Experience at the showroom: Walked in on a Saturday evening to take a look at the bikes available in this series, of course a lot of research on the bikes was done even before entering there. There was almost an hour spent at the showroom and only a fraction (10 minutes) spent by a sales representative to show the different bikes available and the details of these bikes, the downside to this was of course when a test drive was asked and the response was that Harley Davidson did not provide test rides on a Saturday which was obviously weird for such a huge brand, to top this off the sales representative mentioned that in case a bike stopped anywhere on the road there was a 24 hour helpline to call the nearest service station in the country and they would come to tow the bike away, once the bike was at the service center it would take close to two months for the issue to be fixed based on the part required to fix the bike. (So there goes my Leh-Ladakh trip planned in case something had to happen in between.
Though this did not let me down to take a test ride on another day, I found that the bike handled fairly well in normal conditions but did not have the Harley identifying thump or looks other than a logo stuck onto the tank.
Outcome: Harley Davidson bikes rejected on the time taken for service, the handling on the road and the thump we all love to hear from our bikes.

2. Hyosung Aquila 250:
Experience at the showroom: The salesperson were very helpful and willing to wait on you while they answered all the questions, the test ride was charged and would be deducted from the billing once you booked the vehicle which sounded like an amazing corporate strategy to ensure you go on to buy the bike. The downside to this however were the reviews on the web where all owners complained of seating comfort and high vibrations noticed on the bikes at speeds above 100 kmph, the test ride of the bike did nothing to instil confidence in the brand nor in the bike, the bike was fast but noticed a slight vibration as the speeds increased, of course we never do find open roads in the city to reach higher speeds to test its stability. While one of the customers who had recently purchased the bike and had a delivery scheduled during my visit to the showroom had impressed me with the Tail Gun silencer on these bikes (additionally fit).
Outcome: Bikes rejected based on the reviews online about the handling and after sales service provided.

3. Triumph Bonneville:
Experience at the showroom: Unfortunately this was one of the only brands I regret not experiencing the pre-sales customer service as the only bike in the brand which fit in the budget was the Bonneville, but the reviews online seemed to dishearten me and even more the looks of the bike discourage me from trying to test drive the vehicle.
Outcome: Bike rejected based on the reviews online and failed to test drive the bike due to factors mentioned above.

4. Royal Enfield:

Re: Royal Enfield - Thunderbird 500 cc : Adventures of Baloo

Approved and merged!

Nicely written. Few pointers from my end:

1. CBR 250R isn't a sports bike, it's a sports tourer and it is built for munching miles on the highway. City is little painful, but TB is in the same boat hence that shouldn't have been a deal breaker.
2. Don't blindly trust online reviews. Very few people (actual owners) have said negative facts about the Bonnie. It's meant to look like a retro bike and it blows similar priced bikes apart in performance. ASC maybe a concern for now because SVCs are few. It should improve over time.

Finally, congratulations on making a good choice. Our opinion shouldn't bother you if your choice brings a smile on your face whenever you get on the saddle.
Share some pics as well.

Re: Royal Enfield - Thunderbird 500 cc : Adventures of Baloo

1. CBR 250R isn't a sports bike, it's a sports tourer and it is built for munching miles on the highway. City is little painful, but TB is in the same boat hence that shouldn't have been a deal breaker.
2. Don't blindly trust online reviews. Very few people (actual owners) have said negative facts about the Bonnie. It's meant to look like a retro bike and it blows similar priced bikes apart in performance. ASC maybe a concern for now because SVCs are few. It should improve over time.

Finally, congratulations on making a good choice. Our opinion shouldn't bother you if your choice brings a smile on your face whenever you get on the saddle.
Share some pics as well.

Thanks Divya for the wishes ! it truely does feel amazing whenever I get on the saddle.

Point taken on the CBR 250 - however on the Bonnie my personal opinion was that it was too highly priced for the retro look.

Re: Royal Enfield - Thunderbird 500 cc : Adventures of Baloo

Congratulations and best wishes, Inn0cEnT.

That is the legacy of Royal Enfield. Even my Thunderbird 500 was delivered with cracked glass on the odometer, but unfortunately, I did not know they were cracks. Later, got it replaced when the odometer reading was 5,722 km! Notwithstanding the poor quality of materials used, I enjoy riding my bird on highways.

Re: Royal Enfield - Thunderbird 500 cc : Adventures of Baloo

Thanks J. Ravi - The idea of checking my speedo meter came from reading your blog post - you have been a good inspiration for me to get a TB-500 and also start blogging my travels, thanks on the other things also - I will be travelling to Puducherry and Chennai @ 5:00 am tomorrow and will be hopefully in time at quality industries to get my crash guard fixed.

Do let me know if you have any recommendations on the route from Bangalore to Puducherry as I wouldn't want Baloo to go through a rough ride and get his nuts and bolts loose.

Re: Royal Enfield - Thunderbird 500 cc : Adventures of Baloo

I don't know whether I am late as you might have already started your ride. Anyway, here it is: Bangalore>Krishnagiri>Arcot bypass>Cheyyar bypass>Vandavasi bypass>Tindivanam bypass>Pondicherry. From Pondicherry to Chennai, you can either take 4-laned NH 66/45 via Tindivanam or 2-laned, but scenic ECR via Mahabalipuram. Bon voyage.

