Guys, my Thunderbird would be delivered in a couple of days..

What are the things to check before buying the ride?

Should i get the original RE Leather SaddleBags or a Cramster would do??

Ananth,

I think the cramsters would be a better bet as the RE leather saddle bags are horribly overpriced. The RE brand store guy was quoting 5 or 6k IIRC when someone was enquiring about it. On the other hand, Cramsters are cheaper at around 2200INR. IMHO, the leather saddlebags are for posers and cramsters are for riders.

Check oil levels. Sometimes the showroom chaps forget to fill in oil fully.
Also, take your new bike out for a test ride before taking delivery. Coast down on a slope with your engine off to check for any abnormal sounds from the cycle parts. Also listen to the engine. After this, a thorough visual inspection and you also need to check the chassis/engine number for the year and month of manufacture. The first digit indicates year and the alphabet at the end indicates the month of manufacture, with A being January and so on. Also, you will get a road tax copy, insurance cover note, user manual, 2 keys, a first aid kit and basic tools with the bike.

Cramster will do just fine. Ride the bike 'nicely' till the 1st service atleast and then take it for a long ride. Stick to around 70-75km/h in top gear till the 1st service is done

I beg to differ about the leather bags. I have seen a couple of my friends who have been using leather saddle bags for over 7 years and they r still fine. If the construction is good, then leather saddle bags are ones to keep.

now, i am not sure how good the enfield leather bags are, but if the quality matches the price, then that's the one to go for.

Just my opinion.

Prajwal

Thanks for the replies Jay & Skipper! I would do as suggested!

Anyway, Im taking a Enfield Mechanic with me while getting the bike, hope that should help me out!

Also, The RE ShowRoom Quoted 7k for the Original Leather SaddleBags - As again, they had asked for 15 days time for delivering the bags

7k is too much for a SaddleBag - so going with Cramsters...

Those leather bags are just good for show off thats all. go for cramsters. if you want them to be even better see if a friend has a cramster get one made custom for your needs.

is "pedestrian slicer" number plates illegal???.. does it make any rule violation if done in new bullets??

needs reply from kerala members also....

Guys, Finally i got my ThunderBird - Adding a few pics - Sorry for the poor quality images - taken from ma mobile....

Thanks a ton for all your advices and suggestions.. Thank you very much!!

Hey Shine, you can certainly go for one i dont think that any one would be bothered...

Thank u DD. My mechanic here warned me that if go for pedestrian slicer i shud keep the normal one also .. otherwise in case of traffic checkings they ll charge petty for slicer numberplates.. I ll confirm it with sankar too..

Congrats ananth... enjoy ur ride..

Thumping regards
Shine

Hey guys,

I am sorry for my ignorance but could any of you tell me what these kinds of number plates are. Are these the ones that people get installed on their front mudguards?

If you happen to have a picture, then please put that up as well.

Take care.

Happy thumping,
Prakhar

yes Prakhar you are rite

wHAT COULD THIS NOISE BE?

I think the tappets are making a metallic RATTLING/CLICKING noise. I dug around the www for all noises related to engine and finally found this video on youtube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IuqeZiNKEVU

Now, my LB500 doesn't make this ticking/tappetty noise when idling, but the same noise occurs intermittently when I accelerate and decelerate at particular rpms.

Here are the details:While riding on the highway with sparse traffic, I gave a good ear to the engine. She makes a ticking/clicking/clattering noise. This noise is evident especially when accelerating and decelerating in every gear. It does not sound like knocking/pinging. Usually I upshift by ear and feel. I shift to second at about 20Ks on the speedo. Third at 35-40. Fourth at 50 and top gear at 60Ks on the speedo. When I upshift, this clicking noise occurs at engine speeds just before upshifting. This happens in every gear. Also, the same noise occurs while downshifting. This has led me to think that the noise could be due to the pulse air valve working. This noise does not occur on a cold engine. On a warm engine it occurs when II have ridden for a few KMs and NOT as soon as I start the warm engine after a short butt break. I have read in a few forums that the pistons of many AVL 500LBs get loose. So, I am wondering whether this could be the case with her. The noise automatically goes away when I touch 68-70Ks on the speedo.

Also, the intensity of the noise is lower than that of the noise that is captured on this video. It is a more subdued ticking. So, I guess it is the tappets which are making the "rattling" noise. The precise noise in my LB500 is similar to the one in the video when the camera moves away to the back of the bike. Can you hear the slight ticking? This is what my bike makes, and that too intermittently, only while acceleration and deceleration, and only while hot.

To eliminate the slight doubt of detonation due to bad fuel, that was lingering in my mind, I filled in a liter of Speed 97 octane(the highest grade available here) petrol and tried to hear whether the sound has been eliminated. No, it was making the same rattle. From this, I have inferred that it may probably be due to the tappets.

Meanwhile, you guys also please watch the video closely and give in your inputs.

ya same on front mudguard. i ve read in some websites specific name for that number plate. i ve seen many people fixed it in front mudguard as well as normal number plate.. i think that is bcos of traffic rule violation.


and Desideep i asked sankar abt this he told he got a warning frm police to change it to normal one.

anyways i m not intersted to fix both number plates .

thanks for ur replies Prakhar and Desideep

Carb for a bull!

My friend has a 350 cc CI Bull(Sorry, am dumb when it comes to bulls and so do not know their nomenclature or the model names). His BULL runs on a VM28 carb. The carb off-late has gone kaput and he wants to get a replacement. His mech has adviced him against a VM24 or Mukuni BS29 which incidently are the only two carbs that he gets in the showrooms here. He wants to know where to get them ain Chennai or Bangalore and the cost. He was though able to find out a VM28 second hand carb for 1600. Can anyone help?