Does not dazzle but is comfortable in cruiser role.

How does one expect a cruiser to perform. Sprint, top speed, quarter mile runs are never a measure of this class of motorcycle though they are due their importance in the overall scheme of things.

Roll-ons. This class of motorcycle is never going to enter a drag meet though if put against whatever Indian manufacturers have to throw her way the Thunderbird would outclass many. As functionality goes the T'Bird will undertake more overtaking maneuvers past trundling trucks and trailers. This is where the 27Nm of torque makes all the difference. The new NVH legislation restricts the engine, so now the max torque has been brought in at a higher 3500rpm. This difference shows up in the roll-ons where 30-70kmph in third gear is achieved in just 7.5sec which is a whole second quicker than the Lightning. However the T'Bird loses this edge as we shift up, and 30-70kmph in fourth is covered in 11.8sec as compared to 11.4sec taken by the Lightning. In fifth gear the T'Bird covers the mark in 24.4sec whereas the Lightning did it in 15.8sec. By virtue both engines generate the same torque at different rpm, but the engine that develops max torque at higher rpm gains the edge in a lower gear during roll-ons but loses this advantage in higher gear.

By the same virtue the engine that generates higher rpm should achieve a higher top-speed. This is not the case with the T'Bird as the wider exhaust diameter restricts revs to average a top speed of 107.6kmph, less than the 112.9kmph top whack of the Lightning. Acceleration to 60kmph took 7.7sec whereas the T'Bird averaged 22.2sec in the quarter mile run at max speed of 91.0kmph. Acceleration is strong in every gear which make her ideal for highway cruising.

Braking figures are nothing short of impressive. Above all else is the presence of a huge 280mm diameter ventilated disc on the front wheel and the conventional 6" mechanical internally expanding single lead drum brake at the rear. Standard issue dishes out a mechanical internally expanding 7" twin lead drum brake. The disc should have found its way onto the Bullet years ago, but better late than never. The disc brake version notched some impressive figures with the T'Bird stopping on a dime in 2.5sec within a distance of 21.3 metres keeping its line with minimum theatrics. Now three digit speeds on this cruiser doesn't seem too scary.