Missed My 05 Rocket

[atomsplitter]

Yesterday I pulled the trigger on a 2013 Thunderbird Storm. I was missing my 05 Rocket and thought I'd give this a go since it is similar. I've been on smaller lighter bikes long enough this thing feels abit like steering an Abrams Tank compared to my Bobber Black, but that's expected given the bulk. The ergos are very comfy and I'm looking forward to putting some highway miles on it after I install a Madstad flyscreen. Don't know how crazy I'll get with mods, first have to see how much use I get out of it.

 

[Idaho Red Rocket 3]

Watch your lean angle in turns. It is possible to lift the rear wheel on turns and twisties as the mufflers can touch down when leaned over. Learn your limit early on.

 

[atomsplitter]

Had the opportunity to take it for a longer ride around on suburban roads yesterday and it's not a scalpel like my Speed Triple, or as nimble as my Bobber Black (altho has better cornering clearance), it does the job in a unique way. It doesn't need revs to be happy. It will putter on at 35mph in 4th as easily as in 3rd (or 2nd) just give it some fun handle and the speed goes up smoothly without drama. It takes the twisty stuff just fine although requiring some moderate effort at the tiller but doesn't fight the input (it's just a lot of mass to change direction). I see and now understand why the handle bars are so wide on this thing. Seat is very comfortable bordering on Lazy Boy level of cushioning, and the footboards allow quite a bit of foot movement to take pressure off my hips calves. Overall a very comfy and satisfying ride albeit the bike was made for long days in the seat, which I haven't done in awhile. Maybe this will encourage more miles in a single trip. For the roads I took yesterday my other bikes are better suited, however I won't shy away from riding my Storm when the mood hits for some serious grunt out of corners. Just have to remember to scrub enough speed off at entry to avoid exit drama.

 

[atomsplitter]

Watch your lean angle in turns. It is possible to lift the rear wheel on turns and twisties as the mufflers can touch down when leaned over. Learn your limit early on.

My Bobber has the least cornering clearnace of all my bikes, the 'bank angle' feelers are ground down. Same roads, same speeds on the Storm never touched anything down. But I'll watch that nonetheless (hate skidding into the weeds, I don't heal up as fast any more...).

 

[steve59]

Congrats, I had my 2011 Storm a year that I put over 12000 miles on it. Loved that bike and is still my favorite looking cruiser! I traded mine in for a used R3 after the 12k service. $1200 was too much compared to the R3 $550 every 20k so I did it. Today there isn't a Triumph in my garage, but who knows, maybe I'll learn to do the big services myself and cost of ownership won't be so much.

 

[atomsplitter]

Congrats, I had my 2011 Storm a year that I put over 12000 miles on it. Loved that bike and is still my favorite looking cruiser! I traded mine in for a used R3 after the 12k service. $1200 was too much compared to the R3 $550 every 20k so I did it. Today there isn't a Triumph in my garage, but who knows, maybe I'll learn to do the big services myself and cost of ownership won't be so much.

The time I have spent on the Storm has been a smile inducing experience, but the lack of grunt was somewhat surprising. The bike is very heavy but very comfortable as well so it's trade off> The low seat height is a major plus for my egg shell knees. That said it got me missing my 05 so much I pulled the trigger on this:

Now I don't miss my 05 at all, this one is MUCH better!!! It's lighter, more agile, more power on top, more grunt on the bottom, more sophisticated controls, great ergos and has heated grips and cruise control. Me very happy!! Course my garage is getting a bit crowded: