08 Rocket III Touring

[Dale Franks]

There's a first test ride report here.

About the looks, I don't really think it's a Harley copy. The bags, in fact, look a lot more like the ones on a Venture than a Harley, though all hard bags tend to look the same. That having been said, there is a resemblance to the Road King.

I think the real motive behind all the changes isn't that Harley does something. I think it's that the American cruiser market simply expects certain features and styling cues. Those things might have originally come from Harley, but now they're something that every touring bike manufacturer now includes for touring bikes in the American market. Triumph's no different from anyone else. If they want to sell touring bikes here, then they have to respond to those market driven demands.

The funny thing is, that while I like the Rocket, and came close to buying one a few months ago, I am a Harley owner right now. I belong to the HD Forums, and I can tell you, most Haley owners there don't think that the Rocket Tourer looks like a Harley at all.

Harley owners tend to be a little...provincial.

I like the new tourer, though. I liked the R3 Classic, too, and I didn't buy it only because we couldn't work out a deal I could afford with the negative equity on my bike. But, come next year at this time, I may very well be looking really closely at the R3 Tourer.

[jmichaelbenzon]

Possibly the reason for the single headlight is to accomendate the aftermarket batwing fairings made for the H-D RoadKings? I have looked into this idea with the consideration of changing my Rocket to a single headlight to allow the fairings. Deadcenter.com sells a detachable fairing made for the RoadKing. I wonder if it is possible to fit their fairing to the new Rocket Touring? This could also explain the speedo on the tank instead of the handlerbars. Maybe Triumph has their own plans for a batwing type fairing.

[Readyt]

Originally Posted by jmichaelbenzon

Possibly the reason for the single headlight is to accomendate the aftermarket batwing fairings made for the H-D RoadKings? I have looked into this idea with the consideration of changing my Rocket to a single headlight to allow the fairings. Deadcenter.com sells a detachable fairing made for the RoadKing.

While driving back from the International Motorcycle Show in Ft Worth Texas, I saw a Large 18 Wheeler with "Triumph" all over it and a rear lift up as high as it could go with a large bike on it at "Eurosports".
So I u-turned and and came back to Riverside and it was the Triumph Demo team and 4 of the New Rocket III tourer's. The rep said that they couldn't configure the quick release parts with dual lights so they made the switch to a single. It was a major decision to change it.


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[anthonyky]

I ride a Speed Four and the dual head lights give off much more light and make the motorcycle more visible. I wish Triumph did keep it on the touring motorcycle.
I wish I had known about triumph being in Ft. Worth during the IMS, I was there also but did not see the truck.

[Pig9r]

Yep, just like a Harley, they even copied the 140 ci watercooled inline triple to a "T."

[B02S4]

I was seriously thinking about buying a 2008 H-D Road King. But now I'm going to hold-off until the new RIII Tourer is here.

I tested an 07 RIII with bags & a screen, but I didn't care for the handling at all. IMO, a stock RK handles much better than a stock 07 RIII.

I would prefer dual lights & a forward gauge cluster on the new RIIIT. Dual pipes = good. Bear claw = bad.

My local dealer told me that Triumph would only commit to provide them with 2 RIIIT's...

[gararnett]

Looks like an FLH/Road King mated with an old Honda Valkarie. I am underwhelmed to the max. This is one Trumpet I would not buy.

[Readyt]

Originally Posted by Pig9r

Yep, just like a Harley, they even copied the 140 ci watercooled inline triple to a "T."

Per the Rep, Hardley sent them 10 bikes to study, and they focused primarily on the Road King and Street glides.
The bike is awesome in person though. I feel privaleged as to have sat on it and fired it up. These are the exact bikes that were in the Hill ****ry of Texas that all the media tested and rode. Check out these videos:
http://video.google.com/videosearch?...=1&sa=N&tab=wv

[Hooligan3]

Didn't Honda build this bike 10 years ago and pin a Valkyrie badge on it? Sorry, Triumph but I admired the originality of the Rocket III.

[Ugarte]

Originally Posted by Hooligan3

Didn't Honda build this bike 10 years ago and pin a Valkyrie badge on it? Sorry, Triumph but I admired the originality of the Rocket III.

As far as I know the original Rocket III is still being offerred in various flavors, the Tourer is an addition to the stable. Obviously Triumph felt there was a niche to be filled and they are attempting to fill it........only time will tell if it works out.

I prefer the original too, and mine is all decked out with touring stuff anyway sans the electronic cruise control. I figure about 200k miles before any overhaul work will be needed so I will likely own this Rocket for several more years. There is absolutely nothing else out there that interests me in the cruiser world except just to take a test drive.