Bullet ThunderBird

This is the best and the most majestic of all in the market. Not a day goes by when the guys on the 100-200 CC mopeds ogle at it and even if you are driving slow the people look at it in awe.

Power - Awesome but have not tried the full potential as it has not yet completed 2000 Kms

Fuel - It has so far given me 35 KMPL in City and 42 KMPL on a mixed run of city and highway and anybody cribbing about it does not deserve a 350 CC bike but only deserves a 100-200 CC moped.

Maintainance - It does give very minor troubles in the begining and basically needs adjustments while running in but THERE IS NO LEAKAGE OF ANY SORT. The enfield workshop are very accomodating and do not charge for any adjustment. Please get the Spokes tightened after about 500 Kms and every 3 months .

Exhaust - Not like original bullet and engine clatter is high till 2000 Kms but the mechanic promised that it will reduce drastically once the bike has completed 2000 Kms. But if you have not riden a bullet earlier the exhaust will not be a problem and you can fit a short silencer but ask the mechanic to ensure that the bike does not misfire while deaccelarating.

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Here it was, Aug 5, 2003, 1345 hrs, and the mechanic at the dealer's place handed me the keys to my new silver Thunderbird with disc brakes. I'd never tried riding the TB before and from reviews at the Royal Enfield website and here at MS ( I discovered MS while scouring the web for reviews on the TB a few months ago), it was enough for me to decide that this was the next bike I'm gonna own.

Although I had initially thought about buying the ELectra instead, MS really helped me a lot in deciding on the TB. Anyway let's get to the ride....

Initially the TB feels bulky (if you are used to 100 cc toys like me), but then I had used a friend's Bullet for nearly a year, and the feel of the bike soon became comfortable. The TB's gears felt a bit rough and it was hard to locate the neutral without down-shifting all the way to the first, but then once you are on the road and in fifth, the thump takes over and it feels like the royal beast. (Of course its an Enfield and the newest addition to the Royal Enfield family, after the new Machismo). Very very manoeuverable indeed, don't get caught in those cruiser handlebars, this bike though with a high handle-bar and cruiser styling, is very easy to manoeuvre, even in bumper to bumper traffic.

Since its new, I have yet to exceed 60kph, but a slight turn of the throttle and you know that this one here, is not the old sluggish Std. 350 but one with a new purpose. (i'm waiting to clock 2000 km on the Odo and try revving her up a bit). Once on the roads of Delhi, it was a grand feeling... (hmmmmmm) I clocked 70 km on the odo on my first day itself... Anyway, I saw this figure on a CBZ-like bike zooming in and out of traffic on my rear-view, and the dude slowed down alongside me... revved his bike (signalling: wanna race dude?) and zoomed out of sight. This one was on a brand new Karizma. Probably didn;t give two hoots about running in or whatever... I was telling him in my mind...lemme complete 30000 kms dude and gimme an open highway and then we'll see.... ;)

LOOKS

The TB is clearly a looker, and as far as its looks are concerned it will give even its cousin, the Lightning 535, a run for its money. Its an almost embarassing feeling when heads turn at red lights. Even guys diriving the latest SUVs will not fail to steal a glance at the TB. As for the girls..... hmmmmm I don't know.... really the reactions I got from my female friends were ''wow!!'' ''sexy'' hmmmmmmmmmmm If a man is judged by the steed he rides I'm sure you won;t have problems finding admirers of the opposite sex. Unfortunately this isn't the case here......

PERFORMANCE

So far I've clocked only about a 100-odd kilometres and I really can;t say how well the TB performs. FOr that I'll have to write another review on MS after the first two services are done.. The real point is, the TB will definitely give a comfortable ride, with the aberration of a slightly hard seat. And if you have dreams of mountains and the pine-fresh wind on your face, the TB will take you there like a wild mustang, or a mountain roan, without even a shudder. I'm saying this, by riding only 100 km so far, so wait till I experience it for some more time.

At the dealer's I checked two TBs for the sound, engine and everything and the one I got has a slight sound at the front. I don;t knowif that's the sound from the tappets or the rockers, or whatever. Any suggestions would be extremely welcome. Even the mechanic there adjusted the tappets several times and finally gave me the green. I'm hoping the sound of the (tappets/rockers??) will diminish by the time I finish the second service. Anyway, here's wishing me the best and guys, pls do some up with comments!!!!!!

Happy Riding Everyone

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Well Im not a bullet expert nor a super mechanic but just like some people told me on MS that they just like the way I write true things about my stuff im here to write about a BULLET THUNDERBIRD !

Well just as the company says ''Its the ultimate Cruiser'' Well for me its just a Crusier ! Something Ultimate would be like the Yamaha V2 Crusiers or the Honda Goldwing ! Thats what we can call an ULTIMATE CRUISER !

