query approved.

1.) Ride Quality -

Yes with gas shocks, it is improved, but im sure the 06 model would also have gas shocks.

2.) Maintanence

With the UCE engine, the amount of oil needed, and in the various places, has gone down ( clutch oil, gear oil, engine oil ). Now its just engine oil that does all the work. There are no tappets to adjust, so thats a relief.

3.) Mileage

- Equivalent, or slightly better, but what you will be getting from a 06 model, yes surely better.

4.) Is it trouble free

- Comparatively, yes.

The new one Rules....

Wel...I am not very experienced on the Old Thunderbird,considering i got to rode it mostly on busy city roads......So may be im not qualified enough to comment on that,but as a proud owner of a new TBTS.....I am all praises for it.I got it delivered just on the new year eve & in the 84 days i've already done 2ks...Most of it touring....Its Divine....sheer bliss..
The only problem is if you get a flat tyre in the middle of no where & are not equipped to repair it ... all the pleasure of riding goes down the drain,as you haul it uphill to a flat place where you can take out the tyre.I just wish RE start shipping the bikes with tubeless tyres.
i've a few friends who own the 1st gen TBs...compared to them the oil leakage is non-existent in the TBTS... & negligible in my 2006model TB....
As RE gets more conventional,the maintainance part is steadily less, So its a relief.....
regards,
Nishant

If the more experienced folks out here have a TBTS factory manual kindly share the link.