A spy video from July this year confirmed that Royal Enfield is working on a cruiser variant of the 2020 Thunderbird series. Based on the information revealed by the spy video and photographs, IAB's digital artist Shoe Kalania has created a rendering of the upcoming motorcycle.
Also Read: Production-ready BS-VI compliant Royal Enfield Thunderbird X spied with accessories
As revealed in the video, the cruiser-style Thunderbird motorcycle will feature forward-set footpegs and a rear-set handlebar for revised ergonomics. The distance between the saddle and the handlebar appears to be longer than the standard model as well. The spy photographs of the Thunderbird cruiser also captured the revised rear section of the motorcycle, revealing the new taillight and repositioned blinkers. Similar to the rest of the new Thunderbird series, the cruiser will be built around the new J architecture.
Other features include split seat and two-piece pillion grab rail. Like the Thunderbird X series, the Thunderbird Cruiser will ride on alloy wheels. The suspension and the braking setup will be identical to the standard Thunderbird motorcycle. Thus, shock absorption tasks will be performed by conventional telescopic front forks and twin-sided springs at the back. Anchoring power will come from disc brakes on both wheels while the safety-net will comprise dual-channel ABS as standard.
The switchgear could have a revised design that the next-generation Thunderbird range would share with the new Classic series. The BS-VI Classic motorcycle was seen with rotary-style switches and adjustable levers in a recent spy photograph.
The engine displacement of the new models is expected to be the same as that of the BS-IV models. The performance numbers, too, are not likely to change much.
Also Read: 2020 Royal Enfield Classic Instrument Console - IAB Rendering
The current 346 cc single-cylinder, air-cooled engine on the Thunderbird 350 range uses a carburettor system and makes 20.07 PS of power at 5,250 rpm and 28 Nm of torque at 4,000 rpm. The updated model will come with a fuel injection system, among other updates, to comply with the new norms. The 499 cc single-cylinder, air-cooled motor, already uses a fuel injection system and delivers 27.57 PS of peak power at 5,250 rpm and 41.3 Nm of max torque at 4,000 rpm. Apart from the fuel injection system, the BS-VI range will use an O2 sensor and catalytic converter.
