Personally, I’ve always liked how after-factory alloys have looked on RE bikes and these look very similar. In a first for RE, the motorcycle gets black alloy wheels with tubeless tyres. The overall feel is something in-between a laidback and a fully aggressive posture.

The foot-pegs are still set forward, making for a relaxed ride. It is still slightly forward biased so if the rider’s height is on the shorter side, adjusting the handlebars towards the rider would be a good idea. Make no mistake, the motorcycle is still a Thunderbird at heart and most of its body, but the new styling cues are prominently implemented, giving you the impression that these could well be completely different motorcycles.įor starters, the pulled-back, typical cruiser handlebar from the original motorcycle is now gone, replaced by a flat one, shrugging off the relaxed demeanour. With the new Thunderbird 500X and the 350X, RE has pretty much given such buyers these options straight from the factory. The regular Thunderbird model also has been among the variants from the brand that has attracted modifications. And some, if not most of these buyers, look for a little more aggression from their machines. All motorcycles from the brand, save for the Himalayan, cater to those looking for a laidback design and the Classic series, the Thunderbird, and the vintage Bullet give off exactly that impression - settle into a comfortable speed, let that torque-laden single cylinder deliver you from city traffic, and cruise away.īut the brand has been attracting young buyers in droves, the past few years.

Especially given how it’s bringing back an even more classic design with the parallel-twin engine Interceptor later this year. The new Royal Enfield (RE) Thunderbird 500X looks like a rough-hewn, but well-finished street fighter, eager to jump into the next brawl coming its way.

Royal enfield thinderbird