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By Duke of Wybourne.
#97763
I've been offered one of these for next to nothing, and wondered what the pitfalls are. (if any) Apart from being pink and possibly the ugliest bike in creation, it wouldn't take much to make a trail bike out of it once the comedy mag wheels have been returned to the sea. Registered 2005, 5 speed, engine is nice and tight, and everything works. Just wondered what the long term durability is like, and mechanical spares availability.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.
:D
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By Adrian
#97766
From your description that sounds like a 350 Thunderbird, basically the Electra-X's smaller brother. The Thudnerbird was the "factory cruiser"option for the Indian home market with the ghastly styling inherited in part from the 535 Lightning, though the separate speedo and tacho were an improvement. There was also the oddly-named 350 Machismo which is the 350 AVL engine in a standard Bullet frame and tinware.

The one you're considering is most likely disc braked, so a set of Electra-X or 19" EFI (Euro3) wire spoked wheels will replace the alloys. The engines on these are supposed to be quite nippy, particularly if you lose the CV24 Mikarb in favour of something sportier. Electric start versions have TCI ignition, but K/S only versions will have CDI ignition and AC headlights. Being a lean-burn bike it will originally have had the stuffed-up exhaust pipe. This can be replaced by one of our hosts' Electra-X pipes if needed.

As for major spares, con-rod and big end are the same as the Electra-X, but in a 350 will be less stressed and should have a longer life. The rod and big-end from an EFI Bullet is a direct replacement too. Our hosts have a few bits suitable for the Blunderbird, I've seen oversize pistons listed on eBay, the 350 UCE pistons may be interchangeable. The 5 speed box is, well, just the 5 speed box as used on Sixty-5s an Electra-Xs.

A normal Bullet tank can replace the rather odd Thunderturd item, though seat mountings are a bit different and you may have to improvise for a trail bike seat mount (which I sure you can).

Please put up some pictures if you buy the thing, it might actually fail to disappoint once the silly bits have been replaced.

A.
By Duke of Wybourne.
#97767
Adrian wrote:
Wed Jul 21, 2021 6:07 pm


Please put up some pictures if you buy the thing, it might actually fail to disappoint once the silly bits have been replaced.

A.
Thanks for taking the time to reply.

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