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 Cane Creek SCR 5c Compact Brake lever set for road bike with black levers $33.99 Time Remaining: 19d 15h Buy It Now for only: $33.99 |
 Shimano LX M585 Mountain Bike Front Disc Brake Lever $2.95 Time Remaining: 36m |
 Shimano XT M775 Mountain Bike Disc Brake Shifter Lever $9.95 Time Remaining: 36m |
 Aluminum Purple Silver Tone Bike Front Rear Brake Lever $7.86 Time Remaining: 1d 4h 35m Buy It Now for only: $7.86 |
 Shimano Ultegra 6600 STI Road Bike Left Shifter Brake Lever $29.95 Time Remaining: 36m |
 ROAD BIKE DROP BAR AERO BRAKE LEVERS VINTAGE BICYCLE $7.87 Time Remaining: 45m Buy It Now for only: $8.87 |
 BICYCLE BIKE DUAL PULL FRONT REAR BRAKE LEVER NEW $13.95 Time Remaining: 21d 1h 10m Buy It Now for only: $13.95 |
 TEKTRO 313A BMX BIKE BRAKE LEVER SET $11.87 Time Remaining: 51m Buy It Now for only: $13.87 |
 ROAD BIKE DROP BAR AERO BRAKE LEVER SET VINTAGE BICYCLE $7.87 Time Remaining: 55m Buy It Now for only: $8.87 |
 NEW Promax Front Rear V Brake Set with Levers Cables Bicycle Bike $35.56 Time Remaining: 13d 15h 7m Buy It Now for only: $35.56 |
 SHIMANO NEXUS BL IM65 Bike Brake Lever Left Silver NEW $4.97 Time Remaining: 1h 33m |
 SHIMANO ULTEGRA ST 6700 ST 6703 Pr 10x3 Road Bike Shifter Brake Levers Set NEW $279.97 Time Remaining: 1h 38m |
 Road Bike Bicycle Fixie Radius Brake Brakes Front Rear Lever Levers Set White $24.99 Time Remaining: 10d 6h 24m Buy It Now for only: $24.99 |
 Zeus Alfa Road bike Brake lever clamps New Old Stock pair bicycle 2000 caliper $24.99 Time Remaining: 1h 46m |
 SRAM Hoods for Doubletap Levers Black Pair Road Bike $27.06 Time Remaining: 29d 9h Buy It Now for only: $27.06 |
 SHIMANO ST 2300 Bike STI Shifter Brake Lever Front NEW $39.97 Time Remaining: 1h 51m |
 PROMAX 229mm Alloy Bike Brake Lever Left Silver NEW $2.47 Time Remaining: 1h 56m |
 Avid FR 5 Bike Bicycle Brake Levers Pair Satin Black $16.99 Time Remaining: 26d 16h 24m Buy It Now for only: $16.99 |
 New Dia tech Dia Compe Gran Compe Shot Lever Fixie Fixed Gear Road Bike Silver $47.99 Time Remaining: 1h 59m |
 NEW TRP RL970 Carbon Brake Lever Set Triathlon Time Road Bike Cycling $34.00 (9 Bids) Time Remaining: 2h 9m |
 New Tektro RL520 Road Bicycle Bike Linear Pull Brake Levers Black $21.99 Time Remaining: 5d 1h 43m Buy It Now for only: $21.99 |
 TEKTRO Cycling Bike Alloy V Brake Lever F+R MTN Set New $5.99 Time Remaining: 2h 26m |
 TEKTRO 313A BMX BIKE BRAKE LEVER SET $11.87 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 2h 28m |
 SHIMANO ST 2300 Bike STI Shifter Brake Lever Front NEW $45.97 Time Remaining: 1h Buy It Now for only: $45.97 |
 CANE CREEK CROSSTOP CROSS BIKE BRAKE LEVER SET 240 FR $9.87 Time Remaining: 2h 34m Buy It Now for only: $10.87 |
 NEW BLACK ROAD BIKE CALIPER BRAKE LEVERS TOURING COMMUTER COMMUTING AERO VINTAGE $14.95 Time Remaining: 28d 16h 57m Buy It Now for only: $14.95 |
 Shimano XTR ST M952 9 Speed Rear Shifter Brake Lever Mountain Bike $48.00 (5 Bids) Time Remaining: 3h 7m |
