Hi guys. I am feeling like wow! right now, for two reasons. 1st one being that its my first review and 2nd and the most important that its about the Bike in whose awe and dream I have been living in. The moment I used to see that bike on road, everything came to a stand still for me, and no matter at what speed I was driving my own bike, I used to slow down and match with it.
I am talking about RE Thunderbird which I finally got of my own last week. Well it wasn’t easy though as many oppositions stood in the way just like other bulleters must have experienced before buying one. Being 5’7, average built, my family members without any 2nd thoughts had rubbished any talks of buying TBTS, secondly its price tag further hit the final nail in the coffin.
Still I stuck to my stand, and finally was able to pursue them to allow me to buy my dream bike. Well the review might be long as I am writing down my feelings and not any review, as I don’t think I am that technically sound to write a review, so please bear with me. So finally got my Thunderbird Twinspark Midnight Black last sunday for a price tag of Rs.1,14,400 (delhi on-road) and since then have been itching to drive it all the time.
The feeling is just amazing, to sit on the bike and cruise at 40km/hr (can’t drive beyond that till 1st service) and to listen to that beautiful sound (dug-dug-dug-dug-dug). Plus you get queries on red lights, glances from other motorists, makes you feel a proud owner and like the king of the road.
I have driven my TBTS for 300km now in 1 week (I was expecting the figure to be around 150km or so, but the love for the bike made me achieve that). Can’t comment on the technical aspects as of now. But will talk about it as a layman would understand.
Positives
- Correct me if I am wrong, the torque settings have been tuned so well that even in 5th gear it picks up easily from the speed of 40, you can even cruise at 40 in 5th gear. Not once, even while climbing a flyover it has knocked or given jerks.
- Bike is as smooth as butter. Being just 70kgs, I used to wonder if I will be able to handle a 180+kg bike easily in traffic. But it has proved me wrong. Once you start riding its so light, even in heavy traffic, I haven’t felt even a wee bit uncomfortable. I used to own a Pulsar 150 2003 model prior to this, which I used to just zip across the streets and on stretches touched 115km/hr as well. TBTS has also been very light to drive, but it shows its weight on the curves, you cant bend the bike too much, otherwise it will surely be on top of you.
- Kick has been softened really well thanks to the autodecomp, making it a 1 kick start. Self start also functions well, but I prefer the kick start as the joy of starting an enfield is through its kick only.
- Seat is super comfortable. Haven’t taken it on long drive till now, but did drive the bike about 100km in one day in city, and didn’t feel even a slight bit of pain in my rear.
- Looks of course are great, making it the smarter member of the family of course people might have different opinions on that.
- Handle has been given a cruiser look, but its easy to maneuver in traffic.
Some Negatives
- Gear lever position is a little uncomfortable. While shifting the gears down, you have to twist your ankle to shift gears. Though while shifting upwards, I use my heel, but downshift causes pain in my knee after a point of time. Wonder if it happens with other TBTS riders as well. I don’t know whether its because of the position of footrest or the gear lever.
- Should have been given a cruise control button, I feel. I don’t know whether its there in bikes or not, but a cruise control button would have been an added advantage.
- Gear shift is not as smooth as company claims, but its not much of a headache though.
- Horn is really poor, it sounds like a 100cc bike horn. I have got it changed now with a double horn.
Well, this was my first review, would like to add to it once I have done 3000-4000kms. Its amazing to have your dream come true after I don’t know for how long may be 10yrs or so. But the sheer pride of owning an enfield is what compensates for it.
Regards,
Ankit
