CanberraR3
Living Legend
- Joined
- May 27, 2010
- Messages
- 11,337
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- Canberra, Australia
- Ride
- Triumphs, but no Rocket just now.
Don't look at as a cost; it's just the price of admission.
Cost of ownership ?
- Thread starter Joesmoe
- Start date
Gregger
Living Legend
Hello Joe and welcome to the forum.
If you have any desire to tinker, these bikes lend themselves to it. Oil changes are easy. Final drive included. No chain to lube or adjust. Same for a belt since there is none. You will get all the help you need from the wealth of experience here for any issue you want to address.
I've put 6000 kms on my bike in 3 months. Did the first service myself including anything the dealer was supposed to do, installed my heated grips, fixing kit, windshield, saddle bag mounts and easy brackets, voltmeter, etc etc etc. The only thing he did was install the TOR pipes and remap. I've since modified the map on my ride with no issues. The only issue I have had is a weeping rad cap which I will have to replace if I ever get close to a dealer (nearest one is 6 hours away). The touring model will be no different other than the need to remove saddle bags when servicing the rear wheel. Not an issue.
When it comes to tire changes, I intend on doing what I've always done, ordering the rubber then pulling the wheels and bringing them to local shop that will mount them for me. He normally does both wheels for $25 bucks. I don't bother balancing the wheels either but use Dyna Beads. The only real reason to see a dealer is for warranty.....if they are close enough. So all in all, the only cost you should see, if you are a tinkerer, is the cost to purchase oil, filters, accessories and tires and the cost for labour to mount said tires.
If you have any desire to tinker, these bikes lend themselves to it. Oil changes are easy. Final drive included. No chain to lube or adjust. Same for a belt since there is none. You will get all the help you need from the wealth of experience here for any issue you want to address.
I've put 6000 kms on my bike in 3 months. Did the first service myself including anything the dealer was supposed to do, installed my heated grips, fixing kit, windshield, saddle bag mounts and easy brackets, voltmeter, etc etc etc. The only thing he did was install the TOR pipes and remap. I've since modified the map on my ride with no issues. The only issue I have had is a weeping rad cap which I will have to replace if I ever get close to a dealer (nearest one is 6 hours away). The touring model will be no different other than the need to remove saddle bags when servicing the rear wheel. Not an issue.
When it comes to tire changes, I intend on doing what I've always done, ordering the rubber then pulling the wheels and bringing them to local shop that will mount them for me. He normally does both wheels for $25 bucks. I don't bother balancing the wheels either but use Dyna Beads. The only real reason to see a dealer is for warranty.....if they are close enough. So all in all, the only cost you should see, if you are a tinkerer, is the cost to purchase oil, filters, accessories and tires and the cost for labour to mount said tires.
cr0ft
Living Legend
I wouldn't recommend the OEM heating kit, personally. First, because the throttle grip is made out of soft plastic and reportedly when it heats/cools enough times the cable rips clean out through it. Also, the heat controller on the bars is a giant black block with a huge wheel on it. Sure, it's simple and it works but if I were you I'd go straight to a set of Kuryakyn Iso-grips and a Heat Demon kit. Installation of that gets a bit more involved though (have to do work on the bars).
G'day and welcome to the forum. Change the oil every 10,000 miles, replace the front tyre every 7,000 to 17,000 miles, change the rear tyre every 20,000 to 25,000 miles. Add a few accessories, after all, the the bike is just the down payment on accessories. Fill the tank every 180 to 200 miles. That would be about it as far as costs go. Benefits are a continual smile.
ksquared
"O Captain, My Captain"
Joe: welcome to the Forum from Sunny South Florida though the everyday rains we're getting are becoming quite intolerable!!!!
As for your question - I find it useful to separate "cost" from "value". "Cost" is just a number and as I have always been able to afford it, it doesn't bother me. I don't find it to be intolerably higher that the cost of maintenance on any other large ticket item I own.
"Value", on the other hand, is a judgment call. As far as I'm concerned, the value of a well-running Rocket exceeds the value, to me, of nearly any other consumer product I might own. A day in the saddle of my R3T is a special thing - EVERY time!
As for your question - I find it useful to separate "cost" from "value". "Cost" is just a number and as I have always been able to afford it, it doesn't bother me. I don't find it to be intolerably higher that the cost of maintenance on any other large ticket item I own.
"Value", on the other hand, is a judgment call. As far as I'm concerned, the value of a well-running Rocket exceeds the value, to me, of nearly any other consumer product I might own. A day in the saddle of my R3T is a special thing - EVERY time!
TriumPhil
Living Legend
- Joined
- Oct 12, 2009
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- Long Valley, NJ
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- '07 Mulberry Red, Carpentered & Bruted R3 Standard
Cost of fuel & oil, tires, brakepads, recommended servicings, etc. = X amount of dollars, varying by rider and machine.
The value of enjoying the nastiest, most fun and unique beast on two wheels is immeasurable due to the inherent subjectivity of the variables.
A Rocket III Permagrin... priceless!!! Nothing else on two wheels exceeds this benefit.
The value of enjoying the nastiest, most fun and unique beast on two wheels is immeasurable due to the inherent subjectivity of the variables.
A Rocket III Permagrin... priceless!!! Nothing else on two wheels exceeds this benefit.
Last edited:
cardinal93
Top Fuel
- Joined
- Mar 6, 2013
- Messages
- 1,837
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- Ocean Springs, MS, USA
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- 07 Rocket III Classic, 11 Street Triple R
Lickety Split
.060 Over
Your going to get the thing cheaper than a lot of other crap that's out there, so your already one up.
I got about about 5,500 miles out of the OEM tyre.@idk67
20k miles for a rear tire?!?! Holy cow, you must've got the hover modelor do the tourings just last that much longer? I'd me amazed to see anywhere near 10 on my classic?
tdragger
Living Legend
Hello, Paul, from down in Fredericksburg. I assume that you are working with Triumph Manassas. Great group there with an owner that is a true m/c enthusiast.
The beast has been the most reliable motorcycle that I've ever owned. Only been in the shop for a short stint right after I bought it.
Oil changes are 10k miles and easy to do yourself if you are so inclined. There are quite a few other mods that you can do if desired.
They do use up rear tires but not much different than some other large bikes out there. The 20k+ tire life mentioned earlier comes from those of us who run a car tire on the back. M/C tires get about 8k, 10k if you're super easy on them.
2014 is the 10th year of production so most issues have long since been worked out.
The beast has been the most reliable motorcycle that I've ever owned. Only been in the shop for a short stint right after I bought it.
Oil changes are 10k miles and easy to do yourself if you are so inclined. There are quite a few other mods that you can do if desired.
They do use up rear tires but not much different than some other large bikes out there. The 20k+ tire life mentioned earlier comes from those of us who run a car tire on the back. M/C tires get about 8k, 10k if you're super easy on them.
2014 is the 10th year of production so most issues have long since been worked out.
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