- 2019 Thunderbird will be powered by a BS-VI compliant engine
- The cruiser gets a re-designed exhaust and seats
- The next-gen Royal Enfield motorcycles will ditch the kick-start system
- Riding triangle also seems to be tweaked on the 2019 Thunderbird
Royal Enfield is testing the next-generation Thunderbird and the cruiser was spied completely undisguised recently. The spy shots of the cruiser reveal various cosmetic and mechanical changes and we expect it to get a BS-VI compliant motor as well. For those who are not aware, Royal Enfield launched the Trials 350 and 500 yesterday in Pune and the 2019 Royal Enfield Classic was also spied same day. It seems like the home-grown brand is trying to cordon the competition in the Indian and global markets.
Also Read: Royal Enfield launched Trials 350 and 500
The spy shots reveal that the cruiser has received a lot of cosmetic changes while keeping the basic retro character of the motorcycle. The 2019 Royal Enfield Thunderbird gets a re-designed exhaust, new grab rails, re-designed seats (rider and pillion) and the wheels sport Y-shaped spokes instead of the straight spokes seen on the ongoing model. Rear fender has been chopped a bit and the fuel cap now sits in the middle of the tank, rest of the design elements remain the same.
Also Read: 2019 Royal Enfield Classic spied undisguised
The photos also reveal that the riding triangle of the Thunderbird has been tweaked a bit. The chain system and the rear disc have switched their places as the images reveal that the rear disc is now on the right side of the cruiser. It is expected that Royal Enfield is planning to ditch the kick-start system on its next-gen motorcycles and the 2019 Thunderbird might only get the electric start. Due to the approaching emission norms deadline, Royal Enfield might introduce a BS-VI compliant engine in the 2019 Thunderbird.
Also Read: Thailand to get first Royal Enfield assembly plant by late 2019
2019 Royal Enfield Thunderbird 350 and 500 will get a bit pricier than the outgoing models. The motorcycle in the spy shots is either an updated Thunderbird X or an all-new next-generation Thunderbird. With the launch of Trials 350 and Trials 500, Royal Enfield has already grabbed eyeballs of enthusiasts and now, the spy shots of next-gen Classic and Thunderbird has left the purists wanting more, a bigger Himalayan may be.
