Will triumph developed the roadster any further

[RKTNMYPKT]

There's enough informatin on this site to resolve every problem with the Rocket. Either that or their R&D department could care less. If it wasn't for this site i'd have dumped the Rocket back in 2008. You ask most dealers around my neck of the woods simple questions about the Rocket and most don't have a clue. Tell them you want to go to the darkside or have the beaver done and they scratch their heads. ..

I went to the darkside once but her beaver wasnt done so I left...........

 

[R3Tex]

Truth is those that want a Harley buy a Harley, they sell themselves.

I've found this to be true as well...the wife has a T-Shirt that says "Four wheels move your a$$...two wheels move your soul". Every MC I've ever owned "spoke" to me in some way...as soon as I saw it I had to have it for one reason or the other and that includes the Rocket. First time I ever heard of a Rocket was when I saw it sitting on the show room floor...it was sitting in my garage very shortly thereafter. To make some attempt to control my MC addiction I have decided that the only timeI visit a dealer is when I have enough money in the bank to buy another MC...just in case

 

[lionel]

LIKE THIS?

A modern version yes, or based on the Dakota.

They have already started with the 111ci - 1819cc, V Twin, so if they were to look back on previous models then likely to do a four cylinder and go bigger than 2.3cc.

Sure it's all speculation, but would have a bearing on what Triumph plan to do with the Rocket.

 

[Dawg68]

I'm sure I'll get roasted for this...... but a spade being called a spade... it is a small market for such a large engine. Historically, oversized motors dont make it in the long run, rune for instance, couldnt cut it, its such a small market to cater to, we own monsters, not many people can ride them, or even have the balls to do it. WE LOVE our bikes passionately, but it is a rather small market share who would attempt to ride such a monster on a daily basis. Plus, usually it takes a larger man to ride it, ANYBODY can take a harley or a thunderbird and ride. We are in a class of our own, I will enjoy it, and now maintain my machine knowing that another equal shall never follow.

"Its a small market for such a large engine", sorry but I must disagree. You look on any forum for any make or model and all you read is about how owners are modifying their bikes to increase HP and torque. Look at people that ride wings on a daily basis, or full dressers, they are large bikes, with respect to physical size, the Rocket is not the heaviest bike out there.

Some of the bikes of past were taken out of production because the cost to produce didn't equal sales, basic economics. For whatever the reason, they didn't sell, we can only speculate. As for the Rocket or a Triumph bike in general, I have never seen an add or commercial advertising or promoting the brand outside of the odd motorcycle magazine. Public awareness about the brand in general sucks. When I was shopping for a bike I didn't even consider Triumph because I associated the name with machines like BMW, DUCATI and thought they were out of my price range. It was only by accident that I ended up at a triumph dealership, saw the T-bird........walked over to the Rocket....the rest is history, the bike sold itself. You can't just build something and put it on display and expect the world to jump on board......you got to sell the dream.

Sorry all, this is not meant to be a rant, just a part of the conversation.
Cheers

 

[kaivalagi]

I agree on the crappy marketing, the bike deserves much more effort, especially in the states where should be king really!

I think the bike also suffers from people knowing of it's existence but dismissing it because of it's size (atleast in the UK anyway), I didn't include it in my shortlists when shopping about but gave it a go when at the dealership and that was it....if only they took it out for a demo ride they'd change their minds...I am still working on some of my riding mates...

 

[Chris Kelley]

One of the things I've noticed about the Rocket when showing it off: It's always bigger in the mind's eye than it is in reality. I've shown my bike off to several people at which point I give them the wet weight and the response is always "Geeze that's friggin huge!" Then I ask them how much their cruiser weighs, at which point their stunned by how little difference there is. Most people who look at the thing expect it to be a behemoth that handles like a tractor and so they don't even bother. I really think that's the only thing that keeps it niche.

 

[CanberraR3]

I went to the darkside once but her beaver wasnt done so I left...........

Ah there's your problem. You won't find a beaver on the dark side.

 

[Triple Trouble]

One of the things I've noticed about the Rocket when showing it off: It's always bigger in the mind's eye than it is in reality. I've shown my bike off to several people at which point I give them the wet weight and the response is always "Geeze that's friggin huge!" Then I ask them how much their cruiser weighs, at which point their stunned by how little difference there is. Most people who look at the thing expect it to be a behemoth that handles like a tractor and so they don't even bother. I really think that's the only thing that keeps it niche.

After a quick search on the net I came up with these figures:
Rocket III 704 lbs dry 800 wet
R3 Touring 869 wet
T-bird 747 wet
Indian 800 wet
Road King 773 lbs dry 818 wet
Gold Wing 904 wet
honda F6B 840 wet
Stratoliner 813 wet

 

[Chris Kelley]

After a quick search on the net I came up with these figures:
Rocket III 704 lbs dry 800 wet
R3 Touring 869 wet
T-bird 747 wet
Indian 800 wet
Road King 773 lbs dry 818 wet
Gold Wing 904 wet
honda F6B 840 wet
Stratoliner 813 wet

Exactly, but for some reason when people see it the impression they get is that it weighs as much as a boss hog. (Or so it has been for my circle).

 

[Rick McC.]

I knew that my R3R weighed a little less than my son's Hardley.