Well common guys ! When would a company like bullet start giving DISC BRAKES as a standard accesory ! ?

Well the 18BHP pump that one gets on a bullet thunderbird is just splendid . Just amazing . And the SEATING is excellent the other bikes are ackward to ride all day but bullet is 2 2 2 comfortable to ride and its the best for LONG COMMUTES and for TREAKING and all purposes.

In short when my friend goes for Long ride commutes he terms his bike as a ''TRUCK'' cause his bike is fully LOADED .

Well Loaded or not the thumping and thundering and the speed is the same.

Its just 4 months back that a guy owing a Pulsar 180 from Pune challenged that his machine is faster than the Bullets. And just for the fun sake they did have a DRAG RACE at a 1km stretch to find the pulsar looose it all.

Driving a Bullet is a lot of concentration people. Cause u may be less on speed but ur momentum is always faster than what you think !

A bullet thunderbird can easily touch the 120km/hr mark on staight roads for a real soothing experience.

Ok thats if for the goodies. Well for some TRUE real facts that none of u can reject.

1 ) PETROL !: Well people ...its sucks gas ! Well its a different thing that it gives u a different phase in your life but its all in the pocket .

2) MAINTENANCE IS REGULAR : Its necessary for a bullet to go throught regular servicings and regularly .

3) Could some company in India START WITH A DISC BRAKE AT THE REAR FOR HEAVEN SAKE ! ! !

4) Powerfull or dual headlights would have been good.

RATING FOR THE BIKE : 7/10

Well I know this was not a too good review but dont worry I had to post something on it soon , I would strengthen my review and research and come back as the ''BULLET THUNDERBORD RE-REVIEWED''

Take care ppl.

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The real bike, I have ever rode, my uncle had got this bike, he was using a RD350 and now he wanted to go for a long trip, so we decided to take a 350 electra, but when we entered the showroom, we both were struck looking at this bike, we decided to take this and now my uncle, Mr. Krishnamurthy had completed a trip all over india in 33 days at the age of 58 alone, he never got struck in the middle, he was as fresh as when he returned back from the trip, hes very proud of his bike, we all are happy n proud too, his contact number is 0423-2443107, hes fond of all bikes and now he has became a admirer of Enfield and a real fan of that bike

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Bike is the best power bike ,although I have purchased it last week but ,the driving exp. is just the best.

Controls are cool, breathing sound is optimum ,and thats really cool ,it sticks to the ground.

And moreover it seems to be a healthy combination of city and long route bike.

Cost/Exp. ratio 1:1

Worth it go for it and feel the difference

Looks and the power coupled in the same steel skeleton.

Few accessories are required for long route ,a carrier is must then a foot rest will be welcomed for the pilot.

Once you are tuned in to driving this BEAST ,you will forget any other vehicle

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Yeap!! thats right, recent news says end october 2003, TBird500, standard fittings:- Disk brakes front, good na!! Lets not forget Electric Start, etc etc...the cost........the last I heard it was gonna be in the 90's but I doubt that....coz the 535 was selling for in the 70's or 80's. But lets just wait for the so called fully loaded bike and see what it has aye! Which also reminds me, enfied is going to blow out a totally new engine, liquid cooled or something, if I remember correctly....even a sports model, and then also a 30 bhp bike but thats next year so live till then, for now i'd recommend the Bullet Electra the upgraded version, and once again a reminder The fully loaded Thunderbird 500 with five-speed, left shift gears and electric starter will hit the market by the end of October '03............

Latest news now.....I WANNA KICK REM'S BUTT...word on the forums are they're gonna release the TB500 next YEAR and priced a spanking good 1.2 lakhs. Yeah you read it right.....well thats what they say lets just wait and wait and wait for this bike to hit the roads. But trust me its worth the wait

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I can see people crane their necks, boys open their mouths and girls amaze at me riding this marvelous creature. I ride him with booming gallops and not drive it. He is the rugged Royal Enfield Thunderbird. He’s not a bird … but an animal … a beast … a very wild one and is growling mad.

Finally my friend gave me his beast to ride after completing his run-in crossing 3000+ kms. Boom .. Boom.. I move swiftly as I twist his reins slightly, This beast justifies why he is the heart throb for every motorist. He is more than bikes, cars and transport coz it has got a character that sure takes one by storm. He is the King of The Roads, whose character I’ll elaborate unlike my other reviews in which style, engine, transmission, handling, comfort … were given priority. This beast doesn’t need five star ratings and discussion in the above parameters coz it is the driving (sorry riding) experience that highlights this one.

Why the Enfield?

