Royal Enfield Launches Thunderbird 500


Royal Enfield on Thursday launched its Thunderbird 500, which, it says, would enhance the pleasure of leisure motorcycling.

The motorcycle is now powered with 499cc Unit Construction Engine and 27.2 bhp, 41.3Nm single cylinder engine is a straight lift from the Classic 500 and gives better performance and cruising ability at the same time returning decent fuel efficiency as well. 

The Thunderbird 500 is now having innovative features like projector head lamp, LED tail lamp, daytime running lights , digital trip meter,  split seat and a blackened engine, the main ignition lock also functions as a central steering lock. The Thunderbird 500 also sports a major upgrade in terms of its mechanicals  that ensure safety of both the rider and the bike.

The bike also gets fatter front forks and all-new swingarm and a 240mm disc brake at the rear along with a 280mm disc in the front. Ground clearance has been increased to 140mm while the overall height of the bike has dropped by 5mm. Now it has 18-inch rear wheel size along with a 19-inch front tyre. The Thunderbird 500 also features a bigger 20-litre fuel tank and will be available in two shades of black.
They haven’t just plonked in a larger engine and called it a day though, the whole bike gets a significant overhaul along with a new heart. 

The new Thunderbird, targeted at the highway cruising buffs, are priced at Rs 1,82,571 (on road Mumbai for the 500 cc) and Rs 1,43,346 (350 cc).

Senior Vice-President for Sales and Marketing, Shaji Koshy said “the company has already got 100 bookings within hours of launch, 50 from Mumbai alone.�

“With the launch of the Thunderbird 500 with its unique 360-degree design language and its higher powered engine, we have again upped the ante in leisure motorcycling. We have been selling around 1,000 units per month of the Thunderbird 350 and we expect this number to rise significantly with these two products,� said Siddhartha Lal, MD & CEO, Eicher Motors, while speaking toThe Hindu.
Royal Enfield claims a total range of 500km now, with the larger tank, so tourers, get ready to get your paws on it.
The Chennai plant would make engines for products assembled at the new plant coming up at Oragadam, near Chennai, said Mr. Lal. It would come up by March 2013.
Last year, Enfield had notched up a full 50 per cent growth in sales to over 75,000 units, Lal said. â€œThe new plant would initially only make Thunderbird bikes and we would have a combined capacity of 150,000 units per annum. However, by 2014-15, this capacity will increase significantly,â€� he said. The company is investing Rs. 150 crore in the new plant.

Royal enfield is now promising a better service experience with all new technology to be used in servicing the newer models with trained mechanics.

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