Only two stars?

[stephantmi]

It surprises me that "owners" only give the rocket 2 starts for handling and also value... Doesn't it surprise you?

Triumph Rocket III Roadster (2009-current) - Triumph Motorcycle Reviews

 

[Bob R]

The two stars for handling does not surprise me. The front end on mine feels heavy and has a tendency to "dip" at slow speed. Maybe it is me, maybe not. My bikes up until this R3T have been traditional bikes or sport bikes, where the steering is much lighter. It isn't anything that concerns me now, but the first few times it was a little disconcerting. Lots of slow and slower speed practice has made me know where and when it will try to tuck the front end and I am ready for it. An inexperienced rider, or brand new rider could lay it down when turning at slow speed very easily, I think.

bob

2013 R3T

 

[Tripps]

Yes, it does surprise me. But I agree, at slow or parking lot speeds, it seems to want to fall into a turn.

 

[stephantmi]

Handling and Value

I would think I would rate it in the context of the bike... It certainly would be terrible in the dirt, but I'm not rating against dirt bikes...

It's a big powerful heavy cruiser and at least my tourer handles as well as any big cruiser could, slow and fast. But value should easily be a 5 star... it's a better bike by far than any other heavy cruiser, and at much less cost...

I guess I don't know much, 2 stars for either category seems like they didn't really talk to owners.

 

[dougl]

In all the years I had my R3 (8) no one on any of these forums complained about the handling quite the opposite.

 

[barbagris]

It surprises me that "owners" only give the rocket 2 starts for handling and also value... Doesn't it surprise you?
Triumph Rocket III Roadster (2009-current) - Triumph Motorcycle Reviews

Not in the slightest. MCN writes for a British Audience. And it's readers being brits rate it for their use.

An unaltered OEM SPEC R3 simply could not cut it on the roads where I rode habitually whilst I still lived there. Lazy steering and too heavy. I have exactly the same concerns here in Spain. I can push faster through the back roads on a 60-70bhp 1979 Guzzi. On the Buell S3 I had - could probably go a good 25% faster. Too fast really.

But Spain has some massive open highway stretches - there the R3 wins hands down. And I have the R3 for two up long runs on highways. Dropping to a 140 front has made it acceptable on backroads - on the 150 totally unsuitable. The Roadster shocks are softer - the 2009 standard I have - bruises the lower spine if pushed on OEM shocks on backroads. Which is why I have airshocks.

In the UK I rode Italian Sports bikes. Ducati, Benelli, Laverda, Guzzi. If I were to return to the UK I'd almost certainly do the same again.

 

[peter k]

I was wondering why only the 2star rating . When they do these polls they should visit a larger cross section of the r3 community .confidience grows with experience and learning how and what with you can improve your riding experience . for example the Bridgestone exedra max with 45 psi on rear and the mitchelin commander 140 with 44psi on the front . It gives me more confidience going through the twisties . I've done 75,000 km,s on this r3 and I can say with confidience for a big bike this handles slow manouvers really well . I actually had to do my bike license again 3years ago and used this bike for my practical test . The people that were testing we're quite surprised at the ease that this bike travelled through all the markers they had set up for the examination .most of the time I didn't use the accelerator i simply used the torque of the motor to manouvers the bike around the circuit ,applying my rear brake when nessecary.they also had two markers on the ground and I was not allowed to pass the second marker until a certain period of time had lapsed . I had to keep my feet on the foot rest and balance until the time had expired and then I could move past the second marker. The examiners said that this was the biggest bike that had gone through there system . Of course I passed . In Queensland if you ever let your liscence lapse for more than two years you to will have to go through this crap

 

[LiteFiter]

Have to agree with the consensus of this site

First week I had mine, I rode with a sponsored club ride, about 130 bikes in upstate NY. When moving, all was good. But when it came time to hit the 2-3 scheduled stops into parking lots, it was like being in a parade. Stop and go between 0-10. Wow, thought I had made a mistake on my purchase! Trying to keep it moving and manuevering at such slow speeds, thought I was gonna die at the end of the ride. But after getting about 3000mi's on it, I have to agree whole heartedly with Peter K.
after I quit trying to muscle it, backed off on the throttle and let the engine do the work. it became a whole different riding experience. Couldn't be more pleased. After 3 Harleys, and more Japanese cruisers than I care to count (and believe me, I am not knockin' em, I still have a "79" XS1100 Special in my garage) I couldn't be more happy with a motorcycle. Given the price, quality, the aesthetics (I still get constant questions and compliments every where I go, much more so than the Harleys), I feel that Triumph has created a great product, which deserves a better rating than it got. Anybody that asks me about maybe buying one of their own, I tell them to go for it without reservation. Just don't ride it around here, I like being the only Captain in town!!!

 

[49 North]

I had a "V rod" with the 240 back tire and a bit more front tire rake that was close to the Rocket 3 for haddleing IMHO, but this Rocket 3 is a bigger motorbike.

Had the kids and parents (75 yrs old ) out for a slow ride and had to pay close attention to the clutch/corners and cars but generally found it to be a stable ride. I've only had this bike for a few months now but so far find it manoverable.

Also at work I park beside lots of bikes and surprisingly the Rocket is closer to the ground that most. Seems to be a well desighned moterbike IMHO.

49 North

 

[steve59]

It seems like every comparison of the Rocket 3 vs I find on the net The rocket comes in last place With an exception for the massive engine. DUH. There is no vs. The bike is unique and no one else has the balls to copy it.