• Oops! No suggestions found
    Search by bike name e.g: Honda Activa
Select cityLocation IconCurrent Location

Please wait

You’re being redirected to suzukimotorcycle.co.in

AD

Royal Enfield Thunderbird 500X

Royal Enfield Thunderbird 500X is a cruiser bike with the last known price range of Rs. 1,98,798 - Rs. 2,14,241 in India. It had 2 variants. It had a user reported mileage of 31 kmpl. It came with both front and rear disc brakes.

4.8
27 Reviews Rate & Win
Overview Expert Opinion Similar Cruiser Bikes Mileage Specs User Reviews News Dealers Used
Key specs
  • Displacement499 cc
  • Mileage - Owner Reported31 kmpl
  • Transmission5 Speed Manual

Version

ABS

  • Standard

    ₹ 1,98,798

    • Electric Start
    • Disc Brakes

  • ABS

    ₹ 2,14,241

    • Electric Start
    • ABS
    • Disc Brakes

Last known Avg. Ex-showroom price

₹ 2,14,241

Royal Enfield Thunderbird 500X is now discontinued in India.

Discontinued

Royal Enfield Thunderbird 500X Summary

Thunderbird 500X key highlights
Engine Capacity 499 cc
Mileage Owner Reported Mileage: BikeWale collects mileage information from bike owners to provide you with the actual mileage that you might get. 31 kmpl
Transmission 5 Speed Manual
Kerb Weight 197 kg
Fuel Tank Capacity 20 litres
Max Power 27.2 bhp

About Thunderbird 500X

Royal Enfield saw a need in the market for an urban cruiser, and this is the result: the Thunderbird 500X. It gets a driveline similar to the regular Thunderbird 500, but there are a few changes. One, it is available in bright, single-tone colours in the same vein as the Classic Redditch series. The 500X is available in light blue or bright orange. The handlebar is a flatter, wider one, which helps with manoeuverability in the city. It gets all-black treatment, which extends to the alloy wheels. This is the first time a Royal Enfield has been shipped with alloy wheels and tubeless tyres from the factory. It gets the same 499cc fuel-injected single-cylinder air-cooled engine from the Thunderbird 500. It generates 27.2bhp and 41Nm and transmits it via a five-speed gearbox. The wheels are a 19-inch front and an 18-inch rear. There are disc brakes at both ends, with a 280mm front disc and a 240mm rear one. ABS is a Rs 14,000 option. The seat of the Thunderbird 500X has been changed – it is a more modern-looking one. The rider’s seat is wider, and the pillion seat is smaller. The pillion backrest has also been left out.

The pricing of the Tbird 500X makes it the most expensive single-cylinder Royal Enfield on sale today. The Royal Enfield Thunderbird 500X competes with the likes of the Bajaj Dominar 400 ABS and UM Renegade Sports S directly. Bikes like the KTM 250 Duke and TVS Apache RR310 are priced similarly, although their target audience is a very different one.
write a review

Royal Enfield Thunderbird 500X Expert Opinion

  • Good Things

    • Great motorcycle for city commuting
    • 500cc engine offers plenty of torque
    • Gets cool-looking colours

  • Could be Better

    • Quality of parts isn't upto the mark
    • Engine has vibrations
    • Costs a bit too much

BikeWale's Take

The Thunderbird 500X is a retro urban version of Thunderbird touring bikes. The 500cc engine offers great torque that results into fantastic rideability. The comfort level is pretty good. But Royal Enfield should work on improving the quality of the parts.

Royal Enfield Thunderbird 500X Review

This is new Royal Enfield Thunderbird. It has the same engine, the same chassis, the same brakes, and the same performance as the older Thunderbird. Which, by the way, is still on sale. 

What is it?

Why would I buy the Royal Enfield Thunderbird 500 X?

Is 'the' hooligan bullet, makes filtering through traffic a breeze, draws eyeballs.

Why would I avoid the Royal Enfield Thunderbird 500 X? 

Vibey nature, poor brakes, needs better suspension setup.

This is new Royal Enfield Thunderbird. It has the same engine, the same chassis, the same brakes, and the same performance as the older Thunderbird. Which, by the way, is still on sale.  

