Royal Enfield Thunderbird 500X Review
Bike Tested: Royal Enfield Thunderbird 500X; Road Test No. 924
Price OTR Mumbai: Rs. 2.28 lakhs
Priced over Rs. 2 lakhs, Thunderbird 500X is the most expensive RE motorcycle on sale in the country!
Starting off, this one is not the Royal Enfield the entire nation has been waiting for as the 650 Twins are still some months away from launch. Right now, what we have with us is one of the two new additions to the Royal Enfield Thunderbird range. Yes, we are putting the more powerful 500cc version named the Thunderbird 500X to its paces to determine whether it justifies its sticker price that stretches well over the Rs. 2 lakh mark when it comes to the on-road cost. Even without any mechanical changes when compared to its cruiser counterpart, the company claims it to be the “urban-geared rendition” of the original, but is it? Let’s find out!
Motor Quest: Introduced way back in 2000, Royal Enfield Thunderbird is a cruiser motorcycle that went through a transplant in 2009 to accommodate the relatively modern UCE engines. In 2012, the Eicher-owned company came up with new models that featured refreshed styling, more features and improved mechanicals. This year, Royal Enfield Thunderbird X range, consisting of the 350X and 500X, has been launched to appeal to the millennials.
Subtle details such as the chopped fender add to the modern stance; don’t miss the rim stripes
For the unsuspecting, the Thunderbird 500X can easily pass off as a custom-built motorcycle
Styling – Thanks in no small part to the all-blacked out theme and pop colour options, the Thunderbird 500X looks fresh, youthful and snazzy on our roads. Even in the busy urban scenario, this motorcycle is an attention-grabber due to its massive exterior dimensions of 2040 x 840 x 1140 mm (length x width x height). Leaving no stone unturned to put it as a whole-hearted approach, the Bullet-maker has offered 9-spoke alloy wheels and tubeless tyres as standard. Besides that, the headlight bezel now gets a smoked effect, the seat is a single-piece unit while the handlebar is flat and short. However, the exposed wiring at places and underwhelming fit & finish levels play spoilsport in an otherwise well-executed attempt.
The console is unchanged, and the same can be said about its vibrations also!
Instrument Cluster and Switchgear – Royal Enfield Thunderbird 500X carries over the same analog-cum-digital instrument console from the standard Thunderbird with a small MID sitting beneath one of the dual chrome-ringed pods. Like before, the left pod features a speedometer and a digital display while the right one houses a tachometer and other tell-tale lights. Apart from the obvious km/hr reading, the speedometer also continues to show the speed in miles per hour. The digital display throws out information related to fuel level, average speed and time as well, along with a service due warning. While the handlebar gets new grips, the good quality switchgear has been carried over from the standard Thunderbird. Besides a couple of dubious buttons to fiddle with the cluster, this one comes with a choke lever too. What’s more? The unit does a cool self-check on start-up!
As can be inferred from this picture, the handlebar makes a world of difference to the riding position
Ergonomics – Aiming to target the energetic youth with this model, Royal Enfield was quick to realise that the relaxed stance wasn’t going to make the cut. Hence, what we get here is a flat handlebar, a new seat without the useful pillion backrest and sleeker grab rails. The handlebar now sits at a more natural height (and in a natural way) that allows the rider to sit in a more committed position, which is more in the league of commuter motorcycles. To top it off, the footpegs are front-set which doesn’t rob you much of the Thunderbird’s characteristic laid-back feel. Talking about the single-piece seat, it has a well scooped-out and sufficiently-padded part for the rider while the pillion area is, in relative terms, a slight compromise in terms of space and comfort. However, the Thunderbird 500X still flaunts a good ergonomic balance when compared to other motorcycles.
Performance – As we told you earlier, the Thunderbird X range witnesses no mechanical changes in either of the two displacement versions. The beast in our possession puts a 499cc, air-cooled and fuel-injected motor to good use to develop 27.2 BHP of power and 41.3 Nm of torque. This single-cylinder motor comes paired to a 5-speed gearbox for which we will swank about later. As if the unimpressive on-paper specifications weren’t enough, the Thunderbird 500X weighs 197 kgs which further takes a toll on real-world performance. Its one saving grace is the plentiful torque available right from low RPMs to play around with. This results in commendable tractability in moving traffic as the engine responds well to throttle inputs without needing frequent downshifts. In fact, the Thunderbird behaves very similar to any other motorcycle at city speeds of upto 60 km/hr. Beyond that, this so-called urban cruiser has an entirely different story to tell.
