Re: Royal Enfield Thunderbird 500

BTW why you want to kick start the bike in the morning? Why not use starter.

As regards vibrations from front - check the front folks chrome tops on which indicators are mounted. They have a rubber seal which might have broken. Happened with me.

Re: Royal Enfield Thunderbird 500

I had a RE, kick starting in the morning is not a good habit as it puts unnecessary load on the EFI.
The best practice is to just get the oil flowing by giving a couple of kicks with clutch depressed.
After that start normally with the electric start.
About the erratic throttle that's normal in a RE unless the problem is affecting your riding.
As someone mentioned slight lag is expected, call it RE engineering xP

Feels like engine stall when revved

Hi,

I am a Thunderbird 500 owner+rider since May this year. When I rev up/accelerate my bike, it produces sound as if engine were stalling (as if I am riding her in low rpm at high gear). Is this normal?If not, then what could be possible problem(s)?

Best Regards,
Nitesh

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When I start my Thunderbird, I hear a buzzing sound which keeps buzzing till the engine is switched off. Earlier this buzz used to go away as soon as the malfunction indicator turned off. Is this problematic? Should I report this to the ASS? My bike runs fine otherwise.

Regards,
Nitesh

Re: Royal Enfield Thunderbird 500

Buzzing sound must be of the fuel pump and it must had been there earlier also. Its a normal feature and no probing required. Stalling may be a serious issue and you need to get it shown to ASC guys. First try maintaining a good gear rpm ratio and then if you are convinced that its a permanent issue then get your bike looked into.

Re: Royal Enfield Thunderbird 500

Can someone please suggest a maintenance-free battery for a 2015 Thunderbird 500? I am facing self-start issues since quite some time. Sometimes on pressing the starter button, nothing happens, sometimes it cranks and dies and the low-battery icon keeps flashing in two attempts.

I am at my wits end finding someone to top-up the battery - not sure if anyone does that anymore. I know the battery is 12V-14A; can I fit a 12V-9A Sealed battery (Amaron some other brand?) I'm fine if the horn doesn't work as long as the self-start and headlights work fine.

Ninth Service

Yesterday, my Thunderbird 500 got its ninth servicing done at Sri Velavan Motors, Greams Road, Chennai, costing ₹ 2,263 inclusive of taxes. Gave the bike at 9:30 am and got it back at 7 pm. Paid by credit card without any extra charges. Got the OE stock throttle cable replaced as I don't want any surprises in my future rides. Engine oil was also replaced. My bird skipped one service, while doing the Dalhousie ride, resulting in cost per km coming down from 78 paise to 67 paise!



The previous service details are here.

Re: Royal Enfield Thunderbird 500

Dear Bulletiers,

I have a small query of you can help me with.
I have 2015 Thunderbird and have done 21000 KM in a year. Now my bike is due for a servicing and i want to move to motul 5100 15w50.
What should be the ideal process for engine oil change. And few people suggest that oil chamber need to be opened and cleaned with cleansing solvent but Enfield says otherwise.
So please help me with this.
Thanks
Funrider

Motorcycle handle bar mount for TBTS500

Hi all..

I was thinking about buying a handle bar mobile(5.5inch) mount for my TBTS500. I have zeroed in on Rynox RY 0008. Will that be a good buy? I know TB500 vibrates a lot in higher speed but will they fall off? I mean how is the clip sturdiness? If you guys can suggest any other product, please do so.


Thanks,

Ritabroto

Re: Royal Enfield Thunderbird 500

Dear Fellow Riders,
May you all accomplish more miles , great pleasures and be absolutely safe , this year and definitely years to come.

Sorry, I could not be this active on the forum, life and priorities !
I just wanted to share , my experience from past few months with TBTS500. Rides have been fantastic and the beast as it always does leaves no stone upturned. The more miles you have on the odo, the more irresistible urge you have to go back to it again and again.

Since the day ( comes out 10 months now) , I have been an owner I always faced this problem with my front forks. They were always very soft, and on every ditch, bump or speed breaker had the feeling that metallic co-centric pipings are coming in contact. I've had the metallic plate, below the instrument cluster broken twice from its hinges.
The shin-guards, always left a mark on the mud-gurads, making the overall experience very scary at times. With the kind of roads we have, I always used to be distressed with the contact noise.

Yesterday, to much of their disagreement I went to a Enfield Service Station and made them take both the forks out and check them. The quantity of oil was suppositively was found lesser than it should have been!
The Service manger concluded that Classics require about 180 ml where-as TBs need about 200ml of the suspension fluid.The missing 20ml was the reason for all the problems. Half of this, I feel is utter BS but maybe something other fellow riders can have checked if they are facing the same issues !

