MADaboutRIDE: March 2018

Royal Enfield Thunderbird 350 BS4

Welcome to my blog....

Review - I own this bike since Dushehara(Indian Festival) 2017. Before having this bike i have many question in my mind and i want to resolve all these to select best one.

I love and want to buy Stranded 350 due to looking vintage, hand painted tank and it's called pure Bullet. but there is no fuel Gage to know fuel availability, no self start every-time need to start bike using kick, no Disk break for batter breaking grip, no fog lamp for better vision during night ride and it have basic Tyre which may cause some grip issue on curved road, As per my knowledge it have water filled battery it may cause problem after some time it's need maintenance time to time...
These are not cons of this bike because it's looking or having image of vintage look and feel.

It have Vintage look (Which i love too much), heavier crank (it benefits to get up and run your bike on any gears no need to go in neutral). Comfortable seating for rider as well as pillion during long drive. It give you batter mileage rest of other RE model available in the market because of the flat thin Tyre (Front-90/90-19" , Rear-90/90-19). It have long seat so you can keep or adjust some luggage or any kids.

Then I decided to go for Electra one with red color it have front disc break, Electric start and performance comparison is also better then other model and finally booked Electra 350 ES.

but my search for finding best one still continue.. reading blogs, try to get suggestion from you-tuber who riding or having same and diffrent-2 model of RE some suggested me to go for classic one it have best market value but my concern is i don't required market value i want the best performance ,riding comfortably, mileage and less maintenance which is never possible in RE.

one day i am one the way from home to office and seen Thunderbird and i fall in love with this model, the look, style, attraction, concept, attitude really it's wonderful. Immediately started comparison with other model and found i am spending money of 1.5 lac to bought a bike after all some of the feature are not available in other model so why not go for rich feature installed model. and Thunderbird only have all the features which we required or hoping on any model and agreed to have this one.

Next day i am at RE showroom and changed my RE model from Electra 350 ES to Thunderbird 350 Stone Black which i booked 2 month before. and got delivery at Dushehara sat, 30 September 2017. Really very happy to have such bike..

Till date i have ridden 5000+ kms and here is my full experience review....

1. for long ride it was amazing experience. I do not afford to buy Hearly Devidson but i can feel riding this bike to have just copy of Hearly Devidson. I have done long ride trip from Vadodara to Kutch Rannutsav(580 kms) one way. and it was wonderful riding experience.
2. Grip with road is far good as compare others i can say it's road king. also did off-roading and found no one can beat in this bike in any scenario.
3. Mileage is around 35kms\l (exact mileage will update later).
4. Every RE motorcycle is having vibration but i feel mine TB 350 one have less vibration maybe all TB 350 have same and after doing some modification(Meter console mount plate modification, handle bar, and premium mirror) i found another 50% of vibration reduced. Factory installed TB mirrors are very cheap quality and also not looking good so i bought a mirror set from Suzuki genuine part and have fitted on it now it's looking more beautiful . the best part of this side mirror is it's smaller then company fitted mirror and benefits to not get damage because handle will prevent it. (If i park the bike beside the wall and my handle is touching the wall in this scenario side mirror have 2 inch of space to touch the wall)

NOTE : Color Suggestion as per my experience I bought Stone Black version looking amazing very beautiful but it's very hard and difficult to prevent from scratch, care and keep clean all the time because we can not apply polish and other rustproof or dustproof cream. only one option is there to wash with water or using shampoo and it's hard do it daily basis. so Please chose other glossy color and now TB X series have two extra color they are also looks amazing.

Here are some modification i did in my bike to reduce vibration. it apply on all RE TB model.

Vibration comes from - There are two type of vibration in RE. 1st Handle vibration 2nd from Body(full motorcycle). In my Thunderbird i have did two modification for handle vibration are below...

A. Between handle(handle bar) putted a heavy SS pipe & done steel polish now it's looking cool same as company fitted and reduced 30-40% of handle vibration. Previously Company fitted mirrors are not viewable after going speed of 80+ but installed new mirror it's magic the view is more clear then previous and after installed handle bar i feel 80-85% of vibration gone.
B. Meter console mount plate is very thin can consider it's poor to accept weight. this metal plate or mount plate cannot handle weight of 500-800GM of meter console and this plate have have few hole to make this plate more week as you can see in the picture...

so i visited to the fabricator shop and putted my concern and requested him to please help something to make it hard. He just looking around and told me if will frame this plate with metal rod it will become much harder then previous and immediately i agreed with his idea and told him do it. after some time he did the great job and i am really happy you can see the below picture of metal framed meter mount plate. it's 3-4 times harder then previous plate....

with smile face i came to the home and paint this plate to rust in monsoon and it's looking like new. Very next day fitted this plate on bike it's little bit hard to fit but finally done.
I started the bike and shocked there is no vibration generally when we start TB the meter will vibrating till 4th gear and after putting on 5th gear meter vibration is almost gone but when we have bumper or offroad feeling like meter console will threw out from the bike but now it's amazing fully stable there is not the 1% of vibration i found. I can say thanks to the Fabricator he did fabulous job with his own idea.