Despite its sporty makeover, this motorcycle remains a very capable cruiser
What 60 km/hr is to Thunderbird 350X, 80 km/hr is to Thunderbird 500X
Once you cross 60 km/hr, the bike tends to get out of its comfort zone with an enormous surge in the intensity of mild vibrations you had been facing till now. As you push it to the 5500 RPM redline, the thumping note from the exhaust pipe gets pretty vocal and the vibrations become unbearable. With a sweet spot at around 80 km/hr, it’s best to adopt a sedate riding style on the highways and enjoy the thump! While the clutch lever operation is manageable, it is the gearbox which will leave you in disdain. Facing false neutrals is a chore and the shifter feels so clunky to operate that you have to literally kick through the gears at times. That said, the Thunderbird 500X is quite frugal going for close to 30 kms on a litre of fuel. That, coupled with its humongous 20-litre fuel tank, makes it a go-to option for those in need of a long-distance cruiser.
Rear-view mirrors are rendered useless because of engine vibrations
With a soft suspension setup, ride quality on the Thunderbird 500X is really sorted!
Riding Dynamics – One can’t expect much from the Thunderbird 500X considering that the motorcycle it has evolved from is an out-and-out cruiser sitting on a down tube frame. However, the new handlebar has made it a lot more easier to tip this one around corners. Moreover, the riding position now allows one to exercise greater control over the motorcycle which results in greater stability across sweepers and amidst crosswinds. Suspension setup comprises of telescopic forks up front and twin shock absorbers at the rear. This motorcycle is softly-sprung which makes it apt for the purpose it’s intended for! Although the front end is a bit twitchy when exposed to hard cornering, the bike just eats up road undulations and broken patches without breaking a sweat. MRF tyres perform their job quite well. Braking power from the disc brakes is adequate for the kind of speeds the Thunderbird is capable of but there’s no denying the disconnected and wooden feel when operating the brakes for slowing down.
No one would’ve anticipated the Thunderbird to come in such a charming avatar!
Verdict – Truth be told, the Thunderbird 500X is an honest attempt from Royal Enfield as it gets a good amount of changes to differentiate it from the regular model without losing on the basic character. Agreed, the Thunderbird has lost its old-world charm due to the introduction of alloy wheels, grab rails and the blacked-out theme in particular but considering it as a retro-modern motorcycle straight out of the factory, this one does make some sense. It’s not for those who are after performance, reliability or refinement and the Thunderbird 500X is way too far from all these aspects anyway. For its asking price of over Rs. 2 lakhs, we genuinely won’t recommend one until the company decides to pull up its socks and work out something to improve the gearbox and control those awful vibrations. But if you’ve already made your mind to go for a Thunderbird, we do recommend splurging a bit more cash and opting for the X variants for their more involving ride experience as well as added practicality.
RE Continental GT 535, anyone?
What’s Cool
* Looks attractive in bright colour shades
* New handlebar makes it a better handler
* Fuel-efficient engine, offers enormous amount of torque
* Absorbent suspension gobbles up the worst of broken patches
What’s Not So Cool
* Lacks refinement, gearshift quality is terrible
* Engine runs out of steam at triple-digit speeds
* Overpriced for what it offers
* Brakes lack feel, no ABS
Even though these grab rails are good enough for the job, RE offers the regular model’s backrest as optional
Royal Enfield Thunderbird 500X Specifications
* Engine: 499cc, Air-Cooled, Single-Cylinder, 4 Stroke
* Power: 27.2 BHP @ 5250 RPM
* Torque: 41.3 Nm @ 4000 RPM
* Transmission: 5-speed Manual
* 0-100 km/hr: 13 seconds (Est.)
* Top Speed: 130 km/hr (Est.)
* Fuel Consumption: 30 km/litre (Est.)
* Fuel Type: Petrol
* Frame: Single Down Tube
* Suspension: 41 mm Telescopic Forks (Front), Twin Shock Absorbers (Rear)
* Tyres: 90/90/19 (Front), 120/80/18 (Rear), MRF Tubeless
* Brakes: 280 mm Disc (Front), 240 mm Disc (Rear)
Royal Enfield Thunderbird 500X Dimensions
* Length x Width x Height: 2040 mm x 840 mm x 1140 mm
* Wheelbase: 1350 mm
* Ground Clearance: 135 mm
* Seat Height: 775 mm
* Fuel Tank Capacity: 20-litres
* Kerb Weight: 197 kgs
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