RE Thunderbird : Electric or kick-start? - Team-BHP

umar786 · 30th August 2007, 20:32

hi guys,

initially i was planning to mod a car but i had to cancel it because my dad said no.

but i was placated by the offer that i could buy any bike i wanted.

i really like the re thunderbird, its in a league of its own.

but i heard that its electric start is not reliable. is it so?

and is there something else i need to know about this bike - anything wrong with it or long term problem i might face?

btw, what do you guys think of the bike?

thanks a lot.

bblost · 31st August 2007, 11:48

I bought my Tb in 2003.
since then must have done close to 60k kms on it,
removed the speedo-odo console so cannot give exact figure.

full service is every 5 months or so, costs me around 800 bucks.

My bike is on her
second rear light housing, (got rear ended)
third chain,
second sprocket,
second set of rear shocks, (upgrade to air shocks)
second front tyre
and is awaiting its third rear tyre.

Everything else is stock.
only thing added was a pair of horns.

about an RE bike its simple,
treat her like a wife and take it for granted, you are in serious trouble.
pamper her like a girl friend, you got a mate for life.

Longest distance in a day about 850 kms or so.
kurnool -> kadapa -> kurnool -> hyderabad.

ridden her in the rain, in scorching heat, on smooth roads like NH5 and even inside a dam (Sri Ram Sagar).

When I got my bike, there was no option of electric start.
Never felt the need for a button start, as I get a kick out of giving her a nice soft kick.

a couple of my friends do use the electric start, they dont seem to have had any problem with it.

its my opinion that a bull does not need a electric start.

sathyaprakash · 31st August 2007, 13:26

My sugestion is to wait for the new engine which is to be released shortly, which is actually an uniconstructed gearbox along with the engine which definetly adds to better lubrication and less noise , leekage etc.

Any one who can throw better information about the engine, price, cc and the release date is welcome.

umar786 · 1st September 2007, 19:26

Guys, i made the downpayment yesterday.

I went for the black one and its fully loaded, electric start and disc brakes. It is expected to be delivered within 2 days. They seem sooooo long now.

madbullram · 2nd September 2007, 00:33

COngrats mate...happy thumping

sathyaprakash · 2nd September 2007, 17:47

@ madbull ram can u throw some light on the UCE engine of the bullet and its realease date bcz I am waiting for it, i tried to contact ur cell no. its is always engaged i too live in chennai hope we will meet one day bye.

umar786 · 8th September 2007, 15:08

it has been over week and it has still not been delivered. these enfield people are so slooooooooooow.

doomsday · 8th September 2007, 18:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by sathyaprakash

@ madbull ram can u throw some light on the UCE engine of the bullet and its realease date bcz I am waiting for it

The UCE will debut in the fall of 2007. It will feature an integrated engine and gearbox assembly, and Direct Fuel Injection which is required to meet the stringent Euro-3 norms in the export markets (UK/EU) for the bullet. The engine capacities will be similar to what is available today: 350cc and 500cc.

basilmabraham · 10th September 2007, 20:50

In trivandrum, the TB is available for ready delivery at two dealerships....they say, that same day delivery is possible, even with a finance option...took a test drive today..cant decide on buying though...

summitkakkar · 12th September 2007, 21:12

what's the on road price for it dude ?

basilmabraham · 13th September 2007, 13:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by summitkakkar

what's the on road price for it dude ?

It comes to almost 99K on road...for the DB ES version...

Woods · 13th September 2007, 14:26

The Electric start sucks big time. Mine has gone replacement(during warranty) once.
And soon after the warranty was over(1yr) it has started to give problems.

Many a times the starter simply doesn't work!
You end up decompressing (which requires holding the kick level down) and then it might or might not work..

These days i use Kickstart most of the times, and electric start only when I am very very lazy.

My Question is: Why go for a TB when AVL 500 is here? It has classic feel and better thump than the TB

lohithrao · 13th September 2007, 15:38

Go for the kick start dude, dont know how long the starter motor would last.

kph · 13th September 2007, 16:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by umar786

it has been over week and it has still not been delivered. these enfield people are so slooooooooooow.

Did you get the bike?

umar786 · 16th September 2007, 09:57

i did get the bike but after 8 days and that too without Electric Start.

the regional manager had come to my town, aligarh and he profusely apologized for the delay.

he informed me that the TB is going through a crisis and production is real slow and that one of their factories has gone on strike and so on.

however, he was nice fellow and gave a discount of Rs.2000/- as to compensate for the mess they had made.

so for me the on road price was Rs.86,950/- (no es but with disc brakes) and i spent another Rs.1600 on accessories (horn, shocker lock and leg guard).

Can you guys tell me anything about teflon coating?

30th August 2007, 20:32	#1 (permalink)
umar786 Newbie Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Aligarh Posts: 8	RE Thunderbird : Electric or kick-start? hi guys, initially i was planning to mod a car but i had to cancel it because my dad said no. but i was placated by the offer that i could buy any bike i wanted. i really like the re thunderbird, its in a league of its own. but i heard that its electric start is not reliable. is it so? and is there something else i need to know about this bike - anything wrong with it or long term problem i might face? btw, what do you guys think of the bike? thanks a lot.