But, the new bike gets an extra moniker, a brighter fuel tank, no rear back rest, and a new handlebar. Nevertheless, the thing I appreciate the most is the inclusion of alloy wheels and tubeless tyres. 

Sure, spoke wheels look great. But given the life of convenience we lead these days, tubeless tyres are just easier to live with than tubed versions. Who in their right mind would want to be stuck in the middle of nowhere with a puncture just so one can polish a set of chrome wheels on any given Sunday?

How is it to ride?

The new Thunderbird X is almost identical to ride as the regular Thunderbird, which isn't a surprise given that it's the same mechanically. 

So, it still has a light throttle, the gear shifts are reasonably precise, and it still feels happiest when ridden between 2,000-3,500rpm. At these engine speeds, the vibrations are well contained and there's enough grunt to haul the bike around without it feeling lazy or sluggish. What’s more, whacking open the throttle produces a nice intake roar instead of unwanted flat spots. 

But, rev it past that, and things turn bad quite fast. The vibrations, which can be felt via the seat, footpegs and handlebar, become unbearable past 4,000rpm. Plus, the rate of acceleration drops significantly post this, leaving you with no motivation to rev the bike anymore. The redline is around 5,000rpm and it cuts in quite rudely.

 

In fact, the Thunderbird 500X is best ridden between 80-90kmph in fifth gear. This also allows you to work around the wooden feel of the brakes. The front ones, in particular, offers very little feel, and I found myself using the rear brake quite often to compensate for an unexpected locked front wheel. And yes, there's no ABS on the 500X to save you from that. 

The ride again is a mixed bag. The bike handles minor road undulations and bumps and potholes without troubling the rider much. But, in the face of something more severe, the rear bucks around like a bull. The latter isn't very good for your back.

 

Considering that its suspension, chassis, the wheel and even tyre sizes are the same as the regular Thunderbird, there's very little difference in machine handling between the two bikes. But, the X gets a flatter handlebar. And that means it has a slightly more forward-bias seating ergo.  As a result, the motorcycle's response to steering input is surer and more connected than the ape-handled older version.  

And yes, the new one piece seat is certainly more comfortable than the split unit on the older bike.

Anything else I should know?

For starters you can have the 500 X in any colour you like as long as it's black. But yes, you can have the cherry in either blue or orange. 

Also, this approach of putting on a bright fuel tank and giving the resultant bike a new name isn't new for Royal Enfield. It did the same with the Classic Redditch editions. And, the interest there must have been huge for RE to give it a go on its not-so-successful Thunderbird range.

 

If this clicks, it will get even more difficult for the likes of fashionably late entrants to this space like Honda, TVS and Triumph, to catch up with RE.

 

And did we mention just the handlebar change has made it a hooligan? Well, it has! You can go play with on dirt, wheelie it or just filter through traffic like it were standing still!

Should I buy one?

If you were in the market for the Thunderbird, but didn’t get around to buying it for obvious reasons - like an uncomfortable seat, tube type tyres and the dowdy styling - the 500 X might just change your mind. It's definitely more attractive now. I also like the new one-piece seat more. And, when it comes to riding, the new flatter handlebar does give the X a racier, more connected feel than the older Thunderbird. 

Where does it fit in?

The new 500 X competes against the UM Renegade range and the Mahindra Mojo in terms of price and product description. But, it's also an alternative to the likes of the RE Classic and the Himalayan. And if you are feeling adventurous, you could also test the X against the Apache RR 310; that's of course if you still haven't completely bought into the supersport dream.

Gear Check

1- Shoei X-Fourteen Helmet : Rs 50,000

Meant essentially for track use, it does have good ventilation. Comfort levels though, aren't very high. 

2- Helstons Sonny Mesh Jacket : Rs 15,990

A little heavy for mesh jackets, the Sonny with its CE Level 2 protection does score high for safety, style and quality. 

3- Helstons Wind Mesh Gloves : Rs 5,990

A blend of leather and mesh and light in weight, these fit well and have enough ventilation to keep hands cool even on the hottest days.   