RE Service :
1st Service |- I visited for the first service after 900+ Km (in booklet of RE they mentions 1 service will be after 600 kms). I think they added 220 ml of Engine OIL , wash the bike that sit for the firdt service. so i asked them engine oil is not required to change they said we have add some of the oil that enoght for the first service. in this case i am very confuse so same question asked to senior machenic he also told me the same answer then i realised it is ok. then machenics come to me and told don't worry we did as per the bike requirement need feel free and ride till 3000 kms and come for second service. I paid 470rs of the first service.
Performance wise there is no changes running smoothely day to day this machine getting more smoother and feeling wonderful.

2nd Service |- I again visited after 3600 kms for second service and i told the mechanic who taking for service and making recipt he also told me this service is also not going to change the engine oil we ill remove some of the oil and fill 1.5l of new oil that all. i am shocked and asked him why he reply this machine not required new oil it will be fine for next 6000 kms. same they wash the vehicle and added 1.2l of new oil and total charge is like 760rs and another bill they given to me for polish then i again come to the machenic and asked why you polished my RE TB stone black and he reply sir we do not apply i think it's by mistake the charged you will give you adjustment of same amount on next service bill.
some of the noise coming before service now it's gone after service bike become more smooth.
3rd Service |- (planning to go... will update later....)

Once upon a time we (me and some friends) are plan for trekking and out from vadodara to Makhanio Prabat it is located near Sukhi Dam, Jambughoda. in this trip i ridden my bike on field (off-roading). during return to home i am unable to ride my bike 75+ kmph of speed due to vibration. I am on full tens what happen on my bike very next day i visited to the mechanic and he told me your both wheel are need to threw because it's out. his word are not satisfied to me then i visited to RE service center and same word listed from RE guy's.

for body vibration there are many scenario the new bike wheel is goes to wheel alignment if you have new bike then after completing 4000-5000 Km may be early as your bike performance please check and definitely you will found it's need for alignment. and after alignment of both wheel your RE body vibration will lost. if you are ignoring alignment of wheel it will harm your disc break, chain disc, Tyre and mileage and performance also.

I drive my bike 9500km within 1 year and there are some pros and cons as per my own experience..

1st i am fully satisfied with my TB350 and smiling during ride. from 1st service to 4th service get ODO meter and Headlamp replacement by company due to malfunctioning. all over solid bike, wonderful road grip and getting 35-37KM/L mileage all over good.

1st service they only wash the bike and remove wast oil and feel-up only200ml. 1st service total cost me around 450rupee.

2nd service cost me like 950 for full oil change and other service.

3rd service again the remove dirty oil and feel fresh oil 500ml and total cost like 700rupee.

4th service they again replace full oil, change gear shifting plate and total cast me 1120- rupees

Thanks for reading......

Wear Helmet, Help Poor people, avoid smoking, save tree and proud to be an Indian