31st August 2007, 11:48	#2 (permalink)
bblost BHPian Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 759 View My Garage	I bought my Tb in 2003. since then must have done close to 60k kms on it, removed the speedo-odo console so cannot give exact figure. full service is every 5 months or so, costs me around 800 bucks. My bike is on her second rear light housing, (got rear ended) third chain, second sprocket, second set of rear shocks, (upgrade to air shocks) second front tyre and is awaiting its third rear tyre. Everything else is stock. only thing added was a pair of horns. about an RE bike its simple, treat her like a wife and take it for granted, you are in serious trouble. pamper her like a girl friend, you got a mate for life. Longest distance in a day about 850 kms or so. kurnool -> kadapa -> kurnool -> hyderabad. ridden her in the rain, in scorching heat, on smooth roads like NH5 and even inside a dam (Sri Ram Sagar). When I got my bike, there was no option of electric start. Never felt the need for a button start, as I get a kick out of giving her a nice soft kick. a couple of my friends do use the electric start, they dont seem to have had any problem with it. its my opinion that a bull does not need a electric start. __________________ Asatoma Sat Gamaya Tamasoma Jyotir Gamaya Mrityorma aMritam Gamaya RE TBird 2003, no speedo, no range limits. Wagon R, 2004.

1st September 2007, 19:26	#4 (permalink)
umar786 Newbie Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Aligarh Posts: 8	Booked it Guys, i made the downpayment yesterday. I went for the black one and its fully loaded, electric start and disc brakes. It is expected to be delivered within 2 days. They seem sooooo long now.

10th September 2007, 20:50	#9 (permalink)
basilmabraham BHPian Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Trivandrum Posts: 210 View My Garage	In trivandrum, the TB is available for ready delivery at two dealerships....they say, that same day delivery is possible, even with a finance option...took a test drive today..cant decide on buying though... __________________ Never be afraid to try something new. Remember, amateurs built the ark, and professionals built the Titanic.

13th September 2007, 14:26	#12 (permalink)
Woods Newbie Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 9	The Electric start sucks big time. Mine has gone replacement(during warranty) once. And soon after the warranty was over(1yr) it has started to give problems. Many a times the starter simply doesn't work! You end up decompressing (which requires holding the kick level down) and then it might or might not work.. These days i use Kickstart most of the times, and electric start only when I am very very lazy. My Question is: Why go for a TB when AVL 500 is here? It has classic feel and better thump than the TB __________________ == woods

31st August 2007, 13:26	#3 (permalink)
sathyaprakash BHPian Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: chennai Posts: 114	My sugestion is to wait for the new engine which is to be released shortly, which is actually an uniconstructed gearbox along with the engine which definetly adds to better lubrication and less noise , leekage etc. Any one who can throw better information about the engine, price, cc and the release date is welcome.

2nd September 2007, 00:33	#5 (permalink)
madbullram BHPian Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Chennai & Appleton, WI Posts: 315 View My Garage	COngrats mate...happy thumping

2nd September 2007, 17:47	#6 (permalink)
sathyaprakash BHPian Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: chennai Posts: 114	@ madbull ram can u throw some light on the UCE engine of the bullet and its realease date bcz I am waiting for it, i tried to contact ur cell no. its is always engaged i too live in chennai hope we will meet one day bye.

8th September 2007, 15:08	#7 (permalink)
umar786 Newbie Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Aligarh Posts: 8	it has been over week and it has still not been delivered. these enfield people are so slooooooooooow.

12th September 2007, 21:12	#10 (permalink)
summitkakkar Newbie Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Noida Posts: 2	what's the on road price for it dude ?

13th September 2007, 15:38	#13 (permalink)
lohithrao BHPian Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Udupi/Bangalore Posts: 978 View My Garage	Go for the kick start dude, dont know how long the starter motor would last. __________________ " I'd rather live with the consequences of my actions rather than the regrets of my inactions."

16th September 2007, 09:57	#15 (permalink)
umar786 Newbie Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Aligarh Posts: 8	i did get the bike but after 8 days and that too without Electric Start. the regional manager had come to my town, aligarh and he profusely apologized for the delay. he informed me that the TB is going through a crisis and production is real slow and that one of their factories has gone on strike and so on. however, he was nice fellow and gave a discount of Rs.2000/- as to compensate for the mess they had made. so for me the on road price was Rs.86,950/- (no es but with disc brakes) and i spent another Rs.1600 on accessories (horn, shocker lock and leg guard). Can you guys tell me anything about teflon coating?

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Swift Kick	shelleve	Modifications & Accessories	12	11th October 2007 20:20
Reva Electric Car is the highest selling electric car in the world	navdeep	The Indian Car Scene!!	29	23rd June 2007 20:21
Electric start for a 5 speed Machismo?	Proxima	Motorbikes	16	21st June 2007 14:08
Kick Ass Setup...	lancer_mania	Ask the Gurus	39	24th February 2006 20:43