4- Helstons Corden Stone Riding Jeans : Rs 17,990

These armoured denims come with CE Level 2 protection and offer daily wearability and high resistance to impact and abrasion.

5- Daytona AC Pro Boots : Rs 19,990

Short riding boots for everyday wear, these use a mix of authentic leather and of the perforated PU variety. Titanium toe sliders are standard. 

Photography by Kapil Angane

Full Review

-Hide Review

Cruiser Bikes Similar to Thunderbird 500X

Royal Enfield Thunderbird 500X mileage

As reported by Thunderbird 500X owners, the real mileage of Royal Enfield Thunderbird 500X is 31 kmpl.

Thunderbird 500X mileage details
AD

Thunderbird 500X Specifications & Features

Version

ABS

  • Standard

    ₹ 1,98,798

    • Electric Start
    • Disc Brakes

  • ABS

    ₹ 2,14,241

    • Electric Start
    • ABS
    • Disc Brakes

Specifications

  • Power & Performance

    Displacement Engine displacement is the measure of the cylinder volume swept by the pistons of an internal combustion engine. It indicates the engine size. 499 cc

    Max Power 27.2 bhp @ 5,250 rpm

    Max Torque 41.3 Nm @ 4,000 rpm

    Stroke Stroke indicates the number of engine cycles during which a piston travels from top to bottom. 90 mm

    Valves Per Cylinder Valves per cylinder indicate the intake (fuel) and outlet (exhaust of combustion gases) of an engine. 2

    Compression Ratio A compression ratio suggests the degree to which the fuel mixture is compressed before ignition. 8.5 : 1

    Mileage - ARAI ARAI certified fuel economy that has been tested under controlled conditions. --

    Mileage - Owner Reported This is the fuel economy registered by Bikewale followers. 31 kmpl

    Riding Range The total range that a vehicle can travel on a full tank of fuel. 620 Km

    Top Speed The maximum speed that a vehicle can achieve. --

    Transmission 5 Speed Manual

    Transmission Type The transmission type will tell the kind of transmission a two-wheeler has. Chain Drive

    Gear Shifting Pattern Gear Shifting Pattern --

    Cylinders The number of cylinders that an engine features. Most two-wheelers sold in the Indian market feature a single-cylinder. 1

    Bore Bore is the diameter of each cylinder. 84 mm

    Ignition Ignition indicates to the type of starting system that a vehicle uses. --

    Spark Plugs A spark plug is a device for firing the explosive mixture. 2 Per Cylinder

    Cooling System The cooling system suggests the cooling mechanism that a motor uses. The types include air, oil, or liquid. Air Cooled

    Clutch The clutch disengages or engages the engine from the transmission. --

    Fuel Delivery System --

    Fuel Tank Capacity The capacity of a vehicle to store fuel. 20 litres

    Reserve Fuel Capacity Reserve fuel is part of the main tank that is used when a vehicle is running low on petrol/diesel. 3.5 litres

    Emission Standard Emission standards indicate the output from the exhaust that is permissible in a country. BS4

    Fuel Type Fuel Type is the type of fuel that an engine uses to operate. The different types include petrol, diesel, electric, and ethanol among others. Petrol

    View more specs
  • Brakes, Wheels & Suspension

    Front Suspension Front suspension usually includes telescopic forks. 41mm forks, 130mm travel

    Rear Suspension Rear suspension setup mostly uses a rear mono-shock. win gas charged shock absorbers

    Braking System Braking system is used to reduce the speed of the vehicle or bring it to a standstill. Dual Channel ABS

    Rear Wheel Size Rear wheel size indicates the diameter of the rear wheel. 18 inch

    Front Tyre Size Front tyre size indicate the profile of the front tyre. 90 / 90 - 19" - 52 P TL

    Rear Tyre Size Rear tyre size indicates the profile of the rear tyre. 120 / 80 - 18" - 62 P TL

    Front Brake Type Most vehicles feature a disc brake at the front although some commuter segment products come with a drum setup. Disc

    Front Brake Size Front brake size indicates the size of the disc or drum setup at the front wheel. 280 mm

    Rear Brake Type Most vehicles come with a drum brake setup at the back although higher spec models feature a disc brake at the rear. Disc

