Help: Thunderbird 350 or Electra? Edit: Booking Thunderbird 350

[ZenandEnfield]

@ Sam you are quite a poet.

Appusan,
If bullet, then increase petrol budget by 50%.

Bulleteering is from heart,
'mileage' zen no mind,
in rain carb won't start,
better than Bullet no find.
Fear like a wild horse,
beware of back-kick,
majestic lion roars,
as dragon is quick,
free of angry boss,
and of wife with stick.
Old Zen Master

What no Wah, wah, thumbs up, 5 star rating?

 

[appus]

Appusan,
If bullet, then increase petrol budget by 50%.

Bulleteering is from heart,
'mileage' zen no mind,
in rain carb won't start,
better than Bullet no find.
Fear like a wild horse,
beware of back-kick,
majestic lion roars,
as dragon is quick,
free of angry boss,
and of wife with stick.
Old Zen Master

What no Wah, wah, thumbs up, 5 star rating?

Wah wah :)

I am using Access/Activa which gives poor mileage than Bullet. I am getting 25-30KM only i guess. Activa is old (5 years),
Access is 3 years but the service guys do not care rectifying the problem. I have told about a problem 3 times. My accelerator raises all of a sudden. Showed to local mechanic thinking it is cable problem, changed it. Still the problem persists. So, My one hand is on the break most of the time (riding dangerously).

I will be happy if i get around 30+ at best driving conditions in city
ie,
Not pressing clutch/break unnecessarily.
Do not raise (accelerate too much) /road rage.
Do not over speed (Go in 40-60) most of the time
etc etc

Thanks for your poem /shayari !

 

[Sam Dinkar]

@Gopal Sir: Wah Wah, Wah Waaaaaah!! Something mystical about the Bullet for sure!

@appus: Its a sticky throttle linkage. Get the carb opened up and check the butterfly valve (roadside mechanics call it 'tindu'). Rectify and refit. Problem would be gone. Hardly a 20 minute job.

Back to topic: When are you taking the test drive ride?

 

[appus]

@appus: Its a sticky throttle linkage. Get the carb opened up and check the butterfly valve (roadside mechanics call it 'tindu'). Rectify and refit. Problem would be gone. Hardly a 20 minute job.

When I showed to the road side mechanic, He said 'Access comes with two valve pin (needle kind of thing)' , One is missing now may be from the previous service. So, we do not get it. Get it done from service center only.' Any true in that? If no, I will show to another mechanic.

Back to topic: When are you taking the test drive ride?

Yes.
As I cant go to Kerala now, I thought I will wait for the Bullet Standard 500 to launch in Bangalore (which may happen in few days). Then ride all the three and choose one from it.

One quick question : Is the height (Seat) is better than Classic? Or is it the same ? Is it same height as Electra ? We love bikes than car somehow !

Latest problem : Length of seats [We will become three from two in another 3 months]

 

[Sam Dinkar]

PM me for Access problem. Yes, take it to the service centre.

Classic seat is horrible for the bum on long rides. 500 Carb seat is the same as that of the Electra and is MUCH better.

Spare the kid, take the car.

 

[pisean]

Thunderbird 350/500 is better choice as the new styling purely is made for this.
I would suggest to go for the black one with silencer change.

Regards
pisean

 

[ZenandEnfield]

@ Appus
Add a side-car to the bullet! :)

 

[sherryyy]

Hi,
welcome to the automotive india, your decision is better Thunderbird is best option than Electra as it mileage and fuel type is good.

 

[appus]

Thunderbird 350/500 is better choice as the new styling purely is made for this.
I would suggest to go for the black one with silencer change.

Thanks
No plan of silencer change at all in my mind. Wont be doing it which ever option I buy.

@ Appus
Add a side-car to the bullet! :)

Haha.
Will consider that

Hi,
welcome to the automotive india, your decision is better Thunderbird is best option than Electra as it mileage and fuel type is good.

Thank you for your warm welcome :) . By the way, Welcome to Automotive India. Will choose one soon. Thanks

 

[appus]

Sleeping thread needs an update.

Today, I went to Jayangar 9th Block showroom (Main showroom as per RE). To my surprise, i saw the Bullet 500 (Carb). Looks almost same as electra & difference of OLD elegant sticker on Fuel Tank . Asked when did it launch in Bangalore, they said 'TODAY'.

Asked for a test ride and they immediately said 'NO". May be after one week, but booking started. Waiting period is 4 to 6 months.

I asked for other test drive ride . He took my DL and entered in the register and took me down after making me wait about 10 minutes. I asked for TB 500. He said 'we do not have now'. He said he can give classic 350 instead. I did not understand the logic. I took Electra and that was smooth (270KM) on odo. Then took TB 350 out, and to my surprise, lot of noise from all places. Checked the odo and it was showing all kind of indicators. 11000KM , some spanner (service) warning. Gears were not at all falling in place. I wanted a better test ride. I asked how do i decide 350/500 and he said 'what should i do if we do not have vehicle. it has gone to service. It may come after a week'. As RE Showroom, they proved what they are up to !

Then on the way back home, I visited the showroom where i booked my TB350. I thought he can not remember me and asked him for a Test Ride of 500 Thunderbird. He asked me to wait for few minutes. He sat behind me and I was riding with my bag behind. I did not feel good as bag was disturbing me a lot and could not sit properly. I didn't know that he was coming along with me for ride. Otherwise i could have kept the bag in their showroom.

He also offered me a Test Ride of Bullet 500 on coming Tuesday. I will promptly go and ride that. He also told me that "I had taken your booking for TB 350 Sir" !

