[SpyderTBTS]

Hi everyone, so I am new to this forum. I wanted to start here by sharing about my experience with the Royal Enfield Thunderbird Twinspark. Without any further explanation, I am directly getting into the topic.

The Thunderbird Twinspark was bought by my father on February 28,2009. At that time, I was 6. I got really attracted to the bike the first time I saw it ( after the delivery ). Till that time, I really didn’t like Royal Enfield mainly due to its DUG-DUG sound and the old classic looking model. But this one appealed to me. From that day, I would imagine me myself riding the bike when I would reach the age to get a driving license. The bike didn’t gave any major troubles to my father. At that time, I was hearing from everywhere that Royal Enfields, especially the new UCE’s are not reliable and gets major engine problems.

This is the pic of the thunderbird in 2011 when it was used by my father



Coming a few years after, the bike has gone through a lot of use, 11 years(2020), 70,000 kms, regular periodic maintenance, the sprag clutch giving up on 3rd year 2times, the tachometer and the fuel meter stopped working at the 4th year, my father decided to sell the bike and buy a new BS6 Bullet 350x. I was 17 at that time and it made me sad because I could not experience driving it as I didn’t have driver’s license. Then on March 21,2020, he sold the bike through OLX and after the Corona Lockdown, on June 6, he took the delivery of the Bullet 350x Royal Blue.

But even after that, I kept a contact with the guy who bought the Thunderbird. 3 years later, on 2023, I contacted him to enquire whether he is interested to sell it back to me. On September 9, 2023 my mother bought back the Thunderbird, as she was also very much attached to the bike like me.


This is when we bought it back


Immediate service and general checkup after getting the bike



That was the first time i was riding the bike and suddenly I was comfortable with it. More comfortable than the Bullet 350x. It had many signs of ageing, the bend pipe fully rusted, the painted parts became much more dull, the engine had a tappet sound, all the shiny parts were dull. The age of the bike was 14.5 years. Then we decided to restore it before doing the fitness test. After buying the Thunderbird, I rarely took the Bullet 350x. My father also took a new car, The Mahindra XUV 400 EV. Since it was an EV he also stopped taking the bike. So we decided to sell the Bullet 350x as we were not at all using it and the Thunderbird had more comfort for both the rider and pillion.

This was my Bullet 350x which we sold.


We replaced the full clutch assembly also





So after selling it we started to restore the Thunderbird to Stock condition. I wanted the bike to be like how it was when it was delivered to my father. So I did not want to change the color. I wanted to keep the same color, it was red. I also wanted to electroplate all the chrome parts so that they will look new. The bike was completely disassembled and all the parts which required plating was given for the plating work. In that time, the fuel tank, the mudflaps, the side boxes and the chassis was being painted. Then the engine head was disassembled and the pushrods, the tappets, the oil pump, rocker arms, and the camwheels were changed to a new one. Then the pistons and the cylinder were reconditioned and the engine was assembled back. This made all the tappet noise gone and the engine was much silent. We also changed the Sprag Clutch assembly, and the Starter Motor which made the self start working after a long 11 years. Then the engine was assembled back and the bike was reassembled. The bike was completely changed, many people start asking if it was a new bike. The restoration and all the associated works costed me around a lakh. Now I plan to keep it and not to sell it.


Photos before restoration





Photos from the start of restoration








This is before restoration

This is after restoration




I will tell about the full ownership experience for the past 15 years in another thread. It will be a long thread, so for now i am stopping here

[Aditya]

Thread moved out from the Assembly Line. Thanks for sharing!

[deep_bang]

What a timeless piece. Great to see the final outcome and the emotion behind the restoration. Afterall we teambhpians are more about the heart than the head.

I myself have a 2015 thunderbird and it's in great condition and I don't plan to sell it ever.

[justin.das]

Originally Posted by SpyderTBTS

But even after that, I kept in contact with the guy who bought the Thunderbird. 3 years later, in 2023, I contacted him to enquire whether he is interested to sell it back to me. On September 9, 2023 my mother bought back the Thunderbird, as she was also very much attached to the bike like me.

