R3 Comparison

[Molinoman]

As a lot you know I have kind of "lucked" into a dream job, working for my local Triumph dealer...D&D Cycles of Pensacola. Besides getting Sundays and Mondays off, and drinking coffee out on the floor (something I couldn't do working at Sears or the Navy Exchange) I also get to ride different "demo" motorcycles home when I want for a change of pace.

Today I rode the R3 Tourer home, the blue two toned one. Since I already own a pretty "accessoried out" 2007 R3 Classic, I thought I would finally get to ride the 2008 R3T and see if there were any differences.

To make a long story short, the power loss in HP wasn't that noticeable (from 140 down to 106) and neither was the torque (147 up to 154). What I did notice and a few R3T owners have already mentioned this is that the handling for going around corners and "tight" maneuvering was much improved. I even went over some gravel in a parking lot at a local Trike shop and had a lot more confidence in it's handling than mine.

I did take some side by side photos of the two bikes at my home and on one picture I noticed that the R3T was narrower than mine with the different bags, but my bags (Corbins) have not hindered my travels and was wondering why Triumph made the hard bags on the R3T so "small" as ones that would be as wide as my Corbins woujld have make the cargo carrying capacity of the new bike a lot more "travel friendly"

These photos are now posted in my photo album and no comments on my oil tank close up of my new 140 cubic inches embellisher...I know I need to wash my Classic up in the next day or so.

One other thing I really liked the seat, I believe it is a lot more comfortable than my present seat...wish there was a way to put that seat on my bike. And it was a little different to look down further for my speed (since the gage "pod" is on the gas tank) than the current handlebar gage arrangement on my 2007.
Dennis

[RenegadeRoy]

I'm sure the shocks and springs (front) are different... but the biggest
handling difference probably is the result of the narrower rear tire.

Roy

[damaged]

What I want to know is....Will the tourer pipes fit on the slandered?

[scot in exile]

Dennis I will be telling Dink that you are doing wheelies and doughnuts on gravel roads on the demo bikes.

[rusty]

As was said some time back, the new R3 is mimicing the Hardley, with the shape of the new bags and the large chrome instrument on the tank.

Not what caught my attention in the first place. I like the Rocket for being the Rocket.

No more, no less. Change is not pleasing to me.

See ya.

[budman]

..I gotta agree with Rusty..one headlightsmaller tank..If I wanted a bike that looked like a harley..I'd of gotten one

[snuffcityrider]

If I could have a 2nd bike I wouldn't mind one. Nice to get a Captians opinion on one. How's it pull on the top end? Did you top it out?....I won't tell

[Baggage1]

Shoot Dennis let me know when you get neet bikes and I'll come over and check your values.

[HeR3tic]

Originally Posted by damaged

What I want to know is....Will the tourer pipes fit on the slandered?

I wanna know as well. With some adapters I'm sure it will. Had I pressed the local saleman, when he quoted me 5 bills for the entire system with "silencer upgrade", I'd have made it fit.

Molinoman, that's a TourING not a TourER. The latter was only available in the US. The TourER is a Classic with OEM leather bags (and embellishers), windscreen, sissy bar and luggage rack. Somewhere around $1900 in accessories for about $700 over the price of a Classic. But, you know all that; so for the sake of clarification I iterate the difference for others. To my knowledge the TourER is not available as an '08.
The full capacity of the hard bags don't appear to be significantly different. What is the stated capacity of the Corbins?

[HeR3tic]

Originally Posted by rusty

As was said some time back, the new R3 is mimicing the Hardley, with the shape of the new bags and the large chrome instrument on the tank...

Originally Posted by budman

..I gotta agree with Rusty..one headlightsmaller tank..If I wanted a bike that looked like a harley..I'd of gotten one

I've no understanding how there can be any comparison. Neither Guzzi or a Valk don't mimic a Hardley, why would a Rocket. Is it because of the bags, fenders, instrument panel; they aren't Hardley badges. If any should bikes will be confused with a Hardley it is the V-Twins. If I had one, and if someone asked, "is that a Hardley" I'd have to walk away.

Triumph has done GREAT with the Touring!