Triumph Rocket III reviews

Bulletproof. Powerful. Eye-catching. Crowd gathers everywhere I stop - most think the bike is brand new even though it's a 2009. Couldn't ask for a better ride - fast, powerful, comfortable, no need to shift much on mountain rides due to the massive torque from the 2300cc engine...and I'm a big guy. I highly recommend this bike for anyone looking for a worry-free bike that packs a wallop at an affordable price. Show less

I bought a 2005 Rocket along with a friend back in 2006, one road test sold us on the awesome power this bike had- I had the dealer install OEM cat delete pipes along with a tune boy PCM reprogram software to wring out even more power - 2005 bike was totaled in a garage fire and I immediately went out and bought a low mileage 2007 rocket with the running boards, I liked to classic better with just the pegs - my wife liked neither one of them, you just can't drive one of these bikes slow - I owned a 1989 V max at the same time and figured one had to go - kept the rocket due to the incredible torque started at 1000 rpm and just kept going - one of the few non HD bikes that is looked at in awe at biker bars Show less

We met at the dealership in Dayton, Ohio and it was love at first sight. The curves of her large gas tank, that huge 240 tire on the rear and oh those dual headlights! Her name is Bertha and she is fantastic! She does anything I ask her to do. The response of this bike is amazing and it is fast, real fast. It cruises down the road effortlessly and handles like a dream. She is an engineering marvel and I'm glad she is mine! Show less

What a fun machine and priced very reasonably. I rated performance as a 4 because of vibration above 80 mph. It gets a 3 for passenger comfort. The long-haul seat is very comfy for the rider but uncomfortable for the passenger and the passenger backrest is angled wrong - it cuts into the passenger's back. I spent an additional $750.00 Canadian to have an upholsterer fix the seat and a welder fabricate the new sissy bar. Overall quality is excellent and other than the couple complaints mentioned it is an awesome bike that really turns other bikers' heads - especially when you roar by them!! I plan to lower the bike by 1 inch (shorter shocks and slip front fork tubes) and download TuneECU for less vibration, better mileage and about 30 more ponies! Show less

I just finished a 1,200 mile ride down to Florida and back and the 2005 Rocket Three performed perfectly - about 40 mpg. It's very stable even in great crosswinds. The power is second to none!! The engine has a great sound, great throttle response and not a trace of oil leaks. This is my first shaft drive bike, very clean and quiet. Fortunately with this much power, it has great brakes. In cool weather it's perfect, but in stop and go traffic on a hot day the engine heat is a bit much. This is my favorite bike except on really hot days, then I park it and ride my 750 Interceptor Honda. Show less

I bought this machine in November, having never test driven it or even heard it idling. I spent a year agonizing between the Rocket III Roadster and the Ducati Diavel. In the end the massive difference in cost of ownership, the extra room in the saddle, the look of the bike and the attitude of the Triumph's engine won me over. There are many reviews online that will give you the right impression of this machine. It is big, but surprisingly maneuverable. It produces unholy amounts of torque and generous horsepower but in a very manageable and (unless you intentionally kick it) comfortable way. One thing that really impressed me is the gear box. The rocket is geared very tall, which causes absolutely no problems because of the torque the engine produces, but means that you can redline the tac at 95 miles an hour in second. You can even cruise along at 70 in 3rd gear with the engine roaring angrily but nowhere near its limit (I wouldn't want to do it for hours, but the noise the bike makes around 4,000 rpm. is breathtaking). The tall gearing matched with the engine's torque also means you can start the bike from a dead stop and comfortably drive any legal speed all without leaving 3rd gear. It's arguably more fun to start in first and let that engine sing its way up the cogs, but it is a fitting illustration of the bike's power and usability. The pilot (and I'm told also the pillion) seat is fantastically comfortable. I may someday experiment with an aftermarket seat simply to see what else is available but the stock saddle is excellent. On rides longer than a few hours, the throttle can feel a bit heavy (especially through cold weather gloves), but if you need one there are simple solutions for that at any bike shop. The breaks are very adequate and the antilock system inspires confidence when stopping this giant fast. To be blunt, this bike isn't for everyone. If you want a sport bike that you can call a cruiser, buy the Ducati Diavel. If you want a big chunky twin for the cadence of the engine the Rocket's higher reving triple will leave you cold. If you are like me and you generally drive at legal speeds, but you love the thrill of aggressive acceleration and limitless torque regardless of setting, this bike is for you. Standing still it draws looks and comments, with the engine running, it is even more aggressive, and when you tear open the throttle and blast past cages on the open road at unreasonable speeds it is simply indescribable. It's not for everyone, but for those of us who love it, there is simply no better machine on the market. If I had an unlimited budget and could select one bike to own, I wouldn't have to hesitate a moment to make it this bike. I've managed 2,500 miles from November to April. Every snowy day that left my Rocket III in the garage was torture, and I CAN NOT WAIT for this season to warm up so I can put real miles on. Show less

I've been riding my Rocket touring for a couple years now and put on plenty on miles. The bike just begs to eat up miles any chance you get. Not only is it very comfortable but it's fun to ride. It has very good handling for a bike this large and amazing performance. Show less

In a sea of Harleys this bike gets attention and rightly so. Mine is an '08 with 30k trouble-free miles. Just like the other reviewers said, it has loads of torque. About every three years I get the new bike itch but after this bike, there's nothing else I want except maybe a second dual purpose bike. Show less

It's a great bike with loads of power and handles extremely well on city and highway roads. I average 35 mpg. city and 40 mpg. highway. My only Gripe is the tires don't last long. I run Metzler tires. There does not seen to be many tires out there that will accomodate this model. 9,000 miles is about all you can get out of these tires. They are good tires and handle well, but expensive. Overall, I love the bike. Show less

I originally bought the Triumph Rocket III Touring Edition becuase I loved the look of the bike and the fact it stands out! I like HD but honestly there are so many on the road they just all blend in anymore. This bike handles like a mid-sized bike even though it is far from it. The torque allows for easy mountain riding as you don't have to shift as often to accellerate. The comfort level is fantastic with the wide seat and backrest and I love all the extras that were already on this bike when I bought it. I ride with guys on HD and Indian's and I get way more compliments on my bike than they do, not to mention I can smoke them going up a mountain! Show less