Thinking I have to have a Rocket III in my toy box.. Questions coming

[cootertwo]

When you come back from the test ride, you'll have bugs in your teeth, cause you can't help but grin ear to ear!

 

[Wrecka]

One thing to do , take a roadster for a test ride , dont be timid with the throttle , if you dont make the decision to buy it there and then it's not the bike for you , forget about what Harleys are like when you saddle up the Rocket...........

 

[CanberraR3]

Okay, so it looks like a 09 or newer.... I'm not seeing the different 'models' named in the ebay ads for example... How can I tell a 'Classic' 'Standard' or a 'Roadster' apart???..

1st reply above! Lot of people these days call anything pre 2010 a 'Classic' or even anything that's not a Touring a 'Roadster'. Pretty easy to tell the difference, although many bikes by now have been turned into a bit of a mixture. Basically, if it is 2 tone (and not just stripes down the centre) it will be a Classic. Single colour and forward pegs, a Standard (plenty have had boards fitted though). Peg/board rails on both were originally chrome. Roadsters have ABS, fuel gauge, are gloss or matt black (new ones have either red or black stripes), pegs mounted more centrally and on black rails. If in doubt, post a pic here.

 

[mr hunt]

Hell, thing weighs in at what my Road Glide does.....also makes double the RWHP of the RG and triple the torque...and will handle better than the WG at speed...I've always liked the second hand market cos if you buy it and find you really don't like it you can usually get your money back with a quick resale.

Good luck with your decision

 

[afishinado]

Hell, thing weighs in at what my Road Glide does.....also makes double the RWHP of the RG and triple the torque...and will handle better than the WG at speed...I've always liked the second hand market cos if you buy it and find you really don't like it you can usually get your money back with a quick resale.

Good luck with your decision

also makes double the RWHP of the RG and triple the torque
Actually not quite... My RG is at 97hp/107tq quite a noticeable jump from stock. The WG is not the bike to be on at speed (at least not mine). The Rocket has to be awesome..

I've always liked the second hand market cos if you buy it and find you really don't like it you can usually get your money back with a quick resale. You're singing to the choir.

 

[Boog]

Hello Afishanado and welcome from VA. I see you stated the Touring is not for you and I won't tell you you're goofed but...But don't write it off just yet. I got my '14 new in Oct and just turned over 10K miles this weekend. She cruises very smoothly at 85 mph and after 10 hours I still feel good enough to roll around with the pillion rider if she hasn't fallen off. Off the line, the R3T eats almost everyone's lunch and that 'detuned' line means that it has been “retuned” for more low to mid range TQ, just not the high end pull of the R3R, C or S. All of which is easy enough to change with a computer and a cable. I put Tors exhaust on mine and a new tune and love every minute of my saddle time (except the stop and go Summer traffic). Counting my dirt bikes, this bike is number 28 and nothing else compares to its all around greatness. I've had many cruisers and stand bike over the years and all have been fun. Of my last two bikes, the Vmax may have been faster and my FZ1 may have cornered better, but neither can give me the punch or carry as much as the R3T does. If I could only have one bike ever again, the R3T is it.

 

[Molinoman]

I second what Boog says and my previous bike was a 2012 Road Glide which was a major disappointment when compared to my present Touring (R3T). I believe it was pretty fast (considering the SE255 cams I had dropped in plus the Monster Round exhaust system I had put on with the Rush ceramic coated header pipes (did not really feel much heat at all compared to an HD without that set up). But it was a "black hole" for money to get it to where I felt it had somewhat decent torque and HP but when the rubber hit the road the R3T ate it's lunch easily (107 HP stock and 154 or 157 lbs of torque)...no contest at all. As for long trips my previous Rocket Classic (140 HP and 147 ft. lbs. of torque) was very comfortable as it covered an 855 mile trip from Key West to Molino, FL (just north of Pensacola) easily in one day...so as a long range tourer the Classic was great and the R3T that I have now is even better. The only thing I'll say for the HD was I did enjoy the stereo, tour pak and the cruise control...other than that I don't miss it at all. If I ever did get another HD it would probably be a Fat Bob or some other cruise type but just for around town and when I would find time to ride it.

 

[HansO]

just to help you broaden your search a little the 08 were the first to have all the updated part the 09 is a carry on from that the only real issue the the 08-09 had was that there was a bad batch of head gaskets but they were all fixed under warranty and showed themselves usually in the first 10,000km or 6,000miles
Also as a few members here can tell you there are some pre 08-09 Std's and Classics that are still running with out any issues it was a bit of a lucky dip it seems with the early models.

There is only one other thing you really need to do to any of the models and that is to fit a Eastern Beaver headlight relay kit or make a home made version which I will soon be showing how to do in a new thread

 

[afishinado]

Thanks Guys there is a 09 on ebay right now for $8000 w/9000 miles. That's the kinda deal I like, has a few items I would have to buy already, looks clean... Need to get a ride on one, hopefully before the week is out. Right this moment I have a lot going on getting the RV together, I'm about 2 weeks away from doing our summer tour, returning in September. I may wait until then, as all this would do is sit next to the Wide Glide in the garage. Maybe I can get a better deal when everyone up north needs to park them for another rough winter..
http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-5...0001&campid=5335943355&icep_item=151337875786

 

[Rick McC.]

I got my '12 R3R new old stock off the showroom floor for $4500.00 of the original price; best bike by far I've ever owned in this lifetime!

Just take care that you don't overlook a good deal on a lightly used one by waiting to long.