Re: Royal Enfield Thunderbird 350 Owners Experiences

Mixing oil with petrol in the tank itself is done for two stroke IC engines eg. Chetak, Rx100 etc.

And it is not used for combustion as cheaper fuel...... It is for Lubrication!! You must have noticed white smoke out of RX 100.... this is because oil getting burned.

Re: Royal Enfield Thunderbird 350 Owners Experiences

Maybe you could check if the disc oil is at optimum level.

Exactly and hence I did recommend change of it.

If you do it without a pressure wash, hope you remove the caliper and then wash it? Ensure to clean the holes in disc plate also and then sand the plate and pads.

Re: Royal Enfield Thunderbird 350 Owners Experiences

Chromium is a metal and it doesn't rust, and is opaque - that's what you see. The chrome's oxide layer is clear. So, you have this (crude diagram):


************** Air **************
--------- Chrome Oxide (Clear) ---------
------- Chrome (Metallic, Shiny) -------
-- Base Metal (Won't see this anymore)

Once a chromium finish is applied oxidation cannot form or continue as active because there is no oxygen to feed the reaction.
One scratch or surface blemish that penetrates the chromium surface and allows oxygen to the surface metal and rust can and will form not only at the surface break but it can continue to consume the base metal under the chrome finish.

So the thing you see in the above pics are definitely not rust as chrome do not rust. And i would not recommend using sand paper as you will be losing protective coating the chrome provides. You can go ahead and get rid of all iron oxides/rust( looks red/maroon). Only Aluminium rusts like the way you see in the pictures with white stains.

I don't know the exact solution to the problem but i hope this may help.
[MENTION=61439]TranquilRage[/MENTION]- I read your ownership experience and I feel after you had done Anti-rust treatment you should kept it till monsoon ends. As our mothers say.... best way to avoid rust is avoid contact with water .

Re: Royal Enfield Thunderbird 350 Owners Experiences

I guess it must have been a 2 stroke bike/scooter. The oil is mixed with petrol in 2 strokes.

Re: Royal Enfield Thunderbird 350 Owners Experiences

Yes mate! WD-40 is for removing rust, tar and also a lubricant. As for chain lubrication you can use Wurth or cyclo chain spray that is available at most shell fuel stations.

Re: Royal Enfield Thunderbird 350 Owners Experiences

Hello All,
Have been pretty busy the last week... so could not post my replies
Thanks for the inputs. I will do what is needed.
My T'bird finished her first tankful today, and has given 35 KMPL!!! I think for a new bike, this is pretty good

Re: Royal Enfield Thunderbird 350 Owners Experiences

***Need inputs in RE TB 2004 model***

Is it twinspark or not?
A friend says it can start without battery as well?
What are the common known issues in this model?
Are input on spares?
What could be best price offered for this model considering it is single owner and 14k kms clocked

Please pour in suggestions!

Re: Royal Enfield Thunderbird 350 Owners Experiences

If it is RETB 2004 model the definitely it must have AVL (aluminum engine) engine and it is not twinspark.

Common know issues -- to be honest I am not much aware about it, but know one thing AVL engine Bulls have solid tappets (unlike hydraulic tappets in new UCE bullets) and solid tappets require periodic checking/tightening/loosening and it won't guarantee that tappets are adjusted well as you see it has to be adjusted manually, and a badly adjusted tappet means not so ideal opening and closing of two valves. You might have to run to mechanic often for getting it adjusted, especially if ridden hard.
Rest I am not aware much but I do know the pros and cons of all three engines to some extent.

Spares-- AVL no more into production, so spares very specific to it might be little difficult to get. But still since Bullet uses very simple machinery, so shouldn't be too difficult either but at any given day spares of UCE would be easier to get for one simple reason, this is the Bullet which is being produced now.

Best price -- Since CI Bullets are kind of vintage thing, so they are sold really costly but AVL I think anything between 50-60K for 14K odo reading shouldn't be a bad deal, unless the bike needs no more heavy work after that

Re: Royal Enfield Thunderbird 350 Owners Experiences

Hey...thank you very much for the timely help. I read your reply in my email but was unable to respond immediately. You see, my kid was trying to learn the phone mechanism while I was asleep and she somehow managed to tear it apart. I was wondering how the phone looked inside like the board and all. My long time has been fulfilled by my daughter .

Anyways, your feedback really helped and I was able to check on the '04 bull and found that not worthy enough.
I am now keeping fingers crossed on a 2006 model TB @ 63k. I've asked for 45k (greedy eh???). He has taken time until Thursday. If god permits, I should be able to get my hands on it by Friday max.

There is this weird noise on the top part of the head - guess it is tappets or cam adjustment. Most of the bullets that I visited in the past 3 days use free flow silencer for added thump. I just hope this does not take a toll on mileage et al.

1. I'd like the original TB silencer. Wonder how much would that be?
2. Have you come across somebody who have rebuilt the engine of RE TB? How much does the rebuild conclude to mate?
3. Can you point me to service/workshop/owner manual and technical specification for a 2006 TB please?

Sincere thanks for your time and responses!

Re: Royal Enfield Thunderbird 350 Owners Experiences

Welcome friend.
Now your one wish got fulfilled by your daughter and the second awaits

1. You could get that for around 3k I guess but if you are really keen on changing the silencer then better get a short bottle Indori which has three baffles inside. Beautiful thump and not free flow, doesn't effect mileage either. A good ine here in Bangalore cost just 1200 rs.

2. Not come across anyone as such

3. Service manual and technical specification surely I would share with you if I happen to get

BTW: This TB must be an AVL one right?

Sent from my X10i using xBhp Connect mobile app

Re: Royal Enfield Thunderbird 350 Owners Experiences

Yes it is! The bike does need some plating here and there or even replacement. Waiting until Thursday.

Rear Gas Shock Absorbers

I own April 2012 Thunderbird and have done 14500 kms so far. Last 200-300 kms, the rear gas shock absorbers seem to have given up and the rear tyre seems to touch the mudguard at each major speed breaker. Is it because it has lost the gas or I need to change the same? Has anybody faced with similar problems? How long should the rear shock absorber last?

Also the drain nut seems to leak the oil as the threads have taken a hit. As per the Authorized service center, this can be rectified by refilling and rethreading. Again has this been done by anyone? what can be the remedy?

take care and ride safely

Rajesh Kavthekar

Re: Rear Gas Shock Absorbers

Went for my first long drive on mt T'bird to Nandi Hills last weekend to quickly munch up the miles to 500KM
The first service is done at 600 KM (Yeah its more, but could'nt just stop the bike at Nandi Hills after it reached 500 KM right )
After the service, the bike's performance and rhythm has changed completely!! It feels far more refined now, and gearshifts are very precise.
I have one question, though... the fuel meter shows very erratic readings. At one moment, it shows lot of fuel is there, and a minute later, it drops to just one bar!!
Is there something wrong with the fuel sensor, or is this an issue I have to live with??

Re: Rear Gas Shock Absorbers

You will have to live with it brother. Ask anyone who has the new TB.... everyone has this same problem...

Re: Rear Gas Shock Absorbers

Hi Rajesh,
I had seen in other forums regarding your issue about the tyre touching the mudguard. I think the problem might be that in order to tighten the chain, the mechanic has increased the rear wheel's position. You can get it checked, and if it does'nt work out, you can get the mudguard bent outwards so that the tyre won't touch it again (this was the solution in the other forum... not my personal opinion )
And regarding the drain nut, the mechanics sometimes force tighten the nut, which results in the thread to wear out. The only solution is rethreading, but this may lead to further issues. Please take care and check the work before you confirm.

-Regards,
Sudhir MK