Thunderbird Twinspark

Thunderbird Twinspark is a stylish bike from Royal Enfield revolutionary Unit Construction Engine and is known for pleasurable riding experience. Thunderbird Twinspark is priced Rs1, 03,000 in (Ex-showroom) and was launched in 2008 in Chennai. The bike comes with the Twinspark feature and has a UCE engine that offer high power, torque, fast brakes and fuel efficiency.

The company Royal Enfield initially launched the Thunderbird model in 2001 and it expecting to sell around 5,000 units of the new bike. These high priced bikes are known for technological advancement and are environmental friendly, as they comply with stricter emission norms.

Look of the Thunderbird Twinspark

Thunderbird Twinspark bike has been launched in three monotone colors silver, red and black .The twin pod instrument cluster is placed with speedometer, RPM meter, odometer, fuel gauge, trip meter and the instrument panel is blue black in color that enables it to be clear even in sunlight and view mirrors shows the passing rider instead of vehicle at the rear.

Thunderbird Twinspark has the electric motor starter placed on the inner side of the engine and it helps the bike to have low wear and tear in mechanical parts and to reduce problems of sprag clutch. There are six clutch plates to reduce effort required for controlling clutches and riding is easy. Even kicking has been comforted by the auto de-compressor fitted with the engine of the bike.

Thunderbird Twinspark has the UCE features that enables it to pump oil at high pressures and have proper cooling, that increases fuel efficiency. The bike offers a mileage of 42kmpl on city roads and is easy to drive. You don’t feel vibrations at high speeds and even hard breaking from a high speeds makes the bike stable without vibration and stops the bike in seconds. The bike vibrates when you try to change gear in crowded area.

Engine and Power

Thunderbird Twinspark has a 350 cc UCE engine having twin spark feature. The engine produces 19.8 bhp @ 5250 rpm maximum power and 28 Nm @ 4000 rpm maximum torque. The twin spark badges can be seen on the side flanks and twinspark decal is found at the rear of the bike. The new engine of Thunderbird Twinspark is featured for efficient combustion that uses the hydraulic tappet and it helps the bike to have zero clearance of pushrod that helps it to have optimal valve timings.

The bike is equipped with an auto de – compressor that gets activated at 250rpm and helps the rider to start the engine without much effort.

Riding and Confort

The design of the bike is very attractive that has ergonomically designed high density foam seats. It is very comfortable to ride on the bike, in long distances in high speeds and the brakes are very quick and easy. The 19 inches tyre and gas charged suspension that are designed in away to offer lowest vibrations in the bike even in high speeds.

Although the kick lever is placed uncomfortably and if you hit clutch regularly in crowded areas it becomes bumpy. An oil window is also provided to check oil levels. A halogen lamp is provided in the bike that has a better life than the regular lamps and bike has foldable foot rest for easy parking in crowds. The bike is heavy 168kg machine and rear brake cable and chain is moved to right side of the bike. The bike has heat shield on silencer and a large CV carburetor BS-29.

Features of Thunderbird Twinspark

• 350 cc UCE engine with Twin spark
• Engine: Single cylinder, 4 Stroke, OHV, Dual spark ignition engine, air – cooled
• Power: 19.8 bhp @ 5250 rpm and Torque: 28 Nm @ 4000 rpm
• 280mm disc-front brake and 150mm drum-rear brake for instant stop
• Heat shield on silencer
• Rear gas filled shock absorber
• Fuel tank capacity: 15.5Liters and Fuel Efficiency: between 45 and 50kmpl

Positive and negative specifications of Thunderbird Twinspark

Attractions of the Thunderbird Twinspark

• Twin sparks engine that offers high power and speed
• Bike has internal gear and clutches
• Hydrolic tappet adjustment system is present
• Low vibrations in high speed
• Bike has quick powerful brakes
• Stylish looking comfortable bike for long distance traveling
• Electric motor starter is present and an electronic flasher is present it the bike
• Bike has multi focal reflector for easy tracking
• This is a high power fast bike that gives top speed of 102kmh and mileage of 42 kmpl

Problems found in Thunderbird Twinspark

• The bike is heavy and costly
• Bike is equipped with 6 plate clutches and engine pickup is sometimes not very smooth.
• In low speed and in crowds, on hitting clutches, it gets less comfortable to drive.
• Mirrors do not show the rear vehicle.
• Handle position is differently made.
• Bike can be equipped with long route accessories and have more choices for colors.
• Technology is dominating too much in this bike.
• Bike needs extreme care and kick lever is placed differently.
• You can even get low fuel efficiency and leakage kind of regular problems in this bike.

