[Hamza123]

Originally Posted by KPR

Thanks man for the details you've shared for the seat. I've gone through the details and will definitely add good cushions from them

Bike looks great although I would be very nervous about maintaining that Matt colour. A dark brown or tan seat along with matching saddle bags would look amazing with that colour though!

[KPR]

Yes planning for a dark brown to go a bit subtle on retro feel. Isn't a matt finish easier to maintain than a glossy one? I find this colour quite easy to maintain. No worries on swirl marks too. I own a glossy red coloured car and that one is real tough for me to maintain.

[SidharthaN]

So here I am penning an ownership report of a Royal Enfield Thunderbird - 2015 model sitting pretty at 1,15,000 kms and still going strong.

I am 42 years old which makes my growing up , adolescent and maturity during 80's - 90's era. So I am a 90's kid. Grew up watching and getting feel of all scooters and bikes during that era. Enfield, Yezdi/Jawa during those times were considered impractical, huge, burly, maintenance headaches, and non-economical. I grew up on Bajaj scooters, but my dad's friends owned RE's, Yezdi's and RD 350's. My early rememberances are of me sandwiched between the tank and either my dad or his freinds, tears (water) streaming down my eyes from the wind while they sped these monsters. However my Dad being practical never owned them, he had fun when he wanted to.

My first vehicle was a LML NV bought second hand from a relative around 2003. Wheelie pops, skids and name it everything was tried on it. However with adrenaline pumping through my 20 something veins a scooter was limiting. Then came the "Definitely Male". Pulsar which redefined biking giving chase close to the heels of the CBZ.

My experience over years with Pulsar has been long and eventful. The first Pulsar was brought selling the LML which got stolen 3 days from the date of purchase. 3 days was enough for me to exploit whatever Pulsar had to offer in this iteration. With that gone and less of Vitamin M had a replacement Yamaha RX135. It was a pocket rocket which anyone who has owned these will understand. Kept if for sometime to replace it with another Pulsar 1st Gen. However the second Pulsar was a lemon which spent more time at the mechanic than me on it. Got this replaced with a Pulsar DTSI, the Bikini faired version. True to its commitment it gave enough thrills and kept me captivated till one dark night on Delhi-Gurgaon highway (which was 2-lane then) a HH Karizma overtook our cab.

Love at first sight and smitten to the core I wanted one. But fate had different plans. I could not get my hands on a Karizma due to lack of proper residential documentation. The dejection led me to take heed of a friend's suggestion a Royal Enfield.

RE were never in perspective as stated earlier. I was still pumping on adrenaline and did not want a heavy, impractical, elephant in the room to replace my need for speed. Still accompanied him to Yusuf Sarai showroom ( do not recollect the name). Then we had CI's and AVL engines being sold. We had the Standard, Machismo,Electra, Thunderbird. I was too ignorant to notice the difference between 350 and 500. For test ride they had a RE TB (AVL). The sales guy encouraged me to test it and stressed upon "This bike just came back from Rishikesh".

Now different people have different experiences with test rides. I taken a lot of them before this, but something about this was different. One the bike ran out of fuel 500 mts from the showroom. I landed pushing it to a petrol bunk which was luckily at stone's throw. Back on the saddle, through intense traffic (density referring to 2006) the AVL TB felt bliss to ride. The stability at low speed, the low end torque, the cruiser style....I was on cloud 9.

Now this thread is not about my Thunderbird AVL it is about my Thunderbird UCE. However wanted to bring the AVL in picture because that's where my love affair with RE started.

The AVL Thunderbird



In Himachal Pradesh



Uttarakhand



Rajasthan



On route Madhya Pradesh with an Electra



Post selling the AVL Thunderbird which should not have been sold since I thought about hanging my riding boots, brought a Suzuki Access 1st Gen ( I do not have a picture of it). It was dutiful what what it was designed for, in-city commute. However it did taste the highway in a trip from Delhi - Agra- Delhi.
Pretty soon I realized my biking days were not actually over and brought a P220. There are numerous trip photos of that but am not posting since this thread is about RE's.

This was was taken in Jharkand en-route Kolkata



The itch to get back a RE always remained. Finally got back to buying a Thunderbird UCE 2015.

Taking Delivery of the Thunderbird UCE - The thread showman



At Sambhar Lake - Rajasthan





On the Yamuna Expressway



Somewhere in Rajasthan



A wet Himachal ride







At India Gate





Ruins hopping in Rajasthan




In Punjab, HP





Ajmer Sharif run









Some Mods Done



Night Rides





Abhaneri Rajasthan



Abhaneri Rajasthan



The current odo on the UCE is 1,15,000 kms.

Major breakdowns:

It has had a chasis replacement at 95,000 kms where there was a major crack behind the centre stand

Regular replacements:

Tyres (1 set )
Clutch Plates (3 set)
Chain Set ( 3 sets )

Service schedule:

Every 3000 kms at local mechanic. Oil, Air Filter and Fuel Filter change

The bike runs daily for 160 kms to and from from home-office-home.

