What motivates you?

honestly i was looking for a big touring bike, the price was right , it was not a Harley and the wrist to smile factor was insane.

I've been riding Triumph Triples since 1976, when the Rocket came out in '04 a mate bought one new, rode about 100 miles straight to my place and said hey look at this.
I took it for one short ride, then as they say, the rest is history.

Started off street riding on Kawasaki triples. Then had a couple of Honda Magna's ( the last being a V-65 !). I bought a basket Harley Electraglide cause all my friends were buying them. Rode that for 20 years. Really missed the performance of my earlier bikes. The final straw was when the wife whooped me in a drag race with her six cylinder Pontiac Bonneville (it wasn't even the super charged one ). Was starting to look at Valkyries. Then saw an R3 in person at the Michigan Blessing of the bikes. Became interested. Rode one, became VERY interested. Bought one. Haven't looked back.

I always liked going fast, and wanted a powerful bike, but just couldn't get comfortable on a sport bike. I had moved up to a M109 which was considered fast for a cruiser, but it couldn't reliably be modified for any more power. A friend joked that he heard somebody made a 2300cc bike, so I had to look it up. I was telling my friend @Boudreaux about it, and he said he'd read up on them before and sent me a link to an article about Carpenter's 240 package. That day I decided that I needed a Rocket with a 240 hp package. Eventually I got the R3, but I never got the 240

I always thought I could either have a truly fast bike or a comfortable bike. I've finally found both.

I have been riding since 1970. I have owned or ridden all types of great and no so great bikes. I love bikes of all types. I am all of 5" 8" 190 lbs. So the size of this bike was not really a consideration. I have always leaned more towards Kawasaki than any other. Just like I lean towards Pontiac and Chevrolet. But I never closed my eyes to the others. I have had countless bikes including several Shovels and Evos, Hondas and Yamahas, Suzukis and of course Kawasakis. Two Triumphs, a TR6 and a 750 Bonny Chopper. At the time I bought my Roadster I owned a 2000 Valkyrie Interstate, 01 ZRX, 89 Springer and a 08 VN2000. When I rode the Roadster I was blown away by the # 1 Power, #2 Handling of a big cruiser, # 3 the brakes, # 4 Reliability, # 5 The Power. I was smitten. The price had nothing to do with it. Comparing it to a H-D had nothing to do with it (there is no comparison). I am a bike guy, the bike had everything to do with it. The Rocket is an all around performer, it is without a doubt a biker's bike. For a guy that has 40 plus years of riding and wants a cruiser that will keep up with a sport bike and a cruiser that will out cruise the competition the Rocket fits the bill. I can cut a curve, race a 1320, stop on a dime, and ride a 200 mile day on the same saddle. I hope this helps.

mouka said:

Think of THE main reason you bought it and share it with us.

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Spend a little time here and realize there are many Rocket 3 owners who are just plain 100-200 lbs overweight. 2300cc overweight.

Of course I'm in the tip top bad knee 6'2" 185 lb range

Lust at first sight in a random parking lot. Took one for a test ride thinking maybe it'll scare me or I won't like it.

1/2 hour ride and it was over. TAKE MY MONEY !!

Hmm... I've rode most of my life with really high CC bikes, the smallest bike I've ever had was a 750, then after that was 900's, then 1300s, 1700 and finally 1800's... that was my M109r... I was not happy with the performance of the M109, gas tank too small, too much plastic, tranny issues... The Rocket I saw once in a while at abike show and I didnt like it... but after a while I looked at it seriously and thought that the roadster was freaking gorgeous with the dual pipes on the back. I didn't even test ride one. I traded my M109 in and got a good deal on it and I payed the difference towards the Rocket and never looked back. The rocket is a really cool bike with real metal parts and plus it has nice readouts, gear indicator and ABS ETC... It's a great bike!

I've only been riding five or six years now. Mostly 2-up, so pillion comfort is important.

Cruisers best fit my riding style and needs; but the bikes always felt like they were missing something important.
Yeah, V-twin torque can make red light to red light fun. But, the acceleration above 60 mph left a LOT to be desired. Drop a gear then hammer it and you can pass; but what about getting the heck out of there fast?

So, I wanted a bike that was comfortable for rider & pillion on 10 hr days that could take the whip at 70 and not feel anemic.

Found a R3T two hours away, took a 'chaperoned' test ride to make sure it wasn't a kludge and wrote a check.

I love the looks, REALLY love the power all the way up, all I wanted and more. And do enjoy the fact that it's not a black street glide.

As to size. I'm 5'7" and the bike is a beast. I keep a close eye on the surface anytime I'm slowing to a stop, try to avoid getting gas at the diesel/gasoline pump and take extra care when I park.
Other than that; if she's rolling she's a tamed beast.

rocketpockets05 said:

Lust at first sight in a random parking lot. Took one for a test ride thinking maybe it'll scare me or I won't like it.

1/2 hour ride and it was over. TAKE MY MONEY !!

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YES I rode and owned all the other cruisers and none have an engine with the potential of the ROCKET so I had to have one for us to modify at CARPENTERS and it did impress us by making over 245 HP on the first engine package and what a blast to ride then I had a big comfy cruiser that could beat the obnoxious crew of sport bike riders that I know so this big bike does it all