Test rode a Rocket III today

[Chillerman]

The good:  
It was a 2006 standard with blacked out motor, beetle bags, Corbin seat w/backrest, kickshifter, floorboards, 6500 miles, cherry red, $9999.  It looked good, great price (I thought).  Lots and lots of power.  It had full pipes that supposedly brought the hp to the 158 range and the sound was indescribable.  The brakes were top notch, has the Valk beat by a mile.

The bad:
All of that power was very raw, jerky, touchy.  The center of gravity is alot higher than the Valk and for me it was hard to keep straight at low speeds.  It was very difficult to shift up, had to stomp on the kickshifter (maybe it wasn't adjusted properly).  The controls seemed cheap and there was a vibration at certain rpm.  Not something I would want to take on long trips.  I was in heaven once I got back on my Valk.  The smooth refined power at my fingertips, the comfortable ride.

Conclusion:
If I had $10,000 of disposable cash and I could keep my Valk, the Rocket might interest me for short trips, to show off a little and to get a great adrenaline rush!!  But the Valkyrie does it better   .

Sean

[F-106]

I have ridden the M109R, ST1300, FJR1300 and the Roadliner. All newer bikes than my valk and 
all good bikes, well made and refined. Each time i think of making a change i just thank GOD he gave me the brains to keep the valk. It is always temping to seak out new bikes from time to time. But when it comes down to it the valk is vary hard to beat. Honda just got it right when they made the Valkyrie.

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

I've rode a couple Rockets even got this one handed to me at the CBR Valkyrie Ride-In last year and was told to turn it loose. Nice bike with power but I prefer the Valkyrie and the Rocket has a few issues that I don't think they have corrected yet.

[9Ball]

good write up.  Pretty much my experience.

I'm lucky enough to have both bikes.  I could never sell the Valk nor would I ever want to.  The Rocket is a lot of fun for the money though.  Sold my '05 Midnight Warrior and bought the '07 Rocket and have been happy with the upgraded power.

[Thunderbolt]

The Valk is by far the best cruising bike and I don't think I will ever get rid of it.  The brakes on the Rocket are better, I don't notice any problem with the center of gravity, mostly with the foot position.  I have a Corbin seat on the Rocket as I  love to ride with a backrest.
Rocket is more of a local around town hot rod.  I have replaced the bars with Valk bars and put Rivco risers on to move everything back to my more normal riding position.  I also was flattening out rear tires too often and went to a 225-60-16 Bridgestone car tire in the rear.  Before the change it would just shred rubber off, now it hooks up big time and you had better be hanging on.
Valk also has a 205-60-16 car tire and when my wife doesn't ride her Valk and rides on the back, she says it rides better than it did with the bike tire.
Both have their good points.  If I had to drop to one bike, I would keep the Valk as it is so versitile and reliable.
But I REALLY love the Rocket III for those times when I am riding with buddy's that have to buy a bike with the name plate attached if you know what I mean.  I have let a couple of them ride it and they all say they have never ridden anything with so much power in all the gears.

[Chillerman]

The dealer said they fixed most of the engine issues after the 2005 model.  The gray (or black) engines  are supposed to be the good ones.  I guess there were some problems with the final drive as well that were repaired under warranty.  I agree with Thunderbolt that the foot position seemed off to me even with the floorboards, too high perhaps.  For my taste the Corbin seat was too hard as well.  Those pipes were awesome though.  I'd buy it just for the power and the sound!  

[DeathWishBikerDude]

Let's see how it rides after 50,000 miles.
I didn't like the wierd engine vibration,and its made for short people.
I'll buy another valk.

[Thunderbolt]

I removed the cat box and OEM pipes and installed D&D pipes.  Talk about sounding better........sounds like half of my Cummins diesel now. 

[Tropic traveler]

The Valk is by far the best cruising bike and I don't think I will ever get rid of it.  The brakes on the Rocket are better, I don't notice any problem with the center of gravity, mostly with the foot position.  I have a Corbin seat on the Rocket as I  love to ride with a backrest.
Rocket is more of a local around town hot rod.  I have replaced the bars with Valk bars and put Rivco risers on to move everything back to my more normal riding position.  I also was flattening out rear tires too often and went to a 225-60-16 Bridgestone car tire in the rear.  Before the change it would just shred rubber off, now it hooks up big time and you had better be hanging on.
Valk also has a 205-60-16 car tire and when my wife doesn't ride her Valk and rides on the back, she says it rides better than it did with the bike tire.
Both have their good points.  If I had to drop to one bike, I would keep the Valk as it is so versitile and reliable.
But I REALLY love the Rocket III for those times when I am riding with buddy's that have to buy a bike with the name plate attached if you know what I mean.  I have let a couple of them ride it and they all say they have never ridden anything with so much power in all the gears.

