Thinking about buying a Rocket

Be careful with the test ride. Once you ride a rocket you will not be the same, it's an experience unequalled in motorcycling
 
happyhenry said:
Be careful with the test ride. Once you ride a rocket you will not be the same, it's an experience unequalled in motorcycling
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hello and welcome to the forum.I don't say much on here but I thought I should help you decide on a Rocket 3. I came off a V-rod and went to an 06 Rocket 3 standard with a corbin 2-up touring seat, floorboards front and rear for the wife. Just did 750 miles in the U.P. of Michigan with the wife and the bike is awesome. She didn't complain at all and we did a 174 mile run without getting off. These bikes will make you smile running down the road I swear. We came up on a Nissan zx coupe or something like that rolling 70 mph. Went around to pass and he punched it. Ran beside him up to 100 and he backed off. The wife talks over my shoulder and asks how fast the bike will run. I ran it up to 125 and left the nissan. Just plain fun and had me smiling the rest of the day. You will be happy with a R3.
 
Asking triumph about VIN numbers with update kits will only be partially useful. A lot of us did them ourselves or had an independent do it. Labor charges will run 1600-2400 depending on the rate. Triumph quotes 20 hrs and that's pretty accurate. The parts kit used to be a steal at $200 but it's gone up to $1000 as well. That's the reason we mentioned 09 or newer. Major parts are transmission, output bearing, wiring harness and cam tensioner guides. Most that have had issues have been limited to not all parts and many haven't had issues at all. But it can be a costly repair on a used bike; therefore the warning
If you can verify with the previous owner then earlier models are back in play!
 

What are the chances there are still pre '09 models that haven't had the updates done, but are not having any problems?
 
I got to test ride an '08 Touring today. I love the engine and it's power delivery, and the torque, even from this detuned version, was impressive. However, I don't think the touring model is for me. I know this is not a word, but this model is just too "grampawy" for my taste. It looks like something an old man would ride. The position of the running boards made me feel like I was sitting in a chair. I have little doubt that either the Roadster or the Classic model will be a fit for me, and I also believe either can be made to be super comfortable for me and my wife. Fit and finish is very nice...every bit as good as that on a Harley, Indian, or Victory IMO. A friend of mine has been bugging me to sell him my 109 for quite some time now...today I sent him a text and asked him when he wants to come and get it...
 
A lot of them haven't had it. Some never had problems . But most of the low mileage old ones out there would scare me. The problems seemed to surface between 10-20k miles. So I'd be more apt to trust an 06 with 35k than an 06 with 8k unless I could verify it was done
 
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Mine was one of the early ones to get the kit installed, and it was done under warranty about 18 months after I purchased the bike. The problem showed up at around 26,000 miles, just before a trip to the West Coast. I did the trip and had the kit installed when I returned, with around 36,000 miles on it. Strangely enough, during a part of the time that my bike was in getting it done they let me use their R3T demo bike and I put 1,500 miles on it - bringing it up to about 2,000 miles, and it was already showing the symptoms of needing the kit. The point is, the problem can show up at any time.
 
I have some more questions. For those of you with a Corbin seat, do you have the adjustable backrests for both the rider and passenger? If so, how much adjustment do you have? Can you pretty much adjust them wherever they need to be to make them comfortable? Also, do any of you know if the rear Triumph floor boards from the R3T will fit on the R3R and R3C? I looked at the Rivco models and I like the looks of the Triumph ones better. Thanks.
 
Can't answer the floorboard question (still have legs for the pillion). I have 2 Corbin's: solo saddle and dual with back rests. I run the solo most of the time. The backrests are fully adjustable, but they don't really "lock" into place, just a tension hold. I put mine where I want it when I get on, but if I stretch and lean back in the middle of the ride it needs adjusted forward again, which I've found is hard to do while riding. I haven't had any experience with any other backrests so I can't really compare for you. I do love my Corbin saddles though.
 
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