Test drove a Rocket

[atavar]

At the Baxter rally Sunday I got to test drive a Triumph Rocket III.  I will have to admit some will think it is a very sweet bike.
It belies it's bulk, being a pussycat to ride at parking lot speeds..  virtually no drive train snatchiness.  Why can't Guzzi do that?

The first impression getting on the bike is"OMFG what is that monster between my knees?"???
(ok, I read that, no rude comments..)



Starting it up the impression is slick smoothness, and quiet.  For a big monster engine you can hear the cam chains slide.  And how do they make a motorcycle engine with no tappets?  Not a tiny bit of valve noise.

Starting rolling is amazing, with that monster engine you don't touch the gas or feather the throttle to start moving, even on an upslope, just let the throttle out smoothly and surprise, you are rolling at steerage and balancing is easy, no matter that you are riding a battleship. 

Starting out down the road there is another amazing discovery, there is so much torque that you have virtually zero tower band.  It is like there is a magic connection from your right hand to the speedometer.  Just turn your hand a little bit and you are going a little bit faster, nothing makes noise or vibrates it just happens.  Turn your wrist some more and you are going some more faster. No sensation of power or accelleration but suddenly the speedo says 50 instead of 15. 
Turn your wrist a lot and the bike finally makes a little noise.  Still no feeling of a power band, nothing surges, but you are testing your wrists and elbows and finger strength holding on to those grips.  this bike could give you whiplash as 160 ponies snap your head back if you twist too quick. 
I really don't know how to explain it, the power is smooth and even all the way from idle to redline.  No peakiness, no power band, just a smooth transition across the entire tach.  The bike has torque it will never use.  If there is a thousand pound bike that wants to point the front wheel at the moon this is it.


The downsides are a "gas tank" that is almost three feet wide, that's just wierd.  If it was all gas tank you'd have like 15 gallons to ride out.
The pegs are quite foot forward.  For me this is a serious negative.  A 20 mile ride and already I knew I had a tailbone.  There is no sharing of weight between feet and shoulders, it is all on your ass.

As I said, for some this would be a sweet ride.  For me not so much, while it was easy and powerful and smooth, it was sort of soulless.  I would miss the guzzi powerplant too much.

[rboe]

This is a bike I like to look at. But oh man, I have no need nor desire for all that mass. Or power. But still I look. 

[Guzzistajohn]

I've ridden a few of them. Surprisingly agile for such a big rig. And the power, wow. 

[wymple]

"soulless."

You figured it out. There ain't nothing interesting without mechanical presence.

[cruzziguzzi]

So much of the OP could have been my first impression of my Valkyrie.

Pity about the fuel capacity - damn but I miss that bike! I wonder if a Rocket wouldn't scratch that itch again for me since I don't see a Cali 1400 in my future.

Todd.

[kingoffleece]

I wouldn't agree that the bike has little soul.  I put 15000 miles on a 09 in one year and loved every mile of it.  Mine dyno'd at 140bhp and 147 ft lbs torque.  It was a total blast in the mountains of WV with all that power in any gear.  There's plenty of days that I miss that bike and after several years I replaced it with a Thunderbird 1600.  That was ok for a cruiser but not even in the same zip code for fun.  If you're idea of fun is "too much is just enough" that the R3 is the bike for you.

Strangely enough, and many bikes later, I find my V7 Stone every bit as endearing to ride as the R3.  It's my favorite bike by a mile of what I've had before or since the R3.  Go figure!

The one trait that sticks out about the R3 is that there is NEVER a pass you can't make.  That's huge is so many of the great riding areas in the Northeast as passing areas can be few and far between with plenty of truck traffic.

[lucian]

Considered a r3 before purchasing my custom1400 as I had a Triumph dealer a mile from my house. Truly impressive machine in the flesh but it would take a much bigger and stronger man than me to handle an 8oo lb. behemoth with no reverse. Not that the cali is a light bike, but it is at least manageable for me. And as intoxicating as the extra pony's may be, at some point it's overkill. I totally agree with the enjoyment of   smoothness in a mc.

[steven c]

 I always thought the motor would work well in a home built aircraft.

[leafman60]

I've ridden one of those.  After several stops, I realized I still had it in 3rd gear - and it was cleanly pulling off from the stop.

Amazing torque.  Respectful correction for the OP, the Rocket 3 DOES have a power band- but its as flat as a big V8. The torque is there in spades at any RPM.

My problems with it are -

1. The dimensional size of the bike is too big.  It's like a BMW GSA, too fat! Too wide.

2. The weight of the bike is too heavy for me in spite of the 3-cylinder motor's ability to whip it around like a minibike.

3. It's ugly in appearance for me. Strikes me in a similar fashion as does a Boss Hoss. Looks too agricultural for me.

No disrespect to anyone who likes the bike and finds it beautiful.  Everybody has an opinion is this is mine.

That torque is something I won't forget.

[Loftness]

I wouldn't agree that the bike has little soul.

I understand where he's coming from.  It's the same reason I traded my Triumph in for a Guzzi.  I eventually became bored with the 'ease' of the Triumph.  So smooth, so quiet, and so easy became so boring. 

[kingoffleece]

Not to mention the R3 EATS rear tires for lunch at 300 a pop!
First time was a blast-I miss it-but won't get another.  FUN while it lasted though.

[MariusD]

I have read similar experiences on the new Honda Valkyrie. I actually took one around a parking lot. The smoothness and agility at this weight is simply unbellievable. Since I didn't take it on the road, I can't comment on anything else, but will say it's size and power are increadibly easy to manage in a parking lot. I would call it a big small bike... lol.

[wymple]

I have read similar experiences on the new Honda Valkyrie. I actually took one around a parking lot. The smoothness and agility at this weight is simply unbellievable. Since I didn't take it on the road, I can't comment on anything else, but will say it's size and power are increadibly easy to manage in a parking lot. I would call it a big small bike... lol.

Buddy of mine has a newer V-Max. That big honkin' rear tire lasts one season with a conservative throttle hand. He replaces both front and rear and it's a 600 dollar deal.

[blakebird]

My problems with it are -

3. It's ugly in appearance for me. Strikes me in a similar fashion as does a Boss Hoss.

exactly my opinion as well....the tank sits atop a tall motor and is wide to keep it from being taller yet.

had they made the engine a 'slant three' and laid it over a bit, kept the profile a bit better looking - winner.

impressive drivetrain though, and the touring model with the windshield and bags does even out the looks for me.