Hitchcocks Forum

HI All I am hopefully going to start looking for an Enfield in a week or two,and was wondering if a thunderbird is o.k. I have seen a couple of low mileage ones but wondered because they seen a lot cheaper than classics and electras, are they a reasonable buy or do I need to avoid them. Ilook forward to your replies
Cheers Davie

Hi DAVIE HALL,------ The Thunderbird is not an official UK range model so will have been imported separately....That in itself is not really a problem---I believe our hosts can supply most of what you might need mechanically ----- but as with any imported machine just be sure the PAPERWORK is in order first. OK,is it the 350 cruiser with electric start and UCE engine ?? ( I believe they now do a 500 version as well ??)---..... Basically they are just a cosmetically-different version to the standard UCE road models so just have a look at comments for those types to get an overall impression....But-- Is a "cruiser" 4-stroke single your "Bag,man?"...........good luck anyway.

Just a pointer to one of my posts (royal enfield for sale in scotland) because my Electra is for sale, don't know if it's what you are looking for or anywhere near your price range but it's a real nice one. Good luck anyway, they are great fun!

There's a number of differing Thunderbirds out there. It depends on what you want. Early ones used the 350 iron barrel engine. Then came the 350 lean burn engine. Currently, they have the 350 UCE engine. Being imports, the only ones I've seen available un the UK are the lean burns and the UCE Thunderbirds. These bikes tend to be a mish-mash of parts from different models. There are very few parts specific to the Thunderbird and these can be tricky to obtain. Detective work is needed to find out what part came from what model for the other bits. Another option is the 500 or 535 Lightning (I've got the 500). Again, these bikes are imports and have the same parts problems as the Thunderbird.

Thanks for the replies guys.
The bikes I was looking at are lean burn, maybe I will wait a while and get a uk spec bike.
Alex I have looked at you bike and I would like it, but just now my budget is only approx £1500 max.
Cheers Davie

HI Dave

i have had and run many an Enfields, one of my Bikes is a Lean Burn 350 Engined Machismo, Same engine as In Lots Of thunderbirds, And I have found it a Loverly Engine,Easy start ,Nice Thump,Very good 100 MPG,Slightly higher Revving & slightly Faster Than The Classic, But Much Quicker................
Most Have A 5 speed Box..Very Nice, All (to My Knowlage) Are Kick Start Only.
Both this Site and an other English Gentleman Support it to a certain extent.....
And With the Thunderbirds Style you either Like it or hate It......MY True Love Is a Slow,Deep Thumping 350 Std Classic of Many a Year, But as a Fun and usefull 2nd The "350 Lean Burn has Been ok So far" (6 Months)..But as Stated Not a Lot Out There..BUT The Thunderbird do's have its Own Loyal following....."Buy One and be dammed" ;0)....Cheers Craig

Davie, I don't think I'm ready to drop that much - at the moment I have an ideal minimum of £1800, but keep in touch, maybe neither of us will have any other offers and we can meet somewhere in the middle! Financially and geographically!!

Davie - where are you in the UK, I have found a bike I fancy going for (SV650S) and trade in offer is £1600 - I'd rather it went to a fan, who knows what'll happen when it goes into a Suzuki dealer........