mully95
Living Legend
Is this still a Triumph forum?
I'm little confused right now.
I'm little confused right now.
norseman
Supercharged
Honda makes great bikes, and the valkyrie was (I don't think they're made anymore?) a really awesome machine, but it seems a bit too polite for my taste. The Rocket is a unique balance of power, stability, comfort, (for a cruiser) handling and just a hint of madness. I feel like the Honda would excel in power, stability and comfort, would be perfectly adequate handling, but simply lacks that "mean streak" that gives the Rocket a lot of its character.
It all comes down to preference. There's always a bike that can boast higher statistics in one place or another, but it's that intangible tug that makes a bike truly great. For my money, I felt something genuinely unique and undeniable the first time (and every time) I sat on a Rocket 3 Roadster. It sounds sappy but it would analogue well to "love at first sight". I highly doubt I'll ever find another machine that will take that feeling away from my Rocket. (I might buy her some sisters to help fill up the garage though
).
I'll have to find this article and give it a good read. Never seen a shootout between a Roadster and a full dress bagger lol. They pit her against standard cruisers, they pit her against power cruisers, against ducati's "sport cruiser" and now this? I suppose it's a testament to the Rocket's versatility that motorbike reviewers seem to want to compare everything to her.
It all comes down to preference. There's always a bike that can boast higher statistics in one place or another, but it's that intangible tug that makes a bike truly great. For my money, I felt something genuinely unique and undeniable the first time (and every time) I sat on a Rocket 3 Roadster. It sounds sappy but it would analogue well to "love at first sight". I highly doubt I'll ever find another machine that will take that feeling away from my Rocket. (I might buy her some sisters to help fill up the garage though
).I'll have to find this article and give it a good read. Never seen a shootout between a Roadster and a full dress bagger lol. They pit her against standard cruisers, they pit her against power cruisers, against ducati's "sport cruiser" and now this? I suppose it's a testament to the Rocket's versatility that motorbike reviewers seem to want to compare everything to her.
Ogremeister
Turbocharged
Here's my Valk '98 standard with mod's......
I've sold it to a friend who still owns/rides it.
Triumph actually used this bike (the Valkyrie) as a starting point when they developed the original Rocket concept.
The new Goldwing bagger
I've sold it to a friend who still owns/rides it.
Triumph actually used this bike (the Valkyrie) as a starting point when they developed the original Rocket concept.
The new Goldwing bagger
Ogremeister
Turbocharged
When I got my 1st Rocket '05 model purchased in '04.......I still owned the Valk.
Didn't want to give her up......but finally let it go to my friend.
But the "comparison" that came to my mind back then was this:
Riding the Valk was like making love to a voluptuous athlete.
Riding the R III was like making love to Supergirl. (better be careful or your gonna get hurt!!!!!!!!!)
slick rick
Supercharged
ridden
I took the new handa fb6 for a spin.Local dealer had it, new, no kms on the clock.Black. It was a comfortable ride,lesiurely, one may say.I liked it, sort of.Not too many gizmos,i can see the attraction for some buyers with a bike like this.The B in fb6 denotes to 'Bagger' ,6 for 6cylinders, and the F is for......fnck, i dont remember.Anyway, it didnt get my pulse up,dont think any chicks noticed me and it made a 'nothing' exhaust note and it 'rode', it didnt PULL. I would have one, if honda gave me a free one,other than that.....pretty ho hum, which is ok if you want it that way.
I took the new handa fb6 for a spin.Local dealer had it, new, no kms on the clock.Black. It was a comfortable ride,lesiurely, one may say.I liked it, sort of.Not too many gizmos,i can see the attraction for some buyers with a bike like this.The B in fb6 denotes to 'Bagger' ,6 for 6cylinders, and the F is for......fnck, i dont remember.Anyway, it didnt get my pulse up,dont think any chicks noticed me and it made a 'nothing' exhaust note and it 'rode', it didnt PULL. I would have one, if honda gave me a free one,other than that.....pretty ho hum, which is ok if you want it that way.
mexican
Living Legend
I love my kawazukiToo much blasphemy here !!!!!!!!!!!
cootertwo
Living Legend
- Joined
- Mar 24, 2013
- Messages
- 2,115
- Location
- Labelle Florida USA
- Ride
- 2013, & 2 05's R3R, 2006, 2004 Harley's, 2004 Kaw
Once you go ROCKET, you don't go back!
I sold my 2005 R3 and considered a new Roadster. Unfortunately, they ruined it by moving the controls 4" back. It used to be a cruiser. Now it's a "bad boy" "street fighter". So, even though I'm 5'9" I can't be comfortable on it. It's nice that it has ABS brakes but that didn't require ruining a great design.
TxRIIIRider
Living Legend
Not total blasphemy.. Triumph used the Valkyrie as their original model for the Rocket.. The Valkyrie is based on the Gold Wing.. I believe the Rocket attracted many Valkyrie owners because they are quite similar.. Any real comparison test would be between these two.. Although, in my eyes the Rocket wins.. The Gold Wing motor is indestructible though..
On other blasphemy.. Before Mr. Bloor had brought Triumph back on line, he had toured the Kawasaki's manufacturing plants to see how they did it. I believe Hinckley's original tooling machines were the same make as Kawasaki's. The old T3/T4 engines look REMARKABLY like previous gen Kawasaki inline 4s.. The Trophy 900/1200 is VERY similar to Kawsaki's Concours 1000. When I rebuilt the starter on my Thrunderbird Sport, I couldn't find brushes.. I went to the local Kawasaki dealer. I looked at some of there models and noticed the Kawsaki EX500 had a very similar starter, so I ordered brushed from the Kawasaki dealer for it.. With at tiny bit of modification, the brushes worked like a champ!..
The Gold Wing motor is indestructible though.. On other blasphemy.. Before Mr. Bloor had brought Triumph back on line, he had toured the Kawasaki's manufacturing plants to see how they did it. I believe Hinckley's original tooling machines were the same make as Kawasaki's. The old T3/T4 engines look REMARKABLY like previous gen Kawasaki inline 4s.. The Trophy 900/1200 is VERY similar to Kawsaki's Concours 1000. When I rebuilt the starter on my Thrunderbird Sport, I couldn't find brushes.. I went to the local Kawasaki dealer. I looked at some of there models and noticed the Kawsaki EX500 had a very similar starter, so I ordered brushed from the Kawasaki dealer for it..
With at tiny bit of modification, the brushes worked like a champ!.. Too much blasphemy here !!!!!!!!!!!
Ogremeister
Turbocharged
I'm 5' 10"...my 05 Rocket never felt comfortable to me until I installed floorboards, Rivco risers & Valkyrie handlebars.....
Whereas, my Roadster felt comfortable as is/stock.
I never liked the extreme feet forward position.
I have done 3 over 1,000 mi days on it & numerous over 800 mi days....
Even 800 mile 'twisty' days, as well as lane splitting in CA on Friday afternoon rush hour...
So for me, Triumph "fixed it" not "ruined it".
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