Why I like the T’bird? The reasons are below:

1. He’s not a bike, but a part of the rider.

   
   




2. It’s difficult to tame & ride it.

   
   




3. He’s stubborn, solid and full of substance.

   
   




4. It echoes as he growls … boom..boom..boom..

   
   




5. Everyone gives way as he charges.

   
   

The Temparament

Don’t get disappointed that I’m not giving you specifications and performance data coz I stress that this doesn’t feel like a machine but a creature with a character and feel of its own. I’ll elaborate my experience as it happened…

First I walk around this beast trying to study his body physic. I was amazed at his muscular chest that he holds high and curved back to carry any load. He holds his head high with pride and you can see that he doesn’t smile but looks hard just like Arnold. I think he’s the iron man of India ! The appearance is enough for one to tell that whatever he rams into, the damage is not his. Then I hold his upswept horns, stolen from the wildest bull, and climb over him. I don’t feel any life until I kick his ass. He growls as I hold his reins and suddenly I can feel a surge of magnetic pulse flowing into my hands that doesn’t want me to take my hand off the beast again. He moves majestically oodles of character keep translating from his body to mine and he becomes a part of mine. I’m changed. No more I’m the humorous Abishek, I feel kingly Ha..Ha.. No one can defeat me.. I’m the Lord of the Roads! I can see a special way given to me in the centre of the road and the attention paid to me. It is one of the best experiences for a man, a feeling of dignity and pride. That nothing else on the world delivers. It is immensely pleasurable to tame and ride this beast but that spells universal dignity. I can see how the Gods envy me from heavens, so marvelous it is.

Enjoying the T’Bird

To get the best out of the T’bird, select a broad, flat, less trafficked and long highway. Preferably the climate should be cool (20-25 degrees). Start at 5:30 in the morning, it would also be nice if you select a mountainous track provided the road is smooth. Wear a costly blue worn out jean and branded white round neck with a logo at the front. Added to that is a black leather jacket, semi helmet (that doesn’t cover your face so you can feel the air in ur face) and semi-gloves for the right hand. Large boots are a must and don’t forget your wallet. Riding solo in best no gals or pillions but ask your friends to give company on their bikes. Drive at a steady speed of 70-80 continuously and negotiate turns majestically. After you reach ur destination, park ur bird and get something different to eat from a wayside small shop. Chit chat for an hour and then take off. You’ll remember the experience throughout your life and will yearn for another. Try different destinations every time. It is also good to have a camera. I’m sure no other bike can give such an experience.

Owning the T’Bird

This is where the problem arises. 72K grands is not easy money but that adds to the status of this beast. He has a 346cc heart generating 18 horses of power and pulls 27 Nm. What sets this beast from other Enfields is the electronic CDI that kicks him to life coupled with proper positioning of hands and legs. (gear n brake lever) He can sure pull you to an awesome 120kmph but the pros end there. As I’ve already told he’s stubborn and some time refuses to work (reliability) Also he doesn’t seem refined and is no gentleman. He drinks a lot and eats your wallet with enthusiasm (25-32 kmpl). You can see the bulge on your back pocket decreasing rapidly. He needs frequent visits to the doctor and the restaurant (workshop & petrol bunk !) but that is why he’s special, He’ Royal.

Stats for the needed:

Looks: It’s beast !

Engine: not refined but punchy

Transmission: better than other enfields and so is the placement

Suspension: nightmare for broken roads

Instrumentation: Complete

Performance: excellent

Fuel Efficiency: no comments please

Character: Best in the subcontinent

Dream to Ride Nightmare to Own. Beware of the Beast within

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Royal Enfield has finally got their priorities correct. The thunderbird, oh my god, what a bike. It has impressed me more than both Enticer and Elim (I have rode them both). See, it’s a correct saying that ‘engine has no substitute’. The enticer is a measly 125 cc economy bike. The elim is 180cc alright but the cost? And also that you can’t resale it. Now here comes the Thunder Bird. Its great for highways, and even in the city. It gives a mileage of 35kmpl. Isn’t that good for a 350cc bike! So those guys who have a Bullet passion, can take it easy as the Thunder Bird is just the right bird for them. The gear shifter is on the left. The brakes are disks and the old exhaust has been refined. This has been done to meet Pollution Emission norms. So for 75000, you get a reasonably good bargain – 350cc, 18 bhp, 35kmpl……….

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Royal Enfield-The name itself sounds powerful and suddenly an image of a monstrous machine on wheels with a thumping sound creates in our minds.

Probably one of the oldest motorcycle makers of India.For ages Royal Enfield has made its mark by making a tradition wih its left sided brakes and right sided gears.But here in the 21st century,the past has changed.

The gear lever is now located on the convenient left side with the brakes on the right hand side.