Makhaniya Parbat

Makhaniya parbat is located behind Sukhi dam, it's a big mountain. had only stones, there's no trees or vegetation or greenery on the mountain but it's a cool place to spend a day for climbing or trekking.
Vichitra structure on the mountains...like corals ..not sure what was it...best way to keep them in memory is take a pic and not take a sample... Makhania Parvat aka.....Butter Mountain....An Anonymous location for ..The Great GOOGLE too... Less known mountain for city dwellers be it Baroda or Ahmedabad or towns like Halol or Bodeli but an adventerous desitnation for Hiking and trekking lovers...unlike Pavagarh or Naramada range this location is less popular and so its still loaded with its basics of simple village life ..the temples are not with high plinth, and gods too are like common man..,.. Its location is one remote place just beside Sukhi dam..its one of few non commercial- non plastic -real ecofriendly place with no electricity..but with a temple of local people..so many climb it bare feet too.. Since the first time we visited this lonely mountains we are in love with its charming rocks, the tiring climbs and the naturally carving on rocks which grew more beautiful with passing times...But all this is under THREAT.. Threat from human greed and intervention..... Please watch this video..It does not seem to be a natures work.. i may be wrong...but am sure...this is sure to be true. My questions are ... . How come where nothing is geometric in shape the rocks have slits on them which are so precise & equidistant? How come its only on a horizontal surface and not vertically on any rock..? If you feel you know someone who can intervene/probe/raise the voice.. please comment here. Ye kudrat hi kar sakti hai... pahado ko cheeir kar SHER ka moooh tarasha hai....aise kai adhure..pure aakriti samete hue hai #MAkhaniaparvat ke shrunkhala... This can be done by nature... the mountains are carved in the mountains.... so many are incomplete.. the whole figure has collected the whole figure of
So, we kept moving step by step towards the highest point from our viewpoint..... Never had we known that this visit with our sarthi's will give us a memorable opportunity to know many more fascinating facets of Makhaniya Parbat. While reaching the top (as we assume) Gulab told us that, this top was just the "pehla padav" ...we had lot many religious & mythological important location hidden in the mountains, which is a secret known only to nearby villagers. A little fatigue engulfed us, so we took a moment off from leaving for next destination. Had some water, going around, ideally most hilltops are narrow on top n limited mobility but here the story was totally different, this place was like a big cricket field..golf course..ofcourse this was an uneven rocky surface but comfortable to walk n even play around. We saw a small pond covered with red leafs, one side was uneven n rocky but other side was like a "back of a whale" a single huge rock serving as a wall of pond, while we felt safe to ponder around,we then saw typical nature of ground below us ie grass was of golden reddish color..we saw bricks (ideally self generated (by nature with sun doing the baking over the years)and another pond with crystal clear water, part of it resembled with mountain rocks reflections and core of it showing the blue sky in it. As we started looking around at amazing shaped rocks, we noticed a stick-leaves hut..going closure..gulab revealed that it was their worship place the temple of...........we removed shoes n worshipped the non celebrity god..but it had same feeling of completeness, tranquility as any other temple would have. Being on top of mountain but villagers still worship the diety on routine basis. The pond had some urination.. Indication of territorial marking by leopard, hyena n foxes visiting this place at night. This information was quite alarming for us and gave us goosebumps too. The first halt surrounding indicated one thing for sure. It was a clean place compared to any other religious place. The probable reason is the limited means to reach, the stress, fatigue pain ensures only those who have faith in god, respect nature in its own way, will only reach the top. Had this place been made easily accessible, with electricity, transportation n food, you would have found it filled with human waste, plastic n disposables. Thank God for keeping this place secluded. Although, the ponds were small in size but too much for the wild animals venturing around the mountains , trying to survive in limited space humans have left for them.

After a short break (some soft drinks and light but energy booster snacks ie bhel full of carrots, corriander, green garlic and onions..and a super chilled bottle of softdrink which had been cooled using the weather impact by grounding it in water..the ground/water level was low so it was chilful cold....
our team leaves with the guides and for the rest of adventerous knowledge trail...
After walking for few steps..on the sort of plain rocky surface on the top of the mountain, we reached the "be baap ne Baari"
all the places are of religious importane for the local tribal populations.. so respecting the instructions for the young guides, we casted off our shoes to enter the holy place.

The place has a Big rock which kind of stand of standing (with legs n hollow) at the end of a huge rock..so it has a specific order of entrance to be followed, ie entry from the right side and coming out from the left side. however, its has only passage space which can allow a child (in the video only gulab) can pass through. Its a full risky place as if you slip away from the interal passage, its a valley../ khai...

After seeing the wonderful natural placement of earthly bodies so balanced. we moved to see the next wonder around us.

Mandavo..(a place for large gathering with a shelter..aka mandap)

Again, this is a massive big rock with internal arch which allows many people to stand beneath it as a shelter. It is similar to half open "shell"
or you can say "fan of snake"

Mandavo is a natural shelter with mamothh rocks allowing space beneath it.Having spent time watching the beautiful creation.
we now move on to the next destination.
We also saw some inscription on rock in punjabi language(probably)

Bhathuji - (Bhathi Khatri also called Bhathiji Maharaj (as an honorific) is a folk deity of Gujarat. He is an eminent warrior-hero of the region.)
so, now Gulab and Telan guide us to a new destination i.e. Bhatiji ..which shows symbols/marks of hoofprint (foot marks of horse)on the rocks, not only this it also has Sword engraved on the rocks, which symbolically resembles and believed to be of Bhathiji maharaj..(who protects this land)
You also find his snake shape too in the rocks..
this all structures were "swayambhu ie "self-manifested"

So, having watched all the wonders hidden in this beautiful natures abode... its time to pack our back and reach back to the lake halt.

It's near about 102 KM from Vadodara, 19 Km from Jambughoda and 37km from Halol.

We have visited this place in march 2018 and realizes best season to visit here after monsoon, in monsoon or before Feb because of heat of sun light. this time weather is too hot.