Not sure but I too would like to hear suggestions.

Haven't had the time to update this thread in a bit. Here are some pics from the Sunday One Ride which saw about 150 RE bikes getting together. Enjoy

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Nice pics Bwar.. Could not stop the drool on lookin at the Iron... My dream machine

re: Royal Enfield Thunderbird 500

Dear Behrama, you can go up to 140 tyre size in new Thunderbird twins (350 & 500). RE fitted new swing arm which is wider than any of the older swingarms. For tyre there are so many options available in 18" rim size.

My RE TB 500 Motorcycle Diaries

A second Royal Enfield entered my family on 15 April 2013. Meet my Royal Enfield Thunderbird 500 Twilight.



My new Royal Enfield Thunderbird 500 Twilight poses with my FIAT Linea, the first one being my son's Classic 500 Black.





I am writing this ownership report after riding my TB500 for 567 km and completing the first free servicing.



I have been dreaming to own a Royal Enfield since 1970s, when I was a teenager. My dream became a reality on 15 April 2013! Earlier, I had owned and sold many two wheelers, Lambretta, Vijay Delux, Priya, Hero Honda CD100 and Suzuki Fiero.

My desire to own a Royal Enfield renewed again last year, when my son wanted to buy Royal Enfield Classic 500 Black. So, along with him, I test-rode Royal Enfield models Electra and Desert Storm and Honda CBR 250R. I used to ride his Classic 500 during the weekends as my son uses it for commuting to and fro his office during the other days. After riding his bike, I decided that my next bike shall be Royal Enfield! In the meanwhile, Royal Enfield launched the new Thunderbird 500 in October, 2012, which I test-rode for the first time at HSR Enterprises, Rajajinagar, Bangalore. I also test-rode Vespa Lx125 when it was launched and did not like it. Finally, I took the plunge and sold my Suzuki Fiero and booked a Royal Enfield Thunderbird 500 Twilight after test-riding for the second time at Royal Enfield Brand Store, Adayar, Chennai on 16 November 2012 by paying 5,000 by cash towards advance. I was told that I would get my bike by March 2013.

I waited patiently until the first week of March 2013. From the second week, I started calling the Royal Enfield Brand Store to know my status atleast twice in a week. I was assured that I would get my bike by the third week, and then, fourth week and later, the first week of April 2013. But, nothing happened except the false assurances. I had become so famous there that I was identified by my voice!

I got fed up and vented my feelings in xBhp, Facebook, Twitter and other fora. I also emailed to Royal Enfield. Then, the things started moving fast. I paid 1,80,105 inclusive of the advance towards the on-road price by way of demand draft. The prices were revised from 1 April 2013, which could be the reason for the delayed delivery!

I did PDI, when my bike came to Chennai Mandaiveli RTO. The VIN indicated that my bird was March 2013 make. The pollution test was done 23 March 2013. Only after getting satisfied, I signed the RTO forms, afterwhich, my bike was registered.







I took delivery of my bird the same evening from Royal Enfield Brand Store after waiting for 5 months. The delivery process was smooth. Kamal Pandey, manager of Royal Enfield Brand Store, explained to me all the details patiently, which I had already known. Two litres of petrol were measured and poured into the tank in my presence. I was even given the registration number, but asked me to come the next day for affixing the stickers on the registration number plates.











After getting the stickers affixed on the registration number plates, I rode to Quality Metal Industries and my TB500 got a newly designed crash-guard. The details are here. The advantage of this type of crash-guard is that the rider's footwear will not foul with it although the front foot-rest peg is shifted towards the front in the new Thunderbirds.









While my wife and children were happy with the arrival of the Thunderbird amongst us, some known, well-known and unknown persons made the following comments:

'Does he require this huge bike at his age?'

'He should have bought a scooter so that he could control'

'Can he handle that bike?'

'He could have gone in for 350 cc at the most; not a 500 cc bike!'

I took all these comments with a pinch of salt. I could not make those people understand that I bought my TB500 after riding my son's Classic 500 for over an year!

I rode on my TB500 for about 200 km within Chennai city following all the stipulations specified in the owner's handbook, viz., not exceeding 50 kmph and 10 minutes rest for every hour of ride. However, the fifth gear could not be used much in the congested city traffic. So, I rode Chennai>Pondy>Chennai [323 km] with my wife in the pillion on 23 April 2013, when my TB500 was on the fifth gear most of the time on the highways. While going, I went by ECR; for the return journey, I took NH 66/45 via Tindivanam.

