Convince Me...?

[Gkiller]

I am the proud owner of a 2006 Rocket Classic with 13,500 miles currently on the bike. I purchased the bike from the original owner about 9 months ago, and from all appearances....he took good care of the bike.

I have enjoyed the ride so far. Recently, my best friend and I have decided on a "bucket list" of rides over the next couple of years that will take us cross-country and back. His ride is a 2007 Yamaha Venture, mine of course being my Rocket III...perhaps?

Here is my concern...to date, the Triumph has been trusty. However, once on the road, I have sincere concerns about the relative few number of Triumph dealers out there and available should I have a mechanical problem arise. As we know, there are typically Yamaha/Kawasaki/Harley dealers on almost every corner in most "populated" areas, but rarely is there a Triumph dealer. Hell....even my local Triumph dealer rarely has parts in stock or can get to an "immediate" repair immediately.

Since my early childhood I have wanted to be a Triumph guy. However, the brand is so poorly supported in the US that I wonder if I would not be better served in buying a more main-street cruiser than taking my chances with Triumph, especially being on long road trips.

There are a number of great bikes on the market that I do not think I would have the same doubts about....the Yamaha Venture, Honda Goldwing, Kawasaki Voyager, Harley Road Glide or Ultra Classic, etc. I would feel confident that any mechanical issue for these models could easily be handled by frequent and substantial dealer or independent repair shops. The fact that Triumph shops are so scarce and random is my primary concern.

Someone please convince me one way or the other.

 

[HellFire]

That's an easy one .....

Sure there are fewer dealers out there in the states that sell and service Triumph, but they are there. Just on the off chance that I'm out riding where there isn't a dealer or independent familiar enough with Triumph that they have neither the experience or database necessary to fix something I cannot, I carry a complete service manual and parts list in both CD and a thumb drive. If a shop doesn't have the capability to utilize at least one of those forms of media, then I should stop riding in that area. LOL

Besides the thumb drive and CD, my insurance policy has road hazard and trip interruption insurance along with flat-bed towing to the nearest available dealer.

Still, even when she was intermittently just shutting off on the highway, and some even more inconvenient locations ... she always started eventually and never left me stranded.
I trust her.... now that we've had time to work out our differences, I trust her even more.

I strongly suggest that you download an online service manual that you can find right here on this site, and store it on a thumb drive that you can keep stored on the bike.

 

[JoseyR3Wales]

Chirp, chirp,chirp,chirp.........................the crickets are deafening. I would do it. Just like I have now, I would get a AAA Plus RV plan just in case or an AMA policy and ride the beast. If it's supposed to be an adventure, ride the Rocket after all what good is a bucket list trip without a few twist and turns to tell about.

 

[CanberraR3]

You have a bike with just about the longest legs in the world (OK, OK, there is some competetion for that title, but...) and you're reluctant to take it on a trip????? People ride across the Nullabor on Rockets or through the Northern Territory. 'nuff said.

 

[PeteOZ]

You have a bike with just about the longest legs in the world (OK, OK, there is some competetion for that title, but...) and you're reluctant to take it on a trip????? People ride across the Nullabor on Rockets or through the Northern Territory. 'nuff said.

Yep Gkiller....As Canberra says, Adelaide to Perth in OZ (of which the Nullabor Plains is a part) is 2000 miles or so, across mostly barren red dust desert (it also contains the longest straight stretch of road in the world). There are towns with populations of 20 people every 200kms or so, but that's it. Aussies ride it all the time, on bikes that aren't as long legged as the Rocket. If something happens, it happens, and you just have to wait.

Even if something happens on your trip in the US and you're near a Triumph dealer but that dealer doesn't have the specific part you need, what do you do ????? You wait.....

Mount up and go........

Pete

 

[PeteOZ]

ps.....I should have included - what if your Harley or Yamaha or Honda shop doesn't have the part ??? you wait.....

 

[Binnsy]

I suggest you leave it at home and catch a greyhound then you will be at ease and won't be worrying for all them miles...

However if it was me, ... I would be on the Rocket, I've been stranded on Honda's and Yamaha's before.

 

[mexican]

Chirp, chirp,chirp,chirp.........................the crickets are deafening. I would do it. Just like I have now, I would get a AAA Plus RV plan just in case or an AMA policy and ride the beast. If it's supposed to be an adventure, ride the Rocket after all what good is a bucket list trip without a few twist and turns to tell about.

No Josey, it goes like this;
"not because you are scared of the coyotes you are gonna stop raising chickens"

 

[tdragger]

OK, Gkiller. Since you have a 2006 with 13.5k miles, there are a few things that you should do if not done already. These are relatively minor items but they can be the most aggrevating if they happen to you.

1) If the primary throttle position sensor has not already failed and been replaced, you should have it replaced with the updated part number. The original tps seems to fail anywhere north of 10k miles.

2) Address the ignition switch issue in one of two ways. a) fit an H4 Headlight Relay kit to take the load off the switch. This has caused far too many strandings on the pre-2007 models. b) get a new switch from Triumph and carry it with you.

And take the advice above and invest in AMA or AAA Roadside Assistance. It is a very small price to pay for some insurance.

 

[Gkiller]

Thanks guys....this is all good feedback. Like I said in my prior post, I love the Rocket. I've been riding bikes since I was a kid, and have had breakdowns while on the road while on my Kawasaki's and Honda's....but repair shops were always very close and parts readily available.

I've run into problems ordering Triumph parts due to availability, and read numerous posts here about other riders experiencing the same problem. So...my problem is not with "trusting" the Rocket, but rather the support available via parts or knowledgeable repair shops should I have a breakdown. I do have Roadside Assistance coverage, but would prefer not to have to use it.

So again...thanks for the feedback and I think I will be sticking with my Rocket.