[Blue Express]

I have had the Royal Enfield Thunderbird 350 UCE in the stable since the past 10 years, having no complaints to it whatsoever, chugging merrily over the decade. However since the past few months, the itch to tinker around and do something had started creeping up my mind. The previous modification done in it were to install the original upswept exhaust by RE (Done back in 2015 when it used to be available as an official accessory in RE Showrooms), and replacing the original handlebar with the upright handlebar of the Thunderbird X. Everything else, had been stock.

The Bullet Standard 350/500 has always been a fascination, so therefore among the thoughts on what to do on the Thunderbird, the one in forefront was to make it look like a Std Bullet 350.

Upon enquiring, got to know that although the chassis are similar across the Bullet/Classic/Thunderbird lineup, the mountings are slightly different and in order for the parts of Bullet to be mounted on the frame of the Thunderbird, alterations in the form of weldings and new holes would have to be drilled, which I was not too keen on. Also the fact that all of this would make the task a lot more expensive, more than the current market value of the motorcycle.

To this, upon further pondering is when I realised that they main thing that attracted me to the Standard 350, was its unmatched styling in the form of the Golden pinstripes that's on the tank, all hand painted! Thoughts stuck even more- this is something that should be possible easily on any other similar tank too! Now, the Thunderbird gets a 20 litre tank which is much larger in size compared to the tank of the Bullet, however the shape of the tank is almost similar - therefore a pinstripe should very much be possible. As I started enquiring on how to get the Pinstripes in Mumbai/Thane region, the options that I was told was either to get the tank painted, whereby the tank first gets a golden paint coat, and the pinstripe design is masked, and then the tank is then coated in a different colour of choice the the mask is taken off, effectively exposing the Golden Pinstripe. A very good long term option, however I ruled this out since it again didn't make financial sense to spend upwards of INR 8k to get this done. This is when Option 2 came - to enquire if anyone has done Pinstriping through a radium sticker guy - Typically done by roadside number plate makers who makes you a sticker of your choice that can be stuck to a motor vehicle, and is typically waterproof.

A quick search on Youtube revealed that a lot of people had done this previously, especially applying radium pinstriping to convert their Electra 350 to a Standard 350, however couldn't find anything on a Thunderbird. With this in mind, I set off thumping on my Thunderbird to find a radium guy who could do this in Thane. Those familiar with Thane would be aware of Harinivas Circle/ Teen Hath Naka, an area that is filled with accessories of all sorts for 2, 3 and 4 wheelers. Sure enough, came across a Number plate maker who although had not done this job before, but knew at once on what needs to be done. And sure enough, at INR 450, I'm more than pleasantly happy with the work done and the new look the Thunderbird gets!

Will allow the pictures to do the talking:

Thunderbird before the Pinstriping:



Work in progress! Amazed by the speed at which these craftsmen work:


Finishing touches, before re-installing the seat:


With the seat attached and ready to go! All in a matter of 45 minutes. The seat cover too, changed back from brown to black:


Rider view!


From the front:


From the side:


Up next, thinking of maybe having the Royal Enfield Wing monogram!