The kick starting system is a lot easier as compared to the previous bullets,as the thunderbird starts in the first attempt(not for kids).There is an optional electric starter as well.Surprised?Well u should be.After all this is Thunderbird!

The carburettor has been changed to a fuel efficient Mikuni CV which enables the rider to get a mileage of 30-40 km/l.The company is also offering a 260mm Hydraulic disc brake which is damn effective.Instrumentation comprises of 160 kmph speedometer,tachometer,fuel gauge,odometer and tripmeter.Headlights are good too aided with a 12V 40/45W head lamp.

Now for the engine which is a 350cc mill giving an output of 18 bhp@5500 rpm at an unending torque of 26.97 Nm@5000 rpm which enables the Thunderbird to attain a maximum speed of 110km/hr.In terms of pick up this bullet is faster than its brothers and is quite fast too.The bike takes 7.7 seconds to reach from 0-60km/hr.

Now for the pricing.The simplest version of this bullet caomes at Rs.68,000 with the disk equipped one at Rs.4000 more and the Self Start one at Rs.77,000.Quite expensive,anyone would say ofcourse.But remember it is not for those who seek bikes for their daily works.Its exclusively for the long weekend drives and the highways.

So what are u waiting for,get urself one straight away.

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Lets face it. if you can get a loan(like me), and if you dont want just another bike(look around), go for the thunderbird. I bought one around a year back when it was first launched in bangalore. and let me tell you this last year was fun. first about the bike for those with no knowledge. 350cc of awesome power, 5 gear, as comfortable as your bean bag, with an avg mileage of ~35 kpl, and it responds.. service.. you get 5 free services which last for around a year. it has a similar engine to the 350cc, so lot of people around can fix it right. every major town in india has a enfield specialist. and I found the service centers in bangalore very customer friendly.. ergonomics.. very balanced, easy handling, one kick start(when used regularly), no major vibrations(unless your engine rpm is >3700rpm, which you would never reach normally on indian roads), very good view of the back from the rearview mirrors(one of the best I found), very friendly cluch, and a superb gear mechanism(similar to yamaha) ride.. I frequently (once a month) take a long ride to tpt(~250km). it outperforms all others in this aspect. I take two breaks. accelerates very fast and you reach your 5th gear in about 8 sec. great rear view, powerful head lights(12v), you can ride smoothly around 80-90kmph with a helmet on. in the city, once you get comfortable with the handling of the bike, you can burn the roads( though you can never reach the 5th gear in these roads and in this traffic) maintenance: I never touched or even cleaned the vehicle(i'm lazy :-)). only the 4 services so far. you have to fill the tank though :-) other info.. you can have a disk brake in the front, but you have to be very careful especially when you are banking. when applied its very effective, the front tire stops immediately and if the back one is still in action you will skid and sometimes fall. as usual with any enfield, you have to be ready to change a few cluth wires, when the bike is new. it usually starts with the first kick. well theres my opinion. this is my first bike, I am not yet married, but I still know that my son is going to ride it one day...enfield we love you..

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I am using bullet for more than 10 years.After I took a thunderbird I felt like its not enfield's family.

It wud be great if it was old design (break/gear).Rest every thing is too good .Thats look wise,milage ,power and technology.May be I am feeling that way because I was used to it .But I know most of then tell no to enfield because of the gear / break position problem.May because of it company designed like that .But they should have given option for the other way round also.

People who are used o ordinary bike can try this .And the people who are used to the old models stick to it.

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I had driven a bullet 500 for more than 12 years and when I went for a drive on my friend's thunderbird some weeks back, I was in for a major shock.

What happened to the legendary beat. Seems they have sacrificed it for pollution. Harley has a division and complex acoustics monitoring equipment to ensure the beat is same. So much for an Indian cruiser. Somehow, I dont like it.

The gears are on the left and brakes on the right. Cool. A lever from right to left underneath and I hate extra rods and couplings. Anyways, transitioning from 100cc is made easier.

The tachometer - never got a chance to see that while riding for 15 min – Basically did not feel the need to. I wonder whether it is required.

Raised bars and seat. Now this is comfortable. Something I did as an extra to my Bullet 500. Seats are indeed comfortable for rides more than 1 hour also.

Fuel gauge - another device seldom used.

Disc brakes - they are good.

Cost of some 80+ K with most of the unnecessary features - not worth it.

Machismo engine goes at high speeds but loosens up on a long drive. Requires us to shift gears frequently.

Colors and looks are revamped and is pleasing.

Mileage - Who buys bullet for mileage - 30 Kmpl

I could push the bike for quick pickups and frequent stops and never let anyone to overtake me. :-) Well, the pickup is good.