Few observations : -
500CC TB was having great power. But, for daily commuting, do i need a 500CC bike for daily commute?
(The reason for less mileage in 500 with EFI compared to the 350 carb in Rep's word - "EFI uses less fuel, but that is compromised on power & Torque which are less in TB 350. (27vs 20 & 41vs28). So you get less mileage than carb"

Electra was kind of okay for me to ride (mentioned in first post too). I felt it smooth today too.

1,48L and 1.88L got 40,000rs difference (TB 350 & 500). Initially I did not worry much on that 40K. Now, i feel - why another 40K ! (confused)

If 500CC Carb is exceptional ride quality, Add just 16K and get that at 1.64Lakh. Still 24K is saved :D (Both are 500CC)

Or go back to Electra with more mileage / less power and still you have a Bullet

EDIT : Last post as amateur (1000 Posts) Oops. I was wrong ! Some new change !

 

[Sam Dinkar]

Some corny humour there appus, eh. Happens after the Bullet enlightenment/disillusionment .

The EFI 500 is not known to like city traffic. The additional Rs. 40000 is justified only if ya' goin' cruisin' on a 'ell of a highway maaaaaaan.

For regular city riding and occasional highway cruise, the 350cc block is sufficient IF Rs. 40000 mean too much to you.

I maintain my stand, test ride the 500 Carb once before you finalize.

p.s.: It seems you didn't enjoy your test ride of the UCEs. Remember that its the X factor which makes people buy and maintain Enfields and inherit them to their sons (and the odd daughter). If you didnt 'feel' anything 'special' while riding the UCEs, then maybe it isn't the right decision to go for an Enfield. Give this a thought.

 

[appus]

Thank You Sam.
I will surely ride the 500 Carb before going finalizing.

p.s.: It seems you didn't enjoy your test ride of the UCEs. Remember that its the X factor which makes people buy and maintain Enfields and inherit them to their sons (and the odd daughter). If you didnt 'feel' anything 'special' while riding the UCEs, then maybe it isn't the right decision to go for an Enfield. Give this a thought.

Yesterday was a real bad day for me. I was having a heavy headache. That is why left office before 5PM (Then thought of RE . The main showroom guys gives test ride only till 5PM). When they were saying 'this not available, that not available', i even thought of going home. I did a test ride only for the sake of it. I could not even ride for 300 meter from Jayanagar store. Last time when i took the 350cc TB , I felt much better than yesterday (may be because of all problems)

I liked the seating of 350cc (It is same as 500cc). But, I had to sit front to adjust by bag and the rep on behind while riding 500cc. Seriously, i was not in a mood to ride and feel it.

I think Wednesday, i will finalize on something.

I am not a fan of any company in two wheelers. So, whether it is bullet,TB or any other bike, i should be feeling good to ride. Sit straight, relax and ride :)

I searched for UCE :) I did not like may be because I did not sit correctly? . Blame it on me. Yeah, i could have given the bag to him.

 

[ZenandEnfield]

@ Sam, what does UCE mean? Perhaps 'bequeath' would have been a better word than 'inherit'. But mine will be buried with me in my grave. :-)

@ Appus - I believe Sam is right. I wanted to tell you this before but I didn't want to hurt your feelings. If you don't feel the charm, if your head doesn't turn whenever you see a bullet, if you don't feel like you are riding a wild and dangerous horse which for a moments sets you free from your boss, wife and routine life;
then the bullet is not for you.

Still I encourage you to borrow a friend's bullet for a couple of months, to really know if this is the one for you.

 

[Sam Dinkar]

UCE = Unitary Construction Engine = Engine and gearbox/clutch in the same housing (CI Bullets had a bolt on gearbox) = All new generation Enfields with the twin spark engine.

Elementary, dear Watson .

 

[appus]

@ Appus - I believe Sam is right. I wanted to tell you this before but I didn't want to hurt your feelings. If you don't feel the charm, if your head doesn't turn whenever you see a bullet, if you don't feel like you are riding a wild and dangerous horse which for a moments sets you free from your boss, wife and routine life;
then the bullet is not for you.

Still I encourage you to borrow a friend's bullet for a couple of months, to really know if this is the one for you.

Thank you. It is not about hurting feelings.
What I meant by 'not a great fan or RE' is, some talks too much about Bullets.

"Real bullet is the olden ones. All these new vehicles are not good. Brake has to be on left side, gears should be on right. You should get old 1947 model and use it. All the disc brake, self start etc should not be there in Bullet. If i am going to buy another one, i will choose one with out disc brake/self start/Twinspark technology. Thunderbird you cant feel the power - that is not the one an RE fan should buy"

If this is the criteria to become an RE fan, I do not belong to it. Seriously.
I hear this when ever i talk to a guy who owns the bullet (old ones).

I turn around and see Bullets when i hear the sound. I look at the person/bike when ever i see a RE bike on signals. I kind of feel good to own a 350/500cc bike from Royal Enfield. I like to ride a bike which gives me much better comfort even on long distances. I would like to keep this bike for 5-10 years. I wanted to buy a bullet from long time which got postponed number of times. I wanted the brakes to be on right and gears on left (So, second hand option was less 6 -7 years back). Booked 2 years back in Kerala and I ended up buying car at that time. (The booking amount is still with that showroom guys). I do not know whether i can be called a RE fan in any sense !!

@zen sir,
Why wife in between . Freeing from wife & Boss ? I am the boss ! Love to be with my wife & leaving her does not arise apart from office-home route :)

I would have bought a TB350 by now if i was not a member here. As I am a member, I should not be making a bad choice. That is the soul purpose of the thread. So, always love to see direct replies than 'non-hurting' /neutral ones. If it hurts my feelings, I will click on 'report' button