Hitchcocks Forum

No. not with another woman - but the new drop-dead gorgeous Thunderbird 500 that has been released onto the Indian home market ONLY, it seems - royalenfield.com/motorcycles/thunderbird-500/

They seem to be making it clear it won't be compliant in other countries - what a shame!!

Mike

Do you mean this one, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjNRWZspDz0 Surely a personnel import does not need e.e.c. regulations *rap.

Yep - that's the one, Jaffa - I hadn't found that video, thanks.

If you go to the page I indicated, and look down at the bottom right, there is a link "Personal Imports"
this is where they seem adamant tha it will be a White Elephant if you buy one!!

Mike

If you like the style, but aren't to worried about the engine, you could always try for a 2nd hand Lightning or a 350 Thunderbird that's already in the Country.

Hmmmm, it's got a RE badge and one of those new fangled motors but it looks like a kawayamhonduki. Or perhaps a chinese clone. Enfield India have got by pretending to be "British" (or more accurately English) despite Austrian engines and bits of Jap electrics for many years but with this one they've given up any pretence of "britishness". Good job too.
(Grenade lobbed, he ducks below parapet...)

I think it looks pretty good, except the silencer's too big. Rather reminiscent of a Bonneville America. But if it ever made it to Britain, I suspect that it would join the other EFI bikes in competition with low mileage Bonnies and WD 650/850s.
I don't see myself buying a new RE in the near future. I like the older bikes because they are a sort of "blank canvass" that you can restore and customize easily and cheaply.

See latest for sale ads 2016 you will be surprised

If it's a new bike, how come the tank is sporting the old style RE logo, and not the new 'cats tails' version?

I saw loads of those in India recently and wondered what they were. I think it's aimed at a different market to the Classic models which are much more expensive. It looks pretty ugly to me but you can see how it's "styling cues" (in modern marketing speak) might impress younger riders.

REgards, Mark

The thunderbird 500 has the 3D graphic badge on all models see re.com view thunderbird 500 they have not changed it ? Unless you know better on here ?!