Is the Royal Enfield Thunderbird 350X a good long distance cruiser?

Is the Royal Enfield Thunderbird 350X a good choice for a cruiser in the 2 lakh price category?

Published On Jun 28, 2019 02:42:00 PM

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Is the Royal Enfield Thunderbird 350X a good long distance cruiser?

I have been eyeing the RE Thunderbird 350X for some time now. However, recent reviews by a few buyers have put me off. Troubles like rusting, bike not starting because of fuel tank airlock issues, excessive vibration above 80kph are just a few of the pain points. Should I still go ahead with it?
My budget is Rs 2 lakh and I am looking for a cruiser with a backrest – so, no Dominar.
Srinath Guhan, Bengaluru

AAA - The Thunderbird 350X is the latest of Royal Enfield’s single-cylinder machines, but it is based on a very old platform. Rust is known to be an issue on some Royal Enfields, especially in coastal areas, and high-speed performance has never been a strong point either – you will find strong vibrations coming through above 80kph. However, at your budget, aside from the Royal Enfields, there aren’t any cruiser-style motorcycles worth looking at. You have two options here. The first is to wait until next year for the new-generation Royal Enfield singles to come out. The expectations from these bikes are quite high, especially after the 650 Twins, and they are likely to be a huge improvement over the existing 350 and 500 models. If you don’t want to wait that long, the new Bajaj Dominar 400 is a much improved motorcycle itself and the best value for money at its price point. As for the backrest, you should be able to find affordable solutions in the aftermarket space.