What do you think about the riding modes? Do you find them useful?

[Gimlet]

I'm in sport all the time now (when I'd eventually worked out how to change it... It came to me in road) I don't find any twitchiness. Mine is a '23 model, not a Storm. Whether that makes a difference I don't know. I'm also used to V-twins which tend to be abrupt. The Rocket feels pretty smooth on the throttle to me. Triumphs in general were once known for twitchy throttles. I had a 2013 1050 Speed Triple and that was quite annoying, with a snappiness between throttle off and throttle on, like it had a cable throttle with too much slack in it.

When I've figured out an exhaust system I'm having mine custom mapped so it will be interesting to see how the factory throttle ram has been set.

I can't see any reason for me to turn the TC off. It isn't intrusive like it can be on some bikes, and it's necessary on a bike like this (and I don't often say that about electronics). I had it permanently off via a plug-in on a 1290 Superduke I used to have because it messed with the power delivery too much. But that bike was a featherweight compared to the Rocket. I had the back end step out a few times, but you could feel it coming and it was easy to deal with it and get the bike back into shape. I don't think it would be quite so easy on a bike of the size and weight of the Rocket.

 

[Ward]

it has to be said that the different modes have a minor effect on ABS and TC, but primarily each map (mainly) has a completely different throttle response. It doesn't produce less power than sport mode. Even in rain mode it's all still there - you just get a smoother, more gentle application of throttle. It still goes like sh*t when you wind it on.

In the UK, with 68 million people and 40 million vehicles on the road I tend to use Rain mode by default (because of the traffic density), and sport mode when I get out of the towns on on an open road in somewhere like Wales. Mind you, they have a 20mph limit in towns now ! I wish we had roads like rural France

I've heard from a few sources that the Penner map only exists in Sport mode. I can't quite get my head around that, surely the ECU would then have to contain two maps, which I don't think is possible ? Surely the map is the map ?

Mine is a '22 GT, and therefore not the Storm. I can't believe there are any of us (maybe other than Mark Marquez or Valantino Rossi) who could tell the difference another 15bhp at the top end of the rev counter makes on the public highway ? - In the real world it's just a sales gimmick. I'm happy with my "mere" 165bhp

 

[RokettoSan]

I've only had mine for a few months now and even then due to being busy/weather haven't been able to ride it all that much so still well below the break in. Started off leaving it in rain mode when I picked it up but after the first few hundred KM on it finally moved over to road mode. Still getting used to it and even in road mode it's got quite the pull.

 

[Gimlet]

it has to be said that the different modes have a minor effect on ABS and TC, but primarily each map (mainly) has a completely different throttle response. It doesn't produce less power than sport mode. Even in rain mode it's all still there - you just get a smoother, more gentle application of throttle. It still goes like sh*t when you wind it on.

In the UK, with 68 million people and 40 million vehicles on the road I tend to use Rain mode by default (because of the traffic density), and sport mode when I get out of the towns on on an open road in somewhere like Wales. Mind you, they have a 20mph limit in towns now ! I wish we had roads like rural France

I've heard from a few sources that the Penner map only exists in Sport mode. I can't quite get my head around that, surely the ECU would then have to contain two maps, which I don't think is possible ? Surely the map is the map ?

Mine is a '22 GT, and therefore not the Storm. I can't believe there are any of us (maybe other than Mark Marquez or Valantino Rossi) who could tell the difference another 15bhp at the top end of the rev counter makes on the public highway ? - In the real world it's just a sales gimmick. I'm happy with my "mere" 165bhp

I short-shift to use the torque, rarely going above 4500 rpm and still make obscenely quick progress. In fact, I often change up to overtake. The extra bhp occurs at the top of the rev range where torque is dropping off. I can't see why you'd need to go there in road riding. Unless you're pipnning it with a QS just for fun. Which is fair enough..

 

[Protonhound]

I short-shift to use the torque, rarely going above 4500 rpm and still make obscenely quick progress. In fact, I often change up to overtake. The extra bhp occurs at the top of the rev range where torque is dropping off. I can't see why you'd need to go there in road riding. Unless you're pipnning it with a QS just for fun. Which is fair enough..

I use my quick shifter to get going in a hurry but use clutch most of the other times, it really depends on the situation.

 

[RokettoSan]

I use my quick shifter to get going in a hurry but use clutch most of the other times, it really depends on the situation.

I love my quick shifter! Easily worth the cost for this bike especially I think. I avoided using it the first hundred km on the bike as the dealer suggested but have finally started to use it and its so smooth. I think even more-so than the one on my ZX4RR especially that 1-2 shift.

 

[RUN666]

1/The different modes available are not very useful, the difference is only in the response to the accelerator and some insignificant parameters...

2/If you own this kind of motorcycle in general you already have some experience of driving and, until proven otherwise, you must have a brain that tells your right wrist not to do stupid things...

3/So, sport mode permanently (otherwise you might as well buy a scooter...) and brain in "on" mode and everything will be fine.

4/For your information, I have a "home made" map and my Rocket goes wheelie in third if I disconnect my brain... (which, honestly, happens from time to time!)

 

[zenbiker]

I don't like riding modes because there is too much thinking for me going on. Why have a practically different bike at the push of a button? Even when I was up in the Seattle area last fall I left it in sport mode. Now that I have the Penner tune on it I still have rain mode as an option but never tried it. I should though just the get a direct comparison between that and unrestricted. I think learning to adapt to conditions as the rider is far more valuable.

Just Sport mode. We do have a thing called a clutch with which we can put the exact amount of power we desire to the rear wheel so I just do not see the need for any other mode.

 

[technoguppy]

I do use the modes throughout the season. I start a new season (after me and the bike have been apart for several months) in RAIN mode until I get the feel of the bike and the muscle memory returns. Then I generally ride in SPORT mode most of the season, unless of course it starts to rain, then it's into RAIN mode to keep the rear tire from slipping out from me. We also take ferries on our trips here and there, and the RAIN mode is handy on such occasions. So I guess I do find them handy and useful when applicable.

 

[dougl]

I started out primarily in road mode but then switched to sport once I got more comfortable with the torque and stay on sport all the time now really. It’s my daily commuter and I’m in traffic a lot with stop and go sometimes but the twitchiness doesn’t bother me. Maybe because my other bike is twitchy too minus the immense thrust/torque the rocket delivers. I don’t feel that I’ve pushed the bike anywhere close to its limits yet but I’m a little scared to haha. I still pucker up now and then when I hit the throttle a little too hard in a turn and feel that back tire start to give when I’m doing 80+.

Doesn’t it have cornering traction control?