New Rocket 3 Model

3Katz · Oct 9, 2018

I can't think of a USD fork that you can effectively change the oil on without removing them, there may be some I just haven't come across one yet (it's not saying much I haven't done stacks of them). To get all the oil out you generally need to disassemble the fork as well or at least pump the suspension repeatedly while out. The hardest part is lifting the front of the bike, after that it's a super quick job slipping the Rocket forks out. Just make sure you measure how much comes out of each leg! I didn't service my Rocket ones myself as I sent them away to get revalved but I imagine they would be similar to most other USD forks.

tails · Oct 9, 2018

great news,big motor fly by wire etc etc etc,
but is it the same arsole who designed that **** gearbox ??
never again.

3Katz · Oct 9, 2018

Bigger motor would be great, fly by wire I wouldn't be too fussed on but +1 on the gearbox. I'm sure it will be the first question many current Rocket owners would ask before buying a new model - "what have you done to fix the trans issues?"

Tal · Oct 9, 2018

Re the front forks....if you are putting progressives in and heavier oil...you won't need as much oil that came out...heavier springs and all that...

Navigator · Oct 9, 2018

BillB said:
Ya know, I never realized just how perturbed that I am with Triumph until I started thinking about it this morning.

I was going to get started on the fork oil change, Progressive springs and neck bearing lube and adjust.

Broke out the manual and came to the startling revelation that the only way to change the fork oil was to take the entire front end apart and turn each individual fork leg upside down to pour the oil out of it.

So what should be about a 2 hour maintenance job has, by very poor engineering, been turned into a 8 hour cussing festival.

Thought about searching the forum to see if there's a shortcut but was so irritated that I went bike shopping instead.

The R1200 adventure bike might work. Plenty tall and light. Lots of luggage capacity too. The R1200RT would fill the bill. Really like the K1600B but I understand there a maintenance nightmare. Could even get along with an Indian Springfield Dark Horse.

They had one Motus on the floor. Interesting but way too small and expensive

Ok enough belly aching and whinging. Off to see if there is a good trick for the forks. If not I will just take it apart.

Difficulty in changing fork oil is all too common. My VStroms and my Vulcan Nomad are tge same. Would a drain plug be such a difficult thing to incorporate into fork design?

BillB · Oct 9, 2018

Tal said:
Re the front forks....if you are putting progressives in and heavier oil...you won't need as much oil that came out...heavier springs and all that...

Yeah M8 that's the direction I am going in. Not changing the oil weight. Progressive recommends using stock weight. If the forks had a drain plug so I could just dump it and change it I would experiment . Not so much having to take the whole front end apart if I
don't like it . Thinking about trying to get a good measure on it and putting a npt plug into the lower sliders and solving that problem.

BillB · Oct 9, 2018

Navigator said:
Difficulty in changing fork oil is all too common. My VStroms and my Vulcan Nomad are tge same. Would a drain plug be such a difficult thing to incorporate into fork design?

Just happen to know a crackerjack machinist who owes me a few favors Mike.

Ishrub · Oct 9, 2018

I have Progressives fork springs with 10w, most recommend 7.5w over stock 5w but I am a nimble 330 lb and 'w' figures are a 'phantom' measure of fork oil characteristics hanging over from the low tech 1st half of last century. With oil technology these days, a similar 'w' between firms and probably even within their own product ranges would be no guarantee of similarity in use. Some brands 2.5w is the same as others 5w and 5w and 7.5w is similar with others. The disparity between nominal 'w' values could be even larger.

I had mine done at a Motorcycle Suspension specialist (who does nothing else),and got the 'w' but forgot the brand he used.

Dr.D · Oct 9, 2018

BillB said:
Great Mel, now I'm perturbed with you too!

Going to take it apart. Will start a new thread on the touring forum with details. No point in getting this one any further off the rails. (If suchlike could happened)

I just love to share the pain. I’ve got plenty of stress in my life therefore I just throw money at some of my problems and let another bloke shoulder the aggravation of motorcycle upgrades. They had to go borrow a tool from another shop down the road. That would have sent me into a rage of destruction not having a special tool.

Steel · Oct 9, 2018

Guess I was just lucky that my nephew was off work and had time to help change the seals and oil on my Classic. He just has a natural gift when it comes to fixing things. We had no special tools, and still managed to change the fork seals, oil, and change the front tire in an hour and a half.

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