ThunderBird TwinSpark – A 10,000 Km Report
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Blackbird, as I call it fondly – has been more than a two-wheeler for me and my family. In fact, it has become a part of my family. Even when I’m not around, my parents take care of it – My neighbors love it and it has been my pride where ever I ride it to. I have covered about 12,000 fun filled kilometres on my bike till now which I bought it on 31-January-2009. There were both Ups & Downs owning the Bike, but overall it has been more of smiles than sad endings. I will take this moment to review the interesting 10,000 Km’s on my ThunderBird TwinSpark. The review is solely in my perspective of how I see things and what I feel about my Bike – It is bound to vary for others.
Looks (9/10): The Bike looks Sturdy, Macho and makes head turn where ever you go. Keep it shining, and it will shine up your day! The Nice Big Fuel tank, comfy sofa’ like seats, bigger tyres, relaxed high lift chopper style handle bars make the bike look the best. The Bike comes in three colours, I personally liked & favoured Black colour all the time – Also Silver and Red are other two wonderful variants for the ThunderBird.
The Instrument cluster is that of a Twin Pod comprising of Speedometer and Trip meter in one side and The RPM meter and Fuel Gauge on the right end. I’m content with the odometer designing, it looks classic, not too flashy and that it gives required details clearly.
The Rear-View-Mirrors (RVMs) are of immense use, But the view ability is not top-notch. It happens so that you end up bending up to get a clear view of who is behind or sometimes, you just won’t get proper view of who is behind you. If you are a regular Highway rider, I suggest you change it to that of Bajaj Avenger, Which not only adds better looks to the Bike, but also gets you more view of what’s behind you!
Engine, Power & Refinement (8/10): The Bike has a 350cc Engine, powered with Twin Spark feature which enhances quicker starts and better pickup / acceleration. It has Automatic Hydraulic Tappets, which helps in efficient combustion, optimal valve timings and not to forget the noise free engine!! Also, The Engine is fitted with an Automatic De-Compressor, which enables us to start the engine without any fuss.
Overall, the engine is stress free, relaxed and pulls away like a wild bull. I have personally ridden 250+ Kilometres / 4 – 5 hours non-stop. There were no signs of engine getting very much over heated or breaking down. Though, the engine does get heated up – That’s normal for a Bullet and once you got used to it – It will never fail you!
The power delivery is crisp; Throttle response is quick and was never sluggish – Not even when I rode a 12 hour ride in rain from Chennai to Coorg last Monsoon. The vibrations are plenty after you hit 4000 RPM and till then it just eases away! Also, try to run in your bike during every long trip – do not just hop on and start milting 100+Kmph. Run in gradually increasing the speed and change the gears at proper RPM levels. Vibrations are normally less once you run the bike constantly increasing the speed from 60 to 80 to 90 than hitting 90 right away.
Top speed was never in my thought and it just vanished away after buying ThunderBird TwinSpark. I bought the bike for relaxed touring and not for high speed runs. I always try to keep it around 4000 – 4500 RPM and the maximum speed I was able to obtain was 115 KMPH on the Speedo @ 5000 RPM, Not to mention the vibrations that you would have to incur speeding away at 5000 RPM.
About the technical details: The Bike powers a 350c Engine, Cranking out a nice 19.8 BHP @ 5250 RPM. And for the torque, which always is a backbone of bullets – The TBTS has 28Nm @ 4000 RPM. The engine Gear-Box is equipped with five speed transmission (One Down – Four Up) favourable for mid-range torque!
Main Advantages & Features:
- 350cc Unit Construction Engine with Twin spark
- Engine: Single cylinder, 4 Stroke, OHV, Dual spark ignition engine, air – cooled
- Power: 19.8 BHP @ 5250 RPM and Torque: 28 Nm @ 4000 RPM
- 280mm disc-front brake and 150mm drum-rear brake for instant stop
- Rear gas filled shock absorber
- Fatigue Free Riding
- Comfortable Sofa’ like seats
- Chopper like Handle Bars
- Front Disk Breaks
- Powerful Halogen 55W Bulb offering better visibility at Night
- 19” Tyres –Useful for both off-roading / touring
- Higher Mileage because of UCE Engine – More than 40 KMPL
Disadvantages & Problems:
- Breaks aren’t effective as they could have been.
- Oil Leakage is a Big issue for all New TBTS Bikes.
- At least for the first 1000 kilometres, the engine gets heated up pretty quickly and engine gets a bit noisy.
- The Bike is heavy, and for those thinner ones like me – It takes two to lift up a fallen Bike!
- Not so very easy to manure in the dense traffic.
- Rear-View-Mirrors could have been designed for better view ability
- The price seems a little costly, But for the dominance of Technology – which again holds good for both advantages / disadvantages!
