New 2.5L owner, things I hate about the motorcycle.

[A1A Rider]

Ok, for those people in Europe. USA is so f-ing larger. Let me draw it for you. When you do 8 hours on your bike trying to leave a f-king state, for Europeans, it is like going across Europe, the pressure point on your foot after 8 hours is in a same place with pegs. When you are using foot boards, you can move your leg back and forth, it keeps the angle in the knee changing and the foot pressure is distributed across the full foot. Now, when you arrive to your destination, one that has floorboards can ride another day. One who has a peg, will need a recovery day, as that constant pressure point develops a painful memory. Now, are we on a freaking same page? Pegs are fun for a few hours but after 4 hours you need floorboards to carry you safely to ride again. Pegs are for kids who never taken their bike any serious distance across many days. Not saying it can't be done. But why scar yourself when floorboards are invented? In the end, it should be enjoyable, isn't it?!?

Imagine you want to go across Texas, for Europeans imagine you want to cross Russia, you'll want floorboards and a Glock 20. We are so alike!

 

[dfresh]

Different bikes are good at different things but I doubt there is a single bike good at everything. I bought my Rocket 3 for commuting to work every day and short trips which in my opinion it excels at and is a blast to ride in the process. If I want to take a longer ride, that’s when I jump on my Indian that provides more wind protection with more comfort and I’ve done 700 mile in a day rides on it with no fatigue. If I wanted to ride 2-up on a regular basis then honestly neither of my bikes would be good so you have to know what’s a priority based on your needs and that’s on you.

 

[Tal]

It is a great motorcycle, otherwise I would not have thrown ~28K USD on it. But not without its faults.

Things I strongly dislike about it:

- Inability to put on generic grips, there are so many better handlebar grips out there...
- Inability to put on floorboards, none are made for this model, GT and no floor board choices at all, shame, shame!
- Strange mix of allen/hex and torx bolts, I don't get it. How is that is superior to having a single type?
- I like the storm black, looks way better than prior silver models, but it still has too much silver displayed that cheapens it
- I truly hate the design for the BIG silver bolt heads, looks like a flower.. Silver. Same with the handlebar ends.. Not good for a sports bike or a cruiser to have such girly decoration. Who approved this ****?
- On a GT the boot heat shields are so small, they can catch laces easily. You'd want to put your leg down but the loop is stuck on the shield..
- The dash is terrible. Small font, can't see ****, too many numbers too close together, the frame of it feels cheap and too silver, again. Overengineered and over designed. You do know they have a normal rectangular display, and they put plastic dividers above to simulate, as if it is an array of smaller oddly shaped LCDs? OMG.
- The front mudflap from the rear wheel is too short, stuff always gets collected where the swing arm begins.
- I feel like the clutch is too stiff for a hydraulic one, could have been lighter
- The phone pocket under the seat is just needless. Who puts phones so far and hard to access?
- I don't get why the front turn signals are not reused to be also the running lights, like on most bikes nowadays...
- The rear brake (2025 model) is still lacking performance. Doesn't do a good job. There are heavier bikes with better rear brakes. I don't get the issue here. So many years trying to better it and it is still not optimal.
- The included tools on this bike from the side cover is just laughable. What you are going to do with it?
- The covers for coolant, oil, and gas are too plain. They made the bolts super fancy but left these covers plain as for a tractor. On a black storm the hugely silvery gas cap looks just out of place. Little thought went into most prominent feature.
- The gear shift pedal is too short. If you have a big size and riding in Harley style boots, it is troublesome to get under the shift lever, it is like you must ride in sneakers. The height is not adjustable. No other levers are for sale.

......sounds to me you didnt look too hard before you bought it...maybe its just the wrong bike for you or do you always buy a bike then totally run it down on the forum?...i suppose because it dosnt sound like a tractor youll be selling it soon then?

 

[Jagster]

......sounds to me you didnt look too hard before you bought it...maybe its just the wrong bike for you or do you always buy a bike then totally run it down on the forum?...i suppose because it dosnt sound like a tractor youll be selling it soon then?

Yep. That's my interpretation of the talk.
It sounds like a Goldwing would have been the better choice.

Curious thing, this discussion about footboards......I can understand A1ARider's reasoning for wanting to have footboards. That's a comfort/ergonomical preference.
However, If I was riding for that many miles that I felt I needed footboards for my feet, i'd also be wanting a fairing to take the wind forces off my torso and neck.
The Rocket doesn't have either of those key features.
When I test rode a GT, I could tell even after 20 minutes into my ride, that the feet forward set up was causing me some strain on my legs and ankles. The riding position also compounded the discomfort on some of the poorer road surfaces that I rode on, as all my weight was on my backside so all the bumps were felt, in not a good way.

