Speaking of Enfields - Thunderbird

[Diesel Dave]

Great name for a bike, it’s only a matter of time before Triumph use it again.

But until they do ladies and gentlemen I give you the Royal Enfield 350 Thunderbird......



All I have to do now is develop my Indian sense of cool by growing a huge moustache and wearing flared trousers.

Seems to run on goodwill as the fuel level doesn’t seem to change, not fast by any means so I’m going to call him ‘Wheezy’.

[knapdog]

That's lovely.
Triumph still do the Thunderbird but it's a 1700 cruiser.
A month or so ago I was a gnat's whisker away from getting a mint Thunderbird Sport 900 on ebay..
Great bike DD.

[horobags]

Very nice Dave, the newer UCE home market models look quite nice too. I was looking at one last year over here ,it was a bit expensive claiming it was rare. Its a shame M/GB didn't make them an official import.

[alihar07]

What's the difference between the Thunderbird and the Bullet models?

[Capitano]

Warriors MC Mumbai approve.

[Diesel Dave]

What's the difference between the Thunderbird and the Bullet models?

Not a great deal really, it has a top triple tree rather than the usual casquette so the headlamp is separate and so are the clocks. Additionally it has a tacho and a fuel gauge.

It has a UCE type engine, a slight step forward from the older iron barrel version so apart from being all alloy, it also has gear type oil pumps and a revised head design.

Overall the Thunderbird is a styling excercise and so it looks like a japaneese ‘cruiser’ (think of anything Kawasaki LTD).

[bart]

What's the difference between the Thunderbird and the Bullet models?

Not a great deal really, it has a top triple tree rather than the usual casquette so the headlamp is separate and so are the clocks. Additionally it has a tacho and a fuel gauge.

It has a UCE type engine, a slight step forward from the older iron barrel version so apart from being all alloy, it also has gear type oil pumps and a revised head design.

Overall the Thunderbird is a styling excercise and so it looks like a japaneese ‘cruiser’ (think of anything Kawasaki LTD).

I thought the thunderbird was pre unit not uce ?

[Diesel Dave]

Apologies, I meant to put AVL but the memory needle got stuck in the groove, it is pre-unit but has the later 5 speeder with left foot gearchange and right foot brake. If you know your Enfields then you will realise the gearchange shaft has to exit the gearbox, pass through the engine oil tank and then through the primary drive case as well before exiting and having a change lever bolted on.

In C90 style it has a heel and toe lever although more like the Innova with the rubber front part - the heel part on this particular example is pretty slippy.

There is a new unit Thunderbird X, but as always, home market only.

[Diesel Dave]

So far I've completed two midweek rides (we have a Royal Enfield club ride every Weds - aka Retirement Ride), the first was 75 miles and this weeks was 65 miles. add some local running around for shopping etc.

Fuel gauge shows 3/4 full......

I think it runs on air and goodwill; perhaps the fumes coming off the fuel in the float bowl.

[bart]

My classic does average 93 mpg..