Will triumph developed the roadster any further

[CanberraR3]

You're right Carlson. Just because people who have never ridden a Rocket are scared of them doesn't make them hard to ride. Some people on here seem to have bought their Rocket as a way to compensate for some shortcoming; those who believe it proves they have "bigger balls" or are "badass". Anyone who has actually ridden one on anything like a regular basis knows better. I bought my Rocket because of the thrill it gave me the first time I twisted that throttle; not to prove anything to anyone.

 

[DaddyRabbit]

I know what you mean. I've yet to have anyone take my offer to take mine for a spin. I hope I hear from the dealer tomorrow. Mine is in for vibration. (rear out put bearing ???) 7,351 miles.

My rear output bearing went out at about 14,000.

 

[TxRIIIRider]

I would not be surprised if the Rocket was killed off this year (10 year mark). I would kill it off if I was Triumph. Why have competing big bore cruisers? The Rocket never has been a hit with the magazine crowd, not a big seller, and I am sure not a huge profit maker for Triumph. Triumph has all but eliminated accessories for the Rocket. There used to be hundreds of accessories, seats, chrome doodads, even flamed and tribal body work kits... all gone. Even the multitude of oil tank badges are gone... The current Thunderbird (no match for the TBS!) is the media darling, magazines praise it. Triumph has four models of it now, more than the Rocket ever had.. I said when this Thunderbird came out, that it was the end of the Rocket. To be honest, I most likely would have bought one instead of the Rocket if they were available when I bought mine. I am glad I have my Rocket though.. Just went for a brisk ride this morning... nothing like hitting 100 MPH almost instantly! The new T-Bird can't do that like the Rocket!

 

[Rick McC.]

My R3R is the only bike I own, and I use it as a daily driver except when it's raining, or my back's out.

 

[carlsonp]

Amen, Cranberra. Thrill indeed.

Just test road the Thunderbird, my first ride on one (here for something on my other Triumph). They are not in the same league as the Rocket. A dealer guy said 'got some punch, don't it!' I didn't have the heart to tell him how gutless it felt.

 

[Big G]

I commute on mine 20 miles each way, 5-6 days a week! LOVE it!


Went to the bike week stuff here a few weeks ago. Did not see any other ones, however, the local triumph dealer was a big sponsor, with a decent presence.

 

[Idaho Red Rocket 3]

Rockets Forever ... at least mine is.

 

[Gregger]

If you consider the first generation of Speedys and Americas, accessories for them have been disappearing also. The new Americas have different triple trees, different windshields, wheel sizes, seat configurations, backrests and the like. Why would a manufacturer make accessories for an older line of the bike they don't sell anymore? I think the early Rockets are in the same boat. Maybe they figure everyone who owns an early Rocket or America or Speedy has all the accessories they need (sales may have dropped) and they are catering to the new crowd that wants everything blacked out..... (less chrome sales). From a marketing prospective, a slight cosmetic change will give people the desire to purchase those new accessories that give their bike the newer look. Just my two cents.

I really think the Rocket line will stay. It gives Triumph the only bragging rights for the "largest production bike on the planet"!

 

[Jeff Cameron]

My previous bike was a Yamaha FJR 1300....There was a large underground parts system in place ie individual riders that had a specific skill set at fabricating or electrical etc would make things and sell them to other users. They called them farkles (short for functional sparkly things). I bought a beautiful machine bracket to hold my electronic cruise control controller...the guy that made it was a retired machinist from the Jet Propulsion Lab so you can just image his skill level. There were also a lot of group buys....cost me a lot of money as it seemed I wanted whatever they were selling that month!

 

[andysbro]

Well back into our local dealer at the weekend, and been informed

that the rocket tourer is getting phased out to give way for the LT thunderbird in Europe , but not going out of production . Triumph had a 25 yr life span for the rocket so at least we got 15yrs left . Let's see if they can improve the beast if this is true. let's wait and see