It perhaps seems counter intuitive, but mid-controls have allowed me to ride all day without any feeling of any significant leg/foot discomfort. It's just not a thing I even think about.
My backside, yes. (Especially if the road surfaces have been poor). My neck, also. Especially if i've been riding at speed on the motorway for any long periods.
For context to my comment, i'm relatively slim build & 6 ft 3 tall with a 34" inseam.

 

[RUN666]

It is a great motorcycle, otherwise I would not have thrown ~28K USD on it. But not without its faults.

Things I strongly dislike about it:

- Inability to put on generic grips, there are so many better handlebar grips out there... I installed different grips in an hour of work
- Inability to put on floorboards, none are made for this model, GT and no floor board choices at all, shame, shame! Buy an HD or an Indian...
- Strange mix of allen/hex and torx bolts, I don't get it. How is that is superior to having a single type? - Alen/Torx/Hexa...who cares as long as you have the bits!
- I like the storm black, looks way better than prior silver models, but it still has too much silver displayed that cheapens it repaint your bike !
- I truly hate the design for the BIG silver bolt heads, looks like a flower.. Silver. Same with the handlebar ends.. Not good for a sports bike or a cruiser to have such girly decoration. Who approved this ****? Everyone has their own tastes, some people like Japanese ones
- On a GT the boot heat shields are so small, they can catch laces easily. You'd want to put your leg down but the loop is stuck on the shield.. buy boots without laces...laces look girly...
- The dash is terrible. Small font, can't see ****, too many numbers too close together, the frame of it feels cheap and too silver, again. Overengineered and over designed. You do know they have a normal rectangular display, and they put plastic dividers above to simulate, as if it is an array of smaller oddly shaped LCDs? OMG. go see an ophthalmologist
- The front mudflap from the rear wheel is too short, stuff always gets collected where the swing arm begins. You have to choose between looks and practicality...
- I feel like the clutch is too stiff for a hydraulic one, could have been lighter a short dedicated bodybuilding session should solve your serious problem
- The phone pocket under the seat is just needless. Who puts phones so far and hard to access? me
- I don't get why the front turn signals are not reused to be also the running lights, like on most bikes nowadays... It's an English motorcycle, not an American ****
- The rear brake (2025 model) is still lacking performance. Doesn't do a good job. There are heavier bikes with better rear brakes. I don't get the issue here. So many years trying to better it and it is still not optimal. you should get it into your brain that on the one hand the front brake also acts on the rear and, on the other hand, that the rear brake has a function of balancing the motorcycle more than pure braking... well , for those who know how to drive!
- The included tools on this bike from the side cover is just laughable. What you are going to do with it? throw them in the trash like all the tools provided by all brands of motorcycles...
- The covers for coolant, oil, and gas are too plain. They made the bolts super fancy but left these covers plain as for a tractor. On a black storm the hugely silvery gas cap looks just out of place. Little thought went into most prominent feature. Hey, for once, I totally agree!
- The gear shift pedal is too short. If you have a big size and riding in Harley style boots, it is troublesome to get under the shift lever, it is like you must ride in sneakers. The height is not adjustable. No other levers are for sale.
you should really go to the eye doctor...the nut/lock nut adjustment is located under the gear lever

 

[Dr.D]

I could not list that many things that I “ hate” on any bike I own. If I did I’d be selling very soon. Bikes are like tools, each with its own specific application.

 

[Einar]

- Fastener choice is based on things like torque spec, materials, strength, and (yes) cost. A manufacturer shouldn't use something that's easy to strip or snap where torque value is high or there's a higher likelihood you'll need to break it loose in the future. Some designs can be cut while others have to be cast.
- Not once when riding 500 to 1,000 miles in a day did I ever consider floorboards to be more comfortable. If anything, I found them less comfortable than pegs. With forward pegs you have the usual position where the sole of your boot supports the entire length of your foot just like a floorboard, but you also have the option to stretch out your legs by using them like highway pegs. If pegs are putting pressure in one place, then you're probably wearing boots with a soft rather than stiff mid-sole.
- The phone pocket is great for other things, too. I keep my registration document, spare ear plugs, spare camera battery, etc. in there. I also use it to hold an iPod so I don't run down my phone's battery while streaming music.
- Don't leave long loops on your boot laces. That's good advice for any activity requiring boots. If the laces are long, give them one wrap around your leg at the top of the boot before tying them.
- Why would you use the blinkers as DRLs when the headlights already serve the purpose?
- This is one of the lightest clutches I've ever used. My cable-clutched cruisers and dry-clutched Ducatis required significantly more effort.
- I find the dash to be one of the most useful one I've ever owned. Doesn't waste space or force you to constantly go through menus like the Tiger's screen, far more info than any cruiser, etc. Some touring bikes have better, more accessible information, but they have the real estate for it.
- I can get the rear brake's ABS to kick in easily. That means the rear brake is strong enough to overcome the tire's grip. Maybe something is wrong with yours?

