Royal Enfield Thunderbird 350

The Thunderbird 350 is an adventure cruiser type motorcycle from Royal Enfiled which got launched back in 2012. Over the years the Thunderbird 350 went many mechanical and visual changes to appeal more to the likes of the potential Indian customers. The nature and character of the Thunderbird are made to make a distinct statement on roads and also to remains as an extension of the rider who uses it.

Styling

The Thunderbird 350 followed a cruiser type design and this made it stand out from the rest of the Enfield family. The silent exhaust note of the Thunderbird 350 which miss the iconic "thumb" also made it unique and at the same time became a reason for being disliked by many. The big fuel tank, beefier and more rigid swingarm, rear and front disc brakes, projector type headlamps, advanced instrument cluster; which were never seen on any other Enfield motorcycles were showcased exclusively in the Thunderbird models and this helped it gain some popularity over the years.



Engine

The engine of the Thunderbird 350 uses the same 346.00 cc Single-Cylinder, 4 strokes, Twinspark, Air cooled engine that produces a maximum power of 19.8 bhp @ 5250 rpm and a maximum torque of 28 Nm @ 4000 rpm. The engine of the Thunderbird 350 is refined and tuned to give better cruising power with good mileage efficiency.



The engine is mated to a 5-Speed gearbox and top speed of the bike is claimed to be 13 kmph. The Thunderbird 350 gives out good torque and an equal amount of power to make long distance travel a very comfortable experience. The motorcycle is equally good for short commutes also. The engine is very reliable and gives out good overall mileage on long rides and short rides.

Chassis, Suspension and Braking

The Thunderbird 350 has a Single Downtube Frame. The frame is very rigid and gives enough stability at higher speeds. The Thunderbird 350 is one of the stable models of Royal Enfield. The front suspension of the bike comprises a 41 mm Telescopic Forks with 130 mm travel, while the rear suspension comes with Twin gas charged shock absorbers with 5-step adjustable preload having 80 mm travel.



The suspension setup of the bike is made to make highway riding easier.The braking system of the bike is done with 280 mm Disc, 2-Piston Caliper at the front while the rear braking system is done with 240 mm Disc, Single Piston Caliper. The braking system of the Thunderbird 350 is quite satisfactory, but when it is on rains and heavy traffic, one needs to master the whole vehicle to control it.

Final Words

The Thunderbird 350 is a very good highway cruiser. As a typical cruiser motorcycle, it is lazy and gives out less horsepower and lacks the good power to weight ratio. This motorcycle is very overweight and is hard to tame.



But when it comes to long-distance travel and off-road adventure, the Thunderbird 350 is very good for both the rider as well as the pillion thanks to the very comfortable seat as well as the relaxed seating position. The Thunderbird 350 attracts good maintenance when compared to other bikes, but overall it is a very motorcycle for all the needs - off-road, on-road or highway ride or short commutes. Afterall, the Thunderbird is all about the experience it gives away while on the roads than whats written on paper.