Back in saddle after deer strike - report on new steed - Rocket Roadster

[jshram]

Hi, guys.... been a while since I've visited.  If you don't recall, I totaled my Valk hitting a deer about a year ago http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,81242.msg799196.html#msg799196

Here's the newspaper article on it if you're interested:  http://www.ironcountytoday.com/view/full_story/26953281/article-Local-motorcyclist-preaches-bike-safety-following-horrific-accident?

Anyway, I'm up and jogging (slow) again, got a WONDERFUL dog to help me recover (Australian Blue Heeler from the local Rescue.. but he rescued me...) AND I'm riding again, this time on my fore mentioned 2011 Triumph Rocket Roadster (pretty modified).

Thought you'd be interested in some thoughts, besides the "please wear all your gear all the time" message.. oh, and "Don't hit stupid deer".... 

Here's some pics of the lady, fully modified with pipes, header (much of my own making), bars (difficult to do), shocks, tune (difficult to do), smog gut, airbox gut, bla-bla.... 




So, compared to the Valk.. hmmm...  4000 miles on the Rocket, so I guess I know her.

Anything to do with power = no brainer... Rocket, which, with my mods is pulling 160/160 at the rear wheel.. no comparison.

Handling = Valk....   maybe it's the tires and I've heard that a lot, but this is a beast of a bike and the Valk rolled over so easy...  I'm about through with these tires (in only 4000 miles too) so new tires will tell... but I'm thinking Valk.

Riding comfort = Valk..  course my valk had a mustang seat which was awesome, but your feet were more underneath you, more upright (even though the Roadster is more upright than previous models of the Rocket, it still isn't enough.. you can't stand while riding without doing a pull-up).

fuel economy = Rocket.. even riding HARD, like 90mph for two hours I still get 33mpg.. if I slow down to 75, I get 40mpg +... my Valk at 95 would easily be at 25mpg and I never saw 40...

Smooth.. duh... Valk... but the Rocket ain't bad for 2300CC... 

Engine heat = stock, about the same except the Rocket cooks your right foot/leg and the Valk cooked both evenly.. with my header on?  It's almost unbearable in 90+ weather.. I need a shield on it for sure. 

Modability = as far as modding the engine?  Rocket.. modding the body?  Valk... one PITA is that the Rocket is predominantly loved by Aussies and Germans and Brits.. mostly Ausies, so getting the stuff to mod the bike comes from half way around the world... not true of the Valk.  Another thing is Triumph worked very hard to make sure their bike could not be modded with harley parts, where the Valk can (bars and risers).. I had to have my top triple tree welded and machined to 3.5" riser spacing so  I could put harley bars on (double TT bars) and then I had to invent my own instrument bracket too.. double TT's went right on the Valk...  anyway.

Fuel capacity and range = Rocket.

curb side appeal.. well, for the general audience and with my custom paint job on the Valk, the Valk.. but, anyone remotely interested in engines - Rocket.. AND where the Valk got the ol' nose turn-up from the harley crowd (easy to do) once they saw the boxer goldwing motor, not true with the Trumpet.. Harley guys suffer from Displacement-itis.... they just can't stand not having the biggest jugs around and 140 Cubic Inches puts a pretty big thump on the ol' 110......  but, I'd ride with Goldwingers any day over.. well, that's another topic.

Hey, just wanted to say that I miss this group.  there's some good guys on the rocket board for sure, but the OVERALL membership is not the same as here... grey hair and kindred spirits I guess... 

I just wish the Valk could get more oomph.... it'd be the schziizle...

Keep 'em upright boys... no deer.

John

[jshram]

Oh, and even though I have an awesome pipe and header on this Rocket and it does have the cool 3 banger lope and growl, the 6x6s on the Valk sound is simply the best on the planet.. no reproducing that.

[Beardo]

Thanks for the post. I've thought that my next bike would be a Rocket(Touring) if, God forbid, I wreck my Valk and I'm still able to ride(can't see me selling it). Just don't think I could ever go back to a twin.

Nice to see the comparison written by someone who has had both.

I also appreciate your ATTGATT message. Needs to be said, IMO. While I only wear Kevlar jeans which don't protect a whole lot, I never ride without a helmet, leather jacket and boots.

