Is my Rocket III Touring too heavy for me?

[Bedifferent]

Yea, but it required a few grunts and a specific technique. I crouched down by the downed side of the beast and leaned back into it while pushing out on the handlebar for control. Was really concerned about pushing it over onto its other side, until I remembered I could extend the stand to prevent that

I'm only 40, and I have a lot of experience and practice lifting, so it wasn't bad for me.

Well, I turn 70 this month and although I work out 5 days a week doing both weights and cardio, it's a no can do for me. Maybe if I tipped it over and practiced I could get the hang of it....not! This would make it really tough...just got my carpal tunnel and trigger finger fixed in the right with the left hand in about 3-4 weeks. Fortunately, it won't be riding weather till April or May.

 

[mexican]

Greetings Rocketeers!
I have been in awe of the Rocket III for years almost in the same way that I admired the Honda Valkyrie. So I decided to take the plunge and got a 2013 Rocket III Touring with 3,000 miles on the odometer. So the first weekend riding it I threw my back trying to back the bike into the garage (my driveway is almost level).

The next time I took the bike out, as I returned home and was pulling into my driveway at around 10 mph, I hit a pile of leaves and drop the bike (fortunately there was no damage). It took me about 45 minutes to pull the bike up using ropes, ratchets and my wife (haha!). I am not big but not a weakling either (5'9" and 180 lbs.).

I am starting to wonder if it is just too big of a bike for me. I was riding a Yamaha 1100 cruiser before and still have a Can-Am Spyder RT Limited. Would love to keep the Rocket but I am wondering if I would be better off with a Thunderbird Storm or something along those lines.

I am 5'4" short, had my rocket for 12 years almost and never saw it as too heavy, of course, i never had to pick it up from the ground, sorry about your misshap and welcome from Oklahoma!

 

[EasTexRIII]

Wow! Ya'll are really making me feel good. I spit mine out from under me on a patch of black ice right after i bought it and was scared i wouldn't be able to keep my feet from slipping out from under me picking it up on the ice. I just grabbed the handlebar end & seat back pad & picked it up. I'm 54 so I guess it was adrenaline..... or the time I spend in the gym

 

[TURBO200R4]

well i have let mine fall over a few times. and my wife helped me pick it up. i don't think that she could pick up 50 pounds. but i have tried it on my own and could not pick it up.
now i figured i would be smart and carried several 2x4s in the saddle bag also a 2 straps to suck down the forks so they would not stick out so far. well i got to try it out and i could not lift it and put the blocks under by my self. a couple of big guys stopped and stood it up thats when the straps did not work because the forks were sucked down the bike would not stand up because the kick stand would touch the ground long before the bike was up all the way.
i have put about 30000 miles on the girl and hardly ever drop it anymore. all that i can advice is make sure if u r stopping in a curve that u straighten up the bike before u stop. also if u r falling over and u have the room u can hit the throttle a little and she will stand back up.
plus what others have said.

 

[kenne]

I agree you need to take a bit of time to plan where to park your bike, when I first got mine went for a ride through the hills, stopped at a popular biker place had to do a U-bolt to get a park almost dropped it then in front of everyone, got around phew didn't drop it. Proceeded do the reverse park pushing back straight into a pothole with bikes and cars coming past into first pulled out again second time lucky got a bit of a reverse run up and managed to get the rear through the pothole, didn't drop it but i tell you what some very nervous times bikes either side of me and lots of onlookers. Nowadays if a spot looks to hairy I will park down the street and walk rather than even have to think about picking up the bike.

 

[Tripps]

Wow! Ya'll are really making me feel good. I spit mine out from under me on a patch of black ice right after i bought it and was scared i wouldn't be able to keep my feet from slipping out from under me picking it up on the ice. I just grabbed the handlebar end & seat back pad & picked it up. I'm 54 so I guess it was adrenaline..... or the time I spend in the gym

I picked mine up several times like that the first couple years, but thankfully I haven't dropped it since then, I was 5 years younger.

 

[kjones256]

I am overwhelmed by the number of responses and show of solidarity. I feel better already. I have only been riding for 7 years and this is my 4th bike but the biggest one by far. I appreciate all the advise. I will put it in practice.

 

[rocketjohn]

So far I've had mine take a nap on me 3 times, and on each occasion there were helpful souls nearby more than willing to help get her upright. Well once in the garage I got it up myself.....be sure to use straps to hold the bike when it's on a jack! And make sure the kickstand is down before you lower the jack!

 

[Comotion]

Greetings Rocketeers!
I have been in awe of the Rocket III for years almost in the same way that I admired the Honda Valkyrie. So I decided to take the plunge and got a 2013 Rocket III Touring with 3,000 miles on the odometer. So the first weekend riding it I threw my back trying to back the bike into the garage (my driveway is almost level).

The next time I took the bike out, as I returned home and was pulling into my driveway at around 10 mph, I hit a pile of leaves and drop the bike (fortunately there was no damage). It took me about 45 minutes to pull the bike up using ropes, ratchets and my wife (haha!). I am not big but not a weakling either (5'9" and 180 lbs.).

I am starting to wonder if it is just too big of a bike for me. I was riding a Yamaha 1100 cruiser before and still have a Can-Am Spyder RT Limited. Would love to keep the Rocket but I am wondering if I would be better off with a Thunderbird Storm or something along those lines.

Unless you are really small, it's not too big for you. I went from a 420 lb. bike to this. As you've seen in previous posts, there is a technique for lifting a heavy bike. I think the stock handlebars make it handle "heavy" in slow speed situations, and I'll be changing those out soon to gain more leverage.

 

[mexican]

AND its very hard to push the bike with a CAR TIRE and thats an indication of the rolling resistance

Which means more tire contact on the road, which translates to better traction and breaking power, smart move