Opinions on the Rocket 3, please

[relax]

First of all, hello, I'm new here and very possibly a rocket3 new owner.
Second, please excuse my english.
Now, to business. I know it is difficult for some people to talk objectively about their engines, that's not my case.
I like the rocket3, but never rode one of them. My last bike was a Guzzi V65 custom (very similar to a California but with a smaller engine).

Is there something annoying or something on this bike that *you* as an owner don't like?

Thank you very much.

 

[snuffcityrider]

Welcome to the site. I used to have some vibration that came up through the throttle that would put my hand to sleep. But it must have gone away with time because I don't think about it anymore. All in all I love the R3 though at times I would like a smaller bike also for the twisties.

 

[trackerjack]

please excuse my english.

Hello Relax,

Where are you from ?

 

[Jamie]

Welcome Relax. Don't worry about your command of English. Some American folks here should worry about theirs and they seemingly don't

As to your question: Been riding since '67. Have owned all sorts of bikes, including a couple of Harley's and a Honda Valkyrie (no Guzzi's, sorry, although I rode some).. The Rocket, mine dates back to Oct.'04, is just something else. A mixture of superior objective data in the "big cruiser" arena, power, torque, brakes, roadholding and all that good stuff... AND an extraordinary measure of subjectivity. Which is called PASSION. Which it inspires. Which you end up giving.

Regards. Jamie

 

[relax]

Welcome to the site. I used to have some vibration that came up through the throttle that would put my hand to sleep. But it must have gone away with time because I don't think about it anymore. All in all I love the R3 though at times I would like a smaller bike also for the twisties.

I too hate that feeling, but it can't be worse that it was with the guzzi's twin. I had to lay down dead my arm from time to time until my arm came to life, then twist the trottle.

About the twisties, I count with that. What scares me a bit is how it would be trying to maneuver the whole bike in a narrow ramped street like we have in some european cities, with a row of impatient cars behind...

 

[Gunshots]

There is no doubt that more cylinders make for a smoother and more vibration free ride. There is nothing out there close to this displacement that runs as smooth with the exception of the flat opposed 6 in the Gold Bling. Triumph does a great job keeping this monster engine smoooooooth. To replace my Rocket with anything else, would be trading down. I can't see that happening.. Hmmmmm unless the new tourer????? would that be trading down .

 

[snuffcityrider]

I too hate that feeling, but it can't be worse that it was with the guzzi's twin. I had to lay down dead my arm from time to time until my arm came to life, then twist the trottle.

About the twisties, I count with that. What scares me a bit is how it would be trying to maneuver the whole bike in a narrow ramped street like we have in some european cities, with a row of impatient cars behind...

The bike handles very well at slow speeds for such a large bike. Figure eights are pretty easy with some practice (for me) so I wouldn't worry about the narrow streets and all. I lived in Germany for 3 years and could easily picture myself crusing a Rocket through those villages.

 

[snuffcityrider]

There is no doubt that more cylinders make for a smoother and more vibration free ride. There is nothing out there close to this displacement that runs as smooth with the exception of the flat opposed 6 in the Gold Bling. Triumph does a great job keeping this monster engine smoooooooth. To replace my Rocket with anything else, would be trading down. I can't see that happening.. Hmmmmm unless the new tourer????? would that be trading down .

Probably more of a lateral trade

 

[relax]

Hello Relax,

Where are you from ?

Spain. I always toured alone. My longest one day non stop tour was from Tolouse to San Juan (near Benidorm, in Spain).
I had luck because when I was ready to give up, a couple of bikers "pulled" with me the last few hundred kilometers to my destination. I ended sleeping with just my barbour suit on the sand of the beach, and the next morning I felt like the king of the world.

 

[Joker]

Relax,
Don't worry about your command of English, it is better than my pathetic efforts at your native language.
Since the Rocket has a low centre of gravity it is not bad at handling low speed narrow streets. You will not be holding up the traffic. If anyone honks their horn at you just wait for the next straight bit of road and stick two fingers up at them before dissappearing into the diatance.
If they are still behind you they are driving something which has cost them ten times as much as the Rocket and is still less cool.