The stunning new Triumph Rocket III has a brutally powerful longitudinally mounted three cylinder engine displacing 2 294cc bolted into its massive tubular-steel spine frame. At just 2 500 rpm this fuel-injected water-cooled lump produces 200 Nm of torque — more than just about any pair of production motorcycles added together — with an enormous 180 Nm being on call anywhere from 1 800 to 6 000 rpm. And at idle the big triple produces more torque than the feisty 300 km/hr Kawasaki ZX-10R superbike does at its 9 500 rpm peak. Horsepower too is impressive, with the big motor dishing up 140 horses any time you want them.
Dig in the spurs and the world’s biggest production motorcycle is a devastating performer, despite its 320kg bulk. In fact, the bike’s weight and its long wheelbase make it remarkably easy to launch, and there’s nothing on this planet that gets off the line quicker. Get your technique right and the big Triumph will take you to 50 km/hr in a single second, and you’ll be touching the 100 km/hr mark less than two seconds later. The magic imperial tonne — 160 km/hr, or 100 miles per hour — is yours within 7,2 seconds of takeoff.
But the Triumph isn’t really a drag racer — it’s simply a cruiser with attitude, a soft-talking nice-guy with a PhD in bare-knuckle fighting. It’s a comfortable long-distance hauler as well, and copes with spirited riding along country roads better than most of its would-be competitors. Its shaft drive — a first for Triumph — relieves you of the burden of lubing a chain, and the 16 000 km service intervals mean that maintenance bills will be reasonable.
When the R159 500 Rocket III was first ridden by the world’s press in the USA last month the journalists raved about it more than they have about any machine since the ground-breaking Honda Four in 1969. Here’s a sample of what they had to say:
Motorcycle USA
… A large handful is going to have you thinking you have inadvertently hitched a ride on the Space Shuttle during takeoff, however, and you better be hanging on. As the approaching landscape goes into some sort of manic fast-forward and your stomach internals attempt to wrap themselves around your spine, the Rocket III just keeps feeling as if it is never going to run out of power.
… handling dynamics of a bike half its size.
… I snatched a very quick look down to see the speedometer needle approaching 120 mph, and couldn’t believe how hard the motor was pulling. It felt just as strong as it had a few thousand rpm earlier while still travelling at a law-abiding speed.
… .I can imagine new Rocket owners having a lot of fun with sportbikes out on the highway. Johnny Squid is going to be tap dancing on the gear lever while watching a very fat rear tire evaporate away in the distance if he tries to go up against this thing.
… With stunning performance, easy handling manners and very strong brakes, the Rocket III is going to be a star performer in most of the important dynamic areas.
… With a 240-section rear tire, three large-diameter exhaust pipes, and an engine that looks like it was dragged out of a bulldozer, the Rocket lll’s swagger is backed up by its roundhouse 2.3-liter punch.
MCN (Motorcycle News – UK)
… The Rocket III is huge, grunty and it bellows like a herd of bulls, but it’s also poised and practical.
… The Rocket III manages to be a beautifully balanced machine with predictable control and behaviour… . perfectly happy to trickle around town through the traffic and pose meekly in the high street despite its neck breaking stature. But – and it is a big but – it buggers off with the force of a raging rhino when you want it to.
… The Rocket III fires forward shockingly hard. And it’s much easier to launch than a big bhp endowed superbike.
… With Triumphs noisier aftermarket exhaust silencers the rasping scream is blood curdling.
… For a cruiser the handling is exceptional, blending stability with surprising agility and easy neutral steering.
… Its satisfying growling nature makes the whole Rocket III riding experience utterly addictive..
… To give it big revs from a standstill you have to be prepared to be fired from the line faster than anything you’ve ever experienced before”
… .Getting the Rocket III to heel over and change direction is fuss free… clearance and agility is much better than most cruisers.
… Perhaps the real surprise is the bike’s practicality. A figure of 40 mpg is realistic, as is a 220 mile range – far more than most cruisers. Comfort is exceptionally good. Build quality and detailing is pleasing too.
Infomotoi.com
.—Awesome is an over-used word – except when applied to the Rocket III. Then it is only barely adequate.
Bike SA
… I guarantee you’ll find yourself laughing out loud at the sheer invigoration of the absolutely awesome acceleration as the Rocket III pulls wide open from just 1 000 rpm in top gear
.—the transmission is so faultless with such a clean, crisp gearchange that you kind of regret not having to use it more – it’s honestly irrelevant which gear you’re in.
… it’s relatively easy-steering and unexpectedly light handling for such a massive piece of kit…