Triumph Rocket Three

[DIGGER]

Over at Yankees in Carlos, Tx.  Guy ona Triumph Rocket 3 says he has factory 168 hp and with a few mods has 185 hp at the rear tire.  It is a 2,500 cc motor

[Thunderbolt]

I had a 2005 Rocket III.  It was 2248cc and 142 HP and 148 lb./ft torque stock.  I put a Michelin car tire on it because the stock motorcycle tire kept shredding off in the center.  It would put a smile on your face as it pushed your cheeks back when accelerating.  They probably have retuned it to make more HP since then.

[Patrick]

Yep, its a monster !  Probably the only other I would have other than the Valk.

I already had the Valk for 6 years before the Rocket came out and still have it. I couldn't part with it.

[Grandpot]

I was looking at a Rocket when I was introduced to the Valkyrie.   No regrets.   I'm not saying I wouldn't mind having a Rocket also.

[hubcapsc]

I had a 2005 Rocket III.  It was 2248cc and 142 HP and 148 lb./ft torque stock.  I put a Michelin car tire on it because the stock motorcycle tire kept shredding off in the center.  It would put a smile on your face as it pushed your cheeks back when accelerating.  They probably have retuned it to make more HP since then.

They didn't just retune it, they remade it, it is a different bike now. Kinda weird looking,
I think. I'm on their mailing list, and I respond to their spam by mashing the "schedule a
test ride" button. They contacted the Greenville SC dealer, who contacted me, but I
haven't made it over for a test ride yet... it is the same dealer I test rode an Indian
Springfield at.



-Mike

[Patrick]

I wasn't aware of the new models.

I like Triumphs and especially the early Rocket 111's . The Tour, I think, is a really nice bike.

[cookiedough]

agree, I like everything about the rocket III tourer, except the price.

I think 'near' a bucket list is to someday test drive a rocket III,  ducati diavel,  and newer yamaha VMAX.    One local dealer will NOT allow anyone to test drive a crotch rocket of any kind due to liability which I think is dumb and I told them that.  A 600cc crotch rocket is nowhere near the speed and dangerousness as a rocket III or VMAX they had on the showroom floor but I can test drive them.    They 'claim' they have a policy that on crotch rockets you can buy it and return it NO questions asked ONLY AFTER buying if you do not like it for any reason within 30 days free of charge to return it.  I bet it is not the case though???

Today drove by a can am/honda/yamaha dealer and been looking ONLY at a can am commander vs. say a polaris general or yamaha wolverine X2 or RMAX.    Sat in a honda talon, can am commander 4 seater front and backseats, yamaha wolverine X2 (no RMAX had), and yamaha yxz sporty little thing.  Much to my surprise with me being much wider the yamaha yxz fit me the best seating wise like a glove.  wolverine was way too far sit upright position near leaning forward in the seat hated it the worst but easiest to get in/out.  talon was similar to the commander but both lacked legroom width and length by a few inches too darn short of legroom and I am only 5'10" NO ONE much over 6ft. would fit comfy in them at all with kneecaps hitting dash, etc.  Then I tried hopping in the backseat of the 4 seat commander and boy oh boy, that was a workout twisting these old bones/legs/hips to get in/out of there only made for people under 5'8" tall tops with my knees hitting the back of the front seat all the way back.  I thought they all would have more legroom in them for sure.    I think the can am commander had the most layed back seating and comfortable seat of them all with the yamaha yxz nice as well.

At my age more interested in comfort vs. speed  since all are either 800cc or most 1000cc all have plenty of power able to go upper 60's mph with some low 70 mph way too fast for me on most trails.  I feel comfy at most doing 63mph (normally do tops 50-55 mph)  on any ATV trail or rural road route I have been on ever, much past that you are asking for trouble.  One thing I learned having a 500cc and 800cc can am outlander is that not all the time is best to have 800cc's of power have found in technical trail riding the 500cc outhandles the 800cc nearly every single time in turning and being able to 'regulate' the throttle control smoothly to not overpower the turn too much as is the case sometimes in the 800cc more powerful motor.  800cc is tad bit more fun though especially at higher speeds but 500cc is plenty for most.

[Skinhead]

I thought our Valkyries were fast...

Until I rode a Rocket 3. 

[Rams]

I thought our Valkyries were fast...

Until I rode a Rocket 3. 

Whole heartedly agree.   But I have a hard time considering one for a ride from home to any place over a couple hundred miles.   The one I rode was very impressive in it's acceleration and speed but, I have real doubts it's going to be comfortable at the 500-, 750- or 1,000-mile mark and yes, I do take those rides from time to time.   It simply wasn't that comfortable on the short ride I took.  YMMV

Rams

[Skinhead]

I heard there were some reliability issues as well.

[Rams]

I heard there were some reliability issues as well.

I heard that earlier models had transmission issues and brought that up.  But was told by the dealership I was at that the transmission was redesigned and that problem had gone away.   Don't know and one must remember that I heard it from the dealership that was selling the bike.  So, caveat emptor is applicable.

Rams  

[Wizzard]

Bob who attends Valkyrie events now and then with me has a rocket 3. Has had it for about 10 years now and got it when they first came out.
Crazy power
Shreds rear tires regularly
Very top heavy
fun to ride but not for comfort unless you replace the seat with a Russel
yes he had transmission problems when we got home from rt 66 ride
He is 77 now and wants to sell it because he cannot hold it up.

After having ridden it several times I will still take my Valk any day.

[cookiedough]

yah if top heavy not great to handle and move around at lower speeds.  My kids former yamaha fjr1300 was pretty top heavy as well and being vertically challenged was nearly on my tip toes as well doing the balancing act at lower speeds.  Handling was great though very flickable.  Worst part was even with risers I was bent forward just a tad bit too much reaching handlebars a smidge and darn those footpegs were too far back for these old bones to bend, not horrible, but not forward or directly underneath you either like on the Valk.  Had all I could do to get 70 miles or so before stopping to get off that thing.

[RNFWP]

Saw a couple of nice three wheelers last weekend. 

[Pappy!]

Terry I remember that bike. You and I left for a Valk get-together from Wildwood several years ago. You left me in the dust from one of the stoplights and my Valk is no slouch.
Ya' know.....there are always things that can be brought out about every single bike ever built. Things the bike won't do. Why lament about that when that particular bike will do exactly what it was designed to do and do it very well.
Most of us modified something on our Valks to make them even better at being long distance bikes and I bet the new Rockets would respond well to some of the same treatments. There is more than one model of them.