As a former Rocket owner I have to agree with Terry on most all of his points! Difference in my case is I did sell the R3 & replaced it with a 2nd Valk for the wife. The Rocket just didn't "fit" me good even with the Valk bar changeover that I did. Valk bars helped a lot but the foot position & vibration of the R3 didn't suit me at all. I did a lot of soul searching & asked myself hard questions about the style of riding that Kim & I do. The answer was another Valk. I had no shifting issues with my '05 but I did have timing chain noise & a re-occuring stalling issue . Both were resolved by the Triumph dealer under warranty but I never felt confident with the long term reliability with the R3 that I feel with Valkyries.
I really do miss that raw torque & unreal pulling power of the big inline 3. If I was in Thunderbolt's position {Ya can't hide money! } I would do much the same as him, keeping a hot rod Rocket AND the Valkyries too.   Oh yeah..... Those D&D pipes sound absolutely awesome on the Rocket!  

My Rocket 3 "Tourer" in Key West


Travelin' on a Rocket & Valk.


The wife relaxing on the Rocket replacement.

[Bagger John - #3785]

My next will either be a Connie-14 or one of these:



I really, REALLY want to like the R-III but they have cam-chain sprocket and transmission problems which need addressing first.

But then again, almost every motorcycle I've ever thrown a leg over falls short in terms of engineering and build quality when compared to the Valkyrie. It's just that good. 

[Lyn-Del]

It does say something when I choose to take off cross-country on a 10 year old bike instead of one that's just a year or two old, doesn't it?

[3fan4life]

I test rode a Rocket III a couple of years ago.

I liked it.  All of that torque definately gets your attention.

My biggest complaint was all of the heat comming from the header.

On a 80+ degree day that thing was cooking me.

There isn't a bike out there that would make me give up my VALK.


But, I would like to take a ride on one of these.....................

[Duckwheat]

I looked at a Rocket and considered buying one. I'm no wrench, so I checked out the routine maintenance cost. It about made me gag. I thought the R3 was top heavy.

Almost bought St1300, Concours, and looked at Yamaha's version of the same. I kept coming back to the fact my big ass fits on the Valk.

I'd look silly on a ST1300.

DW

[houstone]

Great point about the seat.  I enjoy telling people I finally found a bike with a seat bigger than my a$$!
And, boy is it comfy!
;-)

[Lyn-Del]

In the summer time, my Rocket III sits (im)patiently waiting for cooler weather.  I've gotten 2nd degree burns on my thigh from her (summer rush hour traffic).

The 09 VMax is a dream to ride.  My biggest complaint, so far, is the frequency of gas stops required, and the fact that at these stops I have to dismount to fill the tank.

Oh, and I wish it were an inch or two lower...

[3fan4life]

In the summer time, my Rocket III sits (im)patiently waiting for cooler weather.  I've gotten 2nd degree burns on my thigh from her (summer rush hour traffic).

The 09 VMax is a dream to ride.  My biggest complaint, so far, is the frequency of gas stops required, and the fact that at these stops I have to dismount to fill the tank.

Oh, and I wish it were an inch or two lower...

A Valkyrie + A Rocket III + 09 V Max

Like they say:

"Dang, You Can't Hide Money."

And Yes I'm Jealous.

[CHAMPt]

Re-hashing this post.  Funny how I still look to see if someone makes a valid replacement for the Valkyrie, and there's nothing really out there that gives a complete package.  I rode a K1600GTL, and that bike does everything great.  But there's nothing on that bike that resembles a Valkyrie other than 6 cyl, and (the one I rode) is a $25k bike!  Talking to the Triumph dealer, they say they have more Valkyrie riders look at the Rocket III than any other rider.  Understandably. 

Honestly, the Valkyrie is probably here to stay.  (where's my 2000-6 EFI Valkyrie at Honda????!!!)  The Boss Hoss is actually what I'm looking to replace, but that's an even more difficult task.