Cost:

The new Thunderbird Twinspark will be available for around Rs.105940/- on road.

Hero Honda Splendor NXG

Hero Honda’s Splendor has been improved by the company to Splendor NXG and NXG means next generation splendor bike. The bike has been brought into the market in two models that differ for the wheel types, one of the models has the 5-spoked aluminum alloy type wheels and other has cast wheels. A few new features have been added to the bike which includes the new engine and a new design. The splendor family of Hero Honda already contains the bikes splendor, splendor plus and 125cc super splendor.

Look of Hero Honda splendor NXG

Splendor NXG has been launched in five colors black having three stripe color variations, candy blazing red, force silver, vibrant blue and classy maroon. Hero Honda splendor NXG comes with powerful trapezoidal multi -reflector head -lamps that are accompanied with a high power battery that reflects DC high beam and the intensity of the head lamp doesn’t vary on engine rpm and the feature helps the lamps to burn, even at low speed. The variation in rpm doesn’t change the intensity of the lamp that has a circuitry to support low beam.

The bike is equipped with a new visor and a front look. The fuel tank has been placed comfortably with a chrome lid on the top. The body panels and graphics to the bike are new and instrument panel has a trip meter that is placed in the speedometer. A stylish tail lamp and a die –cast alloy grab rail is also added to the bike.

Engine and Power of Hero Honda splendor NXG

The bike is powered with 97.2 cc a air- cooled single cylinder 4 stroke OHC engine that offers maximum power of 7.7 PS at 7500 rpm ,that is five % more than Splendor plus ,that delivers a power 7.4PS at 8,000 rpm. The bike offers high torque of 7.6 N-m @ 6000 RPM. Splendor NXG has a 4 speed gearbox. The bike is convenient to drive in low speed and in 7.8 seconds it gains a speed of 60kph.The highest speed offered is 90kph.The bike has telescopic hydraulic fork front suspension and a hydraulic spring loaded type with both side action rear suspension.

Driving and comfort

Hero Honda’s Splendor NXG has a low Kerb weight of 100.3kg when it is compared to the previous bikes of Honda. The bike has a drum brake and has got a kick start option. The ground clearance of the bike is about 1 mm more than Hero Honda Splendor plus that is a ground clearance of 160 mm. The wheelbase is 1230 mm and the bike doesn’t make irritating noise even in low speed, in fourth gear.

In crowded areas and roads having curves, the bike delivers an average mileage of 77kpl.The fuel tank has a capacity of 10.3 liters and the reserve limit is 1.8 liter for fuel.

Features:

• Height: 1040 mm and Length: 1950 mm
• Wheelbase: 1230 mm
• Wheels : 5-spoked aluminum alloy type
• Ground Clearance: 159 mm
• Kerb weight: 100.3kg
• Fuel Tank Capacity:10.3 liters
• Engine: 4 – Stroke, air cooled 1 cylinder
• Displacement: 97.2 cc
• No. of Gears: 4
• Maximum Power: 7.1bhp/8500rpm
• Kick start type
• Brakes: Internal Expanding Shoe Type 130 mm (Front) 110mm (Back)
• Tyres: Front: 2.75 X 18-4 PR / Rear: 2.75 X 18-6 PR
• Ground clearance :160mm

Positive and Negative specifications of the bike:

Positive specifications:

• Although the bike resembles Hero Honda’s Ambition it has improved design to attract young bikers
• High Fuel efficiency, reliability and low cost
• Total weight of the bike is less than other Hero Honda models.
• Added pilot lamps feature
• Smooth city riding.

Negative specifications

• Complaints of poor wheel grip and skidding have been made.
• The electric start is a drawback
• You don’t have more cylinder bikes in Honda
• The bike is also not equipped with disc brakes
• The fuel efficiency is not as expected.
• Many complaints of vibrations at high speed

Cost:

Hero Honda Splendor NXG (97.2 cc) has been priced at Rs. 40,990/- and Rs. 41,990/- ex showroom Delhi.

