hello from Italy!! Advice needed!

[alexcin]

Hello everybody

I live in modena, northern Italy, land of Ferrari, balsamic vinegar and parmesan cheese!

i currently have a bmw k1600gt which is an amazing tourer and used many times to go on holiday with wife. i have recently become a dad, and am not using very much and seriously considering gettting arocket3 or even new rocketX.

The Bmw is great bike and great for getting from A to B efficiently, it's powerful and smooth (1600cc, 6cylinder, shaft drive etc..) and full of gadgets (nav, radio, heated seat, active susp, electiric windshiled, different engine modes, etc.. etc.) but I am wanting to go back to basic, no gadgets, and bike i can use to go out and enjoy riding, not neccesarily for long trips, a great looker, with plenty of torque and low speed acceleration, something special.

i am 6ft3 (193cm) and not exactly slender, i need a big bike!

I know these are completely different bikes, but has anyone ridden both and can give me their opinion?
I have never ridden a rocket and worried that the awsome acceleration may not be as amazing comming from the 1600gt.

i am probably still too big for the rocket but i dont think there is much else out there....

Any thoughts or opinions would be really appreciated.

Many thanks

Alex.

 

[Wannbe]

Hello everybody

I live in modena, northern Italy, land of Ferrari, balsamic vinegar and parmesan cheese!

i currently have a bmw k1600gt which is an amazing tourer and used many times to go on holiday with wife. i have recently become a dad, and am not using very much and seriously considering gettting arocket3 or even new rocketX.

The Bmw is great bike and great for getting from A to B efficiently, it's powerful and smooth (1600cc, 6cylinder, shaft drive etc..) and full of gadgets (nav, radio, heated seat, active susp, electiric windshiled, different engine modes, etc.. etc.) but I am wanting to go back to basic, no gadgets, and bike i can use to go out and enjoy riding, not neccesarily for long trips, a great looker, with plenty of torque and low speed acceleration, something special.

i am 6ft3 (193cm) and not exactly slender, i need a big bike!

I know these are completely different bikes, but has anyone ridden both and can give me their opinion?
I have never ridden a rocket and worried that the awsome acceleration may not be as amazing comming from the 1600gt.

i am probably still too big for the rocket but i dont think there is much else out there....

Any thoughts or opinions would be really appreciated.

Many thanks

Alex.

I'm also 6'3" and hover in the 280 lbs range. You definitely will not be too large for the rocket. If anything you will feel like you are on a beast not yet tamed. I rode a vtx 1800 retro before the rocket with custom tune and other goodies. The difference is like night and day. The rocket is smoother and much meaner (faster) at the same time.
I have ridden 1800 miles in 4 days with comfort and still tear up the back roads with sport bikes. And the little lady is also happy as long as I go easy on the throttle. She used to love full throttle takeoffs on the honda, but the first one on the Rocket was the last. She said it nearly broke her spine, even expecting it.
Give it a try, but expect to buy!!!!

 

[JRock]

I had a 2006 K1200r before my 2008 R3 standard. The Rocket felt quite primitive compared to the BMW.
The Beemer handling is far superior.
However the massive torque of the R3 will go a long way to even things up.
And for the type of suspension and its size the Rock handles well.

 

[Old Gringo]

Go for a Rocket! The only thing I can think of with more initial torque is my 1200 lb. quarter horse. If I'm not careful, she can run right out from under me.

 

[1olbull]

WELCOME first to the best motor forum around!
Haven't had the chance yet, BUT I HIGHLY doubt that 1600 Beemer will stay with a Rocket Roadster, especially one that has improved air filters and exhaust!
I have sat a 1600 and it is NO WAY as comfy as the R3R and WAY WAY less than the R3T!
I'll give you the handling advantage, however I have found that in the twisties, about 75% depends on the skill set of the rider.
GO FOR IT - you won't be sorry!!!

 

[Boog]

Hello Alex and welcome from Virginia. Go test ride a rocket and see for yourself. From what I hear, the BMW is in a class of its own and even the Goldwing is outmatched there. But for my money, the R3T is an awesome machine and I have ridden it 1800 miles in 2 days, ridden to Sturgis and back and can say it lvoes to eat up highway miles like no one's business. Go ride from Milan up to Lucerne. It takes about three hours on most bikes, a Rocket will take two hours, just hang on tight and don't slid off the mountains.

 

[TOMCAT]

RIII hooligan factor = 9 ... BMW hooligan factor = 1 . Horses for courses hey

 

[cardinal93]

Welcome from Germany. The beemers are great handling and powerful bikes. Not sure there's much in the touring world that can compare. The rocket is an entirely different kind of machine, but she won't disappoint you. It's really hard to compare the two but let's just say both stand out in one way or another. Obviously you're on the R3 page so your interest is peaked. Ride one for yourself and I imagine you'll buy it

 

[Chris Kelley]

Can't say my butt has been anywhere near a beemer, but I can say I'm 6'3" and (was) 330lbs and the Rocket has plenty of get up and go even with the stock intake and exhaust. I subscribe to the 'control your space' style of riding and the Rocket definitely lets me be where I want to be when I want to be there. It's pretty nice to be rolling at 65mph and give her a twist and be at 85mph so I can get ahead of some jerkass playing on his phone.

 

[Sensfan]

You'll finally be able to SEE your motor,just sayin.