Glad you're able to keep riding.

[The emperor has no clothes]

I had been wondering about you my Alaskan compadre. Good to hear from you. 

[Valkorado]

Nice bike comparison, hope you never test which one handles a deer strike better.  Great to see you're back in the wind!

[Flrider]

Really glad that you are back jogging and on two wheels.

Thanks for sharing  and happy riding

Nice Rocket 

[Karen]

Glad the outcome was so positive, and you're out and about again. Please stay safe. Nice looking Triumph!

[jshram]

Thanks for the post. I've thought that my next bike would be a Rocket(Touring) if, God forbid, I wreck my Valk and I'm still able to ride(can't see me selling it). Just don't think I could ever go back to a twin.

Nice to see the comparison written by someone who has had both.

I also appreciate your ATTGATT message. Needs to be said, IMO. While I only wear Kevlar jeans which don't protect a whole lot, I never ride without a helmet, leather jacket and boots.

Glad you're able to keep riding.

I was wearing my Iron Bilt Kevlar padded jeans when I crashed.. certainly not as good as real riding pants, but I tell you they worked great.. EMTs ruined two pairs of shears cutting them off me.. so, if Jeans, wear them.
 
The Touring motor is de-tuned a bit on the Rocket on the top end, which you won't ever use with that kind of bike anyway...  but if I were doing serious two-up riding fully loaded, the torque on this thing would rule.  Just as an example, on mine I can do 40mph in 5th gear at 1500RPM.. roll the throttle and it pulls HARD to over 120.. no chugging, no lag...  when I'm drving it, I rarely shift out of 5th.... no reason to, it just pulls.  That would be awesome two-up.  Even passing, I never shift down... I doubt there is another bike that can do that.. even when I was following the harley guys, they shift down to pass.

Anyway, if you're not going to a Wing and want the big cruiser style, then the Rocket Touring would be a good choice.

and thanks all for the well wishes!

John

[Beardo]

Thanks for the post. I've thought that my next bike would be a Rocket(Touring) if, God forbid, I wreck my Valk and I'm still able to ride(can't see me selling it). Just don't think I could ever go back to a twin.

Nice to see the comparison written by someone who has had both.

I also appreciate your ATTGATT message. Needs to be said, IMO. While I only wear Kevlar jeans which don't protect a whole lot, I never ride without a helmet, leather jacket and boots.

Glad you're able to keep riding.

I was wearing my Iron Bilt Kevlar padded jeans when I crashed.. certainly not as good as real riding pants, but I tell you they worked great.. EMTs ruined two pairs of shears cutting them off me.. so, if Jeans, wear them.
 
The Touring motor is de-tuned a bit on the Rocket on the top end, which you won't ever use with that kind of bike anyway...  but if I were doing serious two-up riding fully loaded, the torque on this thing would rule.  Just as an example, on mine I can do 40mph in 5th gear at 1500RPM.. roll the throttle and it pulls HARD to over 120.. no chugging, no lag...  when I'm drving it, I rarely shift out of 5th.... no reason to, it just pulls.  That would be awesome two-up.  Even passing, I never shift down... I doubt there is another bike that can do that.. even when I was following the harley guys, they shift down to pass.

Anyway, if you're not going to a Wing and want the big cruiser style, then the Rocket Touring would be a good choice.

and thanks all for the well wishes!

John

Love the Honda 6's for sure, but don't like plastic or all the electronics. Love the Rocket. Nothing fancy, a speedo, a tach, a big friggin motor and 2 tires. Love it.

A good portion of my touring is 2-up, so I love the extra power.

Congrats and ride safe.

[Pappy!]

By all means, don't be a stranger!

[Clark]

So had a rocket III and I agree the torque was AmAZing..also had a Valkyrie with a supercharger.. I would have to sY the triumph would have taken it in a drag race but the blown valk was a pretty amazing ride. And you are correct, I was BLOWn AWAY at the fact you could roll the throttle on in high Gear at 45 and it pulled like a freight train

[jshram]

I had been wondering about you my Alaskan compadre. Good to hear from you. 

Thanks! Last 4 year Job in Vegas was over.. then I hit the deer and then this March I started a new Office building construction project (I manage construction projects) in Jackson, WY.  Talk about different climates!  Jackson is very "Alaskana" if you haven't been there... reminds me of home... course I have no desire to move back there so this winter should kill any lingering thoughts!