That said, this bike is about looks and monstrous torque. You can slap other things on it, but at the end of the day a purpose-built machine designed for your intended use is going to be better than a Frankenstein version of another machine not built for that purpose. I only got the Rocket because I already had a Tiger which is far better for foul weather and long distances.

Honestly it sounds like you'd be happier on an H-D Road King, H-D Heritage Classic, or Honda Goldwing.

 

[Gimlet]

Ok, for those people in Europe. USA is so f-ing larger. Let me draw it for you. When you do 8 hours on your bike trying to leave a f-king state, for Europeans, it is like going across Europe, the pressure point on your foot after 8 hours is in a same place with pegs. When you are using foot boards, you can move your leg back and forth, it keeps the angle in the knee changing and the foot pressure is distributed across the full foot. Now, when you arrive to your destination, one that has floorboards can ride another day. One who has a peg, will need a recovery day, as that constant pressure point develops a painful memory. Now, are we on a freaking same page? Pegs are fun for a few hours but after 4 hours you need floorboards to carry you safely to ride again. Pegs are for kids who never taken their bike any serious distance across many days. Not saying it can't be done. But why scar yourself when floorboards are invented? In the end, it should be enjoyable, isn't it?!?

Imagine you want to go across Texas, for Europeans imagine you want to cross Russia, you'll want floorboards and a Glock 20. We are so alike!

I know how big the US is. It's 1% larger than Australia. I haven't been to the US but I have been Australia and travelled all over it extensively so I understand the distances involved. But whatever size your country you can only realistically ride for 8 to twelve hours max because you have to sleep at some point. I've done non-stop (apart from refueling) eight to ten hour rides in the UK many, many times. The longest single non-stop ride I've done was in the UK and it was was 800 miles, from Inverness in the Scottish Highlands to the south coast of England using only minor roads to avoid traffic and discover parts of my country I'd never seen before. It was in high summer and as I started at first light up north and traveled south I was chasing the sun and completed the journey more or less in daylight. It took over 15 hours at an average speed of just under 50 mph, stopping only for fuel and one short break for a bite to eat.
15 hours in the saddle is 15 hours in the saddle regardless of the size of the country you're riding in. And it easy to do those sort of journeys in the UK because our island has 260,000 miles of road. Plenty enough to ride round the clock if you want to.

I was riding a KTM 1190 Adv which has pegs. I never felt any great discomfort in my feet or anywhere else. I was glad of the opportunity to stretch my legs when refueling but each time after paying I jumped stright back on and continued, and next day I was back out on the bike again.

I have ridden bikes with foot boards and I find pegs more comfortable because I can move my feet around on them. It's just personal preference. There are no rules.

 

[Mighty Mouse]

The only problem with the pegs is the short length of 4.5 " (I think). I like the pegs but wish they were a little longer although that would mess with the lean angle. The pegs do have a spring so they bend. I have ridden like most over 8 hours in the saddle. My neck and lower back give me fits but the feet and ass are all good. Just based on your complaints A1Rider a different Motorcycle should be in your future as you seem to hate pretty much everything about it. If mine irritated me as much as your Rocket does you it would have been gone years ago. No reason to keep a bike you don't like and we all have little complaints about the Rocket. I do but I'm not giving it up anytime soon. I do like the T120 but that can wait a few years. When I do vent the other members on here tell me to pull the cork out of my as*. I did and feel so much better. Cheers.

 

[Gimlet]

The only problem with the pegs is the short length of 4.5 " (I think). I like the pegs but wish they were a little longer although that would mess with the lean angle. The pegs do have a spring so they bend. I have ridden like most over 8 hours in the saddle. My neck and lower back give me fits but the feet and ass are all good. Just based on your complaints A1Rider a different Motorcycle should be in your future as you seem to hate pretty much everything about it. If mine irritated me as much as your Rocket does you it would have been gone years ago. No reason to keep a bike you don't like and we all have little complaints about the Rocket. I do but I'm not giving it up anytime soon. I do like the T120 but that can wait a few years. When I do vent the other members on here tell me to pull the cork out of my as*. I did and feel so much better. Cheers.

Thinking about it, the pegs on my KTM are not round. They're flat off-road style pegs with serrated toothed grips, except your foot doesn't ride on the teeth because they have rubber pads inserted which can be removed for standing up during off-road riding. They do fold up and they're quite narrow but very comfortable. Maybe that's the answer.

But, given the ergonomics of an adventure bike you sit directly above the pegs so your feet naturally sit flat on them. If similar items were fitted to a R3 GT with a much more foot-forward riding position they'd need to be adjustable so they could be angled to meet the flat of the sole of your boot. Shame Pivotpegs don't make a plain set for the R3.