Till the late 90's for most average Indian families their first vehicle was like a family member. That family kind of feeling binds them and the vehicle together for generations. I was thinking that as time went on people lost that kind of feeling and replacing their rides frequently felt common. You proved me wrong! very happy to hear another story where that family kind of feeling is there not only with you but for your mother too . Nice restoration job as well bike looks spanking new. I assume just the valve cover shape is different for the first-generation UCE engine and later ones in that case Parts availability won't be a problem. I would suggest reverting back to stock exhaust as getting a pollution certificate with after-market exhaust is going to be a headache. PS: UCE Engines are very good and reliable as well don't lend your ears to those random comments

[SpyderTBTS]

Originally Posted by justin.das

Till the late 90's for most average Indian families their first vehicle was like a family member. That family kind of feeling binds them and the vehicle together for generations. I was thinking that as time went on people lost that kind of feeling and replacing their rides frequently felt common. You proved me wrong! very happy to hear another story where that family kind of feeling is there not only with you but for your mother too . Nice restoration job as well bike looks spanking new. I assume just the valve cover shape is different for the first-generation UCE engine and later ones in that case Parts availability won't be a problem. I would suggest reverting back to stock exhaust as getting a pollution certificate with after-market exhaust is going to be a headache. PS: UCE Engines are very good and reliable as well don't lend your ears to those random comments

Actually that exhaust is the stock OEM exhaust. It was very difficult to obtain.

[justin.das]

Originally Posted by SpyderTBTS

Actually that exhaust is the stock OEM exhaust. It was very difficult to obtain.

Very Nice then. Kudos for your efforts.

[Viju]

That looks like it came straight out of the assembly line! Appreciate your efforts and hope you’re able to maintain it like this forever. Ride safe!

[SpyderTBTS]

Originally Posted by justin.das

Very Nice then. Kudos for your efforts.

Both the exhaust in the pictures are actually genuine RE spares, The long silencer was the one which came factory fitted. I bought it as new during the restoration. The short onr was an official RE accessory when the bike was on sale. Its almost more than 11 years old, but still doesn't even have signs of rusting in it. The second owner who bought the bike earlier cut off its db killer by giving it to an engineering workshop which made the silencer loud. That's why i bought the stock exhaust to pass the fitness test.

[justin.das]

Originally Posted by SpyderTBTS

Both the exhaust in the pictures are actually genuine RE spares, The long silencer was the one which came factory fitted. I bought it as new during the restoration. The short onr was an official RE accessory when the bike was on sale. Its almost more than 11 years old, but still doesn't even have signs of rusting in it. The second owner who bought the bike earlier cut off its db killer by giving it to an engineering workshop which made the silencer loud. That's why i bought the stock exhaust to pass the fitness test.

Long exhaust looks nice .Clean the chrome parts frequently which will prolong it's life and will help to keep the shine intact. I am using wax polish on my olides to protect chrome parts.

[TheHelix0202]

Excellent work done on it. That is an AVL, I believe.

I very nearly got the possession of a 2002 AVL in silver/black from a fellow BHPian a couple years ago. Somehow things didn’t align.

The Thunderbird is one bike that always fascinated me as a kid.

Enjoy your brand new old steed for many a countless mile!!

[justin.das]

Originally Posted by TheHelix0202

Excellent work done on it. That is an AVL, I believe.

No ,This is first gen UCE.AVL Lean Burn Engines looks very different .

[Oppanna]

Good One. Took me back the memory lane. I had a 2008 UCE TBTS till March 2020 with me. Had ridden the TBTS all over and it had clocked a lot of miles!

If possible please revert to old style RE emblem on the tank so that it completes the restoration. I am sure you will be able to source the old logo somewhere.

Good Luck. Keep Riding..

[ashpkd]

Nice. Its good effort to bring it back to its old glory.

I have mine which I bought back in 2008 when the twinspark was launched. But right now the rc is expired and stuck. The rc has a different chasis number than the bike which never got noticed ��. Its KA registration and bike is in Kerala. Still not decided what to do with it.

[rich_heart]

Originally Posted by SpyderTBTS

Hi everyone, so I am new to this forum. I wanted to start here by sharing about my experience with the Royal Enfield Thunderbird Twinspark. Without any further explanation, I am directly getting into the topic.

The Thunderbird Twinspark was bought by my father on February 28,2009.

I too have a TBTS 2009. But it hasn't been run that much. Around 24 k in 15yrs. I recently bought H450 and everyone is advising me to sell TBTS. I will never give it up. Very close to my heart. Here's my love to your beautiful bike brother! ❤️

[SpyderTBTS]

Originally Posted by Oppanna

If possible please revert to old style RE emblem on the tank so that it completes the restoration. I am sure you will be able to source the old logo somewhere.

Good Luck. Keep Riding..

Yes I got the logo a week back, will be switching to the old logo soon as this new logo is coming out itself

Originally Posted by rich_heart

I too have a TBTS 2009. But it hasn't been run that much. Around 24 k in 15yrs. I recently bought H450 and everyone is advising me to sell TBTS. I will never give it up. Very close to my heart. Here's my love to your beautiful bike brother! ❤️

Oh, it's nice. And I saw your PM but unable to reply since I am new to the forum, give me your ig handle and we can connect.