It’s a decent cruiser - The only one in India. If you call bikes with less than 200cc engines as cruisers, you have eliminator and enticer.

To summarise:

Plus:

Nice looks

Great comfort

Good pickup

Great handle and balance

5th gear is too much

Minus:

Absence of legendary beat

Engine loosens

Unnecessary features jacking up price

Bottomline

My advice would be go for the bullet Standard 350cc/500cc.

They offer the best value.

Cheers

Ram

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''MAGIC'' that one word describes the burd. I bought my thunderbird 2 months back ...pure riding bliss. does this machine make heads turn!! Not a day goes by with out some one on the road asking me about the bike.

Open up that throttle and its shoots..enfield has done a fantastic job in giving the burd a much faster instant pick up than the other models. I think we owe that to the new CV Carb and the AVL engine that has been modified further.

Ok here are some of the downers the seat coulda been made softer long rides can be a pain in da A** (Pun intended). The bike could sure use fatter tyres in the rear...that will make it closer to the cruiser that it shud be.

The rear break still needs to be worked on.

The bike is not meant for people who want mileage (though 40 KMPH is not bad since I rode a RD 350 for 3 years.)Its meant for a biker at heart who will not mind riding alone or with his group of buddies for long hours...and on long roads.

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I am a delhitie and am working in hyderabad since last 2 years.I am a bike enthusiast since childhood and had always wanted to own one,which one(?) was never decided..like when I was in senior sec I wanted a yamaha..in college it was CBZ etc.

Enfield bullet was a strict no no as it seemed too heavy fr my lean frame.Anyway I rode the bullet for the first time around an year

back and I knew then that I was hooked.....hooked to the majestic looks,the power and the stability.

Anyway by around the same time I heard from my Good friend and Mentor(in case of Biking) Sids that REM is coming

out with a cruiser model called ThunderBird.Next thing I did was look it up on the site and by the time I finished surfing that

page I had decided that 'Bike ho to Thunder Bird ,nahi to na ho'.

Finally the D-Day arrived and I got my Ocean Black TBird by paying 78k upfront and then zipped off to Temples to

to take the blessings of The Almighty for my 'God of bikes' - the ThunderBird.

Man !! what a feeling it was and still is ..u thunder down the road and every single head turns to look that this 'Bird’. Many a times

people stop and ask about the mileage , the price and the feel good factor etc etc with an envious look in their eyes.

It takes time getting used to this fact,but I sure do enjoy the attention which my Bird gets me.

The Bird is defninitely a looker.Chrome odometers etc ,superb design,bucket seat,handlebars gives u the exact features of a perfect

cruiser.The power is amazing ,the acceleration at every gear is gr8,sound is muffled a bit but then its becoz of the new laws passed to

reduce noise levels.Tripmeter helps you keep track of fuel efficiency etc.Disc Brakes are thrown in coz u need them to stop this Monster.

The Battery etc which is visible in other models of Enfield are covered and gives the look of a very sophisticated bike.

Its giving an average of 40kmpl which is pretty gud in city ,also considering the fact that ,earlier I owned a 16yr old vespa which used to gimme 34kmpl :-)

The feeling while riding it is of pure bliss,feel like the king of the road.

Frankly if anyone asks for my opinion about it the only thing that I would like to say it is :-

Go buy any other bike in case u want a toy to go from place A to place B, buy a Thunderbird if u wanna have a RIDE of

your Lifetime !

Afterall this is the only bike which is for MEN.

P.S : My personal feelings..Owning a TBird is like married to a high class lady coz u have to cough up enough dough to own it..its beautiful..makes others envy u..great to Ride( :-) ) ..has to be maintained properly and has the usual 'nakhras'..But all this just makes you love it even more !!

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Looks like cruisers are finally hitting the Indian market and the roads, The thunderbird, ah , yes, its a good bike , but I think the bike could do a lot more with a higher capacity engine, overall they have done an excellent job. but there are small things that need to be looked into. Yes, enfield is getting there but it should take them a while to get their game right, they need more powerful engines. longer wheelbases, alloy rims, they should do away with the cheap chrome. have a chopper type of silencer. anf they finally have got the gears right (left side).

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The machine:

Royal Enfield Motors (REM) introduced a new bike called the Thunderbird in May-June 2002 in Bangalore. Its ''new'' coz they have broken quite a few of their 60 year old norms. The first and foremost of them is the right side brake and left side gear. Second a user-friendly kick start. And third is the design of the bike. It’s the first cruiser from their stable. (Many consider Lighting 535 as the first Indian cruiser but REM never marketed it as a cruiser as far as I can remember). Overall, a brand new approach to motor biking experience.