In Pondy, we visited Manakula Vinayakar temple, brunched at Adyar Ananda Bhavan, my TB500 had tankful of petrol at Aurobindo Ashram BP pump costing 65.09 per litre. We visited our relative before starting our return journey.

It's a new experience for me to ride through the toll plazas without paying and waiting! Some decades back, I rode Bangalore-Mysore-Bangalore [~300 km] in one day in my Hero Honda CD100.











My TB500 went to Royal Enfield Brand Store at Kottivakkam, Chennai, for the first free servicing on 24 April 2013. Earlier, I contacted them and I was told that I could ride into the service centre at 9 am without prior appointment. The bike would be serviced and handed over to me after 2.5 hours. I could wait there in the customer lounge, when my bike was serviced. My TB500 reached there by 9:15 am. Before I was attended by the SA, the security guy opened my bike's tank and measured the petrol level by inserting a dip-stick and noted the level in a register. First time, I witnessed this process. I had difficulty in bring the gear lever to the neutral position. The second problem that I faced was, some 'Dak..Dak' sound emanating from the chain-guard in a cyclic manner. The SA assured me that the issues would be set right.

I waited in the air-conditioned customer lounge, while my Thunderbird was getting serviced. I was served with coffee at 10 am. I browsed the newspapers. Then, I enquired with the cashier about the acceptance of credit card for payment without extra charge. The cashier informed me that additional service charge of about 1.75% would apply. So, I walked to the nearby Canara Bank ATM located on Rajiv Gandhi Salai [Old Mahabalipuram Road] and withdrew sufficient money to take care of the payment. I got back my bird by 12:15 pm. I checked. All the problems were resolved to my satisfaction. I paid 851 by cash and rode back home.















My son's Classic 500 Black's servicing at the crowded HSR Enterprises, Rajajinagar, Bangalore, takes two days with prior appointment by atleast one week before. Compared to that, my Thunderbird got serviced within 3 hours without any prior booking! The Chennai Royal Enfield Brand Store service centre was spacious. All the bikes were parked in the demarcated grid. The mechanics wore helmet while going for the test-rides. I am fully satisfied with the service rendered to my TB500.

My RE TB 500 Motorcycle Diaries

Now it's time to browse through the technical specifications of my TB500.























I like the following:

• Excellent power and torque: beneficial to both the highway and city riding
• Superb handling and riding quality
• Sharp brakes
• Powerful projector lamp headlamp
• Two-pod back-lit instrument cluster with digital displays
• Front foot-rest pegs have moveable springing joints, which will absorb the shock in case of a hit
• Rider-friendly handlebar position and foot-rest pegs: useful for long rides
• Excellent fit and finish compared to the other models of Royal Enfield
• Excellent company-owned ASS at Chennai with customer-friendly facilities
• The last, but not the least, rider's seat provides maximum comfort to the rider

I dislike the following:

• Digital display does not provide fuel efficiency in kmpl
• Quirky fuel gauge: the bars change abruptly several times
• Absence of 12 V charger for this premium highway cruiser
• Rear tail lamp & indicator cluster and registration number plate alignment points upwards by several degrees to the horizontal
• After buying this premium bike, Royal Enfield Brand Store did not provide key chains ['You have to buy this as accessory, Sir!'] and provided all the documents in a paper envelope that gave away the very next day!
• The last, but not the least, non-transparent delivery process. I was told 4 months, but got the bike after 5 months with the increased price. The stores manager told me that I would get my bike only on 18 or 19 April 2013. But, his staff called me on 15 April 2013 and delivered on the same day! Seems a lot of communication gap between the manager and his staff.

My FIAT Linea drove from Kanniyakumari to Khardung La. I hope, my Royal Enfield Thunderbird 500 will also follow suit.

Re: My RE TB 500 Motorcycle Diaries

Congrats on your bike and a very well written purchase experience. I liked you leg guard as well, hope it comes to Delhi soon so that I can get it fitted. I had the older model fitted which is quite close to the gear lever.


Also , has anyone gotten a louder silencer fitted in the thunderbird 500 in Delhi and around and if so what has been your experience ?