Its still pulls till 95 easily and still on stock pistons and crank.

Will keep updating this thread.

Royal Enfield has been criticized to the core for reliability, quality issues, too expensive for what it is worth, heavy and cumbersome, and a lot more things. However let me say something. Spending 2 lakh kilometres with Royal Enfield motorcycles and precious saddle time what I believe is that it provides unmatched experience, good for some, and horrendous for others, yet it was, is and will be present in the future. The sentiment however has been diluted over ages. Gone are the days when Royal Enfield was viewed as a macho style statement to be flaunted by burly individuals, who carried the weight of experience to handle them and the attitude to go along with it.
There was the CI era comprising of hardcore enthusiasts, the AVL phase where the company was experimenting which again was liked and disliked similarly, the UCE phase where there was slight progression with an aging technology but huge mass appeal, leading to what we have an era of Himalayan, Interceptor and the on the cards Meteor.
I have never actually owned a CI, have spent a lot of time with them right from childhood, but can surely comment on AVL and UCE blocks since I have owned them.
The AVL to me was good, but not exactly dependable to the core. The bike required frequent replacement of parts specially the shocker seals which went kaput every 1000 kms. It had starting issues during rains owing to the single spark plug technology. However it was the breed which sported a tachometer, and left leg gear ratios, and had true bred cruiser looks (only other competition was Avy) which did win a lot of hearts. It never left me stranded on the highways, irrespective of the kilometres run versus conditions it was put to. The cruiser stance was super comfortable for mile munching. My experience with the AVL Thunderbird led me to owning a UCE Thunderbird, the memories never faded.
The UCE block is more dependable. It has less maintenance issues if looked into on time. Unfortunately the chassis gave away at 95,000 kms which was replaced. The other parts have till now held on. The digital instrument cluster has lost the button to toggle between trip meters and odometer, the clock never functions, and the fuel gauge is vaguely accurate. It still runs on stock pistons and crankshaft, nothing in the engine block has been replaced.
It has toured extensively pan India and has never left me stranded. I have experimented with everything Karol Bag has to offer with modifications, except the exhaust, changing the look and feel of the bike to my whims and fancies. The bike still starts on the second kick and reaches 90 pretty fast. However I am a sedate rider and 80 kmph is where the TB has spent most of its spent kilometres. I have spent enough time with RE's to understand that just because it is a 350 or 500 cc, it is not supposed to run neck to neck with a Dominar or a KTM. Royal Enfield is meant to be ridden comfortably, its is not a pocket rocket. Everyday I see youngsters wringing the throttle out of bikes which have not been run-in, exploring exhaust options before the registration process is complete, and to top it have stickers on the bike proclaiming " Muscles don't matter".
Service intervals have been strictly followed at 3000 kms with fuel, oil filter, and air filter changes. I have used mineral, semi-synthetic based, and semi-synthetic engine from different brands. Have felt less vibes with semi-synthetic grades over the minerals. Have not used synthetic grade since my service intervals are strictly at 3000 kms.
With the way technology progresses and we have new, modern, ultra-tech products everyday would I change the Thunderbird to any other advanced bike or even lets say a 650 Interceptor or GT, I will say no. I feel the UCE's still provide the feeling of simple, uncomplicated motorcycling experience, meant to casually munch miles across different spans, not meant to race or pushed hard, but enjoy what it has to offer and not meet heightened expectations. If you are comparing a Royal Enfield with any other brand you will always find flaws which I agree, but life is not perfect. If you want to enjoy a Royal Enfield just try to enjoy the moment you are on the saddle,understand what the bike is meant for and has to offer, take regular and timely care, and not heighten your expectations with comparisons.

Current capture of the bike

[Bismaya]

Originally Posted by SidharthaN

It has had a chasis replacement at 95,000 kms where there was a major crack behind the centre stand.

How much does it cost for a chassis replacement?

[SidharthaN]

Originally Posted by Bismaya

How much does it cost for a chassis replacement?

Only labour charge. Chassis was replaced free.

[Hamza123]

Originally Posted by SidharthaN

So here I am penning an ownership report of a Royal Enfield Thunderbird - 2015 model sitting pretty at 1,15,000 kms and still going strong.

Thank you for your long and detailed thread with the thunderbird. Makes me realise that I have taken a right decision of going with my heart than my head.
The Bird is chugging along nicely after nearly 2 months in standstill. As I got back to my routine it piled on nearly 500 kms in 2 weeks. The odo now stands at 2000kms which as per the manual completes the break in period. She is also due for her second service but the service center I prefer is still not allowed to open so waiting on that.
A picture taken on a long way taken to home. With light traffic she is a delight on the less crowded roads.


The brakes continue to be a cause of concern and I plan to address this in the next service.

