It took me 45 seconds to write the Pros until I was restricted by space and 4 mins to write the Cons! I guess I’m in the club already (4 days old) where I have justifications and reasons of how you can counter and avoid the Cons.
Firstly - I got a 2006 AVL Engine Thunderbird a few days back. It does not have a Two Sparkplugs i.e. twinspark or electric start, but I am anyways not a fan of electric start. Finding a used Thunderbird is a painful activity since there are very few dealers who stock used TB’s in showroom. I remember looking up the Internet, TeamBHP etc. to find a good deal unitl I got Lucky and got a deal of 54 K (INR) for a 2006 Model.
Do not trust the Internet, as you never know what they guy has to offer and if you would like it, You have to Physically inspect it, try talking to a Thunderbird showroom, they can guide where you can find used bike, their network is mostly B2B, they may direct you to another second hand dealer.
A few things that I observed and was educated by a local Bullet mechanic & the dealer:
1. Always look at the block and assembly unit - it will give you an idea what shape the engine is in, if it has been dismantled/ Engine Down, if there are any cracks on the Engine or Block.
2. If possible, get it inspected by a mechanic who can confirm - give you an inventory of the Work that needs to be done - if at all you get it, e.g. Fork Oil needs to be changed, Kick is Hard, Oil Filter needs to be cleaned
3. Do not be fixated on how much kilometers has the bike Run, be sure its a good engine, for a TB even if has been run for 50K kilometers but is maintained well, there are no hassels. Mine had been run for 13 K in 5 yrs.
4. Do not ask about average - kitna deti hain, traffic handing is simple or not or questions like how much maintenance needs to be done - If you are asking these questions then you are missing the Point - this Motorcycle is about being Passionate about something, its a Legacy, you need to deserve it
5. Prepare a list of Questions that you need to ask, how often you need to change Oil, when should silencer assembly be removed, when should gaskets be cleaned - prepare a list of the Things you need to do in order to Run a RE.
6. There are certain issues; with Oil Leaks - as of now I have not experienced it. Thunderbird Electrical assembly is confusing to regular mechanics - my experience, also pls. do not try and implement Do It Yourself tricks from day 1, take your time, learn about small things e.g. tappet setting, clutch setting, etc.
7. Finally, if you do happen to get a used vehicle, do remember to take it to a trusted mechanic, did not bother when I had a Bajaj Discover but it has happened in the past that mechanics remove original parts and use duplicates. Rejuvenate your Motorcycle at the Mechanic even if everything is fine, since it’s a good idea to have it Serviced.