Re: Royal Enfield Thunderbird 500

Got the delivery of my Thunderbird Lightning. Delivery was smooth. There were two issues, a plate which holds the rear-seat fixed was missing. I realized the rear seat was shaking the next day. I took it to the showroom, upon inspection the confirmed that the plate was missing. They assured me that it will be covered under warranty as the missing part was ordered. Not sure when it will reach.

Another problem is the ticking sound. I covered 70 kms yesterday. I kept the bike under 50 kmph speed limit. When playing close attention to the sounds of the bike, I heard the dreaded ticking sound. The guys in the service center that it is nothing to worry about.

Please advise what do I need to do on the ticking sound.

Re: Royal Enfield Thunderbird 500

I got 2 questions related to tyres.

1. Is it possible to get both tubeless tyres with stock configuration on tbts?
2. Has anybody used slime or tyre sealant on tube tyres like the one in tbts, is it effective against punctures?

Re: Royal Enfield Thunderbird 500

I doubt you can a reliable solution for tubeless tyres on stock rims.. U need alloys for reliable tubeless setup.
My brother has setup a tube less configuration using the stock tyres and alloys and using slime as a sealant.. It's being used for nearly thousand kilometers.. And no issues so far

Sent from my MI 3W using xBhp Connect mobile app

Re: Royal Enfield Thunderbird 500

Thanks you

By stock configuration I meant dimensions. Even I will change to Harley style alloys.

I heard we don't get tubeless tyres for both front and rear. Which tyres your brother is using?

I was planning to fill up tubes with sealant. I don't know if it would be as effective as tubeless tyres.

Re: Royal Enfield Thunderbird 500

He is using the stock tyres
I was looking for tubeless tyres but it's available only for the rear (karizma zmr's) upsize of 140 is available too from ceat.I haven't found front tubeless tyres till now.. The tyre guy told me that sealant is not as effective in tube type tyres

Sent from my MI 3W using xBhp Connect mobile app

Re: Royal Enfield Thunderbird 500

Thank you for the info buddy.

Re: Royal Enfield Thunderbird 500

Hello Guys, I took the delivery of TB-500 3 days back in Hyderabad. I have followed this thread and I just would like to mention a couple of pre-delivery items (which I think are not covered, but I might be wrong) that I think most dealers skimming over -
1. Battery has a warranty of 1 year (I think). Please get the battery details in your ownership manual. My dealer was about skim over it saying he will do it in the next visit (that I have to make to some papers).
2. More importantly, you need an allen screwdriver to open the tool kit and the fusebox (on either side). Please ensure that this is provided for and stowed away in the battery compartment or somewhere handy. You wouldn't to get stuck in a situation where you aren't able to open these essential compartments because you did not have the right tool.

Also, what is the rev count to change the gears in on a TB500? (speed is probably not the right measure to identify the point to change the gears). I have been running in while changing the gears around 2.5K-3K rpm.

Re: Royal Enfield Thunderbird 500

Hi all,

After almost 4 years on a pulsar 180.

I read this whole thread last week .

After a lot of thought i booked the thunder 500 (stone) last Saturday using my heart instead of my head. Booked it from RE store in Adyar,Chennai.

When i booked it, the rep told me that I would get the bike within 10 working days

Suddenly today (just after 5 working days) I got a call saying the bike is ready & i need to submit all papers & rest of the amount. After which the invoice would get generated & once they get the registration from the RTO and I can get the bike within 7 days.



I have few questions :

1) Any minor issues that find during PDI should be corrected/replaced say during first service or should i ask them to replace then and there itself?

2) If i find any major issues I would need to ask them to get a different bike instead of the one delivered now. Correct?

3) Would they allow me to take a test drive before I pay the whole amount? I Just need to make sure some points in the PDI list are checked before I pay.

3) Does it really take like 7 working days to get the bike registered from the RTO ?

4) I assume they would be driving it to RTO to get it registered. So on the final day when i get to take the bike home, I would need to do a PDI again, right?


Please bear with my dumb questions if any , since its an RE, I pretty tensed of the whole PDI & niggles.

Thanks in advance !

Re: Royal Enfield Thunderbird 500

Congratulations and best wishes, [MENTION=35474]yackoa[/MENTION].

Do your PDI before signing the RTO papers. I did PDI, and then, signed the papers at Mandaiveli RTO, when my bird was brought there for registration! Once you sign the dotted lines on the RTO papers, then that bird is yours only, whether you like it or not. No force on the earth could separate your bird from you.

One day for registration. By the same evening, you can take your bird home. If you are lucky, your registration number will also be known by the same evening. You have to visit RE Brand Store again in a couple of days for getting the registration number plate fixed. RC will be given to you after a few weeks.

Re: Royal Enfield Thunderbird 500

Hi Sir,


(I have not paid the full amount yet other than the booking amount of Rs 5000.)