 Vintage Weinmann Delta Aero Road Bike Brake Calipers and Aero Levers Black RARE $41.00 (5 Bids) Time Remaining: 3h 29m |
 New Tektro RL520 Road Bicycle Bike Aero V Brake Levers Silver $19.99 Time Remaining: 5d 8h 53m Buy It Now for only: $19.99 |
 CANE CREEK CROSSTOP CROSS BIKE BRAKE LEVERS FR $9.87 Time Remaining: 3h 36m Buy It Now for only: $10.87 |
 CANE CREEK CROSSTOP CROSS BIKE BRAKE LEVERS FR $9.87 Time Remaining: 4h 25m Buy It Now for only: $10.87 |
 700C Road Bike Bicycle Cycling Caliper Brake Lever Black Pair $7.49 Time Remaining: 20d 23h 24m Buy It Now for only: $7.49 |
 VINTAGE NOS DRAGSTER BRAKE LEVER FIXIE YELLOW BMX BIKE CRUISER FIXIE OLD SCHOOL $11.99 (2 Bids) Time Remaining: 4h 38m |
 CANE CREEK CROSSTOP CROSS BIKE BRAKE LEVER SET 240 FR $9.87 Time Remaining: 4h 57m Buy It Now for only: $10.87 |
 New Radius Brake Levers Set L R Fixie Fixed Gear Road Bike Silver $14.99 Time Remaining: 6d 20h 3m Buy It Now for only: $14.99 |
 New 700C Road Bike Bicycle Caliper Brake Lever Black One Pair $0.10 Time Remaining: 6h 24m |
 CANE CREEK CROSSTOP CROSS BIKE BRAKE LEVER SET 240 FR $9.87 Time Remaining: 9h 5m Buy It Now for only: $10.87 |
 Mountain Bike Thumb Shifter V Brake Lever Set 3x7 Speed $24.95 Time Remaining: 17d 20h 41m Buy It Now for only: $24.95 |
 ROAD BIKE DROP BAR AERO BRAKE LEVER SET VINTAGE BICYCLE $7.87 Time Remaining: 9h 31m Buy It Now for only: $8.87 |
 Bike Parts Speed Control Front Rear Brake Lever 2 Pcs $7.41 Time Remaining: 20d 19h 54m Buy It Now for only: $7.41 |
 CANE CREEK CROSSTOP CROSS BIKE BRAKE LEVERS FR $9.87 Time Remaining: 9h 40m Buy It Now for only: $10.87 |
 CANE CREEK CROSSTOP CROSS BIKE BRAKE LEVERS FR $9.87 Time Remaining: 11h 20m Buy It Now for only: $10.87 |
 New Tektro RL740 Road Bicycle Bike Linear Pull Levers Silver $29.99 Time Remaining: 6h 12m Buy It Now for only: $29.99 |
 TEKTRO 313A BMX BIKE BRAKE LEVER SET $11.87 Time Remaining: 11h 30m Buy It Now for only: $13.87 |
 TEKTRO 313A BMX BIKE BRAKE LEVER SET WHITE $15.87 Time Remaining: 11h 37m Buy It Now for only: $17.87 |
 NEW Promax XL 86 Alloy Bike Disc Or V Brake Lever Set $9.75 Time Remaining: 22d 1h 40m Buy It Now for only: $9.75 |
 Cane Creek Carbon 200TT Time Trail Bike Brake Lever Set $29.87 Time Remaining: 12h 1m Buy It Now for only: $32.87 |
 CANE CREEK CROSSTOP CROSS BIKE BRAKE LEVERS FR $9.87 Time Remaining: 12h 5m Buy It Now for only: $10.87 |
 Pair of Bike Bicycle Black Plastic Handle Brake Levers $10.28 Time Remaining: 17d 3h 17m Buy It Now for only: $10.28 |
 Cane Creek Carbon 200TT Time Trail Bike Brake Lever Set $29.87 Time Remaining: 12h 6m Buy It Now for only: $32.87 |
 SHIMANO DEORE BL M511 V Brake Set F+R Levers Mtb Mountain Bike Black V Brake NEW $15.97 Time Remaining: 19d 2h 25m Buy It Now for only: $15.97 |
 TEKTRO 313A BMX BIKE BRAKE LEVER SET WHITE $15.87 Time Remaining: 12h 59m Buy It Now for only: $17.87 |
 ROAD BIKE DROP BAR AERO BRAKE LEVER SET VINTAGE BICYCLE $7.87 Time Remaining: 13h 3m Buy It Now for only: $8.87 |
