Next-Gen Royal Enfield Thunderbird spotted in production-ready guise

Aditya Jadhav Updated: December 17, 2019, 04:54 PM IST

Test mules of the Royal Enfield Thunderbird have been spotted doing rounds in India but this time around, the motorcycle spotted resembles the next-generation Thunderbird X but in a production form.

As seen in the spy images, the new motorcycle will ditch the twin-pod instrument cluster and instead house an all-digital instrument cluster for information.

The new motorcycle carries a similar silhouette as the current generation Royal Enfield Thunderbird but gets updated styling elements. With the blacked-out alloy wheels and a dark paint theme running across the motorcycle, we believe the spotted test mule could be the Thunderbird X variant.

The 2020 Royal Enfield gets a new platform, engine and revised cycle parts. What gives away the generation upgrade is the new twin-down pipe cradle chassis that houses a new engine. The crankcase cover carries a similar design to the one we see on the Interceptor 650, which could mean the engine could be based on an all-new design resulting in a different capacity than the 350cc or 500cc.

Gone is the right orientation of the chain drive and the new drivetrain has a more conventional layout. The front disc brake that we see mounted on the left of the wheel has been moved to the other side indicating a new braking set-up with suspension geometry.

The engine still remains air-cooled and it will be compliant to the stricter emission (BSVI) norms. As reported earlier in the Royal Enfield Classic spy shots, we believe the displacement of the motorcycle has gone up and the company may not sell similar motorcycles with two different engine sizes on offer.

Expect the company to unveil the new range of models which could go on sale early 2020. Expect a hike in price by Rs 10,000 and the BSVI updated model will cost between Rs 1.70-1.75 lakh ex-showroom.

Image Source - Bikewale