This is quite embarrassing. I am not familiar with the booking and registration process & was very excited at the the show room when I signed all the papers and documents today, so not sure what all i signed


By RTO papers did you mean the one which has two speciemen signatures ??? They said this would be later used for RTO form and stuff.


I have not gone to the RTO yet. They told that once i pay the whole amount, an invoice would be generated and my bike would be sent for registration. They also told me that I couldn't take the bike for registration, they would do it on my behalf ! So am concluding that the RTO papers are not signed. Please correct me if I am wrong

I will be paying the whole amount only in the coming days.

I went to RE Adayar shop & did PDI today. Didn't find any major issues like oil leakages, scratches, dents etc.

Finally I noted down the engine number & insisted that I would be needing this particular bike.

The following where notice during PDI:

1)The back wheel was extra tight than usual. It spins just a quarter of a revolution and stops !! They told me this Rear brake issue would be fixed when I get it post registration.
I am not sure that this a major issue or not ! Is it normal initially for TB500 ? Please advice.

2) The LHS oval case couldn't be opened easily with the provided Allen Key. They said this also would be corrected.

3) They didn't allow me to ride the bike which was allotted to me, hence I couldn't do the PDI checklist items coming under this scenario.
Is this usually the case ???

4) There was a slight issue with the handle not turning effortlessly to the right had side, after applying a wee bit of pressure when the front wheel was lifted. Since the bike was kept on a very slanted slop, I couldn't check much in this.

The reason they said was that the cable assembly flowing through the RHS under the tank, which connects the instrument console to the battery was causing this "lack of play issue". They said this also would be correct.

5) The bike didn't start at first irrespective of ES & kick start. It turns out a small wire/plug near the handle was disconnected ! They quickly connected it and it roared to life, much to my relief. Did ES couple of times to make sure everything was fine !!

6) The instrument cluster window cover seemed to be made of plastic instead of glass ! I am not quite sure of this. I am not much bothered about this right now though.

7) There was a slight brown color ring as such on the middle of RHS of engine where the top part of the engine meets the bottom half. I went and checked another TB500 which was kept near it . It also had the same brown color. It didn't look like rust, it looked like some sort off evenly done chalk marking !


After the long PDI the rep asked me whether i have a friend who was working in RE service center ! hehe I have xhp to thank for this !!!


Overall please let me know what do you suggest.

Should I do an extensive PDI again & insist them to clear the Rear break & front handle play issue?

Or

should I ask them to allot a different bike (plus again PDI) before the final settlement is made.

Thanks in advance !

Re: Royal Enfield Thunderbird 500

Ask the sales executive to confirm about your signing RTO papers. In my case, I refused to sign the RTO papers until I completed PDI.

I don't think so. All the issues mentioned by you could be set right, when RE does PDI before handing over the the bird to you. If the bird is free from any external damage, then, there is nothing to worry. All other issues would be corrected during their PDI. They usually start their PDI only after your making the balance payment. You can go ahead with the balance payment. All the best, once again.

Re: Royal Enfield Thunderbird 500

Thank you sir for the quick reply!

They wouldn't allow us to test ride the alloted bike before we make the payment i guess :-(
I had asked them.. They refused.

Re: Royal Enfield Thunderbird 500

Hi guys,

So my TBTS 500 has come up with a problem again! All was well, and suddenly one morning the electric start has given up on me. When i thumb the start switch, there is this 'Krrrrrrr' noise from the starter motor but there is no crank in the engine.

I was thinking that it is is battrey issue, but the headlights and horn work steady when in ignition, plus the my batt was replaced only recently.

Any thoughts guys? Has the started motor gone kaput?

----consecutive posts auto-merged-----

Hi guys,

So my TBTS 500 has come up with a problem again! All was well, and suddenly one morning the electric start has given up on me. When i thumb the start switch, there is this 'Krrrrrrr' noise from the starter motor but there is no crank in the engine.

I was thinking that it is is battrey issue, but the headlights and horn work steady when in ignition, plus the my batt was replaced only recently.

Any thoughts guys? Has the started motor gone kaput?

Re: Royal Enfield Thunderbird 500

Try kick-starting the bird. If it starts, go for a spin so that the battery gets charged sufficiently. If the battery is weak, battery icon starts flashing on the instrument panel, which will vanish after the battery gets charged sufficiently. All the best.

Re: Royal Enfield Thunderbird 500

If the battery is week then it will show on meter.. Blinking battery sign..
Sometimes recently changed battery's also make issue..
Another reason cud be cold.. I've faced this issue 2 days back when I forgot to park my bike inside gerrage n it was out whole night in sub zero temp. In morning I've tried to self start it is was making that Krrrrr sound.. Then I kick started it.. Once bike warmed up everything was normal..
So diagnose your problem well so tht u don't end up spending uselessly.. Tc