    Rear Brake Size Rear brake size indicates the size of the disc or drum setup at the front wheel. 240 mm

    Calliper Type Front-Dual Piston, Rear-Single Piston

    Wheel Type Wheel types include two types - Wire-spoke and Alloy wheels. Alloy

    Front Wheel Size Front wheel size indicates the diameter of the front wheel. 19 inch

    Tyre Type Tyre types are divided into two - Tubeless and Tube Type. Tubeless

    Radial Tyres Radial tyres use steel belts that run at a 90-degree angle with the tread line. No

    Front Tyre Pressure (Rider) --

    Rear Tyre Pressure (Rider) --

    Front Tyre Pressure (Rider & Pillion) --

    Rear Tyre Pressure (Rider & Pillion) --

    View more specs
  • Dimensions & Chassis

    Kerb Weight Kerb weight of the motorcycle is the total weight of a vehicle that is ready for operation. It includes all standard equipment and necessary consumables. 197 kg

    Seat Height The seat height is the height of the rider's saddle from the ground. --

    Ground Clearance The ground clearance is the distance between the ground and the lowest point of a vehicle. 135 mm

    Overall Width Total width of the vehicle. 830 mm

    Overall Height Overall height is the tallest point of a motorcycle, usually the mirror or the top of a windscreen. 1,140 mm

    Wheelbase The wheelbase is the distance between the front and the rear wheel. 1,350 mm

    Overall Length Overall length of the vehicle is the total length of a two-wheeler from the front to the back. 2,040 mm

    Chassis Type The chassis type is the primary/main frame of a two-wheeler. Single down tube

    View more specs
  • Manufacturer Warranty

    Standard Warranty --

    Standard Warranty --

Features

Odometer Odometer keeps the track of the total kilometres travelled by a vehicle in its lifetime. Digital

Speedometer Speedometer gives an indication of the current speed at which a vehicle is travelling. Analogue

Fuel Guage Fuel guage indicates the level of fuel available in the tank of a vehicle. Yes

AHO (Automatic Headlight On)--

Shift LightNo

Headlight Type--

Digital Fuel Guage Digital fuel guage shows the information about the fuel level in a vehicle through a digital display. Yes

Tachometer Tachometer shows the real-time reading of the revs per minute (RPM) at which the engine is operating. Analogue

Stand Alarm Stand alarm notifies the rider if the side stand of the vehicle is engaged. Some vehicles comes with a side stand cut-off feature that does not allow the motor to start until the side stand is lifted. Yes

No. of Tripmeters No of tripmeters indicate the total number of trip meters that a vehicle's instrument cluster features. Usually, premium vehicles come with two trip meters, while budget two-wheelers feature a single trip meter. 2

Tripmeter Type Tripmeters are available in two type - analogue and digital. The analogue unit usually features a single trip meter while a digital display may come with two trip meters. Digital

Low Fuel Indicator Low fuel indicator aims to remind the rider that the vehicle is running low on fuel, and it should be refueled soon. Yes

Low Oil Indicator Low oil indicator is a warning light that indicates that the engine is running lower oil than required to operate. Yes

Low Battery Indicator Low battery indicator suggests that the battery of the vehicle has lost a substantial amount of charge. Yes

Clock Clock is used to display time through the instrument cluster. This feature comes in motorcycles with a digital display. Yes

Battery Battery in a petrol-powered vehicle is used to support the self-start system, power the clock, and the USB charger. 12V 14Ah

Front storage box --

Under seat storage --

Mobile App Connectivity Mobile App Connectivity connects the smartphone to the instrument cluster via Bluetooth to offer access to features such as incoming calls, messages, and music. --

DRLs (Daytime running lights) Daytime Running Lights, as the name suggest, are the lights that stay ON when the main headlight is switched off. This feature makes a vehicle easily visible in the rear view mirror of other vehicles. --

