Considering a Rocket 3..

[alpental]

New guy here. Prior bikes were Honda, Kawi and most recently a Ducati S4.

Been off bikes for 8 years. 61 years old. 5 ft 11. 250 pounds. Very active and fairly fit.

Looking for a new bike. Read about the R3 and looked at one. it is huge. When i sit on it my are seem a bit too far apart and the tank feels pretty massive. I suppose that is what to expect on a beast of this size. My other options are Ducati Diavel.

I have no interest in V rod !

Riding will be local on weekends and maybe a bit of commuting but no panniers makes that tough with laptop. No touring in my future.

I asked about a test ride and salesman said if i call ahead they will set up an appointment."We have a nice 6 mile loop we can take you on."

Never before have I been escorted on a test ride and certainly not limited to a 5-10 minute test ride. i'd like to keep it a bit longer and experience highway and some twisties.

Am i being unreasonable? Are they being unreasonable?

They are the only dealer within 100 miles so i am sort of stuck.

Any thoughts are appreciated.

Truthfully how does the R3 respond in the curves? I know it is heavy and will respond slower than a Diavel or Duc monster but I assume once I commit to a line it will hold it pretty well.

Lastly any of you folks sorry you got the R3 as opposed to something else.

I can trump the new Monster 1200 in all but the tightest hairpins, and the new XDiavel has moved to a foot-forward position. Diavel still is more of a fat sportsbike in my opinion, as it doesn't make its power until way up in the rev range (8,000 RPM old model, 5,000 RPM new model), compared to the stock Rocket making full torque at something like 2,500 RPM. I've only sat on the Diavel and XDiavel, but all reports say they're not good for any sort of long-distance riding (whether your definition of long distance is 200 or 2,000 miles).

With Rockets being so uncommon, in my experience you're being a little unreasonable to expect a dealer to take you on any longer ride than what you're being offered. I couldn't even find a local dealer who would allow any sort of test ride of their Rockets. Maybe find one for sale on Craigslist and offer the seller some cash to let you ride it for 24 hours.

Along with everyone else here, I think you'll love it. The size melts away immediately at any speed. You'll get used to it pretty quick, and will soon start finding most other bikes "cute"! Get it. Get it now.

 

[dougl]

Some dealers have demo bikes, even Rockets. My dealer took out a brand new T-Bird with the gook still on it to let me test drive it.

 

[alpental]

Some dealers have demo bikes, even Rockets. My dealer took out a brand new T-Bird with the gook still on it to let me test drive it.

Looks like @dougl got some special treatment from his dealer!

 

[Jag]

Looks like @dougl got some special treatment from his dealer!

And I thought they were made in England!!!!

 

[TURBO200R4]

if the hd guys love there bikes like this it is because they have not rode a rocket 3

 

[Douglas]

It was a sunny day, mid-spring in Alaska, a Saturday afternoon. I cant explain what caused me to steer my truck in the direction of our local Triumph dealership...I quite honestly had no intention of buying a motorcycle...I had not ridden in 30 years. I walked in, looked about the place, saw the Roadster (A used 2010) and gazed at it for about 10 minutes. Eliciting odd looks, I ran for the door, jumped in my truck, and sped off to the credit union. I worried considerably that I could not make arrangements fast enough, that it might be gone.

A week or so later it was delivered to my garage...still snow and ice on the ground I sat with the door open for 3 weeks in a chair watching every molecule of snow and ice evaporate. There is no manner of entertainments, drugs or women that can substitute the experience of riding my Rocket...test drive? You don't need no stinkin test drive.

 

[travelguy]

THIS teaser video gives the first glimpse of the new water-cooled Victory model that will be launched next month.

Already previewed in the form of the Project 156 Pikes Peak race bike, the Ignition concept and the Combustion concept during the last year, the new model will go under the name ‘Octane’.

From the glimpses of the bike in the teaser video, the overall style looks fairly close to that of the Combustion concept, but with a longer rear fender and, presumably, much more silencing.

We understand that the new bike, which has a 1200cc water-cooled engine that’s derived from the bottom end of the Indian Scout motor but with new cylinders and heads for much more power, will use a cast aluminium chassis just like the one on the Combustion.

In terms of performance, Victory has already made bold statements that it will have the highest performance in its class. Given that the 160bhp Ducati Diavel is arguably in the same league, that’s a high bar to set.

All will be revealed on 19th February.



Read more: Victory teases new 1200cc Octane

 

[Claviger]

It was a sunny day, mid-spring in Alaska, a Saturday afternoon. I cant explain what caused me to steer my truck in the direction of our local Triumph dealership...I quite honestly had no intention of buying a motorcycle...I had not ridden in 30 years. I walked in, looked about the place, saw the Roadster (A used 2010) and gazed at it for about 10 minutes. Eliciting odd looks, I ran for the door, jumped in my truck, and sped off to the credit union. I worried considerably that I could not make arrangements fast enough, that it might be gone.

A week or so later it was delivered to my garage...still snow and ice on the ground I sat with the door open for 3 weeks in a chair watching every molecule of snow and ice evaporate. There is no manner of entertainments, drugs or women that can substitute the experience of riding my Rocket...test drive? You don't need no stinkin test drive.

Like you, I had already bought it before ever riding it, and there was never a single iota of buyers remorse, only longing for a second one to leave 100% stock aside from touring accessories for cross country trips when I get back mainland.

 

[alpental]

@Claviger when do you move back to the mainland? Where are you moving to?

 

[Claviger]

Not sure where, not up to me, military you see. Hopefully early next year so I can attend RAA 2017!