[shaikhmimran]

[quote=Silverflash;3557678]Hi Ravi



I've booked a RE TB500 on October 6th and am expecting delivery in December./

Hi.. Sorry to intervene but I booked mine yesterday at the company store & the delivery period is within one month. I am not sure why the dealer told you until December. Also if thats the case then better to wait a few more days & get a 2015 model.

[Silverflash]

Originally Posted by shaikhmimran

Hi.. Sorry to intervene but I booked mine yesterday at the company store & the delivery period is within one month. I am not sure why the dealer told you until December. Also if thats the case then better to wait a few more days & get a 2015 model.

Thanks for telling me this, shaikhmimran - I will ask them about this tomorrow. I had assumed that 45 days to 2 months was the standard delivery time, but the faster I can get my hands on the bike, the better.

I'm not too concerned about the date on the RC - as long as the piece I get is in good condition, I'm sorted.

Blue Bird came out of her one-and-half month hibernation today at 5:30 am. I returned to my Chennai home at 4:30 am today from Bangalore. After unloading the luggage, wash and hot cuppa, I cleaned Blue Bird. Soon after the ignition was turned on, the battery icon started flashing in the instrument cluster. Without any hope, I electric-started and Blue Bird started chirping in the very first attempt. I took Blue Bird for a spin of 10 km on the beautiful beach road enjoying early morning breeze. The battery icon did not flash afterwards.

[navin_v8]

Originally Posted by J.Ravi

Blue Bird came out of her one-and-half month hibernation today at 5:30 am. I returned to my Chennai home at 4:30 am today from Bangalore. After unloading the luggage, wash and hot cuppa, I cleaned Blue Bird. Soon after the ignition was turned on, the battery icon started flashing in the instrument cluster. Without any hope, I electric-started and Blue Bird started chirping in the very first attempt. I took Blue Bird for a spin of 10 km on the beautiful beach road enjoying early morning breeze. The battery icon did not flash afterwards.

Hi Ravi, I got my Thunderbird 500 about 3 weeks back. I had took it out for a spin last saturday. The bike has run about 280 Kms so far, while I was riding I saw the battery icon flashing on the instrument panel and by the time I could stop the bike to check it, Kaputt the bike goes dead with RPM meter and speedometer needles stuck in between after the bike went dead. I called up RE Brandstore in Bandra and their mechanic gave me some basic troubleshooting tips like changing the fuse, etc. While I was doing this I noticed that the factory fitted Exide battery in my bike has become super hot I couldn't even touch it. I have done zilch modifications in bike and it is factory fresh in bone stock form.

I was vary of the local mechanics so I decided to put my brand new bike on the towing van and carried it towards the Synergy Auto RE Authorised Service Centre.

The bike is currently with the service centre and they are diagnosing the problem I believe. I will start an ownership thread soon to share the experiences of the "so called" modern EFi RE Thunderbird 500.

My suggestion to you is do not ignore that battery flashing icon lest you will get stranded like me and will need to tow it back to the service centre.

Originally Posted by navin_v8

My suggestion to you is do not ignore that battery flashing icon lest you will get stranded like me and will need to tow it back to the service centre.

Thanks, navin_v8. My Blue Bird goes to hibernation whenever I am out of Chennai for a period of one to two months; so, the battery gets discharged and Blue Bird shows the battery icon on the instrument cluster. A few rides on my Blue Bird charge the battery fully. That has been my experience so far. I will consider replacing the battery when Blue Bird becomes two year old in a few months from now.

[Majumdarda]

Two years old Ravi sir. Time just flies by. I remember those days when I used to read every update from you, infact it played roles too, seems it was just yesterday. Your riding experiences are definitely to look out for. By the way sir, are you coming to Goa this November for the RE hosted RM.

Originally Posted by Majumdarda

By the way sir, are you coming to Goa this November for the RE hosted RM.

Goa is definitely on the wish-list of Blue Bird, but not in this November for RM. Thanks for the nice words, Majumdarda.