TVS Star City 110cc

TVS Motors Company have unveiled seven models at a time and with an aggressive marketing the company sale numbers are high .The bikes launched are 125cc Flame, a 110cc Star City, Scooty Teenz and a Apache RTR 160.At the same time the company released three wheelers in petrol, CNG and LPG versions. The TVS bikes are known for easy handling and smooth rides and TVS expects to sell 75,000 bikes in a month.

TVS Star City bikes are low cost two wheelers that are coming with new features like improved shape, graphics, sporty silencer and RCF technology. The new 110 cc CVTI Engine bike is based on the principal of Swirl and Tumble. The new Star City has the electric start features and the looks have the new set of graphics.

Look of TVS Star City 110cc

TVS Star City is a good looking bike that is present in dual tone appearance. Previously the bikes were coming in chrome metal colors but the latest machines have modern plastic colors. The bike comes in four colors flaming red, black, purple and greenish grey.

The rectangular section swing arm is similar to the previous launched TVS star bikes and the rider can make adjustment in the rear shock absorber with some tools that are basically two ways adjustable and the speedometer assembly has got a blue backlit display. Instrumentation is simple; the speedometer has the econometer that has the “R” label attached to the fuel gauge.

Engine and Power of TVS Star City 110cc

The engine of the bike is called Charge Motion Variable Timing Intelligent engine CVTI Engine.
The air –fuel combustion is complete when the bike has turbulence that is created in the engine by the air –fuel mixture horizontally. The same features can be found in Bajaj XCD DTS-Si. The fuel mixing also helps in reduced emission.

These bikes are unique for having electric start features in its class and the alloy wheels increase the appeal of the vehicle that is equipped with adjustable two-way suspension. The vehicle Star city’s 110cc CVTi uses the Charge motion Variable Timing intelligence and it produce a power of 6.1 KW (8.1 Bhp) at 7500 RPM and torque of 8.1 Nm at 5000 RPM. The engine CVTi helps the vehicle have better combustion and high fuel efficiency.

TVS Star City 110cc is not better than TVS Star sports that has a better position and look of the silencer and a tail lamp .The TVS Star sport looks more elegant .The fuel tank is also sleeker and has the double – toned side panel. The sports bike also has the 5- spooked alloy wheels and the bike comes in three colors Silver, Black and Blue.

Comfort and Ride of TVS Star City 110cc

The bike comes with easy to use switches that have a pass light switch and a push to cancel indicators. The switches come with pass light and a push to cancel indicator. The other attachments of the bike like the mirrors, rubber parts and control levers are similar to the traditional TVS types. The bike has a weight kerb 108 kg and it has the keihin carburetor. The seating position in the bike is comfortable and suitable for average height riders.

The cable controlled clutch helps to control progression and control for rider and the motor helps the rider move easily from low gears to high gear high speed.

TVS Star City Specifications:

• Engine: 4-stroke, air-cooled OHC
• Engine Displacement (cc): 109.7cc
• Power (maximum) = 6.1 kW @ 7500 rpm
• Torque (maximum) = 8.1 Nm @ 5000 rpm
• Front Brake = 110mm / 130mm Drum ,Rear Brake = 110mm / 130mm Drum
• Front Tyre = 2.75 X18 tyre (1.6X18 rim) , Rear Tyre = 3.00 X18 tyre (1.6X18 rim)
• Fuel Tank = 16 litres, Reserve 2.5 litres
• Length = 2005mm, Wheel Base = 1250mm
• Ground Clearance = 165mm

Positive and Negative Specifications:

Positive specifications:

• The bikes come with electric start, alloy wheel and two way suspensions.
• It has 110cc CVTi engine with VTi technology
• Refreshing graphics and colors
• Handling on corners is easy and conformable.
• Light bike and above 60 average mileage.

Disadvantages of the bike:

• The bike had complaints of bad service after delivery.
• A few complaints of low mileage that never goes above 55 have also been made.
• Service after sale is not very satisfying.
• Difficulties with self start sometimes in the bike.
• On steep mountains it gets difficult to ride the bike uphill.

Cost:

TVS Star City bikes come with warranties that can be extended by paying extra bugs. The cost of TVS Star City 110cc is Rs 38,000 – 44, 875 in metro-cities.