[deep_bang]

Originally Posted by J.Ravi

I was told that the cable got cut. But, the cable alone won't be available separately as it comes with the speed sensor assembly, costing ₹ 841. After my consent, they were replaced. The only consolation was, no labour charge.

Same happened on my 2 month old Thunderbird. This seems like a design issue cause the cable gets caught between 2 wedges when the handle is turned to its extreme position.

[SJD@NewDelhi]

J.Ravi Sir, had been a silent spectator to this most handy thread on the Royal Enfield Thunderbird. I had been riding an Apache RTR 180 for 3 years until August 2015 when my trusted steed got stolen. Recently got myself a lightening Thunderbird 350, awaiting her first service. In the process of adorning her with a windshield, aux lamps, classic mirrors and foam padding for seats. Hope Thunderbird proves to be a reliable machine just like the Apache. Attaching a picture of my new riding partner:

Better late than never.

Today, Blue Bird got a pair of auxiliary LED lamps fitted. Last week, I bought them from Sandhya Auto Spares, J C Road, Bangalore and got them fitted by my trusted electrician Taj at Pudupet, Chennai. Taj felt that it is better to get a pair of base-plates welded to the crash-guard and fix the LED lights on the base-plates. He ruled out my suggestion of drilling holes directly on the crash-guard itself to avoid disfigurement due to welding. Finally, I rode to the nearby welder Umapathy and got the work done. Later, I bought fuse carrier and base-plate for accommodating the switch. Taj was very busy with complete wiring of a Bullet. Two more Bullets were in the queue for complete wiring. In the midist of his busy schedule, he completed the job neatly.


























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Originally Posted by SJD@NewDelhi

had been a silent spectator to this most handy thread on the Royal Enfield Thunderbird.

Thank you so much, SJD@NewDelhi.

Recently got myself a lightening Thunderbird 350, awaiting her first service.

Congratulations and best wishes.

[SJD@NewDelhi]

That's a neat configuration. Am confused between going for a similar aux or proper fog lights (which I presume shall be a liability on the battery); your thoughts please? Also, please let us know the name/ maker of the aux lights that you got fitted. Depending upon their performance feedback from you, I might very well stary looking for a similar setup. Thanks

Originally Posted by SJD@NewDelhi

That's a neat configuration.

Thanks, SJD@NewDelhi.

Am confused between going for a similar aux or proper fog lights (which I presume shall be a liability on the battery); your thoughts please?

LEDs are always better since for the same wattage, they provide more brightness than the conventional fog lamps, thereby reducing the load on the battery.

Also, please let us know the name/ maker of the aux lights that you got fitted.

The packing did not have any brand's name printed on it. Perhaps, it is a cheap Chinese unbranded one. Since it was available at a lesser price than the online sellers', I bought them.

Depending upon their performance feedback from you, I might very well stary looking for a similar setup.

Rigorous on-road testing is awaited! I shall report the results here from time-to-time.

[SJD@NewDelhi]

Originally Posted by J.Ravi

Rigorous on-road testing is awaited! I shall report the results here from time-to-time.

That would be great, thank you

In another 15 minutes or so, me and Blue Bird will leave for Vizag, the first leg of our Golden Quadrilateral ride.

Origin: Chennai Royapettah home

Destination: Hotel Winsar Park, Visakhapatnam

Distance: 819 km.

[knp]

Good luck and have a safe and thunderous ride Sir!!

[rakesh_r]

God speed sir,have a safe trip.

[paragsachania]

Originally Posted by J.Ravi

In another 15 minutes or so, me and Blue Bird will leave for Vizag, the first leg of our Golden Quadrilateral ride.

Origin: Chennai Royapettah home

Destination: Hotel Winsar Park, Visakhapatnam

Distance: 819 km.

Seems like you are doing it Anti-Clockwise! All the best Ravi Sir.

I am sure I will have a lot to talk and recall from my last GQ which I did Anti-Clockwise in 2013 (2012 was clockwise). Keep us all posted about the progress.

[The Great]

Originally Posted by J.Ravi

In another 15 minutes or so, me and Blue Bird will leave for Vizag, the first leg of our Golden Quadrilateral ride.

