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-   -   Royal Enfield Thunderbird 500 : My Motorcycle Diaries (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/motorbikes/135505-royal-enfield-thunderbird-500-my-motorcycle-diaries-19.html)

Final two images of the trip are added now.

This was the route taken. Excellent 4-laned NH 45/45B/7 all along except a small stretch of 2-laned Madurai bypass.

You are amazing Sir, I admire your courage and fitness level to complete the KK round trip in about 24hr time. What was the consistent speed that you had maintained during the trip? I got my TBTS 350 on Oct-28 and completed 500KMS so far, will post my experience soon.

Lot of people who own classic complain about vibration between 60 and 80 KMH, hope nothing of that kind is associated with the Thunderbird.

Most of the time, I maintained 90 kmph.

Congratulations and best wishes. Explore and enjoy your bird.

My TB500 happily cruises upto 100 kmph speeds and anything above results in vibrations as I experienced.

If I say congratulations, it does not make any sense over here as none had given you a target. You drive because you love to drive.

If I say Thank you, it does not make sense as well, because our thanks does not motivate you to ride. It is again, because you love to ride.

Sir, with all respects and awe, I sincerely wish to hear more from you with regards to your "NEW" and more updates on this thread. I possibly am not able to express myself properly (as the launguage barriers probably limits the intention), but believe me sir, you are a real inspiration for us.

One question, how long can these UCE engines run at a stretch after proper run in (3000kms at least)? If rider willing, can these machines run for 5 hours at stretch with max 80 kmph? (approximately covering 300 kms nonstop). Please advise.

Best regards,

Its 'Ride' bro, No offence. :D There is a world apart difference between 'Drive' and 'Ride'.

First off, I don't think 3000kms run-in is required for the UCE-s. Me and my friends have rode 2 brand new bikes one C350 and another TB350 from Trivandrum to Bangalore (close to 800Kms) just after finishing the first service. All along the NH-7 we were hitting 90-110 Kmph. Although it was an abuse to a brand new engine, both these bikes are running absolutely fine even after 25K Kms. My point is, IMHO no need to wait till 3000kms. Just avoid rapid acceleration and cruising at constant speeds in the first 1000-1500 Kms. But once in a while give the bike a taste of higher RPMs too.

I have felt that, for UCE350 85-90kmph was the most comfortable cruising speed. And it can do it all day long, trust me, all day long. For UCE500 it should be around 95-100kmph.

Cheers.

Bro it was intentional. On any vehicle, you both drive and ride at the same time. We associate driving "only" with 4 wheelers, which is not correct to the core. "world apart difference" - Offcourse correct, but over here the choice of words were intended .No hard feelings :D

Well the service manual and other experienced riders always advise for a proper run-in, to have a trouble free motorcycle, RE at least. But it is definitely good to know that, if rider willing, the ride can go on and on and on. This is what I was actually looking for :thumbs up.

I am comfortable riding in the 70-80 kmph zone.

None taken.. :D

70-80kmph is more than okay! I know guys who has ridden (read abused) their C5-s at 120-125kmph for many hours altogether on highways at one go. UCE-s are capable of taking that. No worries. But the key point I follow even for a properly run in bike is to never keep the throttle pinned at a position for a very long period. I always roll of the throttle for a couple of seconds.

Thank you Bro. Point noted down. Never keep riding in same speed for long. Why I prefer the 70-80 bracket is because I feel that I have a better control on my motorcycle in that range. Offcourse it varies from rider to rider. Safe riding is what we all should be concerned about, rather than covering X distance in Y time lol:


You know something, after reading Ravi Sir's recent post I was just thinking "what If I could go to my hometown on my motorcycle this time" [Pune to Kharagpur and back, max 5000 kilometers round trip]

The leave is all in place and the train tickets are booked. Wifey is already at destination, so no tention about pillion; Cash:- well not some thing that cannot be arranged on the go; Time:- I have that pleanty; Route:- Thanks to HVKumar sir, the same is known pretty well. Motorcycle:- 500CC Royal Enfield with just 1800 odd kilometers on board; Probably the time which I have now, will not be there the next time for me to plan, execute and enjoy.

So what is lagging? Why cannot I execute this trip? What holds me back?

In short:- The fear of Unknown. [What if.]

I wish I could overcome this. Sorry for being Off Topic. Please excuse.

