[Molinoman]

Disagree on Triumph Rocket's reliability

I had one electrical problem with my Rocket and that was the ignition switch which from what I understand is no longer a problem. The output bearing problems that were cited were mainly on the first two years of production of the Rocket around 2004 and 2005, Triumph provided rebuild kits for all those in warranty and did a lot of good will rear output bearing replacements well after the warranty was over.

As for touring my Rocket made the bike week trip in 2008 and for the heck of it I continued on down to Key West. The day I returned to Pensacola (make that Molino...just north of Pensacola) it made the 855 mile trip (115 miles or so in the rain) in one day so long term touring riding is not a problem with the Rocket...the new ones are even better and faster.

I also made a 2,600 mile trip to Baxter's Triumph in Iowa on my 2010 Triumph Thunderbird and had no problems at all on that trip as well...so either of these two bikes can "tour" now if you mean in comfort with a OEM stereo and cruise control...then the Wing is the thing. I would hope my current HD Road Glide Ultra would do the same but having owned those two Gold Wings I know handling is not the HD's strong suit...but in a straight line it should be more than adequate for the trip...I don't know if I would "feel" too comfortable gettin in the twisties however...getting old you know.

Right now I am seriously thinking of selling the RGU and gettin either a new Gold Wing/ABS or a Stallion trike...but the HD has to be sold first.

Dennis

 

[slather1]

I own a 2013 Triumph Trophy and have had no issues with the bike. I owned a Triumph Rocket the first year of production and had no issues with that bike either. I have owned more Hondas than any other brand. I like the Rocket and would get another but have trouble believing the MCN article. Which I have read, that rates the Rocket ahead of the F6B..

 

[Tooth]

Another Apples and oranges comparison.......cruiser to bagger......silly motorcycle journalism

 

[traveler46]

I bought a new Rocket 3 in 2006 as a stable mate to my 03 Wing at the time. I put 13k on the Rocket and did not feel the Rocket handled as well as the Wing in long sweeping twisties as it wanted to wallow in uneven curves and the Wing did not. I replaced the rear shocks on the Rocket with Progressive 440's and it made a huge difference. The Rocket was a rush to ride, engine torque was never ending. I rode an F6 and comparing it to the 2006 Rocket I had, the F6 is an easier bike to ride. Seven years of improvement on the R-3 may have made the handling better, but regardless, I really enjoyed riding the R-3 and it was also not another boring V-twin. Barry

 

[Molinoman]

On my last post I want to make it clear that I did not mean that the Rocket (Roadster) or even the Rocket Touring (the de-tuned model) would "handle" or manuever better now than in the past, I meant the the reliability has gone up a couple notches than what it used to be and that the Roadster is even better and faster than the Rocket Classic I used to own. The only real gripe, if you can call it that, is that Triumph did change the foot position some with the Roadster and it is not as "laid back" a cruiser as it used to be but now is a more "agressive" seating position with the foot peg position being the biggest change in that area.

Dennis