 XLC Alloy 4 Finger V Brake Lever Bike Bicycle Bk NEW $14.20 Time Remaining: 6d 16h 34m Buy It Now for only: $14.20 |
 TEKTRO 313A BMX BIKE BRAKE LEVER SET $11.87 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 14h 58m |
 TEKTRO 313A BMX BIKE BRAKE LEVER SET $11.87 Time Remaining: 16h 1m Buy It Now for only: $13.87 |
 Odyssey Monolever Brake Lever Lim Ed Flat Teal Trigger for BMX Park Bikes $19.99 Time Remaining: 28d 17h 39m Buy It Now for only: $19.99 |
 ROAD BIKE DROP BAR AERO BRAKE LEVERS VINTAGE BICYCLE $7.87 Time Remaining: 16h 19m Buy It Now for only: $8.87 |
 Cane Creek Carbon 200TT Time Trail Bike Brake Lever Set $29.87 Time Remaining: 16h 36m Buy It Now for only: $32.87 |
 MOUNTAIN BICYCLE BIKE BRAKE LEVERS PAIR NEW $10.95 Time Remaining: 29d 19h 41m Buy It Now for only: $10.95 |
 TEKTRO Cycling Bike Alloy V Brake Lever F+R MTN Set New $5.99 Time Remaining: 18h 35m |
 ROAD BIKE DROP BAR AERO BRAKE LEVER SET VINTAGE BICYCLE $7.87 Time Remaining: 19h 8m Buy It Now for only: $8.87 |
 Mountain Bike Thumb Shifter V Brake Lever Set 3x8 Speed $24.95 Time Remaining: 14h 26m Buy It Now for only: $24.95 |
 ROAD BIKE DROP BAR AERO BRAKE LEVER SET VINTAGE BICYCLE $7.87 Time Remaining: 19h 33m Buy It Now for only: $8.87 |
 Alloy Road Bike Aluminum Reverse Brake Levers Black $29.75 Time Remaining: 12d 10h 18m Buy It Now for only: $29.75 |
 Cane Creek Carbon 200TT Time Trail Bike Brake Lever Set $29.87 Time Remaining: 20h 17m Buy It Now for only: $32.87 |
 OLD SCHOOL RED PRE BENT BRAKE LEVER BMX BIKE RACING FREESTYLE $19.99 Time Remaining: 21h 2m |
 ORIGIN 8 ROAD BIKE ULTIM 8 ROAD BIKE BRAKE LEVERS SILVER NEW $16.99 Time Remaining: 4d 17h 46m Buy It Now for only: $16.99 |
 ROAD BIKE DROP BAR AERO BRAKE LEVER SET VINTAGE BICYCLE $7.87 Time Remaining: 21h 40m Buy It Now for only: $8.87 |
 New Radius Brake Levers Set L R Fixie Fixed Gear Road Bike Silver $13.99 Time Remaining: 21h 52m |
 TEKTRO CARBON MOUNTAIN BIKE BRAKE LEVERS83gPAIRNEW $27.87 Time Remaining: 5d 4h 26m Buy It Now for only: $27.87 |
 CANE CREEK CROSSTOP CROSS BIKE BRAKE LEVER SET 240 FR $9.87 Time Remaining: 21h 53m Buy It Now for only: $10.87 |
 Cane Creek Carbon 200TT Time Trail Bike Brake Lever Set $29.87 Time Remaining: 22h 36m Buy It Now for only: $32.87 |
 Replacement Bicycle Bike Brake Levers for Cycling Aluminum + Plastic NEW $106.50 Time Remaining: 2d 8h 9m Buy It Now for only: $106.50 |
 ROAD BIKE DROP BAR AERO BRAKE LEVER SET VINTAGE BICYCLE $7.87 Time Remaining: 23h 58m Buy It Now for only: $8.87 |
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Thunderbird Twinspark is aimed at consolidating Royal Enfield's market position and underlines the company's realisation of the youth segment's potential as consumers. There is no apparent change in chassis design as the new UCE (Unit Construction Engine) is a perfect fit for the tried and tested Bullet frame. The body panels and tank also remain the same as its predecessor's.