My Verdict (8/10): The ThunderBird TwinSpark is overall an amazing bike. It covers almost all of the newer technological aspects, has stricter emission norms, gives you incredible mileage and has less or very much little maintenance issues comparing to the older Bullets. For a touring freak like me, there is no other bike which gives me a comprehensive package like that of a ThunderBird TwinSpark and happy that I bought one and will always recommend for my friends to buy one. Why wait? Leave Home, on a ThunderBird TwinSpark!
- Ananth
Related posts:
- Royal Enfield Thunderbird Twinspark Review
- Royal Enfield Bullet Classic 350cc & 500cc EFi
- Sudarshan’s Love Affair with Silver Karizma R
- Auto Expo 2010 – Complete Coverage of Motorcycles
- Bajaj Pulsar 180cc DTSi Review
25 comments
Deepak on November 5, 2009 at 8:31 pm
Whenever I see a passionate review of a bike, I feel like buying it. A few weeks back I felt like buying Fazer, now I think TBTS is made for me…
Great review. Good Luck with your tours!
BikeBhp.com on November 5, 2009 at 11:41 pm
Whenever I see Thunderbird, it always seems to me a half heartedly done cruiser design by Royal Enfield, it could have been designed much better then its existing looks, typically a beast with 350cc(or more) mill should have been designed from scratch rather then using the good old Bullet chassis with a cheap petrol tank elevation.
Imagine Thunderbird specially with new fabulous looking UCE Engine if coupled with “tear drop” petrol tank like Harley Davidson, inclined front fork like any other true cruiser and extended foot pegs would fit the bill perfectly.
Seeni on November 5, 2009 at 11:51 pm
Gr8 review Ananth!!!
Even i am getting tempted to buy this after seeing this review….
BTW what bike do you have Deepak?
Deepak on November 6, 2009 at 8:53 am
@Seeni: I have a HH Karizma 2004 Model. Done 20,000km so far. I still love it too much to get it replaced.
Ananth on November 6, 2009 at 10:40 am
@Deepak: Thanks for your comments, I do love my ride and waiting for just holidays to start off with my tours
@BikeBhp.com: I agree with your point, But the design & engine itself has been under scrutiny / under a lot of R&D for many years – Its not so easy just to plonk a different chassis / inclined front forks – I agree it will look a killer – but what about the handling? It will be so difficult to move the beast within city – So if you want the looks and comfort on a highway, can you just discount the handling part within city? I’m not saying its IMPOSSIBLE, It is POSSIBLE – but with a lot of R&D and the help from a like-minded bikers like us
CarAdvice on November 6, 2009 at 2:39 pm
A very good review indeed. Does the new classic tempt you.
@ Deepak – Just 20,000kms till now? :S
Ananth on November 6, 2009 at 5:59 pm
@Seeni : Thanks and Good Luck in advance, if you are to book the beast
@CarAdvice: Thanks, and yes – The classic does tempt me – But i would still go with the TBTS for the cruiser looks and the comfortable fatigue free handlebars. If at all a new ThunderBird comes with the 500 EFI engine – I would definitely go for it
ATS on November 11, 2009 at 10:40 pm
Fantastic review Ananth. The fact that you covered 12K Kms in just about 11 months suggests you are one hell of a rider. Excellent pros and cons listed. Im not a very huge bullet fan but loved reading the review.
Ananth on November 12, 2009 at 3:22 pm
Thanks ATS – I had actually covered the 12k Kilometers in 9 months and was in Canada for the last two months – giving me ample time to relax and write a review about my BlackBird
siddhant karki on November 13, 2009 at 11:39 pm
guys today i got my thunderbird the same day i ordered.
man what a bike people stare at you and believe me it makes you so proud that nothing can make be compared to that.
the very same day i rode it for almost 50 kms and it was just amazing.
you know what was my experience in the showroom .
i didnt told my dad the real price of the bike because i knew he would never agree in the showroom he was told the price he suggested to go for pulsar220 instead but i just told him to take a test drive and believe driving it for 10 mins he told the salesman to finish up the formalities i just couldnt believe on my eyes he agreed and in almost 1 hrs i was driving this macho machine.
just dont think guys go for it
Vinit on November 17, 2009 at 3:04 pm
hey man loved ur comments. was planning to buy this bike. love the cruiser feel it has. but the only problem i feel in all the bullets is the oil leaks. was bit confused betw avenger & TBTS. obviously we ccant compare the two. but only thought abt avenger was bcoz it was priced at 75k. still i wud convince my dad for this. a mileage of over 40 is gr8 for 350cc bike man truly. even avenger cant give more than 32. overall i just wantd to ask whether there are other maintenance problems in the bike?? thanks
Anant on November 24, 2009 at 9:21 pm
Nice review.. Well listed pros and cons. I am a proud owner of a TBTS too. Just a few points- for long drives carry extra tyre tube, clutch wire and spark plug with you. In case of a break down, it would be very helpful if you know some bike repairing. The spares are not easily available at remote places.
I disagree with BikeBHP, a tear drop design etc. would have made the bike a copy of Harley Davidson and would have taken away the originality from the bike. I personally feel that the bike looks smart and macho because it is different from HD. A HD though macho isn’t a smart looking bike. Although never had a chance to ride it, but I am sure it is more like Avenger making it a very comfortable but not a very good handling bike.
