Been lusting for a Rocket 3 Touring for the last couple years. Found a 2013 with lots of bells and whistles and only 2050 miles in California. Flew down, bought it and rode it home to the eastern Washington/Idaho border. First a little background. I've been riding since '69. Got my first "big bike" a '67 Triumph T100C in 1971. I've owned nothing but Triumphs since. My current stable is a 1975 T160 Trident, '98 Trident 900, '06 Scrambler 900 and a '95 Trophy 1200 4 which has been my trip bike and 2 up bike and is now for sale. Several other Triumphs in between. Riding these style of bikes to a R3 is quite a change. I was a logger for 22 years and got banged up a few times over the years and as a result am getting arthritic. 400 mile days on the Trophy were hurting me and it was time to make a change. Slow speeds (taking off, gas stations, stop lights/signs) on this Rocket are going to take some getting used to for sure, and I need quite a bit more practice before I feel confident enough to put the wife on the back. I have been reading threads on a couple forums about the Metzler tires and don't think much of them. They just don't feel right and they were properly inflated according to the owners manual.
I will put on Avons, which I have had on all my other bikes (except the Scram). Once rolling, this bike is everything I was hoping for. Very comfortable. Good power to pass and the ergonomics are great. I will be taking off the California smog apparatus this winter. Hope I didn't put anyone to sleep with this long winded post, but glad to be here.