Just got back from my first test ride ..... OMG!

[Torque for England]

Took a new Storm R from Triumph West London out. Everything I was expecting and more!! Best bike I've ever ridden by a country mile!
The comfort, fit and finish, but most of all that engine . I did't want to give it back lol.

They're £4k off at the moment. Problem is that's still a huge wedge of cash for a bike you don't like the look of. I love the previous models in both flavours, but matt black headers is not my thing at all . I'd rather the classic MK2 in pretty much any colour (not overly keen on a chrome tank either to be fair). Also, I found after about an hour of riding the forward stance of the bars on the 'R' made my shoulders ache a bit. This was helped when I finally made it to the M25, 70mph and above it was fine.

When I got on my HD Sportster S to come home I realised why it had taken my 2 years to get use to it. It's a skinny plank, with a small tank and a Rizzler seat. I felt instantly at home on the rocket, no adaptions required. I sent my wife the pics and she said 'can't you get the GT so I can come on the back'. I bought a HD Ultra for her to come on the back, had it 7 years, she came on it 7 times .

I'm in love with the Rocket 3!

 

[A1A Rider]

Well, try a GT. It will be more HD stance. I also raised the GT's handlebars 2 inches.

Difference of R with the stock GT, GT has forward positioned controls, and a closer to the rider handlebars (they have more curve towards the rider).

Looks wise, see what I have done with mine (hint: carbon fiber): imgur.com/a/yqG6B7x

And zoomed out: imgur.com/a/Kw1od4h

 

[Torque for England]

Well, try a GT. It will be more HD stance. I also raised the GT's handlebars 2 inches.

Difference of R with the stock GT, GT has forward positioned controls, and a closer to the rider handlebars (they have more curve towards the rider).

Looks wise, see what I have done with mine (hint: carbon fiber): imgur.com/a/yqG6B7x

And zoomed out: imgur.com/a/Kw1od4h

Hi A1A Rider, Yes, I knew the spec differences. I've done a lot of research . I sat on the GT while I was there. Couldn't fault either. I think the GT had it comfort wise, although I prefer the more aggressive stance of the R. Either way it's definitely mids for me.

Nice mods on yours, although, as I've said previously, the blacked out look isn't my thing.

 

[A1A Rider]

For me the prior looks of the Rocket where it was silver, did not appeal to me. I looked cheap and the bike seemed fatter. I also think the silver highlights accentuated the wrong lines on the bike, made it seem more cube like, like a Minecraft version. Thus, when I was buying mine, I was so relieved that Storm was a different color scheme than that awful silver. Storm looked like a new bike to me. Maybe it is not a Ducati but I like looking at mine.

The fiber carbon phase is just it, just trying it out. I do feel it looks more dressy than just black plastic. Overall, it is a first bike for me that has fiber carbon parts available, so i am simply trying something new. Maybe the next bike will not see any carbon fiber, as I will have my design curiosity satisfied towards carbon fiber.

 

[Kiwicol]

Glad you like the rocket 3, I'd say get a gen 2 version in the colour you want, put a Penner Tune into it & a quickshifter, you won't go wrong IMO.

 

[Nick24601]

I have a 2021 GT it's awesome. I completely agree with you on the looks aspect. It also doesn't sound as cool as a Harley until your pushing it in the top of the rev range with an aftermarket exhuast.

Id strongly recommend making sure your girl has a spot to ride on it and go with the GT. Even if she never does, the thought is important.

 

[Jagster]

Yep.
They feel very special to ride. A Bentley of a bike, I think.

Regarding riding position, here's my ten pence worth:

- If you're a feet forward guy, you'll be needing the GT, of course. So that's an easy call, i'd say.

- If you're normally a mid-control kinda guy but find the R model a bit too uncomfortable due to the stretch to the bars, you could opt for fitting a set of risers, which can help with that. @stingray has some good experience with that, if my memory serves me ok.

- An alternative to that, is what I have I on my bike, and i'm pretty happy with it. It's basically a set up that is everything that the GT model has, except that it's got mid-controls.

It's a very comfortable and relaxed riding position, yet it's also fine for scratching about in the twisties. The only thing it's not so great is at sustained distances and high speed, due to the amount of wind force that catches on the upper body, shoulders & arms.
Filtering isn't without some challenge either because the GT bars together with the bar end mirrors, make the bike a bit too wide. The height is the same as car wing mirrors, so not a good match when filtering.

If you can get a deal on a new red & black Storm R, i'll happily do you a straight swap for my Carrosi Red 2020 R/GT. I quite like that colour scheme on the Storm model .