Why I bought a Rocket III

[TRath]

That is the most impressive part of dealing with Triumph, they have no problem what-so-ever with test rides. I think the only way I got mine with zero miles is because it was in a box when I bought it. Otherwise it might have had 2000 miles on her just from "here, take it for a spin". The other dealers I went to while deciding what to buy, didn't want to let me ride anything. In fact I never got to try the Yamaha Warrior I thought I was going to buy in the first place, they flat out said NO. It was on the showroom and they said they didn't want to have to clean it again just for a test ride ... DUMB.

Wow, there are times that I really wish I lived south of the border. I tried for months to get a test ride, even put in a few hours talking to the national rep for Triumph Canada to no avail. I put down my check never having turned a wheel and only ever hearing one running up close.

 

[HellFire]

Wow, there are times that I really wish I lived south of the border. I tried for months to get a test ride, even put in a few hours talking to the national rep for Triumph Canada to no avail. I put down my check never having turned a wheel and only ever hearing one running up close.

Your kidding! .... I don't have the best dealer around, but every time I take it in for something, they practically beg me to take another triumph out while I wait. So far I've test ridden a Bonnie, Thruxton, Tiger and an America while waiting for work to be done. They are fairly cautious about who they give an R3 too, you have to have a history with BIG bikes before they turn you loose on one of those, but for good reason. Just reading the stories here proves the strategy works, it's a excellent "hook".
TRath, did they give you reason for not putting your ars on one ASAP?

 

[pwrjunkie80]

Because it was the biggest baddest thing out on the the market!

Tim

 

[Anders]

Reprint from my first ever post here!

Hi All - Just Bought Barney!
At least that's what my 21 month old daughter calls the Wee Beastie! After her favorite purple dinosaur! I haven't ridden for 13 years, my last bikes back in the day in San Francisco were some Triumph T595s and Speed Triples, and a Ducati Il Mostro. Got the urge to get back riding about six months ago - bizarre as it may sound, I had a bad accident a year ago and went totally blind in my right eye. I find driving a car a bit of a problem as I have no 3D depth perception - I have an old classic '92 Mercedes 560SEC V8 - superb car, but it is a bit wide now after losing half my vision, LOL! Anyhoos after my eye accident last year, I got back into riding my mountain bike - took me a while to get my balance back, and I was enjoying myself here riding around St Pete Beach, but dicing with death every day on the streets with all the Q-Tips here in Florida. I soon realized that I would be much safer on a motorcycle than driving a car or riding a bicycle, active safety where I could boss things instead of getting out of harm's way all the time - after a lot of looking I found Barney up in Tennessee. Got a flight up two weeks ago and rode the Beastie back in 2 days - 800 miles, and had a BLAST! I must say my skills were VERY rusty, but I made it back after one or two 'incidents' (ran wide on 1 90 degree freeway on ramp, learned my lesson about approach speeds and lean angles) - I've now done about 1,400 miles and am a lot more confident with the weight and power, nowhere near yet exploring the performance envelope (the speed limits here locally are 35-45mph, all straight roads alas) - but I have got to say that this is the best bike I have EVER ridden, and the most fun on two wheels I have ever had in my life! This bike is pure design GENIUS, and is so good I can't believe it is actually legal! I have been lurking here for a while and have learned a lot - once again, my greetings to all fellow Rocketeers, and I hope to learn a lot more from you all on this fine forum! Cheers! - Anders




3 months later - this bike is so awesome I am still in lust, and the luuuuv is getting stronger every day! My mistress will be treated to lots of pressies, that will make her faster, louder, and reverse direction at whim, just like any good mistress should do!

 

[TRath]

Your kidding! .... I don't have the best dealer around, but every time I take it in for something, they practically beg me to take another triumph out while I wait. So far I've test ridden a Bonnie, Thruxton, Tiger and an America while waiting for work to be done. They are fairly cautious about who they give an R3 too, you have to have a history with BIG bikes before they turn you loose on one of those, but for good reason. Just reading the stories here proves the strategy works, it's a excellent "hook".
TRath, did they give you reason for not putting your ars on one ASAP?

After a bunch of squids plowed Harleys and ****** rockets into pretty much anything deadly, it get ridiculously expensive to insure demo bikes so there's only the one demo day each year per city. The Triumph day was a weekday during business hours, and I don't think they even had a Rocket on the truck.
I only got to demo my last ride ('07 Kawi Vulcan custom) because a buddy of mine has one.
That, the higher prices, and the 6 months of winter makes you wonder how Canada set record sales for Triumph last year.

 

[Jon Hill]

My brother had cancer and had avery short window, so he bought the bike new in BC and rode to Ontario and back as part of his last wish.(Rest of his wish was to ride with me to the east coast but he lost the fight before we could do it.)
The bright side to this story is he left me the rocket.Each time I ride i think of him and hope he grinned like i do when you crank the throttle.

 

[snuffcityrider]

My brother had cancer and had avery short window, so he bought the bike new in BC and rode to Ontario and back as part of his last wish.(Rest of his wish was to ride with me to the east coast but he lost the fight before we could do it.)
The bright side to this story is he left me the rocket.Each time I ride i think of him and hope he grinned like i do when you crank the throttle.

Sorry for your loss, that's one special bike you got there.....

 

[Anders]

My brother had cancer and had avery short window, so he bought the bike new in BC and rode to Ontario and back as part of his last wish.(Rest of his wish was to ride with me to the east coast but he lost the fight before we could do it.)
The bright side to this story is he left me the rocket.Each time I ride i think of him and hope he grinned like i do when you crank the throttle.

Hey Jon, I am very sorry for your loss. Cancer is a bastard. I lost my right kidney to cancer 2-3 years ago, and unfortunately the docs never got it out in time before it spread. Hit my lungs etc, been taking v expensive pills and other stuff etc for 2 + years - anyhoos, the good news, I have beaten the bastard, touch wood, and am trying to live life to the full - that means the biggest baddest bike on da planet - that'll do me! You riding your brother's bike is a wonderful tribute to him, fitting and superb.

 

[TriumPhil]

Hey, Jon, that's a lousy way to acquire a bike, but it sounds as though it came equipped with a guardian angel!

May your brother rest in peace.

 

[T Evans]

Jon

I started this thread to hear some of the great stories out there about how each of us wound up with a Rocket. I had not expected to hear a story like yours. It must be a great feeling knowing that every time you get out for a ride that you aren't riding alone
Thank you for sharing with us.

Big T