However, there are small but notice able changes in some of the details. The fuel tank now fits neatly on to the chassis without any metal protrusions beneath. Weld lines are neat and uniform. The front mudguard, headlight and instrumentation clusters are the same as on the old Thunderbird. No two-tone paint scheme or garish stickers for the fuel tank nor for the side panels. The chromed pillion backrest on the one piece stepped seat, unlike the previous version, is not just a turned and twisted steel rod but is a well designed piece.
There are two Twinspark badges on the side panels and a decal on the pillion backrest but there's no mention of the UCE. The ergonomic shortcomings of the out going Thunderbird are mitigated some what with the provision of foldable front footrests which help in hauling the 168kg bike on to the centre stand. To save metal and transmission losses, the chain sprocket and chain are now located on the right hand side as is the entire rear brake assembly. As a result, the left side of the bike looks plain and characterless.
The UCE's square-edged design takes some getting used to, though. The engine's matte silver finish feels less susceptible to rust and corrosion. The big 19-inch steel spoke wheels are true to the cruiser tradition and are fitted with the usual MRF crossplys. The bike feels stable at speed though vibrations are a bugbear. This Thunderbird holds its line during hard braking. The Thunderbird Twinspark front disc brake and drum at the rear provide sufficient bite, the bike comes to a standstill steadily and faster than the outgoing version.
Ride quality has never been a Bullet forte and the Thunderbird Twinspark is no exception. The wide seats and comfortable riding position ensure fatigue free tiding. With its raised handlebars and front-set footpegs, this is hardly the tool for fast cornering. But the kick lever takes some muscle to prod and is (as usual) awkwardly positioned. Thank god for electric start, then. The cast iron engines paved the way for the lean burn engines. As the name suggests, the new UCE integrates the engine, gearbox and clutch. The new set-up is a little more efficient thanks to the omission of a heavy drive chain. The integration of the engine and gearbox was done in-house. The engine has been tuned by European design consultants in the NVH (Noise, Vibration and Harshness) context.
Royal Enfield calls this new engine platform the 'engine of future growth'. With the UCE, RE aims to bump up the Thunderbird's reliability. The valve clearance of the UCE for instance adjusts automatically through the use of hydraulically controlled pushrods and thus optimal valve timing is maintained in all situations. Another notable feature in the Twinspark is the auto decompressor which activates at 250rpm to put paid to start up woes. The electric motor is placed on the inner side of the UCE engine to reduce characteristic sprag clutch glitches.
The new UCE features a superior trochoid rotary pump which pumps oil at higher pressure and ensures better cooling. This results in better efficiency and reliability. This new engine cranks out 19.3PS of maximum power at 5250rpm and 28Nm of peak torque at 4000rpm. The all-new 6-plate clutch requires little effort to oper ate. The engine offers spectacular low- end torque, but the top end feels weak. Credit is due to the five-speed transmission that ensures the Thunderbird is so useable.
The engine revs up to 5500rpm without strain. The Twinspark gets to 6okmph from standstill in 5.8 seconds, nearly a second faster than the previous generation Thunderbird. 1 managed a top speed of lo9kmph. I do wish the engine vibes were better controlled, though. The Thunderbird Twinspark returned 42kmpl on our combined city and highway run, and cruising at a constant 90kmph is well on its agenda. Engine noise level is similar to the AVL engined version.
The Twinspark will sport the bazooka silencer which will tone down the thump considerably. But Royal Enfield will offer an aftermarket exhaust that will release the thump and make the engine noticeably smoother. The old iron block engine is still the favourite of Bullet aficionados mainly because of its thump. But superior technology and better reliability are aspects no bike maker can afford to ignore. The cruiser styled Thunderbird turned the eyes of the younger generation towards Royal Enfield bikes.
The Thunderbird Twinspark is lighter and more fuel efficient than any other Royal Enfleld bike. With a fuel injection engine ready to go on sale in Europe, Royal Enfield seems keen on increasing its market share. The Thunderbird Twinspark costs over a lakh of rupees how ever, which is definitely not within every one's reach. The Thunderbird Twinspark however marks Royal Enfield's entering a more technology oriented arena.
Check out the competing bike Yamaha YZF R15. You can also enjoy reading Indian Bike Reviews.