Origin: Chennai Royapettah home

Destination: Hotel Winsar Park, Visakhapatnam

Distance: 819 km.

Wow, hats off to you sir. You inspire us so much.

Thanks a lot for solving my dilemma's for the classic 500 through pm's and it helped me in buying the bike.

Hope you have a great tour. Ride safe and keep us updated.

Cheers !!

[Gansan]

Wonderful! Have a good trip, ride safe. Please don't shoot for any time record and just enjoy the ride. But I don't have to tell you that!

[paragsachania]

Originally Posted by Gansan

Wonderful! Have a good trip, ride safe. Please don't shoot for any time record and just enjoy the ride. But I don't have to tell you that!

I guess we have way too less a crowd that wants to do that today. We know what it takes to when you do that for a record.

Both the times I did, it was drive through the day and sleep all night. Of course, GQ for me was Roads and Driving with least sight seeing.

Coming to Ravi Sir, like you hint, I am sure it will be a well planned ride through the corridor.

[navin_v8]

Originally Posted by J.Ravi

In another 15 minutes or so, me and Blue Bird will leave for Vizag, the first leg of our Golden Quadrilateral ride.

Hey Cap'n I salute your riding spirit and appreciate the effort you take in updating us about your sojourns on your lovely Blue Bird. Whenever someone tells me about RE Tbird being a confused bike and talks it down for no reason and without even riding it. I politely direct them to your thread.

All the best and awaiting your motorcycle dairies.

Blue Bird brought me safely and comfortably to Hotel Winsar Park, Vizag at 8 pm today.



Many sections near Ongole, Andhra Pradesh are being widened to 6 lanes. The existing road surfaces are being scrapped leaving a groovy-type of surface at Chilakaluripeta between Ongole and Vijayawada. I could not ride my bird on that scrapped surface. Blue Bird was wobbling dangerously. Also, the entire width of the road was like that leaving no other option to ride on a safer surface.

In the evening, many school kids returning from their schools in their school buses, were taken aback when they saw me riding my bird wearing all the riding gears with full face helmet in that hot summer! They waved their hands.

Even now, my Thunderbird 500 managed to turn many a heads at the hotel, petrol pump, while waiting for the green signal, etc. Enquiries were made regarding the auxiliary LED lamps and my Navi Maps in my phone with 12 V charger.

Coming to the topic of my mobile phone, the wind force was so heavy in the morning, it dislodged my phone from the holder and it flew out, but luckily, I took a catch on my left hand, thereby saving my mobile. But, on the second time near Chilakaluripeta, I was not lucky. It flew out as I was going in 100 kmph speed and dropped on the road. Fortunately, there were no vehicles behind me, I came back and retrieved it. Thank god, it did not break; only some scratches on the back side. Immediately, I stopped and called my wife to test whether the phone worked. All the apps also worked. Then onwards, I kept it safely inside the transparent sheet on my magnetic tank bag.
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Originally Posted by knp

Good luck and have a safe and thunderous ride Sir!!

Thanks for the kind wishes, knp.

Originally Posted by rakesh_r

God speed sir,have a safe trip.

Thank you so much, rakesh_r.

Originally Posted by paragsachania

Seems like you are doing it Anti-Clockwise! All the best Ravi Sir.

Thanks, paragsachania. Yes, I am riding GQ anti-clockwise, the reason being that I want to tackle the bad stretches first, keeping the good ones to the last!

Keep us all posted about the progress.

Sure. I have reserved all my hotels one month in advance with rest days every now and then. All my hotels have wi-fi facility!

Originally Posted by The Great

Wow, hats off to you sir. You inspire us so much.

Thanks for the nice words, The Great.

Thanks a lot for solving my dilemma's for the classic 500 through pm's and it helped me in buying the bike.

Congratulations and best wishes. Explore and enjoy your bird.

Originally Posted by Gansan

Please don't shoot for any time record and just enjoy the ride.

Thanks, Gansan. Perhaps, mine may be the slowest and the longest GQ ride!

Originally Posted by navin_v8

All the best and awaiting your motorcycle dairies.

Thanks a lot for the kind words, superlative appreciation and wishes, navin_v8.