Intro

[cardinal93]

Welcome from Mississippi! You'll find the bike doesn't "feel" as heavy as it is. My wife has ridden mine on occasion and she's 5'5". You'll need to do two things for your concern...practice slow speed maneuvering and check your ego at the door if it needs backed uphill or on gravel. Let somebody help give you a push!

 

[ant]

Hello and welcome from the UK..

 

[ndag7]

Hey, R3Owners..I'm Brad. I have been reading the forums for about a year and hope to buy a black 2010 R3T from an Indian dealer within the next few weeks. I currently have a 2001 Yamaha Road Star 1600, and am trying to trade it in to that dealer. I love the rocket, but am still concerned about the weight. My bike weighs 137 lbs less than the rocket, and it can be difficult to back up on gravel and to balance at the top of hills where the edge of the road slopes to a ditch or gutter. I am 5'9", and about 180, and I want to do a lot of two up riding with my girlfriend. I would also like to have a trailer and hitch. I may try to go to the nearest Triumph dealer in Cincinnati to sit on a rocket before I make the drive for the one I want in Toledo. I don't know why it doesn't have a reverse gear, but any advice those of you with experience have on the weight issue would be appreciated. Thanks.

Hey Brad. I had the same concerns before I bought mine, but honestly, I barely notice it now. I'm slightly taller than you and about 15 lbs. heavier, but I really don't think you'll have any issues. The R3 is so unbelievably smooth when you're on it, it's almost like a car. And when you come to a stop and have to put both feet down, it's really not that bad. May want to work on your leg muscles a bit beforehand just to be sure though. Haha. Take care. -NG

 

[HELBOY]

Go for it!!!

 

[Tirawley]

Thanks for the encouragement. The 2010 Touring I'm looking at has 30,000 miles and they want $6,000 for it..I wish the mileage was lower as ithers I've seen, but they also tack on at least another thousand, and I want to finance it. Idk if that's too high mileage to be worth it or not?

 

[Chance Wirey]

Welcome Brad! I just bought a Rocket myself (2014 Rocket Roadster). I'm 6' 2", 250lbs. Previous bike was a 2009 Yamaha V-Star 950, which was about 150lbs lighter than the Rocket. I sat on both the Roadster and Touring before I purchased my bike. Ultimately, I thought the Roadster was slightly easier to stand than the Touring. And comparing the V-Star to the Roadster, the 150lbs extra weight in the Rocket was negligible--mostly because the majority of the Roadster's weight is down low in the bike.

Walking the bike in and out of the garage--that's where I feel the weight. Other than that, the biggest difference I feel is that the V-Star got real "floaty" around 75mph--whereas the Roadster is stable well north of 75.

If you're concerned about your height, my understanding is that you can purchase a Corbin seat which will actually take about an inch out of the seat height. I'm sure others here have information on how to lower the overall ride height of the bike, if that's what concerns you.

 

[idk]

Thanks for the encouragement. The 2010 Touring I'm looking at has 30,000 miles and they want $6,000 for it..I wish the mileage was lower as ithers I've seen, but they also tack on at least another thousand, and I want to finance it. Idk if that's too high mileage to be worth it or not?

I only have 126,000 miles on mine.

 

[hvacnr]

I got mine with only 26000 on it. the way I look at it is most of the bugs have been worked out of it.

 

[jake shaw]

Hi and welcome from PEI Canada. I now have a 2014 Touring which is considerably heavier than my 05 Standard. A driver backrest helps with backing up. Park wisely with the front end higher than the rear and you will be fine.

 

[vanguard138]

Hi Brad, welcome to the horde from Northern Michigan. I have a 2013 R3T with 42,000 miles on it. We have guys with over 100,000 on there Rockets. Do not let mileage with this engine scare you, just keep it properly maintained.

As far as size goes, not an issue either. I am 5-7 and 185. No problems handling her if I am smart and I live half a mile down a gravel road. I did lower mine with Hagan shocks and spring about an inch since I am so dam short Have had to stop next to the top of an apex in a curve due to construction without issue. Actually several times up and around the curve.