Is the Rocket III for me? Hi from Canada!

[peter k]

Welcome from down under ,this has been an entertaining thread to say the least .hang around and you'll see they really are a good bunch of blokes

 

[CanberraR3]

I wouldn't be going too much on Triumph's numbers. The claimed increase in power with the 2010 Roadster either wasn't really there at the back wheels (extra weight) or was easily gained anyway. The removal of the restriction in the first 3 gears with the 2014 is also no big deal as most owners did that simply anyway. A more important factor is that the ECU in the new model is locked, which is perhaps why Triumph decided to derestrict it to prevent problems with owners funking things up by trying to do it themselves. If you think you might want to retune or enhance the bike's performance down the track, a 2014 may not be the best option. Go for the latest earlier model you can afford or if looking pre-roadster, go for a 2009, the best of the lot.

 

[ricochet]

I wouldn't be going too much on Triumph's numbers. The claimed increase in power with the 2010 Roadster either wasn't really there at the back wheels (extra weight) or was easily gained anyway. The removal of the restriction in the first 3 gears with the 2014 is also no big deal as most owners did that simply anyway. A more important factor is that the ECU in the new model is locked, which is perhaps why Triumph decided to derestrict it to prevent problems with owners funking things up by trying to do it themselves. If you think you might want to retune or enhance the bike's performance down the track, a 2014 may not be the best option. Go for the latest earlier model you can afford or if looking pre-roadster, go for a 2009, the best of the lot.

Hi CanberraR3,

Due to the market here in Canada, we don't get many models of these at all... In fact I've never ever seen a Triumph on the road except for a Daytona and a Sprint(?) the touring one... For example the dealership is telling me that they are only receiving 2 (TWO!!) Rocket III's for the entire years allotment. The 2012 is starting to look a little better !

 

[TasRocketRider]

I wouldn't be going too much on Triumph's numbers. The claimed increase in power with the 2010 Roadster either wasn't really there at the back wheels (extra weight) or was easily gained anyway. The removal of the restriction in the first 3 gears with the 2014 is also no big deal as most owners did that simply anyway. A more important factor is that the ECU in the new model is locked, which is perhaps why Triumph decided to derestrict it to prevent problems with owners funking things up by trying to do it themselves. If you think you might want to retune or enhance the bike's performance down the track, a 2014 may not be the best option. Go for the latest earlier model you can afford or if looking pre-roadster, go for a 2009, the best of the lot.

Sage advice.

I don't get Triumph doing this, they must think the buyers of there bikes are stupid. One suspects there sales forecasts for the R3 2014 will not be achieved.

 

[Sensfan]

Hi CanberraR3,

Due to the market here in Canada, we don't get many models of these at all... In fact I've never ever seen a Triumph on the road except for a Daytona and a Sprint(?) the touring one... For example the dealership is telling me that they are only receiving 2 (TWO!!) Rocket III's for the entire years allotment. The 2012 is starting to look a little better !

I cant speak on behalf of the roadster, but I bought a cord, downloaded tune ecu, and my 2013 R3T is a COMPLETLY different bike now, snaps hard with a lot of torque. as I offered before, I can drop by the Triumph dealer in Ottawa, or on their website (Ottawa Goodtime center) you can find their entire Triumph inventory with a little digging.

 

[Dawg68]

Hi CanberraR3,

Due to the market here in Canada, we don't get many models of these at all... In fact I've never ever seen a Triumph on the road except for a Daytona and a Sprint(?) the touring one... For example the dealership is telling me that they are only receiving 2 (TWO!!) Rocket III's for the entire years allotment. The 2012 is starting to look a little better !

Thats what happend to me last year, arround Feburay walked into the dealership to purchase a 2013...all sold for the year and no more comming in so I ordered a 2014 and patiently waited.

 

[ruzzle]

..... A more important factor is that the ECU in the new model is locked, .

Richard... do you have anything definitive on this? Locked ECUs seem to be becoming the done thing with EU regulations, but someone (Barbagris???) said it only applied to certain models. And Wayne Tripp recently commented that he had not (yet) seen a Rocket with a locked ECU.

So far all I've seen is comments from the "rumour mill." Would be interesting if anyone has anything solid on it....

 

[kaivalagi]

So far all I've seen is comments from the "rumour mill." Would be interesting if anyone has anything solid on it....

I agree, I have a red striped 2013 reg'ed roadster (2014 model) and haven't dared to try changing the ECU settings yet...I have done diagnostics and downloaded the stock map onto the laptop just fine though using the standard cable etc....I do get the feeling the bike will be fine but I want to see someone else doing an edit first I wouldn't mind adjusting the clocks 5% and upping the speed limiter value for starters!

I don't think all 2014 bikes are locked out, it's not compulsory yet!

I'll do some digging at the Triumph dealership on Saturday, I am taking the bike in for engine bars to be fitted (finally in stock and part of the deal when bought in September)

 

[ruzzle]

I'll do some digging at the Triumph dealership on Saturday..............)

Trouble with dealerships is, half of 'em don't know, won't admit it, and will tell you anything.... to maintain their God-like image...... and a lot of the rest will tell you that it's been done to stop you being naughty with your bike......very hard to know if you're getting informed fact...

 

[CanberraR3]

I don't know about definitive but it's what I've been told by a Triumph rep. I see discussion in other places that sometimes the same models can come out with different ECUs. VW for example, depending on which plant they came out of. No denying there is a requirement for locked ECUs and as far as I can tell Triumph is introducing it on all models post 2013. I guess that doesn't necessarily mean it's being implemented uniformly. There's a growing number of techs advertising that they can unlock any ECU, so maybe it's not a serious problem anyway. Anyone's free to find out for themselves or take a chance or cover the expense of unlocking, but there is growing evidence that locked ECUs need to be fitted to all new vehicles. As far as I know that applies to 2014 Roadsters - but maybe not every one of them.....