Big Brit Cruiser

[GPM]

Took a long look at the new Triumph Rocket 3 Touring this afternoon. They didn't have a demo bike and I didn't have my checkbook, so no test ride. And, since it wasn't a planned stop, no camera. Sorry.

The bike is such a radical departure from my GS that everything seems quite foreign. The seat height is very low, with the pull back bars and relative mid-positioned floor boards (?!?) yielding a fairly upright riding position.

It has a removable windscreen, with the stock height being quite short. I've heard there is a taller version available. The instruments are on the very wide gas tank. It has no tach, and with 157 ft lbs of torque, I'm not sure that it even has a transmission. Oh wait, that giant heel and toe shifter seems to indicate that it does. The rear brake pedal looks like the one in my truck, very strange. I don't find an accessory outlet, the dealer seems to think its wired for one, but that its an accessory.

The bags may be removable, but its not an easy thing to accomplish. And, their bottom mounts are welded to the pipes, so exhaust changes will be a bit complicated for those so inclined. The bags don't appear to hold near as much as my Jesse's and the latches for the lid are very large and intrusive, further limiting available capacity. Packing for a long trip would require some meticulous planning. It has a small tool kit, couple of wrenches, screwdriver, one huge allen wrench (I'm guessing oil drain) and a couple of tools I couldn't identify.

The floorboards do fold up, and have a small replaceable lip that seems to indicate that scraping while maybe not encouraged, may at least be tolerated. From all reports the smaller new rear tire makes the bike handle considerably better than the non-touring version.

The engine is mostly black, which goes a long way in masking its automotive looking appearance. The huge chrome radiator on the other hand is quite an eyesore, at least to me. Otherwise, fit and finish appear to be similar to BMW standards. Paint looks good, not Harley good, but good nonetheless.

All in all its not a completely unattractive motorcycle. I have to think long and hard about whether or not I'm ready for such a massive change. If I decide to go that route the Triumph is an alternative to the Victory Vision. Harley Davidson isn't really an option for me, I can't afford the wardrobe change. I much prefer the option of a removable windscreen as opposed to a full fixed fairing. Kind of like comparing a Road King to an Electra Glide I think.

The price is around 17K, which compares quite favorably to the competition. Supposedly Triumph is planning on having a considerable accessory catalog available for the new Rocket, but given the target audience I suspect it will me mostly cosmetic.

[Rchop]

I sounds like you're seriously looking for a cruiser Harry. I have to tell you, and I never thought I'd say this, don't discount the Harley Road Glide or Electra Glide with out a test ride. Especially if you are in the 17K price range.

Yesterday, I had the first chance to ride my Road Glide since I brought it home. I was pleasently suprised to say the least. The suspension was firm and the dual front brakes worked better than I thought they ever would. Of course the engine torque was felt in true Harley form, but that's a given with the big v-twins. The new 96ci fuel injected motor starts and runs as good as any BMW I have had before. This is the first stock Harley I have ridden that felt like it actually had some power. The fit and finish on the bike is much better than I expected and the paint job is the best I have ever seen for a production bike. It actually looks like it's been finish sanded and polished!

I thought I was going to have to spend quite a bit of money to get the performance I required, but it's just going to be a small amount of upgrades now. I paid the dealer $190 to do the stage 1 computer upgrade and I have a set of Screaming Eagle mufflers ($152 on eBay) in the garage to install along with a new K&N intake setup ($119 on eBay). This is all that is required for the stage 1 upgrade that will give my around 10 additional hp. After riding it in stock form, I think it will be more that enough even though it's almost 800 pounds. It's the gobs of torque you feel when riding this thing at 2600 rpm that really surprised me! I will be adding some A/F control farkles to it, but that's because I'm going to use it as a test bed for some products I will be a dealer for. I will probably get some performance gains from these items , but they will be more for heat management than any required upgrades.

I walked around in the Harley dealer for a couple of hours yesterday with my Aerostich pants and Tourmaster jacket on and nobody pointed and laughed once! I even rode up with, OMG, a helmet on and didn't get one comment about it! So, I don't think the wardrobe change is required if you're not inclined to do so.

Anyway, this bike feels like it could comfortably cover some serious miles and the people I have talked to that have the later model FI engines report minimal maintenance requirements.

