2020 BS6 Royal Enfield Thunderbird: What it could look like

Royal Enfield is known to make cruiser motorcycles and most of their models in the line up have a cult following. With new emission norms kicking in from April next year, Royal Enfield has already started working on BS6 variants and have been spotted testing a couple of time. A BS6 variant of their cruiser motorcycle Thunderbird will also be launched.

Here is a rendered image of the upcoming BS6 Royal Enfield Thunderbird created by IAB on the basis of the recent spy pictures. Royal Enfield is unlikely to give the new Thunderbird a total make over from the current generation. Royal Enfield has always been a manufacturer who has focused on retro designs of the motorcycle.

Overall design of the new Thunderbird is likely to be the same. It will get the same round headlamp, round instrument cluster,  It gets an alloy wheel instead of spoke rims and disc brakes at both front and rear with dual channel ABS. Royal Enfield will continue to offer the conventional front forks, disc brakes for both the wheels, gas-charged twin shocks at the rear.

The Thunderbird BS6 variant will have a forward set footpegs and a rear set handle bar for a relaxed  riding position. The seat is also different from the current version. The BS6 variant is likely to get a split seat just like the one in Thunderbird X. Even the grab rail at the back is the same as that of current Thunderbird X. It is also likely to get a dual paint scheme as seen in the rendered image.

Coming to the rear of the bike it gets more of a soft tail design with round tail lights placed right behind the seat and respositioned indicators or blinkers. In comparison to the front, more changes are evident on the rear of the motorcycle.

The engine on the new Thunderbird motorcycle is likely to remain the same except for the fact that it will now be more cleaner and will meet the upcoming BS6 emission norms. Royal Enfield will use the fuel injection system with an oxygen sensor to ensure better emission levels. However, the engine power and torque output will remain unchanged from the current version. The 350-cc version produces a maximum of 20.07 PS at 5,250 rpm and peak torque of 28 Nm at 4,000 rpm and the bigger 500-cc version produces a maximum of 27.57 PS at 5,250 rpm and 41.3 Nm at 4,000 rpm. The new Thunderbird with all these changes is definitely going to be expensive than the current version.