Any suggestions owners can share as I feel that when riding through the city the loud thump may help me clear traffic faster

Re: My RE TB 500 Motorcycle Diaries

@J.Ravi, congratulations!
OT: One of your pictures has a poster which reads "Kumbakonam Degree Coffee"
Whats the story behind that poster?

Re: My RE TB 500 Motorcycle Diaries

Thanks a lot, bwar, for the compliments.
If you need it immediately, contact Quality Metal Industries. They may ship one to Delhi.
Thank you very much, saipranav.
Kumbakonam Degree Coffee is a franchisee operating in many places on the highways of Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry. Many hotels and eateries have become franchisee. Pure filter coffee is available for 20. I was told that sign boards and coffee powder are supplied by the franchisor. We really enjoyed the filter coffee there.

More Photographs Of My Bird

Here is a bird's-eye view of my bird:



Some more photographs.









Today, while exploring my TB500, I found out that the cables were secured with the handlebar in a different, better way as compared to my son's Classic 500 Black. In my son's Classic 500 Black, rubber belts were used to secure the cables with the handlebar to avoid dangling.







This is the latest odometer reading of my bird:



I find the general fit and finish and handling and riding qualities of my Thunderbird 500 are far better than that of my son's 2012 Classic 500 Black.

Re: My RE TB 500 Motorcycle Diaries

Very nice pics sir ji

Btw, did you also get a RE keychain at the time of delivery? I had requested for one at the time of delivery of my T'bird, but the RE ppl said that I would have to separately purchase it as an 'accessory' :-X

Re: My RE TB 500 Motorcycle Diaries

Thanks a lot, parasharj.
No. They didn't give me. I was told to buy one as accessory. Not only that. All the documents were put in a paper envelope, which gave away the very next day. I mentioned these cost-cutting attitude of Royal Enfield in the list of dislikes.

re: Royal Enfield Thunderbird 500

Hello friends..
In riding bull frm 2003 onwards.. Basically use this machine for touring.. So far owned and sold bulls are
1) std350
2) tb 350 avl
3) std350
4) machismo avl 500
5) Electra 350 twinspark
And now
6) Thunderbird 500

I loved this machine.. Features.. Refinement, handling, braking etc
It was not available in jodhpur (my nearest dealer 250kms) agency guys told me to book it n wait for 4-5 months which I was not ready.. So tried many calls to friends in different states n agencies.. Finally got one machine
Did full amount of RTGS to dealers account.. Booked train tickets.. Got the. Train n after travelling 25 hours in train I've reached destination.. Diying to see the bike. My friend from that city took delivery n I had to reach his home ASAP.. It was 7 am in morning. Cold.. Took rikshaw n reached his home.. It was first glimpse of my black beauty same day we left for ride to shimla.. It was clubs annieversy.. Enjoyed partied for 2 days n then return journey of 1150 Kms started it took 2 days to reach home.. Bike was performing well n changed the oil 3 times till 1750 Kms. Now bike is butter smooth.. Washed bike after reaching home.. What I found was this
Well I'm not surprised with this coz I've seen this on my bulls earlier..

During 1750 Kms of first ride of my bike to home I felt rear tyre grip is not that great.. It tends to skid if excelirated hard in curves or during overtaking.. So changed rear tyre to ceat vertigo 130-80-18 n now it's awesome looks mean

Finally it's time to change scilencer.. Ordered one.. Custom made.. Will give pics once I get that. Planning to install K&N with that scilencer..

So far my experience was good.. It's better machine by RE so far..


CP
Barmer
8107887007

Sent from my iPhone using xBhp Connect mobile app

re: Royal Enfield Thunderbird 500

Thats great news, congats, by the way wanted to know if there are any impact on bull on changing the tyre n silencer ? n what about warranty ?

re: Royal Enfield Thunderbird 500

I never had an issue of warranty void due to change of tyres n scilencer..
now a days even many agencies do this job during delivery of bike..
I'm atleast doing it after running in


CP
Barmer
8107887007

Sent from my iPhone using xBhp Connect mobile app

re: Royal Enfield Thunderbird 500

Congrats Appu - BTW my Birthday is on 1st Dec, incase you feel philanthropic and would like to gift a bike .

Regarding warranty - I checked at the Brand store in Mumbai at the time of my bike's delivery and they said that changing the silencer would void the warranty.