VTX, Roadliner, and Rocket III

[TallTxGuy]

Before buying my R3, I looked seriously the V-ROD, the Roadliner, and, of course, the VTX. I am SO glad that I got the Rocket.
I don't have the road experience that many of my fellow posters have, but I have heavily researched many bikes including the aforementioned bikes.
All things being equal (driver, road conditions, weather, etc.), none of those bikes can touch the Rocket in a 0-60, a 0-100, or a 1/4 mile. If you don't believe me, look in ANY of the motorcycle mags' road tests, and you will discover the following truth: The only bikes that will toast me and my black Rocket are sport bikes. Of course, the sport bikes don't EVEN compare to the styling of the Rocket...
Yes, the 'Busa and the ZX-14 are monsters. They will erase anything out there. Yet somebody (don't remember who) in this forum put it best when s/he said that the Rocket has more than enough power for public roadways.
These friends that you mentioned in your post...they remind me of some guys I know. I've got a friend who owns a 1200 Sporty. He'll tell you that his bike is better than mine because it's got more class, it's got more tradition, it's got more prestige. It sounds better. And so on...
Another friend of mine has a nice VTX. He'll go the money angle with me. He'll brag about how his bike is nearly as fast as mine but cost $2 grand cheaper. He'll brag about how he has more available accessories. And so on...
My friend who rides a Yamaha Warrior will NEVER admit that my bike can beat him. He's got the STAR accessories on his bike. He swears that he can break the 11 second barrier in the 1/4 mile. The Yamaha just has a different feel than any other bike. It's much lower to the ground. It's truly a unique bike. And so on...
One thing does give me satisfaction. It's not the unique engine configuration or the instantly recognizable, truly unique exterior. It's not the performance numbers. It's not that my bike floats like a streamlined jet. It is that as I read the posts in this forum, I continually see one thing: As time goes on, Rocket owners become INCREASINGLY happy with their bikes. I don't hear Rocket owners comparing themselves to other bikes; instead, I hear Rocket owners talking about how much they love their bikes!
Tall Tx Guy

[ This message was edited by: TallTxGuy on 2006-03-23 18:14 ]

[cyclerider]

is a vtx or a roadliner faster than a rocket 3? nope! it's all about the power to weight ratio. the v-rod's time is pretty close to the rocket but if i have to put my money down, i would still pick the rocket to win in the 1/4.

those guys are smoking something alright...kind of like the cruiser guys that said they can outrun a sportsbike even though logic says otherwise.

[Aussiebikerdave]

What makes the Rocket special to me is not the outright acceleration because there's plenty of bikes out there like Triumphs own D955 and D675, that will probably hound the Rocket back to it's kennel in top speed as well as acceleration through the gears.

Nope, what the Rocket does best is shunt you forward in top gear at any speed like no other bike can. The sheer top gear hairy armed grunt that this bike dishes out makes all Jap power cruisers look second-rate and makes the Milwaulkie brand look totally stupid.

But thats not all, unlike most of the others, the Rocket actually handles, it's smooth yet still retains "character", it stops like a sport bike and best of all, looks like a Bulgarian weightlifter on steroids! Thats what makes the Rocket special! Davo



[ This message was edited by: Aussiebikerdave on 2006-03-24 03:00 ]

[Ugarte]

It is that as I read the posts in this forum, I continually see one thing: As time goes on, Rocket owners become INCREASINGLY happy with their bikes. I don't hear Rocket owners comparing themselves to other bikes; instead, I hear Rocket owners talking about how much they love their bikes!

Yes indeed! And those who have only tasted a Rocket with a test ride cannot know this...you have to own and ride for several thousand miles to truly get the feel of what the Rocket is all about. Most bikes get old and boring over time....with the Rocket its just the opposite.

[tbsrider2000]

The Rocket is the '69 Hemi Charger that I always wanted but never had. It's a big block muscle car. The kind that you would place a $20 bill on the dash and bet your passenger that they won't be able to grab it when you hit the gas because the massive amount of torque shoves them back in their seat so hard that they can't move. Are there cars faster? A Boss 302 will beat a Shelby GT 500 in the 1/4 mile.. But that big block torque always commands respect.

Same with the Rocket. There are bikes faster, sure. But no bike has that big block torque always available, like the Rocket.

[TallRocket]

Make certain someone takes a camera with you when you pick up your bike. That big ear to ear grin - just gets bigger.

In the year that I have had the Rocket, I have never been in a position of defending the purchase. I have certainly talked about the attributes of the bike. I have never verbally compared my bike to the other guys in front of the other guy, because the other guy will always be disadvantaged somewhere. Maybe that is also the reason the Rocket isn't compared in print to other bikes as often as I would like.

Before you leave the shop, adjust the stock shocks to at least 3 or 5 - based on your weight. They sent me out on the road at 2 - and during that first 500 miles I continually bottomed out the shock. If you don't feel the suspension working under you increase the shock setting upward until you do. Consider going after market if the 5 setting isn't working for you. Adding after market shocks is the single biggest ride quality improvement you can make.

[Royal-R3]

[/quote]
I should care less...but I still curious. Is is ture that VTX or Roadliner will out run Rocket III.
[/quote]

Interesting on the bike selection you picked... I ride with 3 guys, on has a 'CUSTOM' V-ROD... another has the Indian Chief, and another Honda's VTX. We have all rode together for several months, even before I got the R-III.

One day, during one of our rides, the guys wanted to see what the Rocket would do... So, at the most opportune time, there she was...FINALLY!! A clear stretch of road...

Light goes green, traffic clear in all directions...Slip 1st gear out easily and begin my roll across the empty intersection...

Once clear of the intersection hump, I roll on the throttle rapidly till she's wide open in 1st! WHOAA!!-Hang on NANCY!!!

With a roar, the Rocket leaps out of the gate like a bee-stung rodeo BULL-shift everything into superturbofastforwardhyperdrive as the road blurs instantly from behind my full face... helmet...

Get that left hand ready--> and a quick glance to hyperactive tach-just shy 6500rpms! NOW! WHAM!! Nail second expertly (for no expert) and the R3's 2nd gear booster kicks in, exploding me forward again! I wonder for a split second if that front wheel is going to clear Mother Earth, and I lean forward a bit more...as my seat puckers....

Enjoying the ride for that split second-What..?? Who's left hand is that? Is that my clutch? *****! Where's the Tach...?? 6.3 on the richter scale!!! GASCLUTCHUPSHIFTGAS Shazzam!!

Third and I'm really flying now!! WOW!! Nothing left but the vapor trail....115.....120........

Ease off, ease off...bring her down........110.....90.........70........60....... .. OOPs!.......State Trooper just went by in the other direction.....

WHAT A RIDE....... they only saw taillights... V-Rod, VTX & Indian.

[MikeRokkit]

I like my R3 because my ass fits on it better than it did on the VTX or the Harley I tested.

Great story Royal...................reminds me of the time............oh wait..............i guess its EVERY time......