Aerocharger Rocket... to buy or not to buy

[Torque addict]

Guys,

I've been a member here for almost a year but this is my first post. I've surfed this site a lot gathering info for a future Rocket purchase. I stumbled across the following ad through yazak.com but here is the link for it on this forum:

http://www.r3owners.net/rocket-iii-...iii-customized-turbo-charged-211-84-rwhp.html

The owner lives about 400 miles from me so I could go down and either trailer it home or ride it home. I offered him $10,000 but he will only come down to $10,500.

I'm looking for opinions/advice on whether this looks like a good deal or not and opinions on the Turbo Connection kit in general. I've confirmed that it is the Aerocharger and not a Garrett which I read in a thread here they also used at one time. I was thinking I'd go the supercharger route but the fact that these turbo's have almost no lag and that I'm really after low end torque (hence my user name) vs. top end HP has me thinking that this may be for me.

I've learned from Wayne (Power-Tripp) who had this bike in his shop that the previous owner had problems with the blow-off valve and blew a head gasket. Wayne fixed this then the current owner had it dyno tuned by another shop. His dyno chart is posted in the ad. It's quite impressive and is honestly what sold me on the bike. 225 ft/lbs? AWESOME!

Wayne said he does not believe that Turbo Connection is still in business. He could not get a hold of them for months. Does anybody have any information about that? How easy will it be to have this turbo system worked on should I have a problem? I admit that I know very little about them.

I also really wanted to buy a 2008 due to the transmission issue on earlier units. Should I even be factoring that in to my decision? Current owner and Wayne both said the bike currently has no transmission problems. I'm seriously paranoid about this issue.

I'm just feeling apprehensive and wondering if I should wait for a stock 2008 bike that I could add a kit to myself instead of buy a bike with one that has obviously had some issues although it sounds that they're ironed out now.

Please, ANY opinions or comments that may help me make a decision would be much appreciated.

 

[atomsplitter]

Welcome to the forum.

Buying a used bike is ALWAYS a gamble. Are you willing to spend the $5,500 to modify a used bike with a supercharger or a turbo (and you supply the labor)? Seems like buying one already equipped with a turbo for 10 large is a no-brainer, but you be the judge.

You can also spend the same and have a normally aspirated bike with a Carpenter Kit, and get the same RWHP and torque. It's your money, spend it how you like.

 

[TxRIIIRider]

As far as transmission issues in early models, there were some.. but there are also quite a few that have never had a transmission problem. Mine is shifting great at 73K+ miles.. but I'm not throwing 225 lbs/ft of torque at it, only 142 lbs/ft from time to time..

 

[Watcher]

welcome to the group you cant be afraid of a purches if you are id say its not the right one but let us know what ya do now your talking don't wait a year to post again

 

[Battersea]

Difficult decision to make just from photo's and sellers description, is there any chance for you to view it before buying?

From the photo's it looks pretty clean and the turbo conversion is well done - almost unseen, could see a lot of very surprised crutch rocket riders being smoked by that.

 

[TOMCAT]

Mate of mines got a turbo'd silver engined RIII ... lost count of the times he's told me he's blown 2nd gear. He rides it hard , guess that's why he turbo'd it in the first place .. have you asked the Owner why he's selling it straight after having spent all that money tuning it .. guess i'm just suspicious by nature.

 

[warp9.9]

Guys,

I've been a member here for almost a year but this is my first post. I've surfed this site a lot gathering info for a future Rocket purchase. I stumbled across the following ad through yazak.com but here is the link for it on this forum:

http://www.r3owners.net/rocket-iii-...iii-customized-turbo-charged-211-84-rwhp.html

The owner lives about 400 miles from me so I could go down and either trailer it home or ride it home. I offered him $10,000 but he will only come down to $10,500.

I'm looking for opinions/advice on whether this looks like a good deal or not and opinions on the Turbo Connection kit in general. I've confirmed that it is the Aerocharger and not a Garrett which I read in a thread here they also used at one time. I was thinking I'd go the supercharger route but the fact that these turbo's have almost no lag and that I'm really after low end torque (hence my user name) vs. top end HP has me thinking that this may be for me.

I've learned from Wayne (Power-Tripp) who had this bike in his shop that the previous owner had problems with the blow-off valve and blew a head gasket. Wayne fixed this then the current owner had it dyno tuned by another shop. His dyno chart is posted in the ad. It's quite impressive and is honestly what sold me on the bike. 225 ft/lbs? AWESOME!

