2005 or 2004??

I have just purchased a 2005 Rocket and when poking around under the fuel injection cover I found the production date on the frame. The date is 05 of 2004, this seems to be a very early 05 model or is it really an 04??. Does anyone know the cutoff for the 04 model year?. Thanks

[Multibob]

DNAH,
All Rockets are model year 05 and the model was produced very early to fill requirements for it's early year release. me thinks 06's will be at the normal release date.

[Aussiebikerdave]

Hey Dan, welcome to this motely but growing collection of wizardy old rocketeers! Davo

[Tacker]

The way to see if it is 04 or 05 is to look at the sump if it has 2 hex socket screws together you can see them on the side of the sump plat it is a 2004 if no screws 2005 But all rockets are 05 models confused so am i

[Toystoretom]

It is confusing... I think there were actually some 2004 models sold in the UK but all USA bikes started as 2005. Mine was delivered at the end of Sept. 2004 and the Production date is 06/04, but it was a 2005 model on the MSO (manufacterers statement of origin).

Tomo

[Diego]

Yes, a great many 2005 Rockets were manufactured in 2004. I suspect Triumph originally intended to introduce the Rocket as a 2004 model, because at least one member from the UK has one that is legally registered as a 2004. But since shipment to its principal market, America, didn't take place until summer, nearly all Rockets on the road today have serial numbers in the range Triumph designated for 2005 models. (I got mine 13 months ago, for instance, and it too was manufactured in May 2004.)

This is common in vehicle manufacturing. Car dealers are having "employee pricing" closeout sales on their 2005s right now so they can begin selling the 2006 models in a few weeks. Will anyone buying a 2006 Toyota next month believe those clever carmakers somehow brought it back in time from next year? Or will they just figure it was built here in good ol' 2005?
:-)

[Jamie]

"Model year" is an elusive concept. Here, my RIII, imported in Switz in Sep. '04 (amongst the first 6 in West Switz) and registered a month later, is definitely a '04 model by all accounts (official homologation registry, importer and dealer papers, used value appraisal for insurance purposes, etc.).

And I like it that way...the puerile sense of being a pioneer... the tongue-in-cheek snubbing of new RIII owners... :razz:

[Flydive]

Well, like Jamie said here in Switzerland bikes, and cars, model year is the year they are built, sold and registered, mine was first registered in august 2004 and is considered a 2004 model.

And I believe this is the right way.

I mean is like British magazines, in August they sell the October issue??!!??
I fail to grab the sense of it.

ciao

[Aussiebikerdave]

The "model year" depends on who you are talking to and when you are talking to him/her! let me explain.

If it is purchase-a-new-car-time and you are purchasing in November or December '05 and there are no apparent changes between this year and the next, you will be told by the eager salesman that this is an '06 model even though it's manufacturing plate says it came off the line in Oct. Of course, this encourages you to buy now and not wait because you will always be told that there ain't any new changes on the way.

On the other hand see what happens at trade-in-your-old-vehicle-time. You roll into the yard with your old vehicle nicely polished on the outside and vacumed out on the inside hoping for the best trade-in price. The salesman, not quite so eager, looks at you then gives your vehicle a cursory glance. You own one of those models that doesn't change a lot from year to year so the salesman asks, "what year is she?"

Knowing that it was built in November/December 1999, you reply, "she's a 2000 model mate". As if to call you a lier he immediately goes for the bonnet latch. Emerging from the engine bay a moment later you are politely informed that it's actually a 1999 model. " lookey here see, it's written on this little plate" :evil:

Ever had this senerio played out... it happened to me just recently! Davo

[ This message was edited by: Aussiebikerdave on 2005-08-28 15:51 ]