Re: Royal Enfield - Thunderbird 500 cc : Adventures of Baloo



Why are you getting crash guard from Quality industries what i have heard that there quality of chrome parts has gone worse in the recent years.

Re: Royal Enfield Thunderbird 500

Hello Friends,

An update on my Blue Bird.

Recently added a pair of these projector fog lamps. Its a 10 Watt 12V LED. I purchased from www.ebay.in



Currently it looks like this on the bike.




Although I am not happy with its position as its modifying the face of my bike. My local friends suggested me to leave them as is ... as its looking cool but still I am not so happy.

I will put them on the crash bars with some nice arrangement.

I went to some technicians today to get it fixed on crash bar but it seems they were not in mood today.

Its a nice to have but not a replacement of the original head lights or HIDs

Below you can see the effect of light





Please share your comments.

Cheers,
Amit

Re: Royal Enfield Thunderbird 500

They are looking good mate. You can try them on crash guard as well. But I like it this way as well.


Sent from my iPhone 5 using xBhp Connect mobile app

Re: Royal Enfield - Thunderbird 500 cc : Adventures of Baloo

@kusmaker: While I did go to quality industries for the crash guard, they dint have any in black for me to pick up - I was initially looking at picking up the butterfly ones that J.Ravi has - but ended up liking another - due to unavailability of stocks I had to return empty handed this time. Do suggest your thoughts on the crash guard as I am yet to pick up one for Baloo


@J.Ravi: You have impeccable timing, I got your note exactly at Krishnagiri - after my research I was also led to believe the better route would be the one you suggested instead of the SH-66, however I was in two minds as the last time I had used SH-66 it was 4 years back and I was driving the car at night with thunderstorms (considering there would have been some improvement in the last 4 years + better weather conditions to cross Gingee forest hoping to spot something) - so your message just confirmed the route I should take, thanks again for that on such short notice.

Re: Royal Enfield - Thunderbird 500 cc : Adventures of Baloo

Trip to Talkad:
Total Distance Covered: 300 KM
Date: 17^th

View of the River Bed:


Broken Left Hand Side Mirror:

Re: My RE TB 500 Motorcycle Diaries

Ravi Sir, i need a help from you....

For the past one week, my TBs horn switch is not working. When i took to My nearest service center Pallikarani, where i bought they checked and informed that horn switch is faulty one and they can replace it under warranty. But after waiting for sometime they told currently they don't have stock. Then i took to OMR service station, Virugambakkam, Chrompet service stations but no use. Later i got info from a service guy that the Horn switch manufacturer 'Minda' had supplied faulty switches and many customers came and replaced their faulty switches before two months. Hence, all the showrooms are running out of stock. I want to escalate this issue and get it resolved as my daily commuting is getting affected lot. I came across a post where you replaced your fuel tank for paint peeling issue. Please provide me some contact point details....!

Re: My RE TB 500 Motorcycle Diaries

Sorry to learn about the faulty horn switch. Please write to [email protected]. You will get prompt response.

Re: My RE TB 500 Motorcycle Diaries

Thank you Ravi sir. I sent mail to this mail ID. i thought you got some other contact point details. Hence, asked you.

Re: My RE TB 500 Motorcycle Diaries

Baloo’s first service:
Date: 20^th May 2014
Running in: 487 KM

The rush at the RE service center (HSR) at Rajaji Nagar Industrial Estate was surprising, with me being a late riser any time before 10 am seems like an ungodly hour to do something, the service station was called prior to my visit and was told to reach there by 8 am to get the bike serviced, the service station did not take prior appointments and there was no guarantee of same day delivery of the bike, on reaching there I noticed there were already 20 bikes before Baloo and we were in queue, while the entry of the job card was in a systematic method where the security guard numbered the bikes as they arrived and the supervisors handed out job cards in the order of the arrival of the bike.

There were two complaints that needed immediate attention, the right hand side shield covering the battery had a dent that was not noticed during the delivery though the sales showroom had assured me replacement of the shield during the first service and the rear disk brakes which had jammed just the previous day in the city on a short ride to work. Now with all the advice and knowledge given to me from the service center I know better than to ask a road side mechanic to sort out the problem who opened the rubber cap on the disk break oil outlet and asked me to brake a few times, he then cooled the disk by pouring water and asked me not to use it for a few KM and then it just wouldn’t work. The simple solution is to park the bike and wait till the disk cools down a little, may be even pour some water on it if available to help the cooling process.

The disk had got discolored from the heat and its least expected in a bike run less than 500 KM, while the RE service center fixed the first issue along with the general first service recommendations, the issue of the disk remained unattended due to unavailability of spares (RE service center did not stock up on rear disk brake calipers) and was assured a replacement once the part was received.

On the way back while feeling upset over losing the left hand side mirrors, this was converted into the opportunity required for Baloo to get new Avenger mirrors which have a chrome finish compared to the stock plastic ones fitted on the Thunderbird 500, the urge to try on these new mirrors led to these getting fitted at the local mechanic during the rain filled evening.

Images of the Disc being discoloured: