Royal Enfield Thunderbird 500X Launch Likely Soon

Royal Enfield may be launching the new Thunderbird 500X just before the Auto Expo 2018, Carandbike has learnt. Royal Enfield though will not be participating at the Auto Expo. The last time Royal Enfield launched an all-new motorcycle was also around the Auto Expo, when the company launched the Royal Enfield Himalayan in 2016. This time around, Royal Enfield may be launching the new Thunderbird 500X, although there's still no confirmation on a final launch date.

The Royal Enfield Thunderbird 500X is a sportier avatar of the Royal Enfield Thunderbird 500, and shares the same engine as well. What's new is a new handlebar, a single piece seat, black alloy wheels and tubeless tyres. The engine and exhaust also get a blacked-out look. Like the Royal Enfield Redditch colours, the Thunderbird 500X also gets contrasting colours with the fuel tank in bright colours and the side panels finished in glossy black. Overall, the Thunderbird 500X gets a more stylish and youthful design and is targeted to increase Royal Enfield's reach to a more younger customer-base.

The engine is expected to be the same unit as the current Royal Enfield Thunderbird 500. The single-cylinder, 499 cc, air-cooled engine makes around 27 bhp at 5,250 rpm and peak torque of 41.3 Nm at 4,000 rpm. Expect prices to be in the region of around Rs. 1.95-2 lakh (ex-showroom) once the bike is launched. The exact launch date is yet to be finalised, but we expect Royal Enfield to spring a surprise and time the launch of the bike just before or around the Auto Expo 2018.