Is the rocket a dangerous/unforgiving bike?

[dfresh]

I don’t think in good faith I could ever recommend the Rocket 3 for a new rider. I grew up on dirt bikes and stuff but even my 999cc bike was a bit of a stretch for my first street bike to be honest and it took me awhile and it’s 200lbs lighter than my Rocket. It’s not riding in a straight line that’s difficult, that’s easy. It’s about control of the bike in critical moments that are not anticipated and bike weight and weight displacement make a big difference in ease of control and precision in handling. I’ve taken 5-6 courses over the past 7 years and average around 7K miles a year on my bike and I still feel I have a lot to learn and more room for improvement.

 

[sunny]

I don’t think in good faith I could ever recommend the Rocket 3 for a new rider. I grew up on dirt bikes and stuff but even my 999cc bike was a bit of a stretch for my first street bike to be honest and it took me awhile and it’s 200lbs lighter than my Rocket. It’s not riding in a straight line that’s difficult, that’s easy. It’s about control of the bike in critical moments that are not anticipated and bike weight and weight displacement make a big difference in ease of control and precision in handling. I’ve taken 5-6 courses over the past 7 years and average around 7K miles a year on my bike and I still feel I have a lot to learn and more room for improvement.

so as per this logic boss hoss riders should have atleast 100 years of experience ?

 

[Mongler07]

I don’t think in good faith I could ever recommend the Rocket 3 for a new rider. I grew up on dirt bikes and stuff but even my 999cc bike was a bit of a stretch for my first street bike to be honest and it took me awhile and it’s 200lbs lighter than my Rocket. It’s not riding in a straight line that’s difficult, that’s easy. It’s about control of the bike in critical moments that are not anticipated and bike weight and weight displacement make a big difference in ease of control and precision in handling. I’ve taken 5-6 courses over the past 7 years and average around 7K miles a year on my bike and I still feel I have a lot to learn and more room for improvement.

like a new new rider, not even able to ride a bicycle? i agree. BUT if you have passed an MSF course i see no reason you can't ride the biggest baddest motorcycle of any kind. I do not like the camp of "starter motorcycles to learn on" all it does is give you an unrealistic new skill set that changes the moment you get on a BIG bike you wanted to graduate to. I know most of the European areas all go a graduated engine class and thats smart but it still means you can learn on a BIG bike. the engine power is not the issue, its the size and weight that is the hard part. Its like saying, learn to drive in a small car before you go to an SUV. also a good idea but thats not how freedom works.

 

[Jagster]

Comparing the HP2 and the Rocket 3, I would suggest that the Rocket 3 is an easier bike to ride on the roads safely in the hands of someone relatively new to bikes.

My logic is based on the riding position and the sharpness of the riding dynamics, such as sharpness of throttle response, brakes, steering geometry and height of the centre of mass ( i.e. ratio of wheelbase to height of centre of gravity).

The Rocket 3 rider ergonomics is pretty upright, and the handling will tend to be more stable at normal road speeds which makes building up experience while riding the bike in the early stages a safer bet.
Put the bike in 'wet' mode and ride it in a normal and relaxed way. Then gradually build up the speed/acceleration over time.
Scare yourself in a safe way......if that's possible.

 

[Gimlet]

I'd rather let a novice ride my Rocket than my Ducati. That's an attack dog with zero rider aids. It's caught me out a couple of times and I'm used to it. I'd just pulled away on it one time, got into second gear when my jacket felt rucked up at the back. I wriggled in the seat to get more comfortable and inadvertently tweaked the throttle and did an instant 45 degree wheelie. I only had one hand on the bars as well. Fortunately I'm used to that bike turning itself into a unicycle when the mood takes it so it wasn't difficult to get it under control with a touch of rear brake. At least you won't have that problem on a Rocket.

That said, I wouldn't let a novice ride any of my bikes...

 

[dougl]

Aside from being careful with the throttle, the weight takes some getting used to. This is true for any large bike. If you’re back paddling into a parking space and your foot slips, the bike will slowly fall over and there’s nothing you can do to stop it, unless you’re a lot bigger and stronger than me. The bike also has a lot more momentum than a lighter bike and getting it to turn is harder. I learned this quickly with my first Rocket III, the largest bike by far I had ridden in 35 years, on a wide sweeper on-ramp to a highway while racing with a Harley. At the apex of the turn, I was going too fast and was slowly drifting into the guard rail, but fortunately didn’t lose it. The newer Rocket 3 is a much better bike in terms of brakes and suspension but it can get away from you. So be careful while you’re learning how to use it.

