Help me decide !

cadconversions said:

Dad and I just bought Triumphs within a week of each other. I went with the Rocket Roadster and he went with the Thunderbird.

They are completely different bikes and the TB is a GREAT riding bike. However, coming off the rocket to his TB, I feel like I'm on a kids bike with pedals. It's 1600cc and has plenty of power but it's really smooth and rolls on the power easy. You still get up to highway speeds quickly but it's really no comparison. The sitting positions and the feel of the bike going down the road is different.

If you are going new bikes - I think you would be fine either way as far as reliability. Every manufacture will have those "stories" of bad bikes making the market but buy the extended warranty and give yourself some additional peace of mind.

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Molinoman said:

Having had both, I liked both. The Rocket (07 Classic with the floorboards), as everyone has said, is fast and I took it on a good trip down to Key West via Daytona back in 08...no problems at all. I then rode it, in one day, 855 miles back to Molino, FL (just north of Pensacola) thru around a 120 miles of rain...again no problems.

I then bought the T-bird (1700 version) and it was no slouch at all in the speed department...unlike Daryl...I occasionally go above the speed limit. In the last year I took it on two 2,600 mile trips and didn't give it a thought about where any repair dealerships were...I just rode.

Both are great bikes and again like the others have said test ride one of each and with the T-bird get the 1700 to properly compare it to the Rocket.

Good luck.

Dennis

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proimage1 said:

Even though I'd love to buy a new bike tomorrow - guess I should feel lucky that I have a few more months to make up my mind.

Lots of great information here - thanks folks !

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proimage1 said:

I plan on riding over the dealer this week and taking a closer and better look at the R3 and the TB -- I know he had a couple of TB's and at least 1 R3 - I"m pretty sure the Rocket was the Touring edition. One thing I"m reading is the difference in the HP between the 2 - that's quite shocking to me right at 50 HP less on the touring model - seems I read where you can get that bumped up to what the Roadster is - the other thing is the rear tire difference - it's so much more real estate on the Roadster. I'm leaning more toward the Roadster and then adding on the tour options I'd like. I'm comparing the 2 and trying to figure out if the extra 2 grand for the touring model is reasonable. Guess I can get a better idea once I see them again. Wish I knew the colors Triumph will have on the 2013 models. That could be a game changer for me as well. I have an all black Speedmaster right now - and really love the way it is, but was thinking something different on a new bike. I've seen a few of the R3's in an awesome looking deep red that looks insanely good to me !

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proimage1 said:

WOW - now that would be a great setup - my son and I sort of have the same deal going on - only I bought a Speedmaster and he bought a Honda 750 Shadow -- his Honda is perfect for him and he prefers it over my Triumph - that would be ultra cool if we had the TB and R3's ! Yep, that extended warranty would be a no brainer for me with a new bike !

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cadconversions said:

I test drove the touring model first (dealer recommendation - said I would hate the Touring if I road the Roadster first) and it was a great bike, road well, power was great, but the feet were too far forward for what I like, didn't like the footboards, and the whole "touring" thing isn't my "thing". So, I then test drove the roadster. Walked into the dealer with the biggest smile on my face I've ever seen. Couldn't believe it and the power was noticeably different (I know why he said for me to ride the touring first).

The best part of the Roadster for me - the foot position. I added the dresser bars so I can stretch out when I need to shift my position but the stock position is perfect for me.

Good luck on your shopping. Do NOT test drive until you know you are ready to buy... if you don't - life will be miserable till you are ready. LOL

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cadconversions said:

The only time I've been out so far and another bike got more attention than my Rocket was his Thunderbird. Marble Red Haze turns the heads EVERYTIME!

That I know of - we have the only 2 Triumphs in Scottsville - LOL

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