My first rocket ride

Ok i drove my new 2012 rocket T home today. The first thing I noticed was that in parking lots you really have to tell the bike where to go. It is a beast.

The second thing I noticed was that it was hard to find neutral on it.

The third thing I noticed is that I thought I might as well be straddling a table and riding it down the rode...it is a monster of a bike...

Fourth I loved every minute of it.

But once I hit the freeway I was sitting at 80 and did not even know it. Even at those speeds I found myself really telling the bike where to go...it is a mans bike...

As I hit a long stretch on the way back to the house I found myself wishing there was a sixth gear. At 80 there was still a ton of power in the engine, but it felt like I was getting high in the RPMs not crazy high, but it felt like the sweet spot for the engine would be around 80, which had me searching for just one more gear to cruise at a lower rpm at a higher speed.

The ride was to short to really get a feel for the bike and I have never owned a bike like this...so I am heading out today to hit some roads and then hooking up with about ten guys tomorrow to go on a longer ride...

A couple of other things...I was at a saloon last night (I live in Texas) and the other horses rode up (HD) and they were all parking their bikes, and I really wished I had my bike last night. It would had dwarfed those other bikes.

Owning a touring rocket, is like showing up to ball with the best **** women in the place.

Congrats on the new bike! Your going to love it!

I had issues finding neutral on my touring when I bought it in 08

I mentioned it to the dealer during the 1st oil change at 600 miles, I don't know what he did but I never had any more issues with it till I sold it 5 yrs later.

Be careful in slow tight radius turns, especially on any sort of incline the beast'll get away from you before you know it

Enjoy!

I came to the Rocket from sports bikes and sports tourers so it was a big change. You won't take long to adjust.

Just think ahead a bit for low speed manoeuvres and you'll be fine.

Always be careful where you park! If it's on a slope make sure you park front uphill so you can drive out! You don't wanna be pushing the beast uphill in a busy car park.

I only did it once

This is a bike where you have to use correct counter-stearing techniques if you want to get round the bendy bits. If you do that correctly then you will be amazed how well it will handle for a bike its size. However, it is also worth practising the slow stuff in parking lots.

Ride it out to Yankees Tavern or down to Woodys in Galveston and park it in the middle of all the HD's...it will get a lot of attention

Well done. It's a big bike to get used to but the thrills are bigger to go with it. Enjoy.

leaves you with that sh*t eating grin don't it?even hours later

Good on ya @plongmire, that neutral is a bit touchie when new. After the first oil change (like Jim said above) mine too went away. My dealer had told me prior to that, that it just needed to be broken in. I think almost all rockets are the same in this matter.
Since you are in Texas, why has it not become your primary ride?!? One can always tow their mud boggin truck to the pit with the R3T you know...

As others have said the gearbox gets better after the break in oil is out and a few miles are on it.

It nearly caught me out a couple of times jumping out of first when new. Again, once it had some miles it's never happened again

yes i had three rides now and we ended up riding about 200 miles yesterday and ended up the old bryants saloon, which is now wildcatz...it is one of those bar rescue places...As we rode up... there were about fifty HD's parked and a couple of MC's hanging out. As the beast came in everyone was watching...it stole the show for awhile, then a new fully loaded Indian rode up with a custom paint...so the show switched...

R3Tex I am doing the blue highway ride today and will stop at woodys...lol