Brake/Tail Light--

Turn Signal--

Pass LightYes

GPS & Navigation--

USB charging port--

Start TypeElectric Start

KillswitchYes

Stepped SeatYes

Pillion BackrestNo

Pillion GrabrailYes

Pillion SeatYes

Pillion FootrestYes

Additional features--

View more features

Thunderbird 500X price in India

Bike Review Contest

Rate & write a detailed review to win Amazon vouchers worth ₹ 2,000

Participate & win

Royal Enfield Thunderbird 500X User Reviews

4.8 103 ratings 27 reviews

  • 4

    Visual Appeal

  • 4

    Reliability

  • 4

    Performance

  • 4

    Comfort

  • 4

    Service Experience

  • 3

    Maintenance cost

  • 4

    Extra Features

  •  4Multi purpose bike 2 years ago by Venkatanaathan

    It is as smooth as car. Not so stylish but very good looking bike. It performs upto your expectations. Maintenance and servicing cost will be high. It is a multi purpose bike, you can use it as daily commuter, off road, long tourer. Its exhaust is controlled, no big noi

    Read more
    Was this review helpful?

    Inappropriate review? Report Abuse

    • Used it for

      Everything

    • Owned for

      > 1 yr

    • Ridden for

      > 15000 kms

    • Got mileage of

      29 kmpl

  •  5Go royal 3 years ago by Rakesh Kumar Sahu, Bargarh

    This is not just a bike this is my life saver i love it .........I have the best experience after riding this bike, best for the long drive, has a very powerful and massive engine power. Overall it is the best bike one should have.Best for long trips. Who wants to go a

    Read more
    Was this review helpful?

    Inappropriate review? Report Abuse

    • Used it for

      Tours

    • Owned for

      6 months-1 yr

    • Ridden for

      < 5000 kms

    • Got mileage of

      45 kmpl

  •  4Tbx 500 conqueror 3 years ago by Khanip Barman, Dibrugarh

    About buying this 500cc beast is quite great the moment i entered the showroom i can feel the presence of an attractive looking bike like its appealing me i am yours just take me with you and that's how i decided to take this bike with me. I made a cash payment which in

    Read more
    Was this review helpful?

    Inappropriate review? Report Abuse

    • Used it for

      Everything

    • Owned for

      > 1 yr

    • Ridden for

      > 15000 kms

    • Got mileage of

      28 kmpl

    • View more
  •  5A best monster 3 years ago by Rajkot Rajkot Rajkot, Rajkot

    It was a pleasure to buy a thunderbird 500x. It have an amazing style, looks and features. I had never experienced this much comfort in any of the bike. I had never felt tiredness while riding this bike. This bike is a prefect all-rounder, because it is best for occasio

    Read more
    Was this review helpful?

    Inappropriate review? Report Abuse

    • Used it for

      Daily Commute

    • Owned for

      > 1 yr

    • Ridden for

      < 5000 kms

    • Got mileage of

      30 kmpl

  •  5Only for the devils------- thunderbird x 3 years ago by Prashant, Tehri Garhwal

    This bike is awesome when you first time start the bike then you will feel the heart touching sound with vibration. Good torque and good power output allover bike is very very good.First time me and my friend ride the bike i was feeling that how perfect is this bike. I

    Read more
    Was this review helpful?

    Inappropriate review? Report Abuse

    • Used it for

      Occasional Commute

    • Owned for

      3-6 months

    • Ridden for

      < 5000 kms

  •  5Best bike ever 3 years ago by Shoeb, Mumbai

    The best bike i ever ride this is bike i feel that i am riding a bike best bike ever best colour best edition not much expensive like other bike models they are giving 390 more than 2.5 lakh and we are get the almost same cc bike in the lowest range so i prefer and i su

    Read more
    Was this review helpful?

    Inappropriate review? Report Abuse

    • Used it for

      Daily Commute

    • Owned for

      Never owned

  •   

    Read more
    Was this review helpful?

    Inappropriate review? Report Abuse

    • Got mileage of

Why do you want to report it abuse?

Comment

Read all user reviews

Why do you want to report it abuse?

Comment

Royal Enfield Thunderbird 500X Expert Reviews

Royal Enfield Thunderbird 500X News

Read all news
AD

Royal Enfield showrooms

Upcoming Royal Enfield bikes

View all

Used Royal Enfield Thunderbird 500X bikes in India

View all used bikes

Here's a list of best Cruiser Bikes

View all