2020 Rocket Launch Comparison

Over here every dealer announced it at the same time on Dec.19th (with good drinks and some appetizers :)) and I've been there (some of my first impressions as below have changed since after my 2 hours test a few days later) :

I was on Dec.19th evening at the national announcement show and could see and touch both R and GT. The majority of the invitees preferred the R look, so did I. The red color is much nicer in real.

I sat on it (could only on the R). First impression, comfortable position including the foot pegs. Did not feel so light though as I expected unlike the Diavel which felt in comparison like a bicycle. A Diavel owner who was there felt the same. But after I sat for the 3rd time and moved it frontwards and backwards for at least 1 meter, it definitely felt much easier and lighter to maneuver than my RM even w/o its trunk.

I started the engine and oh boy when you accelerate up to 4000 rp/m at least, it felt like a supersonic super sportive bike ! Loved the sound and also very discrete at idling. No need to change the exhaust but a very different world than the so charming potato Remus exhausts sound of my RM..

Very well finished. As the Diavel owner told me on site : much better finished than his Ducati. He was interested but would need to negotiate with his wife as he wants to keep his Diavel too !

The tank is huge...outside only.

One detail apparently disappointing as we've imagined : the turn lights are built on too rigid fixations resulting in being very fragile if one hits them accidentally just by walking by. It apparently happened with the R of the shop as the right rear turn light was broken (when removing the cover) :
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One of the dealer representatives does not think it'd be possible to add sides protections. I hope he is wrong (very important for me). If not if the bike falls on the right side, I believe that the exhaust manifold would also be damaged :confused:.
I've checked possible fixations but did not find symmetric ones on both sides i.e. on the right I found this one and on the left a possible one but located at about 11 inches lower than the right one (!?).
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The dealer seller was very positive and the discussion was particularly friendly when I told him that I usually organize 1 day trips with multi brands riders and since he does too as the Triumph representative. He said that there is such demand that if I wanted I could join as another trip organizer. Very different over here than the Indian environment (it is logical since too little Indianers).

I've booked for a test on Dec.26th depending on the weather (no date available before since all booked). Usually they give you 1 hour test (for my RM I had only 1/2 hour) but since it went friendly and since he'd be very interested in hearing my impressions especially on curvy roads where I am used to ride with my RM, he gave me 2 hours test instead.

The R3 does not have at all the exceptional charm of a beautiful custom (especially vs mine !) but even when I am on my RM, I forget a lot about it and rather enjoy how it rides thus why I've decided to do this long test and why I'd be eventually ready to leave Indian. But if so, I believe that it'll be with a lot of regrets (I call my RM "Big Baby").

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I Remember 04 Rocket when new. It was a statement of excess with little compromise later models even less compromise. The 2020 is very nice. I just wished they had called it something else to preserve in history the event in 2004. The 2020 is a completely new bike, comparing it to the 2018 version is like comparing the Daytona to the speed triple

Names: Speed cruiser, low rider, street beast, etc.....

It looks more like a speed triple than then 2018 Rocket imo
 
Good pictures. I'm having a problem with the best color. Not a huge fan of the GT color. If they would just mix the red and black on the R or GT it would really stand out. Not a fan of single colors. It's hard to tell from the pictures (even though they're great pics) but is the red or black a pearl? In one photo it looks like it's red and orange on the front fender.
Going to be a matter of seeing the Beast in the flesh to decide...
 
I'm new here but I was around when the first Rocket hit the streets. A good friend of mine bought one and we even did a little drag racing together, me on a M109R. I will say at the time of the launch there was a lot of negative press about the Rocket. The comment I saw most was it looked like a John Deere. I think that went away in years to come but back then I was heavy into the big cruisers owning a Valkyrie, VTX1800 and a M109R. As much as I liked the size and power of the R3 I just didn't like it enough to buy one and really never looked at them again till they came out with a hardbag model.

Now the 2020 is another story. Right off the bat I loved the looks of it and knew I had to have one. Then the news media started reporting on them and the ride reports were pretty much 100% positive and these guys can find fault in just about anything. I think they did a great job causing buzz in the motorcycle world and they knocked guys like me off the fence. I freaking love this bike.

By the way I do see a lot of the older Rockets here that are badazz too. I just haven't really looked at them much again till the 2020's came out.
 
Good pictures. I'm having a problem with the best color. Not a huge fan of the GT color. If they would just mix the red and black on the R or GT it would really stand out. Not a fan of single colors. It's hard to tell from the pictures (even though they're great pics) but is the red or black a pearl? In one photo it looks like it's red and orange on the front fender.

I agree, the red looks too red. I have asked for knee pads on the tank for my red. That diffuses the redness and the bike looks a lot more appealing from the side.

The black looks bland. Doesn't look like how a bike this kind should. Very generic. But looks smaller because well... Black.

The tank is huge! Pics don't do justice to how big that tank is.
 
Good pictures. I'm having a problem with the best color. Not a huge fan of the GT color. If they would just mix the red and black on the R or GT it would really stand out. Not a fan of single colors. It's hard to tell from the pictures (even though they're great pics) but is the red or black a pearl? In one photo it looks like it's red and orange on the front fender.

I agree with you. I prefer 2 colors, ref. my current Indian...
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...So I would have loved also red and black for the R3 thus why I first thought of a R3 repainted more like this 1st picture :
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However second thought after having seen (and tested) the red R3 and given my budget (quite a few accessories to add on including the expensive film protect see further down*), I got used to it and may not do it so (except get the 3 heat manifold covers painted in red).

Actually I believe that it is got to do with the R3 itself (shape, size and type of bike) that does not require a "customized" or special 2 colors model given that it is more a "sport roadster" bike than a "collector/luxurious" one. Hard to explain in written but that's my feeling anyway.

Before seeing the red one on site, I could not say either whether it was really red or red-orange. I'd say it is rather a red-burgundy but brighter than my Indian. These 3 pictures from web tests are according to me the most representative ones but you need obviously to see in real :
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As for the black, it is also nice since not just plain : it is a glittered black (I guess it is the right adjective or "pailleté" ?)

The duo grey color is nice too but for me it does not suit the R3.

Filmprotect is the French representative of SunTek Films | SunTek

 

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Looks like we have some new members that are joining the Rocket club just because of the new model. There has been some negativity expressed by some of the older members that are very much in love with the old style but I predicted there would be a whole new market of buyers that were not huge fans of the older ones. I on the other hand appear to love both since they are both great but very different.

I’ll have one of each please.:thumbsup:
 
I do like the looks of it but will still wait to see if there is any major bugs. I am worried about the low slung oil cooler in front ,and after watching the thread about the poor feller and his side stand problem. I worry about peg protection and what happens to them even on a standing still tip over. What is it a new engine case or if it didn't crack all the way thru you got one less location :) I am sure they have thought of this or I hope they have ??? Anyway still like the looks but I good enjoy a lot of mile on the one I have with all that cash. Heck I'd go to Oz but that sounds more like California burnt and well really burnt.
 
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