Advice and Reassurance

[Eisenfarn]

Hi all, I really want to buy a Rocket 3R, not new, probably 2 or 3 years old, but have some misgivings about the running costs and a few other bits. I know these monsters only do about 30mpg, but that's OK, I have heard that doing the valve clearances can cost around a grand and need to be done every 20k, is this right?, I've also heard that one of the bearings in the shaft drive is prone to failre and cannot be replaced, which means a whole shaft assembly replacement, any truth in this?, last question for now, and the most important to me, how do these handle?,

I have 2 bikes at the moment, both on the road, a Kawasaki ZZR1400 and a Suzuki GSX1400, I'll need to part with one of these to get the Rocket, I'm a couple of months from retirement so I really want to make the right choice.

Appreciate any answers to my concerns

 

[technoguppy]

If this is going to be your "daily driver" then the cost of ownership is important and you're right to give it consideration. There are many variables in your equation. Do you ride a little or a lot (yearly mileage)? Are you a speed demon looking to max every gear from every traffic light or just getting around town? Do you ride with a passenger or heavy luggage? Gas is what gas is. The tank is smaller than previous version and as to what it costs to fill, if you're in the US you have no right to complain. The rest of us are significantly higher (unless you live in UAE).

Here is the one thing that doesn't have a cost but certainly lots of value. Every time (and I mean every time) I ride my 2020 Rocket 3 GT I love it. I get off the bike feeling better about the world, my personal philosophies, my chi is aligned, my karma is right, the wife looks prettier, my weight is down, I feel younger, etc.. For me there is no cost but there is value.

Watch a handful of review videos. Invariably, as some point, they open the bike up and giggle like a school girl! The torque, the power, all of it fills the soul and one giggles with enjoyment. This is true of me and I suspect others too.

I won't say "Buy it" or "Get it", what I will say is this...

I don't regret my purchase one bit. And if I lost this bike for any reason, I'd be back at the dealer tomorrow to buy another!

 

[Idaho Red Rocket 3]

That is a great response. Go with it.

 

[RugbyRef]

"Here is the one thing that doesn't have a cost but certainly lots of value. Every time (and I mean every time) I ride my 2020 Rocket 3 GT I love it. I get off the bike feeling better about the world, my personal philosophies, my chi is aligned, my karma is right, the wife looks prettier, my weight is down, I feel younger, etc.. For me there is no cost but there is value."

Couldn't have said it anywhere near as good as this!

 

[Jagster]

I don't see the fuel economy being any worse than the two bikes you currently run.
On a longer run at comfortable speeds I regularly see an average of more than 50mpg (Imperial gallons)......however, if you want to give your arms, wrists and fingers a workout, you'll be getting a lot less, but that'll be the same with your two current bikes.
I haven't had my bike long enough to be able to say how reliable it is at high mileages, but it's a big engine running at relatively low revs, so should be capable of doing high miles.

I wouldn't trade my 3R for anything else, but if I were to be objectively critical of the bike, it would be to say two things.
1, It's heavy to push around on even the slightest incline (Though, handles amazingly well at speed and in the bends).
2. It's not getting any awards for two-up touring and long distance journeys at motorway speeds, due to poor pillion seat and luggage options + wind forces/weather protection. That said, it's such a fantastic bike to ride around on, you'll probably not want the journey to end.

Oh yes......I find the insurance premium is a bit high, but I guess some folks will be paying more than others.

 

[sunny]

Hi all, I really want to buy a Rocket 3R, not new, probably 2 or 3 years old, but have some misgivings about the running costs and a few other bits. I know these monsters only do about 30mpg, but that's OK, I have heard that doing the valve clearances can cost around a grand and need to be done every 20k, is this right?, I've also heard that one of the bearings in the shaft drive is prone to failre and cannot be replaced, which means a whole shaft assembly replacement, any truth in this?, last question for now, and the most important to me, how do these handle?,

I have 2 bikes at the moment, both on the road, a Kawasaki ZZR1400 and a Suzuki GSX1400, I'll need to part with one of these to get the Rocket, I'm a couple of months from retirement so I really want to make the right choice.

Appreciate any answers to my concerns

All depends on your income/budget/deep pockets and DIY skills

Service cost - Rocket is most DIY friendly bike I have come across, Metric + Hex thats all you need perhaps few more OEM tools and you are good
- If you are DIYer then go for it, if not, you need deep pockets which is the case with any 2-3years old bike now a days

Reliability - its a low RPM engine, its gonna last 100K miles or more, some people on FB groups have done 65k miles on rocket already. I am not sure where you saw that shaft issue, I havent come across any yet.

Mileage = If you ride in rain mode and ride like grandpa then you can go up to 60mpg on highway, no, I am not joking I have done it on cruise control steady speed on highway ride no pillion, while in sports mode I have done only 22mpg with fellow Supersports 1000RR etc. riders.

Maintenance - Depends how you ride, I go through 1 Avon rear tire per year and I always have one in stock in my basement before the one on bike wears out. Some change every 2 or 3 years.

Power - I have done Quarter mile on my Rocket at 10.44 @131mph. Richard TTS supercharged Rocket has done 10.47s

Fastest quarter mile 2.5L rocket

Wheelies @10.7 run

www.r3owners.net

 

[Ezayakyala]

I think the shaft issue you are referring to is on the previous generation. This bike is very reliable. The only thing I have seen people complain about is rear brake going soft but i have not come across it myself and i have owned 2 different new gen rockets. A 2020 and now a 2023.

 

[sunny]

I think the shaft issue you are referring to is on the previous generation. This bike is very reliable. The only thing I have seen people complain about is rear brake going soft but i have not come across it myself and i have owned 2 different new gen rockets. A 2020 and now a 2023.

Just curious, whats the story?

 

[Moz]

There was/is a recall for the rear brake. Mine had the problem but a new master cylinder (larger internal bore I believe) was fitted and it's been fine ever since.

 

[Einar]

I track fuel consumption for all my vehicles with Fuelly, so I have solid data on all of them. It's true that the Rocket 3 gets about 30 US MPG in mixed riding, but cruising on the freeway at a steady 85 MPH (137 KPH) I saw 39 MPG over the course of nearly an entire tank. It's approximately 10 US MPG below the Tiger 1200 across the board.

As for handling, it handles just as well as the H-D Street Bob 114 did (which is a good thing). They're both low-CoG cruisers of virtually identical mass, so that's no surprise. I don't see specs for it posted online, but I suspect the Rocket has a bit more lean-angle available. Though that will vary with peg adjustment and location. As far as moving them around, the Rocket is easy compared to the Tiger which, due to its height, feels heavier and doesn't afford good leverage.