Review and Cold start videos I made recently...let me know what you guys think!

[Rick Morris]

Good video. I like it. Love the enthusiasm for your new Rocket. You will get some great advice from 99% of the guys on this forum. You will find a few that act like they are the smartest guys in the world and you have no business here. Criticize everything you say or ask. A lot like the senior high school *****heads that bullied the freshman on the first day of school. All bark and no bite except now they are hiding behind their keyboards. Whatever you do dont brag about beating any other bikes in a street race. All the tightwads will chime in and criticize you for beating up on a weakling. No matter what bike they were riding.

Any way you probably already know some of this as you have been here for a while now. Good Luck with your bike. The more you ride it the more you will want to show it off in videos, and that's a good thing in my book.

 

[Laverada]

Sigh ....

Another example of the modern phenomenon that allows anyone with a camera to become a purveyor of "information."

I am not too interested in hearing a review from someone who doesn't know the bike well enough to remember to pull in the clutch if you want it to start.

And I'm not sure what qualifications justify pronouncement that the intake design is poor. Or that mufflers "look loud." The intake design and mufflers are the first things after market suppliers attack, because their easy to R&R.

And face it. You knew there was no cruise control before you bought it, no?
Someone will suggest mccruise as a way to add cruise ... probably a better mod than intake and exhaust.

And why would someone be surprised when a nearly new motorcycle starts right up? Frankly, if I'd thought a bike wasn't going to start, I'd try it in the garage, not after I'd pushed it 30 yard away down a driveway. But I would have expected it to start if you haven't done something like left it turned on overnight.

And 20 F with no windscreen is a recipe for frost bite. Get a windscreen and some heated grips, and you'll be more comfortable in those temperatures. They will add more to your cold weather fun than annoying exhausts or gaudy, questionable intake mods.

So .... you asked. It was a nice video project to try out your camera. When you've ridden the bike for 20,000 miles post another.

Oh ... and welcome to Rocket World.

Thanks for the input and the honesty, I like making videos about my motorcycles and enjoy talking from my own perspective. Not yours. Maybe you should make a video with your opinions, I'm sure people would appreciate your perspective.

 

[Laverada]

Months in storage, no trickle charger and the battery is still charged, no way.

Do you keep your bike on a charger? How long does it stay alive if you don't?

I promise you I did nothing but store this bike in a un-insulated hangar for almost 3 months now. Tempatures well below freezing 95%of most days...I also have a BMW R1200GS that I stored next to the rocket and had the same results.

 

[Laverada]

Pretty good quality videos. They joy of the R3 is the blank paper factor. As you decide on your goals, the R3 lends itself to modification like no other bike. Pick your power, from 150whp to 450whp, very achievable in all cases, its just a matter of money. If you want a tourer, its only a matter of a few accessories away. Want a full firebreathing drag bike, again just some money and labor away.

The R3 stands head and shoulders above all comers in it's ability to satisfy almost all roles when equipped with the correct accessories. I don't see any other bikes running deep 9s or high 8s in full street trim without a strapped front end etc, even with engine mods.

The rocket is at the upper limit of noise that is legal according to the EURO 3 standards as delivered. You can get the louder TORs for a better sound, but its not street legal. Louder pipers are a short email away The volume is deceptive, observers don't get the super quiet impression that the rider gets, they know when you open it up even stock.

Cruise Control - It's a Roadster not a Tourer... know your niche. There's also a practical reason they don't have it, no ride-by-wire (RBW) throttle, if the R3 gets an update in 2018 to RBW throttles it will have cruise.

Air Intake - See EURO 3 noise abatement standards. The intake is specifically targeted to low RPM torque, noise management, and rain resistance. There are reasons, they aren't obvious for the stock design, and they're targeted to regulatory and reliability factors unfortunately.

Great info, thanks for sharing that. I am excited to start tinkering and customizing to my own liking.

As far as cruise control, from my understanding the touring version of the rocket does not have this feature either. I could be wrong but that to me was disappointing. And I've ridden Harley's that had less than a frame and two wheels and they still had cruise control. Yes I know it's a Harley but again just my opinion.

 

[Laverada]

Good video. I like it. Love the enthusiasm for your new Rocket. You will get some great advice from 99% of the guys on this forum. You will find a few that act like they are the smartest guys in the world and you have no business here. Criticize everything you say or ask. A lot like the senior high school *****heads that bullied the freshman on the first day of school. All bark and no bite except now they are hiding behind their keyboards. Whatever you do dont brag about beating any other bikes in a street race. All the tightwads will chime in and criticize you for beating up on a weakling. No matter what bike they were riding.

Any way you probably already know some of this as you have been here for a while now. Good Luck with your bike. The more you ride it the more you will want to show it off in videos, and that's a good thing in my book.

Agreed, So far everyone here has really helped me with all my questions, and I've had a lot so far. More vids to come. The rides here in Washington state are epic

 

[Claviger]

Will second the long term start, mine had no issues.... until I installed a bunch of accessories. One of them, not sure which causes a parasitic draw so I can only go a couple of weeks now.

That's with the big cams mind you.

 

[1K9]

I promise you I did nothing but store this bike in a un-insulated hangar for almost 3 months now. Tempatures well below freezing 95%of most days...I also have a BMW R1200GS that I stored next to the rocket and had the same results.

I believe you... I'm just jealous
I might have a parasitic draw and or I need a new battery . Which one is best?
How does one diagnose a parasitic draw?

 

[BigNorm]

Nice videos. Cruise control is on my to do list.

 

[Claviger]

I believe you... I'm just jealous
I might have a parasitic draw and or I need a new battery . Which one is best?
How does one diagnose a parasitic draw?

I would first disconnect the battery completely let it sit for an amount of time that would normally result in a non-start condition. Reconnect it and try to start it, if it does start, it suggests a parasitic draw and healthy battery. If that is the case, and I wanted to find the draw, I would disconnect ALL aftermarket accessories and verify it will start after the same amount of time. If it does, then I'd start reconnecting one accessory at a time, let it sit, and verify it still starts. Rinse and repeat until you find the accessory that causes the draw.

OR

Get a clamp to measure amperage. With the bike fully off, connect the clamp to the power wire of each accessory and find the one that still has a draw with the ignition off and you'll find your parasitic draw.

My intuition points to the power commander V.