Txclassic

While my '06 Classic is in the shop for an unknown period of time for probably a complete engine replacement (see thread on catastrophic transmission failure), I broke down and rented a 2006 HD Heritage Softail for 2 days. Gotta have my 2-wheel fix, no matter what I ride.

For anyone considering a Softail over a Triumph Rocket, here's the good, bad, and ugly after driving the HD all day:

Positives for the HD:
1. The Softail turns MUCH easier than the Rocket - - both in stop and go and at speed. I found myself oversteering in long sweepers and in slow traffic. I guess the wide tire on the Rocket doesn't allow tight turns. I felt I could probably do the full figure 8 exercise in the MSF course with the HD. Still can't do it on my bike after two years and 12000 miles.
2. It's fun to make some noise. The thrill wore off after the first 3 or 4 launches, though.
3. Lower seat height gave me more room to work with at stop lights.
4. Center of gravity seems much lower than the Rocket. It was very easy to handle at slow speed, with no tendency to tip over. When slowing to a stop with the Rocket, you have to be perfectly balanced or be ready for a quick foot plant to keep it from tipping.
5. I like the quick release windshield.
6. Transmission shifted very well. Neutral is easy to find and each gear had a positive click. No tractor clunks on the HD. Clutch felt the same as the Rocket, but engine braking on the HD is considerably less. This made for more forgiving smoother shifts. If you miss it on the Rocket and let out the clutch before applying throttle, you will get a lurch from the engine braking effect.
7. Brakes had a solid feel. No sponginess at all.

Negatives against the HD:
1. Vibration. My arms and hands went numb after 60 miles. Above 50 mph, you can't see anything but a blur in the mirrors.
2. NO POWER or TORQUE! Halfway through 3rd gear in my Rocket, I'm hanging on for dear life and pulling hard through 90 mph. Attempting the same exercise on the HD through 4th gear was a complete disappointment on the 88 c.i. v-twin. As I shifted into 5th, the HD was maybe reaching 70 mph and ragged out. I love my Rocket and miss it!
3. Hate the speedometer on the tank. Don't even have to move my head to see the gauges on my Rocket. With the HD, you have to look down and it diverts your attention from the road ahead.
4. No tachometer.
5. Lack of craftsmanship. Granted, this was a bone stock basic rental model. But it's understandable why you have to buy so much chrome extras to cover up the ugly. Even stripped down, the Rocket is more refined than the HD.
6. Wind noise was unbearable. Windshield is not adjustable. Over 50 mph, there is a steady roar of wind that made my Shoei RF-1000 sound like an open-face bicycle helmet. No riding position would improve the noise. It was so bad that it completely masked the noise of the pipes. On my Rocket, you can cruise shield up with no problem at highway speed. Shield down on the Rocket is very quiet.
7. Handlebar reach and footboard placement did not fit me at all. The footboards were too high and too far back. This cramped my legs. Maybe that's why the crash bars and highway pegs are so popular. The handlebars contributed to my numb hands as well.
8. Nobody noticed me on the HD. I was just another ordinary potato bike with no character.

Conclusions:
1. My Rocket fits my personality and my body. It was the RIGHT choice 2 years ago and still is. I tried the green eggs and ham and they were a disappointment.
2. Anyone who has bought an HD since 2004 and has not given the Rocket a try doesn't know what they are missing. That's fine with me. Makes our Rockets all the more special.
3. I can't wait until my ride is fixed. I love my Rocket for its power, torque, uniqueness, great looks, and curb appeal. My little affair with the HD just reminded me all the reasons the Rocket is for me.

PianoMan

I couldn't have said it better. Was the 2 day fix worth it in the long run?

krothnbrg

When I bought my bike I looked at the rock and the Heritage. I road tested the heritage. But the rock I only sat on. The sales guy straddled the front wheel and grabbed hold of the handlebars so I could stand the bike up straight and put my feet up. I rode it home three hours later. And I am SO DAMN GLAD I DIDN"T BUY THE HARDLY! I have turned so many heads with my Rock. Even the young girls look at me like I'm somethin...

Jamie

Thanks Txclassic for your sensible report. Having owned Harley's and test-ridden some of the current, 1958... oops... 2008 models, I agree with you. I'd raise another objection to Harley's, though, and that is that the factory charges a bloody fortune for its outdated (and financially depreciated, one would suppose) technology.

On the anecdotal side, you mention that your rental unit ran out of steam in 5th gear . The models I tried had a 6th cog in the tranny , for the sake of engine durability, emissions, noise regulations, all of the above, whatever. Verdict: WTF? I had to downshift to 4th or even 3rd to pass slow-moving trucks

Best. Jamie

Sidecar Flip

All thay makes me feel reall good about my R3. I'll put the icing on the cake......

The little KLR I bought will beat a Hardley in a 1/4 mile drag......The KLR is a lawnmower without a blade.......................

No wonder Hardley is looking to buy MV. Hardley needs an infusion of technology. Big infusion.

TxRIIIRider

Good write up.. and very true!

One thing on the windshield. I've noticed that I'm less affected by windshield buffeting when I wear a 3/4 helmet as opposed to a full face helmet. I wear a full face if I have my fly screen on, but if I'm running my Roadster screen, I switch to my 3/4 helmet.

Txclassic

Even on the thrashing machine - - it was two-wheeled time. So for that much, it was worth the rental. Any thoughts of infidelity to the MMM (Milwaukee Motor Mogul) have been eradicated.

Somebody wrote in a post once that it's a great feeling knowing you have one of the baddest rides around and not having to prove it. If you ride a 'Busa, everyone wants to see if they can beat you. If you ride a Rocket, they don't even know what hit 'em.

There's a guy at the plant that has a beautiful Heritage Softail Classic. He rode to Corpus with no helmet and lost his hearing in one ear. Now I know why. It wasn't so much the drag pipes as the wind noise.

I agree that a 3/4 helmet would work fine with the Roadster screen. Especially with the wind deflectors - - they eliminated the buffeting when I first got my Rocket.

The rental was an '06 with an 88 c.i. I think the new models with the 96 c.i. have a 6th gear. Either way, HD has the gear ratio so low to compensate for the lack of torque, it's in 3rd gear cruising at 25-30 mph. Stop and go traffic makes for a lot of gear changes. I really do miss point-and-shoot driving on the Rocket. No downshifts required, wide speed range in each gear, and loads of torque when you need it.

In the end, the whole affair was a good thing. Got some much-needed road time and made me appreciate the Rocket all the better. Your experiences also confirmed we have an awesome machine.

RTNAPL

When I had all my pennies saved up I was thinking Fat Boy. I have been on most of the H-D fleet testing each bike as my pennies piled up. I remember reading about the R3 soon after it came out, when it was time to make the big purchase fate made me recall that article. As luck would have it, I lived about a mile from my dealership at the time so I arranged a test ride. I rode that red rocket 2 miles out, and 2 miles back. I walked in to the dealership and said, "I want a black one." I haven't regretted it since.

donaldinnewark

Since I have put the lower deflectors on, wind noise has decreased alot. I wear a full face helmet and I will never regret buying the R 3. Thank you for summing it all up great comment

RocketDaryl

Dog gone it! I just spent a good 45 minutes writing my own "Pros and Cons" of the Heritage and R3T (I've owned/own both) and it was lost when I hit submit because my login apparently timed out.

I'll just re-type my conclusion. If you want specific data, you can ask me.

Bottom line, I like both bikes and would have no problem having either in my garage. However, although I wouldn't declare either bike a DOMINATE winner over the other, I would (and did) choose the Rocket III Touring.