[Oss]

I rode the Rocket the first or second year they brought them to Americade
and it was scary fast acceleration and amazing brakes but the riding position
was not for me

It seemed higher center of gravity not as high as the bmw1200lt but up there

FUN no doubt about it

If I won the lottery I would look at the 1600 beemer and a whole bunch of other stuff as well

could not stop smiling after 45 minute ride last year  It just did everything

Not getting rid of the Valk tho, no way

[f6john]

     All I need is the 1800 wing running gear in my Valkyrie and I would be a happy camper for a long time. I actually think it's doable by someone with great fab skills and patience. A custom built frame would probably be required and would take care of most issues but it might not still be considered a Valkyrie.

[Wetrudgeon]

We are on our second Beast. Sold the '99 Valk standard in 2010 to buy the '08 Rocket.  Crashed the '08 in June and replaced with the '11 Roadster. We agree that the Beast is a rush to ride, but not as comfortable or refined as the Valk.  We think it is better for us in curves, not sure why.  It works well for short local blasts, the main kind of rides we make.   Keeping the Beast but miss the Valk from time to time.

We trudge on.

[mario]

I test rode a Rocket III a couple of years ago.

I liked it.  All of that torque definately gets your attention.

My biggest complaint was all of the heat comming from the header.

On a 80+ degree day that thing was cooking me.

There isn't a bike out there that would make me give up my VALK.


But, I would like to take a ride on one of these.....................

to the max!  they are a sweet ride, i must say.   

[FryeVRCCDS0067]

In the summer time, my Rocket III sits (im)patiently waiting for cooler weather.  I've gotten 2nd degree burns on my thigh from her (summer rush hour traffic).

The 09 VMax is a dream to ride.  My biggest complaint, so far, is the frequency of gas stops required, and the fact that at these stops I have to dismount to fill the tank.

Oh, and I wish it were an inch or two lower...

I think you're my hero. 

[miscott]

Found this on the Triumph web site. `Splain's why their so fast!!

    TRIUMPH ROCKET III - 21ST CENTURY MOTORCYCLE MANUFACTURE

[junior]

i didnt know they had a plant in Tenn.? wasnt that joe playing the banjo?   

[BonS]

If you want a bike that's faster than a Valkyrie I don't know why you'd look farther than another Valkyrie. If you ever get a chance to pilot a blown Valk don't pass it up. The power is everywhere, from idle on up, on boost or not, and you get all the rider ergonomics and flat-6 characteristics that we all love, and it's totally streetable. My Interstate is great for hitting the road but the blown bike is a riot to use as my city cruiser. With an Interstate tank you have plenty of range if you do stray outside of the city limits. The biggest difference in cost of operation is premium gas.

I had a love affair with a first gen V-Max for over 25 years. Sold it to my son-in-law after getting the blown Standard.

[Tropic traveler]

If you want a bike that's faster than a Valkyrie I don't know why you'd look farther than another Valkyrie. If you ever get a chance to pilot a blown Valk don't pass it up. The power is everywhere, from idle on up, on boost or not, and you get all the rider ergonomics and flat-6 characteristics that we all love, and it's totally streetable. My Interstate is great for hitting the road but the blown bike is a riot to use as my city cruiser. With an Interstate tank you have plenty of range if you do stray outside of the city limits. The biggest difference in cost of operation is premium gas.

I had a love affair with a first gen V-Max for over 25 years. Sold it to my son-in-law after getting the blown Standard.

While I still may consider a Rocket 3 Roadster like We Trudge has now with the more Valk-like foot position... the blown Valkyrie route does intrigue me quite a bit.
You know I do have an extra Tourer in the stable........


HMMMMMM.....

[miscott]

If you want a bike that's faster than a Valkyrie I don't know why you'd look farther than another Valkyrie. If you ever get a chance to pilot a blown Valk don't pass it up. The power is everywhere, from idle on up, on boost or not, and you get all the rider ergonomics and flat-6 characteristics that we all love, and it's totally streetable. My Interstate is great for hitting the road but the blown bike is a riot to use as my city cruiser. With an Interstate tank you have plenty of range if you do stray outside of the city limits. The biggest difference in cost of operation is premium gas.

I had a love affair with a first gen V-Max for over 25 years. Sold it to my son-in-law after getting the blown Standard.



Hey BonS
 Great paint job you got on that Valk! Looks amazing set against that Fast Black!   What's that shade of Blue called?

[BonS]

Thanks, all I know to call it is "blue and silver pearl ghost flames". It's a relatively inexpensive way to upgrade from basic black.

[iliveforcurves]

I test rode a Rocket III when they first came out and was quite impressed with the torque, from as low as 1500 rpm.  My overall impression was that it would be a better bike if it was scaled down, like to a 1500cc engine. 

[CHAMPt]

Just bought one.  Still have the Valk though.