[Hamza123]

So the bike went on for its 2nd free service today. Once again went to Chopra motors but the service this time around was a mixed bag.
There were no issues with the bike to begin with and only needed a service and a regular oil change. There was a very slight oil leakage near the brake peadal. I requested to change the packing there although they assured me it will go once they tighten the screws.
Once I took the bike back and on the way home I noticed the front brake making a strange rattle sound which was never there earlier. Also unfortunately the oil leakage was back even though they tightened it. Had to go back the next day and they did admit the brake was loose and attended to it immediately. As for the oil leakage they did not have the part in stock and asked me to go to Dhone auto which was a bit closer to my place. Upon visiting Dhone auto they advised me to come back the next day as the engine was too hot to work on it.
The next day I went and the packing was changed and took approximately one and a half hour.
So what should have been a simple service spanned over three days of visiting 2 different service stations.
Come on Enfield your bikes get a poor reputation because of your service than the bike itself!!!
No picture from the service as entry was strictly barred due to the pandemic.

[KPR]

My TB500 had gone for regular service few days back with an offer from RE local dealer for 1499/- that includes oil and filter changes. Apart from regular service I had no issue with the vehicle. However service advisor insisted on chain sprocket change which I denied this time. Maybe in a month I will get it inspected by my known mechanic of another dealer for his opinion and then go for a change. It's been running well since service.

And many thanks for your suggestion regarding Sahara seats. I've got them couriered to my place. Opted for Black colour to be safe with looks. My preferred dark brown was not in stock.

BTW purchased this magnetic tank bag for my daily commute from Guardian Gears through amazon. It's quite compact and well built too. No issues of any movement and doesn't obstruct while riding. Good that it has a touch friendly mobile pocket in its front which helps in mobile storage.

[Hamza123]

Originally Posted by KPR

My TB500 had gone for regular service few days back with an offer from RE local dealer for 1499/

That's great! Which service was this.
The seat do we looks great and am glad it worked out for you.
Unfortunately the oil leakage problem is back and am thinking of escalating the complain to Enfield. If possible it's been made worse after the gaskit replacement. Need to sort this on priority.
Also have ordered a side bag for the bike from Amazon. Let's see how it is once it gets here.

[zaphodb]

Congratulations on your purchase.

IMO forget about the fuel sensor. The one they replaced may also have a deviation. There's not much point bringing these things with ASS when pretty much all of the spares they have will have similar issue.

[KPR]

Originally Posted by Hamza123

That's great! Which service was this.

Normally I'm servicing my vehicle once in 6 months. Last servicing was done sometime in Nov-Dec '19. When I was thinking about servicing the vehicle post lockdown I got a message from local dealer about 1499 package. Immediately used it as I didn't have any new complaint either. Now I've peace of mind. This machine definitely needs proper care unlike Japanese bikes. I had a scary electric starting trouble once. The culprit was petrol content that had gone to scary low level. This could've affected the electric start problem I guess. But once I filled to brim then the issue got resolved by itself. It's at times annoying to see such minor niggles but once seated and start cruising we tend to forget all. Such is the sofa comfort with torque this machine brings.

Do update on your leakage issue. Hope it gets resolved by competent RE/outside mechanic.

[KPR]

I've installed Avenger chrome mirrors in my TB500. Today I had the opportunity to drive it after long break of 25+ days. There's sea of difference between stock mirrors and these avenger chromes. Almost 95% of mirrors vibrating at 80-90 kmph cruising speeds is gone. With new avenger mirrors I could now spot from RVM if the distant looking car is actual Jeep compass or a wannabe Jeep compass .

[Hamza123]

Originally Posted by KPR

I've installed Avenger chrome mirrors in my TB500. Today I had the opportunity to drive it after long break of 25+ days. There's sea of difference between stock mirrors and these avenger chromes. Almost 95% of mirrors vibrating at 80-90 kmph cruising speeds is gone. With new avenger mirrors I could now spot from RVM if the distant looking car is actual Jeep compass or a wannabe Jeep compass .

That’s good
I have been thinking about getting the touring mirrors from RE installed since a while now. Have seen them on a couple of bikes and they look lovely, have a lovely finish and have a wide range of adjustability and anti glare as well.
Although to be honest no complains from the stock mirror yet either. Guess the quality has improved over the past few years

[Hamza123]

A quick update
So the oil leakage situation went from bad to worse. Why’s worse is that Enfield’s service center kept telling me “it’s normal” and it’s the heat of the engine causing it etc etc. I escalated the
matter to Enfield and got a call from the manager of Chopra Motors where I give the bike. I told him I need it rectified. Also the third servicing of the bike was due and thought of getting it done as well
About 300 kms done after the service and no signs of oil leakage yet. Fingers crossed.
Posting pics of the leakage.

[Nicky4WD]

Thanks for sharing. Nice write-up. I have been thinking of upgrading to a TB500 as well (available in a few showrooms across the country)