Royal Enfield Thunderbird 350X, 500X urban cruisers: Everything you need to know

Royal Enfield has added the much-needed zing to its Thunderbird range. What does the new cruiser range offer apart from the vivacious color scheme?

Royal Enfield Thunderbird X range is offered in both 500cc and 350cc engines.IBT Media

Royal Enfield enjoys a great command over the sub-500 cruiser bike market in India with the hugely popular Classic range. But that's not letting them rest on the laurels as competition in the cruiser bike segment is heating up.

Royal Enfield's motorcycles carry simple and old-school design approach while the recently launched Thunderbird 350X and the Thunderbird 500X are a detour to the company's style of design.

The Chennai-based bike maker has added the much-needed zing to the X range of Thunderbird motorcycles. Priced at Rs 1.56 lakh for the 350cc version and Rs 1.98 lakh for the 500cc version, the X range of Thunderbird urban cruisers are designed targeting the city dwellers.

We have compiled a list of top 7 things you need to know about the Thunderbird X range.

1. The highlight of Royal Enfield Thunderbird X is the vibrant color options perfectly contrasting against the blacked out cycle parts. There are 4 colors on offer - Getaway Orange and Drifter Blue on the 500X, and Whimsical White and Roving Red on the 350X.

Royal Enfield Thunderbird 350X, 500X motorcycles.Karan Kumar Sharma

2. The Thunderbird X range are the only bikes that come with factory fitted alloy wheels and tubeless tires in Royal Enfield's stable. The additions are definitely custom-inspired.

3. Royal Enfield Thunderbird X range of bikes comes with disc brakes, both in front and rear while it lacks Anti-lock Brake System (ABS). First Royal Enfield bike with ABS will the Interceptor and Continental GT 650 twins.

4. Royal Enfield has also worked on the ergonomics of the Thunderbird to make it more user-friendly for urban riders. These include new flat handlebar in place for easier maneuverability.

Royal Enfield Thunderbird 350X, Royal Enfield Thunderbird X

The engines of the Royal Enfield Thunderbird remain unchangedPR Handout

5. The seat in the Thunderbird X is a single piece unit against the regular Thunderbird bikes. The 'gunslinger' styled seat is coupled with a newly integrated grab-rail. There is no back support for the pillion.

6. The Thunderbird X's digital-analog twin-pod instrument cluster also gets the blacked-out treatment with a chrome garnish around the dials. The black color treatment is applied to the silencer, front forks, side covers, headlamp cover and indicators as well.

7. Royal Enfield has left the engines untouched. The Thunderbird 500X is powered by a single cylinder, air cooled, 499cc engine with electronic fuel injection system that produces 27.2bhp of power and 41.3 Nm torque while the Thunderbird 350X with a single cylinder 346cc engine tuned to develop 19.8bhp of power and 28Nm of torque.