Ride safe!

John

[The emperor has no clothes]

I had been wondering about you my Alaskan compadre. Good to hear from you. 

Thanks! Last 4 year Job in Vegas was over.. then I hit the deer and then this March I started a new Office building construction project (I manage construction projects) in Jackson, WY.  Talk about different climates!  Jackson is very "Alaskana" if you haven't been there... reminds me of home... course I have no desire to move back there so this winter should kill any lingering thoughts!

Ride safe!

John

I hear you.

[cookiedough]

report back in a few years to see if any reliability issues arise with the 2300cc motor on the rocket.  

Does look very nice though, well done.   I think the standard Valk is plenty fast enough for most, not great by today's standards, but still an all around good performer in all categories just not the best in any of them, besides maybe looks and reliability?

Am a bit surprised though 40 mpg on a 2300cc engine is super great fuel economy.  I guess 3 cylinders vs. 6 is the reason?

[pais]

    So very strange how "things" go. Earlier this week I was perusing the "sight". Like I do every morning. Don't know why but, you came to mind jshram. Glad to see you are doing ok.
     Like Pappy said, "don't be a stranger"!

[Hooter]

I had a Rocket III TOURING and loved the bike with one exception. The transmission was crap.  Had it back to the dealer 3 times with no success. It and I parted ways for that reason only.
   I had the full tors done that helped a bunch, but wasn't needed. The Rocket is a monster to say the least and other than the tranny bypassed any bike Ive ever owned. Handling is superb, the bikes workmanship is excellent. Service at the dealership sucked worse than the tranny,  just a bad experience all the way around. I waited all one winter for the bike to get here from Hinkley.  The first 500 miles were good then the tranny problem arrived and it was down hill from there. I blame the dealer solely. They could have fixed it but opted to lie to me.

[cookiedough]

I had a Rocket III TOURING and loved the bike with one exception. The transmission was crap.  Had it back to the dealer 3 times with no success. It and I parted ways for that reason only.
   I had the full tors done that helped a bunch, but wasn't needed. The Rocket is a monster to say the least and other than the tranny bypassed any bike Ive ever owned. Handling is superb, the bikes workmanship is excellent. Service at the dealership sucked worse than the tranny,  just a bad experience all the way around. I waited all one winter for the bike to get here from Hinkley.  The first 500 miles were good then the tranny problem arrived and it was down hill from there. I blame the dealer solely. They could have fixed it but opted to lie to me.

I'd be contacting Triumph directly on the dealers incompetency and then 2nd time if not fixed,  go to another Triump dealership and have them bill the incompetent dealer for the inferior 1st service not done right.  I had a horrible experience with an ATV dealer who I bought my used ATV from had a Warn winch go bad within 30 days first use and took it back in.  Same dealer replaced the solenoid with a cole hersee mfg. one.  That blew first time next day used popped.  Took it back in same dealer put in another mfg. solenoid, that blew when I got it home after 2-3 uses as well.  Had enough,  took to another same mfg. dealer and they told me both times prior they put in farm implement solenoids for my WARN winch NOT a WARN solenoid made for the WARN winch.  Problem solved but fought all charges done on my credit card and that incompetent dealer NEVER got a dime out of me I won my case easy enough still cost me 50 bucks in gas running around 3x's and 80 bucks at 2nd dealership when it all should have been done right BEFORE I bought it.  I even had a 3-way conversation over the phone with the owner of that incompetent dealer and my credit card company that went on for 1 hour proving his ignorance him still thinking he was in the right to put 2 farm implement solenoids in my WARN ATV winch vs. a WARN solenoid.  Needless to say a few years later than dealer was no longer selling ATV's and stuck with farm machinery only.  I also contacted the mfg. of my ATV and told them how inferior that dealer was servicing that brand of ATV .

[jshram]

Well the tranny isn't as smooth as the Honda and I'm not really marketing the Rocket, but I've been all over the Rocket boards and haven't read tranny failures as normal. Most just ride the crap out of them. Not dismissing your experience at all. Don't think it's normal though.

I do miss my valk but I  just like the triumph oomph.