The Tbird is different from a STD 350 Bullet. REM has powered it with a new AVL engine which is lighter and nosier compared to the old one. This has made the Tbird easier to handle and maneuver. It also doesn’t require any effort to park it on the main stand. The starting is made CDI compared to the old CB style, so no more staring at the amp meter before kick starting the bird.

The gears as I mentioned earlier has been shifted to the regular/left side. A fifth gear is also been added. It’s a boon on the highways. One can easily cruise at 80 – 90 kmph at a low engine speed. This helps the engine to keep cool. It has also helped the Tbird to return more km per litre of petrol. I agree I didn’t buy it as an economy bike but at the end of the day/road it does make a big difference in your pocket. My bird is giving me 44 km/l within the city.

It is also fitted with a longer silencer due to pollution norms. The sad part is it works and has “killed” the signature sound of a bullet. This is one major reason why a hardcore bullet fan doesn’t consider a Tbird as a real bullet.

The Tbird also comes with factory fitted disc brakes. This has highly enabled the retardation capability compared to the other bullets with drum brakes.

The tear drop tank is same as the other bullets but only lifted up to give it more cruiser style. Could have been a better job. The instrument pods are also a pleasure to view, especially at night. One holds speedometer, odometer and a trip meter while the other holds tachometer and fuel gauge. The indicator lights are smartly concealed by a black “thing” in between the pods.

The pleasure:

The Tbird has a definite feel good factor. It’s difficult to explain in mere words. Well! Let me give a try. It boosts “the male ego”. Gives me a high! On highways its feels great to cruise with the steady beat of the engine. The best part is the confidence I feel when riding it at 80kmph and above. The disc brake really works. I use to feel tensed whenever I crossed 60kmph in my old KB100 (I have done quite a few thousand km on my old cheetah). The twin pods with the new head light and mirrors (all chromed) looks really cool. The sitting position with the apehanger handlebars are very comfortable both in long rides and city riding (I suspected the latter). In fact the Tbird is highly maneuverable even at high speeds.

The pain:

Lots of attention has gone to the design of the rider’s seat. I guess that has diverted the attention from the pillion seat. The pillion seat is a pain in the ( ).( ) specially during long rides. The back rest with the logo looks good but needs improvement ergonomically. Another pain is the absence of an Electronic Start (ES) especially for unpredictable red lights in city riding. Cruiser style foot rests are missing. I won’t have minded a few more inches of leg space. I am not very happy with the overall quality of different parts of the bike. For example my tank lid refused to open after using it for 5 – 6 times. Many nuts have already rusted. Chrome & rust don’t look very good on the same bike. What say!

The Solution to the bum(back)rest:

I have changed the original back rest with a new back rest cum carrier frame. Its very comfy for the pillion. I can also easily carry 30 - 40 load in it in long rides. Its slightly high so for the first few times its not very easy for a short pillion to get on & off the bike.

End note:

I bought the Tbird in Aug 2002. Was little apprehensive coz it’s a bullet but one test ride is all it took to make my decision. I wanted to own the bird immediately. And I did. The best part is I fit in it properly and I enjoying every km in it. I am yet to do a really long cruise with it. Wil write after I do one. If u wanna cruise go for it.

Km completed till date(18/03/03): 6700 km

Top Speed till date : 110 kmph

Average : 44 kmpl

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Finally, after years and years of what I call ''stubbornness'', the 50 plus year old chennai based company Royal Enfield finally has decided to make attempts to refine their thumping power bikes. What? U kidding... This was one of the many reactions it evoked. Royal Enfield and changes... no way. It is pretty shocking at times that such an old company with decades of manufacturing experience refused to innovate or in fact refine their 'killer' bikes. When the Thunderbird was launched in Bangalore, those who saw it and rode it knew things have changed or improved as I would delicately put it. And the credit for these changes would go to their new CEO Mr. Siddartha Lal, who has launched a much needed counter attack to save the company from getting catapulted out of existence by the ''100cc toys'' as hardcore bikers may call them.

Christened ''Thunderbird'', this cruiser was the second launched by Royal Enfield, the first being the 'Lightning'. The lightning was a pretty interesting launch as the name suggests it is ''quick''. An awesome speed machine. They could have thought of a different name as there is a few other bikes and cars by the name thunderbird. As they would like to brand it, the Thunderbird is a cruiser for all those who wish to escape from the chaotic city life and drift away to 'la la land'. An escape to paradise. This bike is powered by a 4 stroke single cylinder 350cc ''ecofriendly'' (yeah, it's in quotes alright) engine. The engine which delivers 18 bhp has a very good pick up with a dash from 0-60 in 6 seconds, also not forgetting the 100 plus speeds which by nature all enfield bikes offer. This monster has a top whack of 120 kms with the legendary high speed stability it offers.