Wayne said he does not believe that Turbo Connection is still in business. He could not get a hold of them for months. Does anybody have any information about that? How easy will it be to have this turbo system worked on should I have a problem? I admit that I know very little about them.

I also really wanted to buy a 2008 due to the transmission issue on earlier units. Should I even be factoring that in to my decision? Current owner and Wayne both said the bike currently has no transmission problems. I'm seriously paranoid about this issue.

I'm just feeling apprehensive and wondering if I should wait for a stock 2008 bike that I could add a kit to myself instead of buy a bike with one that has obviously had some issues although it sounds that they're ironed out now.

Please, ANY opinions or comments that may help me make a decision would be much appreciated.

If I were you I would call me so I can discuss proper set ups on forced air aplications and what to look and ask about. Simply because I have been dealing with forced air for a while and have some knowledge that might help you make your mind up. And I would ask these questions of the owner and even call the people who tuned it. Simply because the owner is getting rid of it for some reason which he has not posted. These reasons could be of a private nature and very valid so there is no sense fronting him out on the internet. The shop that tuned it is a reputable shop as they have built and tuned Jason Desalvo's 675 race bike. Anyway send me a pm with your phone number if you want to talk.

 

[Clubman]

By the sounds of it you are really after some lowish speed cruising? Have you thought about playing around with gear ratios or final drive at all? You can manipulate the power response (torque if you will) enormously by shortening some ratios. Reduces load on the drivetrain too.

 

[Torque addict]

Thanks for all the great responses so far.

Are you willing to spend the $5,500 to modify a used bike with a supercharger or a turbo (and you supply the labor)? Seems like buying one already equipped with a turbo for 10 large is a no-brainer, but you be the judge.

You can also spend the same and have a normally aspirated bike with a Carpenter Kit, and get the same RWHP and torque. It's your money, spend it how you like.

Not really willing. I know that planning to modify myself and actually doing it are two different things. I'm becoming more convinced that this is a no-brainer. I'm not considering a Carpenter kit because all the power is up much higher in the power band. I want tons of torque down low. The stage IV kit on my Yamaha Warrior actually decreased torque down low to put more in the middle of the power band. Been there done that.

Would I add a Carpenter kit to a turbo or supercharger? Hell yes!

welcome to the group you cant be afraid of a purches if you are id say its not the right one but let us know what ya do now your talking don't wait a year to post again

I'm just being cautious on this one. I wish I would have consulted other respective forums for different bikes BEFORE I bought them! And if I get this bike you'll be hearing plenty from me!

Difficult decision to make just from photo's and sellers description, is there any chance for you to view it before buying?

Yes, I'm planning on doing that. This will be a normal private party transaction outside of eBay. Any suggestion on things to look for?

Mate of mines got a turbo'd silver engined RIII ... lost count of the times he's told me he's blown 2nd gear. He rides it hard , guess that's why he turbo'd it in the first place .. have you asked the Owner why he's selling it straight after having spent all that money tuning it .. guess i'm just suspicious by nature.

NOT what I wanted to hear Tomcat! I have asked. He says he never keeps any toys he buys very long due to getting bored with them. He needs money for other projects. He assures me the bike is in awesome shape and there are currently no transmission problems either. I've talked with him quite a bit and he sounds like a great guy. The bike really needed the tune and new clutch just to function well enough to try and sell for top dollar.

If I were you I would call me so I can discauss proper set ups on forced air aplications and what to look and ask about.

I would love to talk with you. Can't send a PM to the Super Moderator group without at least 2 posts, which this is. Will PM you shortly.

By the sounds of it you are really after some lowish speed cruising? Have you thought about playing around with gear ratios or final drive at all? You can manipulate the power response (torque if you will) enormously by shortening some ratios. Reduces load on the drivetrain too.

Low speed cruising and low RPM cruising are not the same thing. I love low RPM cruising. I would not want to turn any higher RPM down the freeway at 70MPH. I also like hauling ass on a long open straightaway.

After talking to the owner again yesterday and having him email me the receipt for all the work he had done on it I feel a lot better about it. I'm still going to call Turbo Connection (they are still in business) as well as the shop that tuned the bike and ask a few questions. I'm actually really excited about this potential purchase. Couldn't sleep last night.

 

[Torque addict]

send me a pm with your phone number if you want to talk.

I'm not seeing the PM I sent you showing up in my PM sent folder. I've tried twice. If you're really not getting it can you PM me your number so I can call you? I'd really like to hear what you have to say.

Thanks,
Brent