Today, I took Blue Bird out for a 75-km ride on the picturesque East Coast Road [ECR], connecting Chennai and Puducherry [Pondy]. The main purpose was to charge Blue Bird's OE factory-fitted battery, which is perfectly alright now. After 35 km or so on ECR, Blue Bird turned to left towards the Bay of Bengal for beach-riding or sand-cruising or off-roading, maiden attempt for Blue Bird in 1.5 years and me in 60 years.







I rode on the beach in the first gear without depressing the clutch lever all along. Only once, Blue Bird got stalled, while taking a sharp turn. Apart from that, we enjoyed the beach-riding or sand-cruising or off-roading. Now that we scored well in our maiden attempt, I would like to take Blue Bird closest to the blue waters, the next time.

[arulpeem]

Originally Posted by J.Ravi

Today, I took Blue Bird out for a 75-km ride on the picturesque East Coast Road

Sir, the bird looks lovely with the back drop of the sea. Even though I live just 600 metres from the sea it is a shame that I haven't taken a single photo of my GT on the beach. I will do so next week. Thanks for the pictures.

[shaikhmimran]

Ravi Sir, I got my TB 500 delivered on Thursday. Reading your thread helped me get lot of insights & support. Thank you so much. Shall post pics soon. Please PM me to catch up when you are next in Blore.

Originally Posted by arulpeem

Sir, the bird looks lovely with the back drop of the sea.

Thanks for the appreciation, arulpeem.

Originally Posted by shaikhmimran

Ravi Sir, I got my TB 500 delivered on Thursday.

Congratulations and best wishes, shaikhmimran. Explore and enjoy your Thunderbird 500.

Please PM me to catch up when you are next in Blore.

I am in Bangalore now, will leave on 3 Dec 2014 and will come back by end-Dec 2014.

I tried in vain to send a PM. This was the error message that was displayed on the screen:

[shaikhmimran]

Ravi Sir, I have a query regarding the fuel type for my TB 500. The showroom guy at delivery told me to fill premium petrol only as its a EFI bike. The manual recommends 87 octane or higher. Right now I have put in Shell Premium (Rs. 76 per litre) . Do you also use premium petrol or regular? If regular, is there any issue? Please advise. Thank you!

[rakesh_r]

Originally Posted by shaikhmimran

Ravi Sir, I have a query regarding the fuel type for my TB 500. The showroom guy at delivery told me to fill premium petrol only as its a EFI bike. The manual recommends 87 octane or higher. Right now I have put in Shell Premium (Rs. 76 per litre) . Do you also use premium petrol or regular? If regular, is there any issue? Please advise. Thank you!

Regular shell Petrol is just fine for the bird

@JRavi-Awesome pics,glad to see the bird along the seashore

Originally Posted by shaikhmimran

The showroom guy at delivery told me to fill premium petrol only as its a EFI bike.

Yes, I too received the same advice from the showroom guys at the time of delivery of Blue Bird.

The manual recommends 87 octane or higher.

The owner's manual recommends unleaded high octane petrol with more than 91.

Do you also use premium petrol or regular?

No. I use regular unleaded petrol only. The owner's handbook of my erstwhile petrol Linea recommended usage of regular unleaded petrol only and specifically warned against usage of premium petrol, whose additives might be detrimental to the engine. So, I sincerely follow FIAT's advice for Royal Enfield too.

Wikipedia says the following:



Even the unleaded normal petrol has the same Octane rating of 91. So, there is no worry.

http://www.siamindia.com/scripts/gasoline.aspx

If regular, is there any issue?

No worries at all. Blue Bird is already 11 k km old.

Originally Posted by rakesh_r

Awesome pics,glad to see the bird along the seashore

Thanks a lot for the appreciation and compliments, rakesh_r.

[abirnale]

Great going Ravi! I think a trip to Kerala beaches - specifically this one http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muzhappilangad_Beach
You will definitely have equal or more fun than the sand ride you did!