What happens when we take a yezdi roadking and squash it a bit. You get the Thunderbird alright with a little tweak. Of course, they have put the standard cruiser fittings like bucket seats, back rest, tear drop petrol tanks. The tank however is the same regular Bullet 500 tank (think it is the same for all the models) and is angled to give it the typical teardrop cruiser tank looks. Seats are bad especially for the rider...I guess that has to be improved with a lot more foam. It was quite hard. Another key aspect...what is a cruiser without it being chromed. Generously chromed mirrors and speedo units which support a tachometer all adds to making a number of people turn their heads towards it.

Now where are the so called changes which Enfield has churned out. First of all, the gear system has been shifted from the traditional right side to the left and a fifth gear has been added. A CDI kit has gone on to replace the CB points systems... what a big relief. Kick starting now becomes a thousand times easier and would also save on some of the 'default' regular visits to the mechanics and the hospital. Electra though was the first bike where CDI was used. Tachometers, neutral lights are some interesting changes in the bike. And finally, after years (what a shame it took so long), disc brakes have entered into the bike. Quite amazing, a bike which is so powerful did not have disc brakes and Enfield took such a long time to decide to introduce them in spite so much demand for them by their loyal customers. There is an interesting little gadget found in the speedo. Apart from the regular odometer, there is also another meter which calculates the total kilometers travelled within a day. There is a small knob to reset this meter. Now people can easily calculate the total number of kilometers they travel within a day, therefore would be useful during long rides, estimation of petrol levels etc.

The CV carburettor ensures the vehicle delivers around 35- 45 kmpl. This definitely is not a bike for the fuel fanatics but then for a 350cc bike, these figures are excellent. The fuel efficiency is pretty decent for its class and I think it is probably the most fuel efficient bullet vehicle till date becoz of the new CV carb.

The Royal Enfield fleet of bikes is no doubt the most trouble some and requires constant attention but it also evokes a strange and really binding relationship with its owners. Such loyalty can never be seen in any other bike. These are bikes with true character and spirit. If you don't know what I mean, just ask some of the Bulleteers and they will paint the perfect picture. I would say this loyalty and liking is so fierce that they are bonkers over it and would go on to risk loosing every bone for this bike. It is a pretty sight to watch 10-15 bulleteers thumping away on long rides going from one end of the country to the other. A few in fact have gone on across all the way to Europe from here and what makes them do it is their love for this ''thumper''.

Well. am not giving the impression that the Thunderbird is a bike where all the glitches and horrors of the Enfield fleet of bikes are completely eliminated. Nope, they do exist... oil stills leaks as a standard rule, there is considerable vibrations therefore nuts 'n' bolts tend to come off. But all these are far less, they are not eliminated but have been subdued to a good considerable extend. The age old lovable thump of the exhaust has also been subdued a bit. Guess the new pollution norms have forced them to work on the exhaust silencer.

With all this in mind, I would say if you are a bullet lover, then this is a good bike to consider. Though my personal favourite is the 'lightning'', I feel all these small small things which they have worked on will make Thunderbird a better and less troublesome long timer. To end it all. Am seriously happy that Royal Enfield have woken up and are attempting to put away their stubbornness and climb up the ladder again by the providing what real men really ride - the Bullet. I would love to own a Lightning or a Thunderbird but practicalities of living in the city and the lack of time to take constant care of it not forgetting the huge financial load it would leave in my head stops me from doing so. All those lucky 'Bulleteers', get on and ride away. In the words of Metallica, '' Where I lay my head is home... wherever I may roam''.

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Royal Enfield, The grand daddy of indian two wheelers is back with a thunderous bang. It's called the 'ThunderBird'. The design of bike is based on the 'late' Royal Enfield's Lightning 535, which is sadly now out of production. This bike is bad news for most of the classic bullet enthusiasts all over, because the locations of gear lever and brake pedal are Interchanged. Yes! Moreover, the brake shift pattern is changed too. Aha! It is now the 1 Down - 2,3,4,5 up, oops! sorry I forgot to mention that the gearbox is now 5-speed. Which means you do still do those 100+ speeds but much better confidence and ease. The engine is the Machismo A350, not new, but more powerful than the Standard bullet. Constant Vacuum Carburettor one of the best improvements to the Royal Enfield Bikes. This is the reason I guess, why the 18 BHP engine seems to have much better pickup then ever before (0-60 .. ~6 secs!). Sound is sadly not like the original bullet, that slow dud-dud-dud sound is now missing. None of the new bullets have it anyway. REM says it is because of the new emission and sound norms that they need to meet. Fuel efficiency of 40KMPL for an 18BHP/350cc bike is bloody impressive.