I have been able to bend the bike beautifully at curves only because of the great handling.
@Deepak, I didn’t face any problems with my rear view mirrors, but what I feel is that they are very ergonomically placed. You needn’t bend your head if you want to look behind, which is usually the case with other bikes.
Ananth on November 25, 2009 at 10:52 am
@siddhant: Very true! Though i had to wait for 30 days to get the dream machine!
@Vinit : Thanks! But i personally did not opt for Avenger as it has the same Pulsar 200’s engine plonked. May be personal opinions differ, but i guess TBTS wins the bid everywhere, except for the higher price which again gets you the exclusivity!
@Anant: Thanks so much for reading my review
And by the way, My saddle bag just has almost every spare required on a long ride – Clutch cable, tyre tube , puncture repair kit – You name it , I carry it 
Sachin on November 30, 2009 at 11:56 pm
Really good decent review. Well appriciated ananth. Keep posting such reviews.
Also photo quality is really great.
Ananth on December 1, 2009 at 7:58 am
Thanks for your comments Sachin
Nilesh on December 28, 2009 at 9:06 am
Hi Guys, I am plaaning to become a proud owner of TBTS this week. I have checked on each and every thing about this bike & am quite satisfied. The only thing I am not sure is the oil leakage problems. Are they really there or are we just comparing it with the old RE’s? Can somebody elaborate on this part please? Cheers…
Ananth on December 28, 2009 at 6:41 pm
Nilesh, Please go a head with your purchase. Oil leak problem is there, but can be solved out after riding 1000 kms on the bike. Just ask your mechanic to tighten all screws / gaskets and seal the area with oil leak.
The service center guys should be well versed with Oil leaks, so dont worry – listen to your heart – roar out and get the thumper
teja on December 31, 2009 at 4:46 am
folks, is it true that the pick-up of TBTS is not good?
also, does the color of silver and red tbts fade in course of time..
Nilesh on December 31, 2009 at 8:48 am
Thanks for your comments Ananth and a great review indeed… Cheers
Ananth on January 6, 2010 at 10:24 am
Teja, The pick up is amazing on the TBTS. You will never know that you are on a Bullet! Go for it, you will never look back.
Also, The colours do not fade unless you ride it in extreme conditions all the time. see to that you clean up the bike / give a polishing (200 bucks) every service – it will stay intact for long! Happy riding.
Nilesh – Thanks!
sunny on January 24, 2010 at 2:13 pm
i like thunderbird when it was comes in 2003 the look of this bike is very attractive chrome work in the bike is very beautiful to attract i ask that it was right to replace the rim to alloy wheels
Boney on February 12, 2010 at 11:10 pm
Hey great review man… I really enjoyed reading it. I wud like 2 get a little help from u guys. Am planning to buy my 1st bike and am really confused. I am not sure which bike i should buy. I’ve been reading a lot of reviews and now i am even more confused. A few of my friends suggested P220 and a couple of others suggested me to go for the Bullet family. I want my ride to be the center of attraction to my friends as well as my cousins. Somebody pleeeaasse help me.
I am looking for a good looking, fast, solid bike with 40+ fuel efficiency and of course reliable after sales services.
Oh, and i am just a 20 years old and i would love to boast a little to my peers about my new ride…
Please HELP me….
vishal on February 22, 2010 at 10:45 pm
hi folks, i bought a thunderbird (tbts) on this 19th .i need some advice as to how i should drive it in the initial days.have already covered 172 kms and didn’t exceed the 50km/h mark . looking forward to ur suggestions.
Yogesh on February 24, 2010 at 3:17 pm
Ananth has given us so much confidence to go n buy !! thanks.
(CC : Royal Enfield Thunderbird Twinspark Review article)
Most probably I’m to book TBTS by this monday,(de say month after that to deliver)this showroom is in other town 1hour to us, so m gonna fit in the accessories once n for all, d day i get delivery.
ANY SUGGESTIONS??
de don’t give sideGuard as standard accs, which no doubt must buy but apart from that i think SareeGuard is very useful to me, does it kill the look?
P.S. classic didn really appeal me personally but showroom guy insists to give a serious thought wen I come on Monday( as350comes in same price n engine)
hope that won’t put me in dillema again.
Any advise in this regard??
Yogesh
Yogesh on March 6, 2010 at 3:41 pm
@Ananth
hey u say,
“At least for the first 1000 kilometres, the engine gets heated up pretty quickly and engine gets a bit noisy.”
so does it go/lessen after more ruuning??
just yest I encountered 1000past bike of a distant frn n it has tappet noise its really annoying.(the owner guy is wishing it to sell for just the noise) but more serious prob is there is considerable difference in pick-up for this bike. The bike I test ride 4 months back in showroom, had good initial pick-up.
Makes me re-think bout my booking of new one.