Help me decide on my next bike

[cardinal93]

If you want power and speed and comfort get a rocket. If you want power and speed (cruiser style) and don't care for comfort or trips get the diavel. Sounds like you want bags which means trips which means the rocket is your next bike personally I'd recommend the roadster and you can add/delete bags based on your trip plans.

 

[cadconversions]

As far as the Touring vs. Roadster - I test drove both. At the end of the day, the peg position of the Roadster wasn't an issue for me and I actually preferred it. However, since then - I've considered trading to the Touring but didn't and here's why. I can add the floor boards to the roadster if I wanted...I can add Corbin hard bags if I want them to the Roadster...I can add a backrest for the passenger if I want it (and sissy bar)...I can add a windshield if I want it... I have two headlights that put out lots of light (special thanks to my two Harley Daymakers)...I even upgraded the seat to a Russell Day Long with driver backrest...but what I CANNOT do - is add a 240 rear tire to the touring and that was a deal breaker for me. On my test drive - I locked the touring back tire up by downshifting and releasing the clutch to slow me down. The torque of the motor overpowered the small back tire. Has never happened on the Roadster.

While there is an appeal at being able to smoke the rear tire on command - so far my roadster has never broken loose no matter how hard I've pushed it on a dry road. Just power to the ground and the other bikes fading in my mirrors.

 

[FR56]

Ducati Diavel...(not my cup of tea but a nice bike).

Interesting ride the Diavel. Its ergos said ramble; but its motor and handling begged to 'rage'

 

[geneseo1911]

While there is an appeal at being able to smoke the rear tire on command - so far my roadster has never broken loose no matter how hard I've pushed it on a dry road. Just power to the ground and the other bikes fading in my mirrors.

You must be doing it wrong Mine will smoke the tire or wheelie. Bike's choice. Always surprising, never boring.

For someone looking for a big, fast cruiser, there is nothing else in the class of the Rocket. But I might be biased.

The two biggest dings against the touring in my mind is the single headlight (not a big deal), and the instruments (deal breaker for me). I want a tach, and I want it on the bars. I could go either way on the big back tire, although like I said I don't get enough traction with my 240 Metz, so I imagine the touring would mean lots & lots of burnouts. I love the Touring factory bags. Comes down to whether you want forward controls, colors, and factory farkles, or not.

The touring can be made to have just as much power as the Roadster, so go with what you like. As long as its a Rocket. You won't be sorry.

 

[cadconversions]

You must be doing it wrong Mine will smoke the tire or wheelie. Bike's choice. Always surprising, never boring.

Yeah, I'm always jealous of the guys that can do that... However, at close to 300 lbs - I have trouble breaking the rear tire loose. Never have been able to on the road - but can pull a small wheelie on launch but have never just been able to stand it up. Of course, it also means it screams on take-off.

 

[Boog]

Hello Late2ride and welcome from Virginia. I would toss my 2 cents in and say go wth the Touring. You can take the bags and windscreen off when you wish and like other say, you can always modify the engine if you wish with intake, exhaust and tune changes on a budget or as you mentioned, spend thousands on chargers or Carpenter racing. Good luck and you won't be upset either way.

 

[Porky]

Welcome to the forum Latetoride!

I have a 2012 Roadster and really enjoy the bike, even for reasons other than it's OMG acceleration and massive torque: The bike is so stable, with absolutely no weaving or "hunting" that sometimes I swear that it/ we are riding on a trailer. The suspension is very nice as are the ergonomics. This is the first bike of 79 I've owned that has a riders backrest and I LOVE it. The way I ride mine, I always get around 45mpg+- and with the HUGE gas tank, it affords long distances between fill ups. It also just loves 87 Octane fuel. I will try to explain the power to you:

I had a new 2003 Honda VTX 1800 Retro and although I built custom 96 inch very high performance Harley Davidson DYNO winners in Southern California, that were full of roll on power and torque, the stock VTX would have wiped my hot Harley's out!

My new 2010 Suzuki C109R, their 1800cc cruiser was lots more powerful and fast than the VTX. (M109's Brother)

Neither of these even compare whatsoever to the acceleration and torque of the Roadster, at any speed in any gear and my bike is stock!

The thing is as friendly as a puppy when ridden sedately and has no intention of killing you, like a few of my past Supersport bikes or my past V-max but it will put a smile on your face.

I've had a few Ducati's and they were cool and the new ones with their extended valve maintenance intervals and sophisticated traction control/ ABS and sorted out fuel injection are sure nice bikes. The new Diavel's looks have been changed for 15 or 2016 (?) and the change is for the better as far as I'm concerned.

Neither of these bikes have enough dealer's in the heartland to give me confidence if I have a problem. Japanese dealer's are everywhere.

If I were carrying a passenger, I'd get the touring model, which will be more comfortable for both of you.

Everywhere I park the Rocket, it draws a crowd

Sam

 

[IROCKIT]

WELCOME