Jul 26, 2009 07:25 PM
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As I write this review, allow me to make it clear that I am not a first time biker, nor is this my first bike. I have owned and extensively ridden a Yamaha RD 350, Yamaha RX100, Bullet 350 Standard as well as a Yezdi Roadking. Me and my wife share lots of fond memories of the various road-trips that we undertook on these bikes. Of course all of these were sold one at a time as the years passed, the last being in 1999. One may wonder, why, after all these years did I buy a bike, and that too an Enfield, when everything else(including the new Yamahas) is better engineered and a whole lot cheaper.
Well, the other day(sometime in March 2009), as me and my wife were traveling in our car in Mumbai, I saw an Enfield Thunderbird Twinspark on the road and said to myself, that’s a cool looking bike. As I shared my thoughts with my wife, she immediately said – ‘If you want to buy a bike, buy it till you’re still young enough to ride it. No point reminiscing at 65 and longing for a bike.’ So that evening, on our way back home, we stopped at the Royal Enfield store at Nerul, Navi Mumbai and booked a Thunderbird Twinspark. Delivery took about a week, but the registration could not be arranged by the store for the next 10 days. The bike was thus restricted to short rides around the locality. Finally the registration number was provided and I was ready to ‘Trip’.
The bike is a complete departure from the Enfields of yore and feels quite different from my previous Bullet. Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing wrong with the bike. It runs smoother, does not leak any oil, starts at the first kick, lights and horn haven’t failed, switches still operate and the vibrations are a lot lot lesser. But, it doesn’t have the ‘Thump’ ie so characteristic of the Bullet cast iron engine and it has the brake on the right and gearshift on the left as with any other bike. It’s as if it is missing the soul of a Bullet. However, the new engine is more powerful, more efficient and better sealed than the old cast iron engine. The new Unit Construction is also quite frugal and delivers a linear spread of torque upto 3000 rpm.
Design & Styling. In one word - Awesome. Head turning design and ample chrome with the raised front end and handle bars with a sloping rear and contoured seat, the bike is a head turner.
The Engine. The Unit Construction Engine has the gearbox integrated into it and allows for faster and smoother gearshifts. The use of 02 spark plugs provides for better combustion of the fuel, developing more power and higher torque. Plus the digital transistorized coil ignition ensures quick starts and no fiddling with the CB point every 1000 KM. Even the tappets are hydraulic and eliminate the need for tappet adjustment every 500 KM. The de-compressor is also automatic and eliminates the need for manual decompression every time you start. The electric starter further makes things easier.
Electricals. Although the bane of all Bullets, electricals are much improved in the TBTS and the lights are powerful and the switchgear is fairly reliable, though lacking in a feel of quality.
Brakes. The TBTS has a disc brake up front and drum at the rear. By Enfield standards, braking is good, but if you are going fast(above 100 kmph) and have to drop anchors in a jiffy, the front end jiggles and shakes your confidence a bit. At normal speeds though, the braking is spot-on. I personally feel that the bike should come with wider tyres as the present set doesn’t seem to provide adequate grip while braking.
Ride Comfort. With 19 inch wheel rims, gas filled rear shock absorbers, longer front forks, the ride is pretty good. The seat cushioning and the handlebar design ensure fatigue free riding for prolonged distances. Even for the pillion, the seat is well cushioned and the back rest provides support at the right place ensuring a comfortable commute.
Living with it. The TBTS is a bike for touring and for riding away into the sunset(or sunrise, as you may please). Even within the city, the bike is easy to navigate and weave through bumper to bumper traffic. My bike has covered 4200 Km as on date and the engine components are just about settling-in. Engine is smooth with a great pick-up and runs smoothly till 80 kmph beyond which vibrations tend to set in. The bike is extremely stable at any speed and is hardly affected by strong cross-winds. Yesterday afternoon itself, I cruised at 105 kmph on the Palm Beach Road much to the chagrin of other motorcyclists as the other bikes were forced to crawl at 50-60 kmph due to strong monsoon winds. The point is, weight does matter. Apart from routine servicing every 3000 KM, the bike doesn’t demand anything else. One of my acquaintances has a TBTS that has done 15000 KM and he vouches for it. In addition, the feel of an Enfield is something that cannot be explained with words. The way it turns heads, tempts people to come and talk to you, commands respect from other motorists(as well as the policewallahs; they don’t stop or check an Enfield) and evicts a salaam from taxi and auto drivers is something that needs to be experienced.
Fuel Efficiency. Though quiet pointless since one cannot put a price on passion, and a heavy bike with a 350 cc engine is not some 100-150 cc moped that can go on and on and on on a litre of petrol, still the TBTS is a revelation. I am getting around 42 KM to each litre of fuel and that, I must say, is VERY GOOD.
Grouses. First and foremost irritant is the 3000 KM service interval. Come on Enfield, at least make it every 5000 KM. Tyres need to be wider as the present set is not adequate to handle braking at speeds that the bike is capable of. Of course, Enfield needs to do something about the service set-up. One has to book a service appointment almost 15 days in advance.
So, would I recommend it to anyone. Well, if are a passionate biker and love bikes, they hardly get better than the TBTS(at least in India), go ahead and buy it, you won’t go wrong. However, if you are the kinds who only calculates the fuel consumption each time you ride and are looking for a penny pinching commuter that is light, frugal and characterless, the market is flooded with 100-150 cc commuters that you can buy at a much cheaper price.
