The 2020 Royal Enfield Thunderbird has been spotted testing once again in Tamil Nadu, India. The latest images reveal that the upcoming bike will come equipped with a semi-digital instrument console and an updated rear fender, which now features a round tail lamp with a chrome ring for a retro touch.
The next-gen model of the Thunderbird also gets a revised split seat setup and pillion grab rails. The much-awaited retro-modern cruiser has been spotted with alloy wheels instead of a spoke wheel setup as seen on the current-gen Royal Enfield Thunderbird.
In addition to the above-mentioned upgrades, the motorcycle gets significantly noticeable changes that include a redesigned exhaust, footpegs, air filter box, and the handlebar grips. As one can spot in the latest spy images, the handlebar of the bike now seems to be flatter and it features an all-new single-pod instrument console with a small digital display.
The bike will surely come with a BSVI-compliant engine to meet the upcoming emission norms that will be in effect from April 1, 2020. Royal Enfield will facilitate part sharing to the next level through their 2020 lineup as the suspension setup, disc brakes, ABS, chassis, and the fender design could stay similar on all the bikes.
Mechanically, the 2020 Royal Enfield Thunderbird will also get revised brakes and suspension setup. The bike’s final drive has been shifted to the left side whereas the disc brake is now on the right side. We can expect the Thunderbird series to continue with the 346cc and 499cc engine options.
The 2020 BS6-compliant Royal Enfield Thunderbird also gets matte black rearview mirrors. The company has already introduced dual-channel ABS for the lineup so it will be continued in the upcoming model too. The brand will also be equipping the 350cc model of the bike with fuel injection to make it better in terms of mileage, power delivery and emissions.
The price tag of the bike will also be revised as it will come with an electronic fuel injection system. At present, the current-gen bike comes with a starting price tag of INR 1.56 lakh (ex-showroom). The 2020 Royal Enfield Thunderbird is expected to launch in the Indian market by the end of this year or early next year.
