either. That was one thing I was worried about, that it would reduce the torque. I should not have been concerned.
Where It Really Shines
The second time I rode it, I jumped on the freeway. And that's where it made a massive difference. Not so much getting up to speed, but just maintaining 100km/h with a really relaxed feel to the bike.
Previously, this bike at 100km/h felt like it was screaming along a little bit. Now it feels quite relaxed and, importantly, still really enjoyable to ride. It’s got plenty of throttle left if I need it. Pulling uphill in top gear? No dramas. Cruising at 90-100 km/h? Absolutely fine, with heaps of throttle left.
The Technical Stuff
So what does the TEC Performance camshaft actually do? This is a Stage 2 camshaft kit made from precision ground hardened billet steel. The key differences are in the duration and lift. If you look at the TEC cam next to the stock one, the lobe width is much wider. That's the duration, the time the valve stays open. The lift is also higher, which means the valve actually opens wider as well. More air in, more exhaust out, better performance throughout the rev range.
Now, here's where it gets interesting. Like all modern bikes, the J-Series comes with a very mild cam fitted from the factory. They won't breathe properly above 4,000 revs because they're being restricted by the camshaft. What the TEC cam does is open up the mid-range power, which is exactly what you need for overtaking.
TEC claims you'll get between 15 and 25% power increase over stock, depending on what else you've done to your bike. On a completely stock bike, you're looking at around 15% gain. But with a the high-flow air filter and a lighter exhaust I'm probably seeing closer to that 25% increase.
Now, here's something important to note: all 350cc J-Series models except the Hunter have a speed limiter fitted on the ECU, maxed at about 120 km/h. This extra power won't give those bikes a faster top speed. But it will get you there a little bit quicker, which is really handy when you're pulling up a hill or when you're overtaking other traffic. You'll get past other vehicles much quicker and safer.
It would be interesting to stick this on a dyno to see what the actual horsepower increase is. Yeah, that would be kind of funny, seeing a Royal Enfield Meteor on a dyno. But why not? It would give us the real numbers, and I reckon they'd be impressive.
The thing that impressed me most: this camshaft hasn't changed the character of the engine at all. In fact, it's made it better. These J-Series bikes, I reckon, are the best bikes that Royal Enfield makes and I still think the Meteor is the best in the lineup, and also the most underrated. The Classic seems to get a bit more love, the Bullet seems to get a bit more love. But the Meteor, for me, is the hidden gem. It's the perfect size, it's got the right stance, and with these modifications, it's become exactly the bike I need it to be.
The Bottom Line
After a month of riding with the TEC Performance camshaft, I can thoroughly recommend it. It hasn't changed the character of the bike at all. In fact, it's enhanced it. The bike is much more relaxed when cruising at 100-110 km/h, which is exactly what I wanted.
For me, the simplicity and the fact that it's just a fun bike to ride, that's what I love about my Meteor. And this camshaft has made it even better.
So, which Royal Enfield 350 do you own and why did you buy it? What do you love about your Royal Enfield 350 or 650, or any low-capacity bike that you may own? For me, it's the simplicity and the fact that it's just a fun bike to ride.
Want to upgrade your Royal Enfield? The TEC Performance Camshaft is available now at www.bikertorque.com.au, along with a full range of TEC Bike Parts for Royal Enfield 350s and 650s.
Have questions about the TEC Performance Camshaft or other modifications? Drop us a line at shop@bikertorque.com.au