Taking of the Looks (What made me buy this thing without a test ride?). Personally, I haven't seen a better looking bike than this amongst the Indian bikes. 'Eliminator', 'Enticer' exist but don't come close to 'its majesty'. Raised Front, Cruiser Handle bar, Chrome Odometer + tachometer(new) give the Thunderbird a very 'get on top' kinda look. Thunderbird has no major chrome parts, the mud guards and the body all have the same colour. Some hate it. I like it. You no longer find the battery etc visible like the Bullet. Everything is now concealed within the smartly designed Side covers. The Wheels are the same. so are the brakes. There is an option of Front disc brakes, quite effective for a bike this size. The regular brakes have a Brake wear-off indicator. This is a nice addition as we tend to forget change the pad and eventually screw up the brake drums. Another very thoughtful addition is a small first aid kit containing 'Ointment,Bandage,Plaster and some cotton'.

Thunderbird comes with a one-year warranty and 4 free services at a workshop of your choice. Cool. I never had to go to the workshop/garage for things other than basic chain adjustment or a cable problem. There still are minor leakages here and there but not as much as the bullet. Cost 'on road': 73k bare bones. Disc brakes 6K+. On the higher side but the impressive new avatar of bullet is worth it. It is available in 4 colours : Ocean Black (Metallic Dark Blue-Grey Actually), Red,Blue and Silver. Take your pick and 'Escape'. Don't get angry at people following you and asking you about your new passion.

Do check out their website : https://royalenfield.com/thunderbird

Cheerio.

Me.

----- Comment Added on 1-jun-2006-----

Almost 4 years After writing this review and riding the bike.

I find Thunderbird by far the most efficient Cruiser available in India.

Odo Reading: 83000+

Top Speed: 119 KMPH

Avg Mileage : 35 KMPL (Still)

Piston Rings: Unchanged

Changed so far:

3 Rear Tyres.

3 Chain/Sprockets.

2 Clutch Plates Sets

1 Ignition Coil

1 Battery

Service Frequency 3 Times in the last 3 years.

For 4 years and 83K Kms of All Terain Riding and

Almost Zero Maintainance The bike has done fantastic till date.

Never Stopped anywhere.

Over the years, Hundereds of T'Birds have Done India's most

challenging rides in Ladakh/North East and Kashmir2KanyaKumari

Rides with hardly any issues.

So I guess all those who phoo-phooed the bike are humbled.

T'Bird is by far the most efficient cruiser in India.

Cheers

Kj

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Finally I was able to drive ''Thunderbird'', the latest offering

from royal-enfield. Should you even think of buying this bike??

Well you must make a list of what you expect from it. Now dont

tell me that you expect this bike to have smoothness of a

Hero-Honda kind 4-stroker. If you dont mind slight vibrations

you are in the right place. 18bhp with a mileage of 40+ is

something intresting. Isn't it?? Add to that a five-speed gearbox,

with a shifter on the left side, and brakes are on the right side.

But .... The brake linkages have been brought to the left,

and the brake drum is still on the left side. Here comes a lame

excuse from the dealer:: Enfield has done it so that same rear

wheel of Machismo can be used. And look at the rear brake- drum size...

thats a bit small for a bike this big.

Looks :: It gives a very good sitting posture for the rider.

But dont buy if you are short and ur girlfriend/wife is tall.

The seating arrangement will make her look veryyyyyyyy tall.

Looks macho but the engine looks a bit small for the bike of

this size..Finish is acceptable but cant match bajaj eliminator

or CBZ. Neutral and turn indicators are great looking ..Neatly

placed under a semi-transparent acrylic material.

The Drive :: Taking it off the stand is very easy, so is putting

it back. Start is effortless not requiring more than 2 kicks..

Thats great!!! Shift pattern is yamaha like 1 down 4 up!! so no

time has to spent in getting used to it. Put it in 1st and go!!!

wow!! good acceleration super torque.. and u are at 60 even before

u can think of putting in that 5th cog.... handling is good ..

braking is ok if u use both of them simultaneously. Sound is closer

to a A350 Machismo (uses the same engine I suppose!!) than the

traditional bullet. The actual fun is in driving it fast .. and u

dont need to honk.. ppl always make way for a BULLET!!!

Recommendation:: Buy it if u dont mind slightly raw and unrefined

bike. Brakes on the right side have made the traditional hassle

of adapting to a bullet vanish. Power and torque is great, coupled

with the mileage of 40 we got for a 120km drive. The price in bangalore

for a non-disc brake version is 73K on road. (Thats much cheaper than

eliminator!!). disc brake version is another 4-5K more expensive,

but is highly recommended if u dont mind spending a few more

thousands.

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