Royal Enfield to launch Thunderbird X series on Feb 28

Your wait is over now. Precisely on the last day of this month, February 28, Royal Enfield is expected to launch the new iterations of the Thunderbird, called the Royal Enfield Thunderbird X which includes its highly-anticipated Thunderbird 350X and 500X. The motorcycle, spy shots of which showed resplendent paints and alloy wheels, is expected to remain mechanically unaltered.

The new Thunderbird variants are likely to share the engine and gearbox with the standard Thunderbird range. However, there are multiple changes that set it apart from the regular model, such as the new handlebar and seats. The bikes stand with black alloy wheels shod with tubeless tires and the engine gets a matte black finish instead of silver. The exhaust and suspension will also get a similar matte black look. The headlamp and tail-lamp are the same units as the standard model, replete with an LED daytime running light and an LED tail-lamp as well.

The fascination with the letter ‘X’ hasn’t been deciphered yet because unlike in the case of iPhone, the Thunderbird celebrated its tenth anniversary already — about eight years ago. But semantics aside, the motorcycle will be positioned keeping the young and energetic buyer in mind. Which is also the reason why the motorcycle gets company-fitted alloy wheels, short street-orientated handlebar, a single-piece seat, tanks painted in bright colors (choose between red, blue, yellow, and white), meters finished in gunmetal grey, and lower half of the motorcycle covered in matte black paint.

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There will be a choice of two engine options, which as mentioned above, are expected to remain the same as before. Wheel size may see a variation, but that’s not confirmed yet. Apart from that, it’s the good old Thunderbird in a new, snazzier package.

Expect the powertrain to remain the same as the regular Thunderbird. The Thunderbird 350 gets a 346 cc single cylinder mill that makes 19.8 bhp of power at 5,250 rpm and 28 Nm of torque at 4,000 rpm. The Thunderbird 500 employs a bigger 499 cc single cylinder engine that is good for 27.2 bhp at 5,250 rpm and 41.3 Nm at 4,000 rpm. Gearbox for both the bikes is a 5-speed unit.

More details will be available closer to the launch.

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