[GPM]

Thanks Randy, I figured you had been out for a ride, I saw that orange glow in the sky from here.

If I really get serious I will take a look around. The thing about the Rocket is that right out of the box you get 157 ft lb torque and 106 horsepower. That kind puts the competition to shame. And, that horsepower number is considerably less that the non-touring version of the Rocket. The owner at AZ Superbike thinks the majority of the hp loss and low speed torque gain is through tuning and he suspects they will be able to restore a good bit of the lost power.

The other issue I have is that it seems like 9 out of 10 bikes on the road around here are Harleys. I'd rather pull up to the light with something a little different. Not to mention pull away from that light with authority. Still, if it gets to the buying stage, I'll take a close look at all the competition.

[Rchop]

Thanks Randy, I figured you had been out for a ride, I saw that orange glow in the sky from here.


Hey, I can wear my black touring clothes and still be seen by the cagers LOL.

[DarthRider]

Harry, I haven't ridden the touring version R3, but I have a standard model. If I was looking for a torque-tourer I would consider them both.
A standard with touring equipment would be almost as suitable for touring as the touring model. Which is to say, not great but not bad either. Lots of power and room, comfortable and better handing than it deserves to be.
And you would have pegs instead of boards, toe-shifter instead of heel & toe, maybe a slightly "sportier" riding position.
As you say, there are lots of options from Triumph and the aftermarket.
These are really very good motorcycles...I'm friends with two Triumph dealers and a bartender in Keller who are really pleased and impressed by them.
As I posted in another thread, both these dealers say most of their R3 customers are coming straight off Harleys. They are split about evenly between experienced, long time HD riders and guys who haven't been on them so long.
They want to maintain the cruising and/or touring lifestyle but want a very dependable bike that will handle, stop, and go far better than what they have. With shaft drive. And maintenance schedules that make Harley blush. And outrun all their buddies if they are so inclined...many are ! They want a "better machine" as well as a "better motorcycle".
I can't say this is typical with all Triumph dealers, but 2 out of 3 in Dallas/Fort Worth say the same thing...I haven't talked to the 3rd one about it.
And one thing I have learned for sure is "never say never or always", when it comes to Harley riders. They don't all swill the cool-aid and all are not stereotypical.

Oh, Mark the bartender has even started wearing a helmet since he got a Triumph R3 !

Frankly, I also think the success of the R3 is partially because many long-time Harley and Triumph riders share some similar "heritage characteristics" as relates to the lifestyle of the 21st century hooligan & "biker rebel". The R3 allows them this while maintaining a professional job, big house in the burbs, dual incomes, kids, a big SUV and 60" HDTV...while riding a very good motorcycle. The new Triumph, especially the R3, seems to accommodate retreads from either HD or "old (Meriden) Triumph". And many other converts are coming from all kinds of bikes. Some just want to go, turn, stop, be comfortable & travel a little differently from the herd.

I would consider selling the R1150R and the Speed Triple, and getting an RS set up for touring. And keeping the KLR of course !

Anyway, congrats for considering the possibilities...


EDIT: Randy, I'm not knocking your Road Glide, not in the least. HD has come so far, and everything I know, see and hear says they are also very good motorcycles. Just different.
If I was looking, both would be on my short list.
Thank God for all these "difficult choices" !

[Deans BMW]

What sort of range (mileage) does the R 3 get on a tank of gas cruising at say 80-90? Just curious you know....................

[DarthRider]

I don't know...I just rode one about 20 eye-popping miles !
You can easily light up the tire in 2nd with just the throttle.
In 3rd you have to clutch it a bit.
In 4th you're haning on too tight for monkey business.

[Rchop]

No problem on my end Dave. As you know, I'm not a "Harley or nothing" fanatic. Far from it actually. I was just trying to give informed report on another alternative. If the most power or torque is on the top of the list, then you can't beat the Rocket.

[DarthRider]

Yeah, they're all trade-off's & compromises...it's just finding the right ones.
Sure is a great time to be looking for a new bike !

[Brakecheck]

I went to a going away party tonight for a neighbor. He is in the Air Force and deploying overseas for six months. Anyway, I didn't know anyone there but soon found out that four of the guys had Harley's. I stepped out for a bit and when I returned I found all four of them talking about the Rocket. One of them (wearing a Harley shirt) was seriously thinking of buying one. I thinkTriumph is onto something.