Totaled Rocket III Touring

[McRocket]

Are you crazy!

But here is the question do I stick with Triumph with all the BS they gave in getting the accessories to me? Or go Harley this time around.....

I have an 08 R3T. Back in May, in L.A., I rented an 2009 fully loaded HD Street Glide. Very nice bike...great paint, beautiful chrome. The Street Glide seems to be the bike most of the HD guys have wet dreams over. I rode for 3 days about 300 miles a day. I COULD NOT WAIT TO GET BACK ON MY ROCKET. Last month I rented an 09 HD Road Glide. Again...a very nice bike. I rode up the coast from Boston to Rockport then down to the Cape and then accross NY State all the way to Rochester and then back to Boston. I COULD NOT WAIT TO GET BACK ON MY ROCKET.

Here's the deal....If you let the Manhatten advertising execs ( who have never riden a bike and most have never left the city ) convince you that you ain't cool unless you wear black and ride a bike that is Too Hot, Just plain Slow, Way Too Loud, & needs way to much attention to keep it running right....toss your money at Milwaukee. Your can support HD who "F--ked" Buell, sold out to Wall Street and forsaken the real riders.

When I get board, I wander up to Cook's Corner's and watch al the HD people walk around and look at each others bikes comparing which piece of chrome they just paid 4 times it's real value so they tell each other how cool they are. All kidding aside, it is a cool scene, but once they get on the road, I just drive around em like they were sittin still.

I have owned 3 HD's, my last was an 04 Fatboy. I still think it is one of the best looking bikes on the road. But man Oh man, it aint no ROCKET. I got my first Honda Trail bike in 1964 when I was 12, my first HD was an 883. I have ridden all my life and I right now there are two bikes in my stable. My Hayabusa and my Rocket. Both are intoxicating for different reasons but if I could only have one crusier, it would be the Triumph. Follow your gut, not your ego. One last thing, if for some reason you don't like the Rocket, there a 4 world class cruisers out there I would buy long before anything from Milwaukee. That's my 2 centavos worth and I apologize if I offended anyone with my rant. Maybe that why I ride alone...

 

[TriumPhil]

You're kidding, right???

Please send me some of whatever you are smoking!

 

[CanberraR3]

Have you looked here: http://www.r3owners.net/bearclaw-corner/6894-why-i-bought-rocket-iii.html

Then see if you really need to ask.

 

[rayjay]

Firstly i would just like to say that i'm glad your OK
Having rode Harley's for quite sometime and tried most of the models including the Vrod..i won't be going back
I now have an 09 Rocket standard that i really like and i think as a cruiser it works well
also i have had the good fortune of getting the bike from a dealer who is friendly and helpful and has a great mechanic..so far so good. But if i were in the market for a tourer and planned on clocking up the miles..in my opinion there is only one bike to have and that is a Goldwing



Ray

 

[Kmutt]

Glad to hear your all right. Never a good thing to hear a fellow rider has taken a fall

Now on to a more serious matter......................Are ya stoned!
You know deep down that this bike rocks(et)! But maybe the bike might be to heavy for ya. I dont mean that in a bad way. but maybe the fit isnt right. If this is not the case (and I believe this to be true) you should let your wounds heal and test ride the other choices than test ride the rocket again. From there you can make the choice. You will still be welcomed here You might have to take some crap!!! But we will still accept you no matter what you ride and for what its worth (my .02 cents has went down due to the poor economy...its now .015) You should stay with the R3T. I wouldnt want any other bike.

good luck!

mutt

 

[BigWillie]

I still have two. I like to tinker with them but I haven't ridden either in at least two years. Can you really give up the power and handling? and braking, and not being put into that group of folks that buy a bike to say they are bikers because they own an HD even if they have one 3 years old with 1500 miles on it. Hope you are going to be OK from the wreck. Sorry you totaled your bike but better it than you. Seriously about the bikes. I have two harleys and two triumphs. The Harleys are sitting in the shed getting rusty. Keep planning on selling them but wont get anything for them. The Triumphs are just better bikes.

 

[laraza]

Looking at the harley Electra Glide ultra limited... Full loaded touring. I want to add radio and fairing to the rocket III before the crash and still would.

Things I didn't like about the R3

1) triumph USA customer service sucks!!!!!! Totally could care less about the bike rider
2) very hard to get aftermarket add ons
3) Triumph dealer has to do the first bunch of services as I like to do my own work.


Likes
POWER!!!!!!!

Man, sounds like you have already decided!

1) Do you really think HD cares about the rider?
2) Compared to HD Triumph's a niche brand
3) Every manufacturer wants to do your servicing (look at the HD handbook) if you can do it, do it!

Don't forget compared to any HD the R3T handles, brakes and produces power at levels HD's can only dream of.

 

[slidderhd]

I've owned 4 Harley Touring bikes and I have spent thousands trying to get the power up. I pull a trailer and haul my wife. I bought a used 2008 Rocket III Tourer 3 weeks ago. I totaled it out after 3 days. After feeling the difference in power and breaks, I seriously think you should forget Harley. Go with Harley if you want the comradery that comes with them. I do have to say that with a Harley, anyone who also has one accepts you as a friend. Wired but true. The Rocket Tourer is by far a better powered bike. Triumph and aftermarket just have to catch up with making available options, like a TRUNK. I plan on getting another Rocket as soon as I find another good deal.

 

[Bubba]

Well ..I must agree with the most ,I would never trade my Rocket for another bike !!!End of story.But before I rode a rocket I rode a ultra classic.Really was impressed untill I started looking at $$$$$ and miles on what my wallet could aford. I had 10,500 to spend on another bike . well ya cant get much harley for that MMM 1996 with 65,000 miles ready for upper end . I bought the 2007 rocket classic for 10,500 and with 2300 miles on it . Now that I have ridden a ROCKET.I could never swich to any other bike . I own a 1994 goldwing that I was always impressed with it,I can do wheelies and burn outs and make harley guys stop and stare .But I dont even have to do that with Rocket .I was at a big rally held at HD dealership . Guess were the crowd was . Yeppers around da Rocket . some guy came up to me and said look at all these HD and were the crowd is ,I Smiled big and said around my bike !!!!!! we both laughed. Me being a little guy 5'4"everyone always asks. Bubba you are the smallest guy in group why do you have the biggest bike , I just smile and say ,cause I can. ....Rocket forLife..even if have to trike it >>>or add a Hack >>>>>>

 

[JoseyR3Wales]

Buy the harley (lower case for a reason). Love to see you in my rear view mirrors someday while your engine screams "potata, potata, potata" . It ain't the meat it's the motion. Some folks are leaders, the rest are followers.........you decide what you are kind sir. I will respect your choice and your right to make it.