Thanks a lot for the compliments, Majumdarda.

Even I am experimenting with my Blue Bird! First, I tried successfully 300+km/day; then, 480 km/day, and now, 1482 km/day. :)

As regards to running in, I sincerely followed the instructions of owner's manual to ensure health and comfort of my Blue Bird, which is reproduced here for quick reference.



Driving a car and riding a bike are totally different. The car driver - who is completely protected inside the cabin - is not exposed to the nature's elements in the former, while in the latter, the bike rider is totally exposed to the sunlight, rain, pollution, wind, insect-hit and what-not, which will collect their toll from him. Both the rider and the bike should take some rest after every 2 or 3 hours to stretch his arms and legs, to energize himself by eating nutritious food, to hydrate by drinking water frequently, and the last, but not the least, to relax his stressed butt, IMO.

You can definitely do it, Majumdarda. Please plan your trip carefully with adequate stops and halts knowing your limits. Follow the instructions of the owner's manual. But, before undertaking that mega trip, explore your Amun-Ra by riding some short one-day trips of, say, 300 - 500 km, so that both you and your Amun-Ra will know about each other fully.

Agree on this HANDS DOWN!! This is one of the things everybody does'nt understand when I tell them the cruising speed of a UCE350 is 80-90kmph. They argue they have done 110kmph at a stretch in a single go. They fail to understand what I meant is that is the highest and safest possible cruising speed when the engine is the smoothest, the road holding is superb and also the brakes are capable of providing decent stopping power in case of en emergency. Not to mention that the engine will have some reserve power for a quick overtaking too! Thanks for posting the above statement!

IMHO, these 3 questions are holding you back. Not their answers!

Do proper planning of the route, halts and the service for the bike that has to be done en-route, check the bike and hit the road!

And one more point to add. Be at the best of your physical fitness at the time of your ride. Start jogging and other exercises (Pardon me for bringing it up if you are already doing it) a couple of weeks or a month before your 5000kms trip. Believe me, it does make a whole lot of difference!

Awestruck by your trip Ravi Sir. You are my guru! I bow before your commitment! clap:

And BTW, I have a good news and a bad news.

Good news is that my Fuel Tank has been replaced by RE

Bad news is that it has not even been a week since replacement and the paint in the new fuel tanks has started peeling off :Frustrati

Hi Majumdarda,

Follow a simple Quote here "Live Life Kingsize"

As recommended by many and specially J.Ravi sir, you should take atleast couple of long drives to know the limits of your Bull and yourself.

May I suggest a Pune-Mumbai_Pune / Pune-Mahabaleshwar-Pune trip which should present you ample of opportunities to measure and understand various parameters.

I have already done the former and cannot wait for another opportunity to do it.

Cheers Mate !! Ride On !!

Wow 1482 kms in a day, Sir you just missed the 1600 Iron Butt challenge.
Needless to say you will be an inspiration for many riders to come.

Happy Motoring.

Thank you very much Ravi sir for your motivation. Offcourse planning is required and so are some long trips before the actual trip. Today while entering the office, just watched the odometer and it showed some 1900 odd. Wow, just a few KM more, before restriction imposed is waived. Though I travel within 70-80, and that is my comfort zone, still clearing the 2K km mark, means a lot :)

Very correct assumption man_of_steel. Well, to agree to the truth, I defintiely should start the above. With my current physical condition, it is my health that is probably of more concern, lest it breaks-down in the middle stupid:

Thank you very much Jimmy_u. Offcourse a Pune - Mahabaleshwar trip is required and let me plan this one, after I return back. If I remember correctly, I think you had completed the Mumbai - Pune trip, right after getting the delivery of your motorcycle, on a rainy season. [I think I had read it some place]

Thank you very much for the compliments and appreciation, thecdkfactor. Sorry to hear the paint peeling off in the new tank. My Blue Bird has not experienced this in the new tank.

No, I am not interested in Iron Butt runs as I don't want to subject myself and the Blue Bird to stressful riding all along the trip. Occasionally, I did do 120 kmph, whenever and wherever the conditions were conducive. But, I don't want to do it throughout the trip just for the record's sake although both the man and the machine are capable of achieving the feat. :) I enjoy the frequent breaks by clicking some photographs in and around us!

Thanks a lot for the compliments and nice words, MK.