Re: Royal Enfield Thunderbird 500

Thank you

Re: Royal Enfield Thunderbird 500

Hey,
Does filling up with high octane petrol make any noticeable difference in the performance?

Also has anyone checked the veracity of the claimed 20 litre tank? I had gotten my tank empty to the point that the bike stopped and on filling it up again it took in only 17 litres of petrol.

Re: Royal Enfield Thunderbird 500

Strange issue faced, hooked up gps for bike. Instead of battery direct connection the mechanic directly attached the 5v power cable to the head lights. Gps charges though but still gets drained out.. should i try connecting it to the battery instead. BTW how much voltage is supplied to the lights from the battery ?


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Re: Royal Enfield Thunderbird 500

Hey Guys,
MY TB500 is 1 year old. I had been to nasik with my wife & noticed that the bike is struggling to cross 105-110 kmph. As it was a straight route from Mumbai, i tried to open throttle but no luck. Bike has been serviced according to the manual & also it has been ridden on average speeds of 80-85 kmph. Any suggestions on what might the problem. Bike has great pickup & running smooth, the problem is only when i try to take it beyond 95-100. I had bought the bike keeping the power factor in mind, but this problem seems to be dissapointing. Its useless to talk to showroom guys as they don't really bother to check the full issue

Re: Royal Enfield Thunderbird 500

TB is for the torque, the acceleration, the less down-shifting, the easier hill climbing ... not for top speeds.

Don't think that with pillion it should go much above that. How much have you hit while riding solo? Also, head wind or tail wind easily makes a difference of 20kmph.

My 350 rides at 110 easily solo or with pillion, with head wind it is difficult to keep at 90 while just once have touched 120 uncomfortably with huge tail wind.[/QUOTE]

Thanks Tranquilrange for your answer. Previously have been used to Pulsars & FZ. Maybe will have to get used to riding at comfortable speeds.

Re: Royal Enfield Thunderbird 500

Noticed a minor oil leak today.

Any reason to get the bells ringing?

Re: Royal Enfield Thunderbird 500

Hello everyone,

First of all thank you all for your ownership experiences.
[MENTION=45312]J.Ravi[/MENTION] - I have followed almost all your threads on TB ad few on Linea, I like the detailing you put in your logs. And I truly admire the rider within you.
[MENTION=60795]Vinit Monga[/MENTION] - Thanks for the PDI that you provided. All though I dont think I will be needing it.
[MENTION=63513]gyan_recl350[/MENTION] - Thank you for your pointers about good RE mechanic in Bangalore.
[MENTION=63551]simao[/MENTION] and [MENTION=60206]White Knight[/MENTION] - Sad to know your experiences with TB. Specially the wheel lock, it could be fatal in certain circumstances. A motorbike with such problem is simply not acceptable.

Here is the story, I have booked my TB500 Stone on 24th March in RE showroom HSR banashankari Banglore. Was happy until I finished reading all the post on this thread (Really thank you all for the information). I am planning to cancel my booking now as I do not intend to have an affair with mechanics nor I would like to spend my time in RE ASC on weekends, specially after spending 2L on a bike. Me and 3 of my friends had booked 2 350s and 2 500s, all are going to be cancelled this week with heavy heart. Hope Royal Enfield is reading this.

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PS will buy a second hand TB avl or CL350 (Dil to bachha hai Ji) and wait for an affordable release from Triumph or HD.

Re: Royal Enfield Thunderbird 500

I am confused bananas and coconuts. Can anybody here help me take this decision. Should I go for this bike or the problems faced are too much. Also, does 350 have less problems compared to 500 as I dont see such issues on that thread. Please help.

Re: Royal Enfield Thunderbird 500

Hi Sharad,
See if you're looking for a fill up and forget bike then a Royal Enfield is not for you. The bike demands your attention but if you take care of it then it gives you back ten folds. It's like you either want an Enfield or you don't. I too was confused before buying one, especially bcz of Duke390. But I eventually realised that in my heart I always wanted a RE.
As far as the quality is concerned I've ridden almost 2000kms without any major issues cropping up. The bike's a pleasure to ride and I just keep looking for opportunities to take it to the road.
But owning one does means that you have your mechanic on speed dial. I haven't faced any such issues yet but I'm prepared if it ever happens.
The bike has been in production for quite some time now and any initial hiccups have been sorted to out to much extent except for a few minor ones like the erratic fuel gauge which now can be considered as the trademark of Thunderbirds.
Regarding the question of 350s and 500s they both go through the same process and should(or rather shouldn't) have similar faults if they do occur. Haven't gone through the 350 thread so can't comment on that.
I hope this puts some of those doubts to rest.
Cheers!

Re: Royal Enfield Thunderbird 500

Thanks man, though I know what I am dealing with, it matters a lot when this comes from a real user.
I can totally relate with D390, I have been waiting too long for the release, and when the duke390 was released, I had an opportunity to notice my friends wife sitting as pillion on one of the long rides we did. I totally cancelled duke for pillion comfort.