 

[Chris141]

As this is a Rocket forum, you are going to get nothing but glowing reviews and rightly so. The R3 is a very well designed and engineered bike and as a result is very safe, in the right hands.
You state that you don't have much experience. Imo, the R3, although you could quite easily ride it, is not the bike for you at this stage.
There is a VERY high probability that you will drop your bike, regardless of what you are riding, at some stage purely through inexperience. I'm not saying that you are a bad or unskilled rider, but riding motorcycles is a skill which develops through experience. There would not be one single member of this forum who hasn't dropped their bike, at some stage. When I say "dropped" I'm not talking about crashes, but slow speed spills through over balance or gravel or slick grass, etc.
Usually more embarrassing than injurious, minor damage can result to your bike. The R3 being such a heavy bike, if she decides to go down you'd have to be well placed or Arnold to stop her. The way they are designed, even a small fall can cause substantial dollar value damage.
So, my point is, hold on to your goal of owning and riding a Rocket but garner another twelve months or so experience riding before pulling the trigger and investing big $$$.

Yes, it is a bit concerning that it's much heavier than my current bike and that there are no viable options for mounting crash bars/drop protections. I may wait a bit more before I get one, meanwhile I'll practice more and do some advanced courses to improve my skills. Thanks!

 

[Chris141]

I tend to agree with what Bosco15 is suggesting.
Why rush into buying the biggest bike out there, so soon after you begin riding bikes?
Take your time to savour all the different bikes out there that are lighter and less powerful.....and less costly, so if you do drop your bike in the earlier learning/development period, it won't be so damaging to your wallet.
Give yourself a year or two to develop your riding experience. It will be better for you in the long run.
There are quite a number of people who only ride a bike at a weekend for a short 'ride around to the cafe to meet up with friends' kind of thing. There are others who really put the distance in, and the time in also. The difference in riding experience and therefore ability, is pretty significant.
So, what i'm saying is.....if you must have a Rocket 3, put the time & distance into developing your experience, then trade up to the Rocket, or an HP2, or what ever.

I find it a bit concerning that you appear to be just focussing on the most exclusive high end bikes. You state that you have very little riding experience because you are new to biking. I assume therefore that your quest for one of these high-end bikes is almost entirely an ego thing. After all, with the limited experience that you have at the moment, you won't be able to utilise the performance on offer.
Be careful of letting your ego take control of your mind.

Take it easy and ride safe.

I have only 2 years experience mostly commuting and I wish I had started sooner
I arrived to this choice searching for a bigger more comfortable bike because I'm pretty tall and I don't really like adventure/enduro bikes nor cruisers (not yet at least) and I want a riding position where I can use my legs to support my weight when necessary. Unfortunately I don't have a chance to test it here. Ducati Diavel and HD Fat Bob where on my list as well, but also not available to test ride
I must admit that the way the rocket looks is one of the reasons I like it, somehow demands attention It might be a little bit of ego there I think. But you're right, I have to improve my skills as much as possible before getting a rocket.
Thanks and ride safe!

 

[Chris141]

There's nothing inherently dangerous or difficult about the Rocket because of it's power. It's a very easy bike to ride and it isn't going to rip your arms off. It doesn't produce hyper-sports bike levels of acceleration through the gears, more a gargantuan sense of shove which is a different thing and something you can't get in the same way from any other bike, except possibly a custom-built big inch Harley.
Echoing what Bosco15 says above, low speed manuoeuvring is a possible pitfall for the inexperienced, especially the GT with its forward controls. If you fumble or make an error doing a taxiing turn with the steering on a tight lock and suddenly hit the front brake the biek can tuck and topple simple because of its mass. But this is only a matter of getting used to it. It's not in any way a handful to move around at low speed.

The only possible "danger" I can think of is its slight tendency to understeer on slow bends off the power if you don't consciously add a touch of countersteer. But it's no different in that respect to most big Harleys. If you jump off a supermoto and try and ride the Rocket in the same way on narrow twisty back roads it isn't going to work. But frankly your instincts will tell you immediately not to do that. At speed, especially if you keep the power on, it handles with incredible nimbleness and is more than capable of hustling much smaller and lighter bikes.
If you want one, buy one and don't be scared of it. Just treat it with respect and take your time to get used to it.

Thanks for the encouragement! I'll put the time to improve my skills as much as possible before getting one, at least I'll be in a better position to handle this powerful bike when I do
Ride safe!

 

[Jagster]

I have only 2 years experience mostly commuting and I wish I had started sooner
I arrived to this choice searching for a bigger more comfortable bike because I'm pretty tall and I don't really like adventure/enduro bikes nor cruisers (not yet at least) and I want a riding position where I can use my legs to support my weight when necessary. Unfortunately I don't have a chance to test it here. Ducati Diavel and HD Fat Bob where on my list as well, but also not available to test ride
I must admit that the way the rocket looks is one of the reasons I like it, somehow demands attention It might be a little bit of ego there I think. But you're right, I have to improve my skills as much as possible before getting a rocket.
Thanks and ride safe!

Just for reference...... I am close to 6ft 3 inches tall, with a 35 inch inseam.
I have a Rocket 3 R with mid controls, a GT seat and GT handle bars.
It fits me just fine and I am happy with the level of comfort and control of the bike, in this particular set-up.
I have tried other set-ups, such as forward controls etc.... and they are also ok for my size, but I prefer my set up best.

If you were local to me, I would be happy for you to try my bike out, providing I could see how you ride your current bike.

The Rocket 3 is safe in the hands of the average rider providing they ride in a thoughtful way.