The New Thunderbird X 350 Will Get A Redesigned Instrument Cluster & More

With the BS6 emission norms set to be implemented in April 2020, manufacturers are deep in the process of updating their models to meet the new regulations. One model that has been undergoing testing for quite some time now is Royal Enfield’s Thunderbird X 350. The bike has been spotted on multiple occasions and the most recent sighting reveals some interesting details.

Royal Enfield’s single-cylinder range has garnered a reputation for being a bit stuck in the past, but the new ‘Bird will receive some modern touches. The current bike’s twin-pod instrument cluster will make way for a neater single-pod digi-analogue unit with an LCD display housed inside an analogue speedometer.

Royal Enfield will also throw in an LED DRL in the form of a circular ring around the headlight. The headlight itself continues to be a halogen unit and the turn signals are conventional bulbs as well. While these bits have been given a modern twist, other areas have gone more old school. One such example is the switchgear, which features a retro rotary selector design for the headlight and kill switch.

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Other updates include new seats, which look quite spacious and well-padded, though the rider’s seat seems to be quite awkwardly shaped. The side panels have also been redesigned but the biggest change is of course to the engine. The current X 350 is powered by a carburetted 346cc BS4-compliant single-cylinder motor. From what we can deduce, the upcoming bike will receive fuel injection and there could be a slight increase in displacement as well. However, it will not be based on the Himalayan’s engine, since that is a SOHC design and the TBird test mule features an OHV motor. Royal Enfield's 500cc range is expected to be discontinued next year due to poor sales which fail to justify a BS6 upgrade.

The bike currently sells for Rs 1.64 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi) but all these updates will result in a price hike of around Rs 15,000 once the updated version arrives early next year.

Source: BikeWale