I have not been a huge RE fan until lately and was always against it for the issues it gives, but right now(never has been) there is absolutely no choice in the market other than RE in the class. By class I mean, a full metal bike (I break a lot of plastics), retro, tourer, good FE, matte black(any bike I buy I will paint it matte), some power in store (though i dont use it often), price.

Lol, I think I answered my own question. No other bikes other than TB500 will fit my needs. Phew, I dont know how many mood swings I will have till end of May.

Just that I am scared of Engine and Rear wheel jam issue(while on high speed), rest m not worried. And I have a severe tendency of attracting problems.

Re: Royal Enfield Thunderbird 500

Dear Sharad, And all you guys reading this post!

Please don't take every thing written on this forum so seriously that it effects you buying or not buying an RE. Because you do not know the situation or the Mind set in which the person has written something negative about the bike on this forum. Maybe having a bad day or so. I stand by everything i have said but while searching for an ultimate machine (BMW R1200 GS Adventure) for my needs of Adventure touring. I read some Int forums and realized that even a Beamer has problems. So simply it depends on you how you deal with it? Some positive attitude would help.
I am in a Love Hate relation with my bike. I took her for a ride from Mumbai to Nagaland and somewhere in a unknown place called Mohanya Bihar, the fuel pump broke down. Now if i was not spending all this time in the ACS or with the mechanics i would have got stranded there without any help. With the knowledge that i had of the bike i got out of the mess. Read more in my blog that i have mentioned in the True Wanderer contest.

True Wanderers 3.0 - Entry Travelogues

Please Vote if you've liked my blog.

But today after close to 55000 KM on my TB500 i would still say to her, i Love you like i hate you

Regards,
White Knight

Re: Royal Enfield Thunderbird 500

Even I was in same emotion flow.

But I 100% agree with what you said about knowledge of bike. After using my HH passion for close to 12years and 180000kms I still dont know where the basic parts are located. RE guys know a lot about their bikes because the bike demands it. That's positive N ill stick to it.

I was really waiting for ur response on ur long trip, glad that you made it despite of breakdown.

Thank you and Cheers:thumbup:

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Re: Royal Enfield Thunderbird 500

Hi bro,

I have been reading your posts for a while silentely, and i thought this is a good time for me to put in my 2 cents on this. As paradoxx has already stated, to buy an RE, you must want an RE. The moment you start thinking about the pro's and con's, the idea goes kaput. Because, buying a bike is a call made from the brain, buying and RE is made from the heart.

Now, let me tell you that i have been riding my TBTS 500 Stone for about 8 months now and after 5500 KM down, i can tell you without a doubt that it is definately the best decision that i have ever made. Yes, i could have bought a 390 or a CBR for that matter and trust me when i say that this thought had come into my head after making the buy. I kept thinking that maybe i would have been better off i had bought either one of the two.

But now after some miles on my bird, i love it like anything. Yes, there are issues, let me jot down mine:

1.) The console vibrates when revved up or at idle.
2.) The console hits some kinda object when i hit potholes and makes a little noise. (Not sure what it hits...still in the process or determining the source)
3.) The switch gear is sub-standard... A pulsar 150 has better quality switch gear.
4.) Suspension is a bit stiff for a single rider. (This can't be really a flaw as i can get it adjusted i guess).
5.) After about 4 months of riding, 2 out of 3 bolts which hold the heat shield on the silencer came loose. (Got the 2 screws fixed from a local mech)

Now, the above mentioned are basically all the problems that i have ever faced/facing with the machine. But when it comes to reliablity, i do not know about my other brothers, but i will pitch my bird against any honda product with utmost confidence.

See bro, the machine aint gonna let you down if you give it the kind of attention it deserves...Take my word for it. And as far as the rear wheel jam is concerned, even i am baffeled with how it happeded and what was the exact cause for it. Every machine has is pro's and con's. I hope you listen to the call from your heart, its better not to regret later.

Cheers!!

Re: Royal Enfield Thunderbird 500

I understand what you are trying to tell. And thanks a ton for ur help @White Knight and @TBTS-350.

Meanwhile, here is the Rifleman's creed from Full metal jacket, modified to suit the context of RE.

This is my bike. There are many like it, but this one is mine.

My bike is my best friend. It is my life. I must master it as I must master my life.My bike, without me, is useless. Without my bike, I am useless. I must ride my bike true. I must ride farther than other riders who are trying to go farther than me. I must overtake them before they overtake me. I will...

My bike and I know that what counts in this life is not the throttle we fire, the noise of our exhaust, nor the smoke we make. We know that it is the distance that count. We will ride...

My bike is human, even as I, because it is my life. Thus, I will learn it as a brother. I will learn its weaknesses, its strength, its parts, its accessories, its breaks and its engine. I will keep my bike clean and ready, even as I am clean and ready. We will become part of each other. We will...

Before God, I swear this creed. My bike and I are the defenders of my serenity. We are the masters of our road. We are the saviors of my life.

Re: Royal Enfield Thunderbird 500

Hi guys , Its been almost 3 months with the custody of Tb500 , No major issues as such except for the normal ones.
But as for today , there is an issue.
Thee idling RPM is well beyond 1200-1300 ,
Any suggestions on how to deal with the same..? Any suggestions will be much appreciated , Thank you