I'll probably take mine out for a long ride this weekend to check that if this hypothesis turns out to be true. On hitting the potholes, I definitely feel the difference, and with the stiffer front forks, I feel much more confident accelerating and breaking . But well this is just one story . At lest a work day lost was not a complete waste

The metallic plate has been gas weld with reinforcements on both hinges , because Jugaad is the closest to innovation we have.

Tenth Service @ 32 k km . ₹ 4,754

My Thunderbird 500 got its tenth service done at Sri Velavan Motors, Thousand Lights, Chennai, yesterday and today.





My bird had been running with the stock OE clutch cable and the spark plugs for 32 k km. So, I requested for replacement of both. In the last ninth service at 26 k km, the throttle cable was replaced on my request. I noticed oil leakage on the engine and the crankcase [both on RHS] after returning from my GJ ride. So, I asked the service adviser to check thoroughly and replace the gaskets, if necessary. Since it was 6 k km after the last service, I asked for the replacement of engine oil and the filters. SA advised me in vain to go in for their package for 30 k km, which included replacement of many small and sundry items [like brake fluid reservoir kit, oil-level window, etc.], totally costing ₹ 5,500 and also the chain and the sprocket. I said, no to all these.

Re: Royal Enfield Thunderbird 500

Do you have further feedback about this shock absorber? I am a little apprehensive of using it since TBTS would surely weigh more than Karina and using that shocks might have an impact on safety and riding comfort.

Besides, I saw one TBTS fitted with Conti shocks, the pair costing 14thousands. Has anyone has tried this and have any feedback?

Can anyone else suggest any other replacement shock absorbers?

New MRF Nylogrip Zapper C Tyre With Tube . ₹ 2,300

Today, I received a call from the friendly neighbourhood tyre dealer, Lal Enterprises, Chennai about the arrival of the tyre for my bird; took my bird in the evening and got the new tyre fitted. I am hopeful that the new tyre would serve me as well as its predecessor.

Re: Royal Enfield Thunderbird 500

I checked out the 500cc machines in person at the RE dealership. Here are the list of changes made in the new BS4 UCE500.


1) O2/Lambda sensor: Now the EFi is upgraded with Keihin closed loop. A proper update long due. Exhaust note is muted, but smooth & continuous. Thanks to O2 sensor which updates the ECU in real-time. Expect better performance & fuel efficiency.

2) Single spark plug: Secondary spark plug is removed. The motorcycle runs on single spark plug. However the 350's are still Twin spark'd.

3) EVAP system & dual catalytic converters: Petrol cansiter & purge valve along with loads of pipes.

4) The exhaust pipe thickness is now changed, hence the BS3 silencers won't fit the BS4 bend pipe.

5) AHO ofcourse. Sadly no ABS.


Now the domestic 500 machines are same spec as US/AUS export models. Thank you RE! Wished for UK spec model, which included ABS.

Re: Royal Enfield Thunderbird 500

Gentlemen,

I have been riding Enfield for 12 years now. Until last year I had a 5 speed 50th anniversary model. The black and silver colour scheme one. The thing never gave a single problem, baring a broken clutch wire once, which I think does not qualify as an issue. I had three accidents on that. One was major and resulted in a broken finger of my left hand in 2008.

Only last year I replaced it with a TB 500. The switch was mainly keeping in mind better offerings. Clearly the two products are vastly distinct. In June I will mark one year. So far there has been no issues. Few things are on my wish list to upgrade. Would appreciate your two bits;

1. Handle bar- does it add to any comfort. Since I take reasonable rides on Sundays, I would be happy to have a sweet ride. Any downside?

2. Headlamp bulbs/ addition of led's - do they improve visibility. Any I'll effect on motor cycle or battery.

3. Alloy wheels/ tubeless tyres - so my RE dealer in New Delhi organised a DIY workshop few weeks ago for customers. There I learnt that the procedure to unrack the rear wheel is tasking and may roadside vendors may not be able to accomplish. So rather than siting roadside with a flat, I would love to safely switch to tubeless tyres.

4. Body cover - I bought the one RE offered. But the material is very delicate and it has given away. Any better quality covers?

5. Foot pegs - in my Electra the foot pegs were really hard and solid. They gave a feel of built to last. I have had the first hand experience in all three falls I had. Had it not for the pegs my legs might have suffered some injury. So this brings me to the question. The foot pegs in TB 500 are using springs underneath and they fold easily. Should it not be a cause of worry in case the motor cycle falls. Can they be changed?

Thanks

Strange noise

Hi,


From the last couple of days I am getting a constant sound("khat-khat" type) coming from the bottom end/rear wheel in low gear/if I am going uphill. I ride a thunderbird 500 with 8K+ kms on the odo. The motorcycle isn't even 1 year old. Last time this sound came, I checked it with SVC & they told me that the chain got loose & they fixed it. Now my question is if that is true then why is it happening now again in such a short time? If you guys think it's not loose chain problem then what is it? Kindly help

Regards,


Ritabroto