Royal Enfield Thunderbird 500X
Royal Enfield have begun exploring a new avenue with the Thunderbird X. Are the changes enough to make it a success?
Is the rebel machine more than a hot mod?
The Thunderbird is one of the most iconic motorcycles in royal enfield’s portfolio. As time flew, the brand attracted more admirers as well as loyal followers. Well-timed updates saw the Thunderbird work its charm on the younger generation as well. This year, royal enfield are back with a rather loud update. Loud visually, not aurally. The recently launched rebel machine definitely catches the eye, but is it more than just a hot mod? We went on a short trip towards the hills near Pune to find out.
The Thunderbird 500X caused a lot of heads to turn with its almost heretic blue hue. The fuel tank was a solid candy colour. This bold choice of colour is also seen on the wheel stripes and on the “X” badging on the side-panels. The rest of the motorcycle is painted black. For the first time, royal enfield have chosen to do away with the traditional spoked wheels, opting for black alloys with tubeless tyres instead. other changes include a new handlebar and a single-piece seat.
riders will continue to be greeted by the same instrument cluster as on the standard model
which royal enfield should have livened up with some colour or changed altogether. The wide singlepiece handlebar is new but the switchgear remains unchanged. unlike the standard motorcycle, this one has round mirrors like the himalayan. Mechanically, there are no changes to the motorcycle and it continues to be powered by the same air-cooled single-cylinder 499-cc engine as the standard Thunderbird 500. The engine is mated to the same five-speed gearbox. The frame, suspension, and braking equipment are also identical to the standard model. What has changed then? That is precisely what we are going to find out.
once i was done ogling at the motorcycle, i swung a leg over it and settled into the contoured saddle. The new single-piece seat is remarkably comfortable and roomy, ideal for longdistance cruising. For a lanky fellow like myself, the newly positioned handlebar was perfect. it let me maintain enough slack in my arms without having to compromise on my comfortable position in the saddle. The riding position is slightly leant forward but complements the motorcycle’s cruiser character and was never an issue on my 150-km-long ride that comprised ample stretches of the highway, twisties, and bad roads.
At five-foot-eight, my colleague, saurabh, did not have any complaints about the seating position either. Tall riders can fit into the contour of the rider’s seat and reach the bars comfortably. evidently, shorter riders have to sit slightly further ahead, but it does not compromise on comfort or handling. having ridden pillion for a while, he confirmed that pillion seat comfort is nowhere near as good as on the standard model. Also, the grab-rail
with back-rest has now been replaced with an under-seat grab-rail.
in stark contrast to my plans of cruising along, i soon found myself stuck in traffic. however, the motorcycle’s store of low-range torque and the progressive power delivery from the fuel-injected engine had me chugging along comfortably in second gear. The new handlebar helped me make quick work of manoeuvring the Thunderbird 500X out of the urban chaos and head for open road.
The sweet spot of the engine is around 3,500 rpm; above or below which there is noticeable vibration that becomes pronounced as the needle nears the red-line. once slotted into fifth gear, i found that the best way to enjoy the motorcycle was to cruise at 90 km/h. At that speed, the Thunderbird 500X makes sense. You have enough speed to munch miles, the right aural note, and the perfect pace for admirers to catch a glimpse.
Any unruly behaviour on my part was kept in check by the motorcycle’s suspension system. The softly set up front and the stiff rear are not meant for high-speed riding. slow things down a bit and the Thunderbird 500X feels relaxed and planted, even while going around a tight corner.
instead of carrying forth the same braking equipment as before, royal enfield should have updated the brakes. sharper brakes with more feedback would have made this motorcycle a joy to ride. Furthermore, it is a huge disappointment that royal enfield are not offering Abs at this price. especially when the 500X is their most expensive motorcycle on sale in india.
To summarize, the Thunderbird 500X is not dynamically different from its standard counterpart. however, it has brought a much-needed style update to the range and is easier to manoeuvre than the standard variant; making it practical for the city. is it worth the price? For the level of equipment and quality on offer, the price is ambitious.
Although the motorcycle does not offer ground-breaking technology or commendable levels of quality, it put a smile on my face when i rode it. if a machine can manage to do that every time you ride it, it does make sense to own one, yes?
You have enough speed to munch miles, the right aural note, and the perfect pace for admirers to catch a glimpse