Hitchcocks Forum

Does anyone know why we don't get the Thunderbird model over here? It looks great to me and I would buy one tomorrow if I could. Does anyone here import them? I took the Continental GT for a test ride. Went well and the gearbox was a revelation after my 4 speed on the classic e/s I`ve got. I wonder if Enfield will put the bigger engine in the new classic range?

Apparently The Thunderbird 500 is not homologated for the UK. (Sounds painful.)

Homologation is the certification of a product to indicate that it meets regulatory standards.

Yes, but to homologate(horrible word)it surely all you have to do it change the headlight glass and put a restrictive silencer on it.

Ivor, there is more involved than that, and in fact depending where a motorcycle was imported from, you could fit a less restrictive silencer.
It is compliance of lighting/indicators that could be expensive.

You would have to check the regulations on personal imports if you wanted to bring one over, it might just be a case of swapping the exhaust, tyres and lighting to match current EU regs in line with what's on the official imports, I'm pretty certain the 500 Thunderbird has the same EFI as the UK market bikes. In pre-EFI days quite a few home market Bullets, Lightnings, AVL Thunderbirds and the odd Machismo made it over here, and provided they met the relevant standards when put through the single vehicle test all was fine. Perhaps someone with up to date knowledge could advise if that's still an option. A.

My Lightning is a grey import. However. Since it was over 10 years old when it was Registered, it didn't require the SVA test. Just an MOT. It still had the original Indian made Dunlop tyres on it (Long since gone now). Getting an older Thunderbird is an option. But where do you start looking?

Just a thought. Are we talking about the 350 here?

Think the prob may be that the "new" emission rules here in the EU have necessitated FI to keep the bikes "clean" enough and the Thunderbird is a carb bike.

Maybe compounded by the fact that the importer has just changed and they will be being super careful that they can easily sell all they order. They know how the existing bikes will sell with some degree of certainty by looking at the sales history.

Looking at the offic1al RE website it looks like the 500 Thunderbird **IS** fuel injected, the 350 still has the CV carb.



http://royalenfield.com/motorcycles/thunderbird-500



Apart from the front end/seat/tank it seems to have quite a bit in common with the Electra EFI. The original 350 Lean Burn model Thunderbird had the "custom" tank and high bars which might have put European buyers off, at least as far as the previous importers were concerned, though the UCE versions are more conservatively styled. With a little bit of work, the new importers could sort out a similar model which could be legally sold here - subject to worthwhile demand.



A.