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

[Skay]

@appus, I can understand your situation. And also liked the discussion going over here. Hope this is the very reason we are here in this forum to discuss about anything what we feel. Please let us know after the test ride....

 

[ZenandEnfield]

Brilliant, Sherlock!

@ Appus - Here are some ideas for you..
1- buy a scooter for your wife, the new Piaggio is elegant & feminine. Practical too with space for shopping bags. I think it is about 70k. Use the remaing money to buy a Pulsar/Tvs Apache/ or a used bullet.
2 - Instead of the Piaggio buy a used M800 (35-40k) for her. It will be very useful for taking the baby to the hospital especially on rainy days when no autos can be found; for transporting visiting mother-in-law. If your wife scratches the car, you won't get a heart attack:-)
3 - After so much self-sacrifice & after a few more years, buy your dream car/SUV/Jeep for yourself! ;-)

I will reply to your valid questions later as I am using cellphone which is difficult.

 

[Skay]

I guess appus confusion is (as per the title), is totally valid. Appus, if you like the thump, or if you can feel the thump whenever you see a bullet passing by, please go for it. No matter whichever model you choose.

 

[appus]

@ Appus - Here are some ideas for you..
1- buy a scooter for your wife, the new Piaggio is elegant & feminine. Practical too with space for shopping bags. I think it is about 70k. Use the remaing money to buy a Pulsar/Tvs Apache/ or a used bullet.
2 - Instead of the Piaggio buy a used M800 (35-40k) for her. It will be very useful for taking the baby to the hospital especially on rainy days when no autos can be found; for transporting visiting mother-in-law. If your wife scratches the car, you won't get a heart attack:-)
3 - After so much self-sacrifice & after a few more years, buy your dream car/SUV/Jeep for yourself! ;-)

I will reply to your valid questions later as I am using cellphone which is difficult.

I think your emotions are hurt and you also belong to the 'bullet fans' i meet everyday ? Sorry if I have done that.

I do not know whether to answer this or not. Let me quote few posts for you (first page)

As title says I need a help now.

I have booked a Thunderbird 350 in Feb. It has come to showroom and they called me to pay and get it.

After booking, I heard few issues with new Thunderbird 350s. Side stand indicator problems, Odo problems, Trip meter problem, Not showing accurate petrol, battery problems etc etc.

I am kind of tall (6' 2") . I checked the height of all the versions and I found Thunderbird the best and Electra as second choice. Classic is less in height and I cant think or riding in that.

If i have to change my booking to Electra, I need to wait for another 6 months it seems. So, should i go for the Thunderbird or Electra ? This bike I may keep atleast for 3 to 5 years for sure.

Help appreciated. Thank You

If you have no prob to spend another 40k, I would strongly recommend to go for 500 TB. Belive me, you would never regret of it. Strange enough, 500 CC Thunderbird gives more mileage than 350 possibly because of Fuel Injection rather than traditional carburetor method.

appus, close your eyes and buy the Thunderbird.

1. In first page 3 post I have mentioned that I have activa and access. You still concerned and wants me to buy one more of that sort Piaggio ? If you have read the previous posts, you could see that I am no where interested to purchase a pulser / apache.
2. This thread is related to purchase of two wheeler and not M800 or 4 wheeler. That is the reason i posted in two wheeler section.
3. Again, When i want to purchase an SUV, i will definitely start a new thread in the respective section.

And it is not about a bike/car for my wife. Read the thread title again. Nowhere mentioned having another two wheeler/four wheeler for my wife.

If you have not understood what i meant by posting all these, here is an example for you.

When you posted for 'buying a tablet with call facility under 7k', None gave an option to purchase a tablet for 3000 tablet for browsing + 1500rs nokia x1 for calling. You could have still saved 2500RS and got both feature of tablet + calling.

Thanks again for your ideas !

I will reply to your valid questions later as I am using cellphone which is difficult.

Only !deas can be typed thru cell phone ? Which make is that ?

 

[ZenandEnfield]

@ Appus - my comments on angry bosses & nagging wives are only general, not about Appus. If at all it is about me. The only time I ever felt
free, was in the few minutes riding to work.
1 - My cell is Sony Ericsson k550i
2 - I don't mind even cheaper tablet. Already someone suggested datawind @ 5-6k.
3 - your reply with quotes, I guess implies that my ideas are OT and hence irrelevant. In the TAIan brotherly concern only, did I advise you, with the benefit of our experience; and you mentioned a budget problem, baby is due in 3 months, Activa not working properly, no car. So should I advise you to spend all your money on the Tbts? I should not even care how you, wife and baby will go to the hospital on your full throttle Activa, because it is OT.
4 - am not hurt at all.
5 - old bullets have a unique charm as testified by many.
6 - Please feel free to select a vehicle of your own choice.

Hope I answered all your questions.

 

[appus]

Finally got a chance to Test RIDE the 500 Standard. Along with, I took TB350 & TB500 also. Went to Teknik Motors in Bangalore HSR -Agra junction

TB 500 - Excellent pickup and power. Liked it. Height is less compared to older Thunderbird.

Standard 500 - Great pickup & power. Thumping is more in this compared to Thunderbird 500. Liked it. Lot of space.

TB 350 - Not something 'POWERFUL'. Felt much underpowered compared to the above two. Felt like riding some 150cc -200cc bike. Easy to ride in city conditions. Liked it too.

Thought of 500 Standard with Sam's idea of replacing the handlebar. Since the meter console is down (parallel to waist), did not feel good . Another major reason is my booking will become a fresh one. 4-6 months waiting again.

I think I am okay with TB 350. Once I confirm with the payment, I will get the bike in 20-30 days it seems. I think I have made up my mind now. Did not test ride electra at all.
I will finalize in a day or two.

Thanks everyone for pouring !deas and suggestions. Thank you Sam, Raaj, RakeshKn, Skay, ZenAndEnfield, sherrry & pisean . Appreciate your help

 

[Raaj]

Appus, congrats on your choice.

Well, Just a personal note, if you are feeling the 350CC Thunderbird as less powered and feel like riding as 150/200 CC, why don't you consider the Bajaj Avenger, especially considering you are not a RE maniac (Read it as Hardcore lover)?. Avenger has everything in it and got style too and you can save atleast Rs. 60,000. And not to forget you can get more mileage/service/easily available and usually low cost spare parts too comparing to RE.

 

[appus]

Thanks Raaj. I had Avenger before. Sold to buy a RE. Got delayed. Selling that was a bad decision. I think I never had a bike for more than 10k km. Sold unicorn, avenger all under 10k. Who knows how long I keep this. Always talk about keeping 5 to 10 years. But end up selling in 2 years. :-)
(By the way, I did not like their service. Going to mg road all the time was pain.)

Thanks again for the reply.

 

[Sam Dinkar]

As the Green Beret in the Commandos franchise utters: "finally, some action."

Good that you have decided. Don't waver anymore. By the way, what colour is it going to be? To paraphrase Henry Ford, "you can have a Thunderbird in any colour as long as it is black."

And oh yeah, get a tattoo or something - welcome to the Enfield club!

 

[appus]

I had booked the BLACK(Flicker). There was another color twilight or something which changes it color to Blue or Black according to light. I did not like the idea of having two color (I do not know how far that is true).

Thanks :) . No tattoo

 

[pras]

Congrats Appus good decision after a long wait. Hope you get the bike quick. Is it really necessary to wait for another 20 - 30 days even after waiting this long?
What is RE doing?

 

[AR Ram]

I had booked the BLACK(Flicker). There was another color twilight or something which changes it color to Blue or Black according to light. I did not like the idea of having two color (I do not know how far that is true).

Thanks :) . No tattoo

Congrats appus having finalized the new RE . I think December will be a memorable month for you with the new arrival/s.

 

[appus]

Thank you Pras and Ram Sir.

They told that will get the vehicle in 20 days as I already made them wait ! I do not know much.

Ram sir,
Lets see how it goes. :) . Will go and meet them this week and ask about the procedure. VIN , other details etc.

Will update later

 

[Sam Dinkar]

appus, you seem to have got afflicted with the Royal Enfield genes - more than a month and no update? Sorry saar whattodo v aar lyk thees only.

When do we get to hear the THUMP?

 

[Kpaaz]

Thats quite of a struggle on the bike appus.
I have also booked a TB 350 on 14th November 2013 - Twilight Black.
I really liked the idea of the combo colour package.
I had the same confusion when my brother who has a 2013 Harley Davidson SUPERLOW told me that 350cc will quite underpowered on the tracks of touring and you really need power to keep up. Maybe he was comparing HDs to REs. I think 350cc will be good enough and i can also save some of my bucks. Then my brother called me again and said "What? you cant even get matte black clolour on the 350cc & thats really sad, change it to 500 you havent lost much of the time".
So the confusion plays its role everywhere. After reading appus stuggle, LOL im quite firm on the 350cc. Id rather pay more to get a HD instead on RE when i have that amount of money. I think i can be happy with 350CC and 40k cash instead of 500cc. Thats what my opinion is. Cant wait to THUMP!!!