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I've had it for a week now and am really enjoying the bike. I had never had any interest in "cruiser" style bikes, and for years actually treated them with a little bit of derision. I've been into ADV bikes for a few years, and started looking at the Tiger 800XC last year, finally picking that one up last fall. For the last couple years I've come to appreciate the "social" aspects of the cruiser community, and the Tiger got me looking at the rest of the Triumph line. The Rocket III just drew me in.
When I first got on it (after riding the Tiger, which I thought was a fairly big, heavy bike, especially off-road) the Rocket felt huge, and like driving a Kenworth. That feeling went away in just a few miles, the size and weight went away as I got used to it. The torque creates permagrin. Roll on the throttle at any speed and RPM and it just pulls. Top gear roll-ons to pass throws you past 90mph in no time. At the same time, the bike is very comfortable and controllable at modest throttle. The weight is low, low-speed handling isn't an issue. And it's very stable on the highway-wind and windblast off trucks doesn't move it around much. The bike just feels very "solid" and impervious...you get the feeling that you could have contact with most cars and come out on top (don't try it) and feel sorry for the potential fur-bearing terrorist (deer). Just a delusion of course, don't know a better way to describe it. Oh, when I jump on the Tiger...it feels like a bicycle, VERY easy now to throw around! But where the heck did it's power go? I used to think it was fairly quick...now, twist it's throttle and you have to DOWNSHIFT...the horror! The Rocket does get attention wherever it goes. Despite being one of the lower priced bikes in the lot at our local bike night, it gets a lot of looks. And you don't see 100 on every ride.
I like the Rockets.. They are BIG, but nicely sorted.
My current (and only) bike is a Triumph Tiger 955i (girly). Love, love the triple.. It's big enough for me to ride all day, and just light enough to cruise around forest roads.
Triumph seems to take pride in their bikes, my friends Tiger went south during a warranty recall on the valve train, the shop had problems getting the motor back together and running correctly so after a few weeks they gave him a new bike of his choice and threw in accessories. A co-worker has a rocket he bought years ago, he hardly ever rides and last year the bike wouldn't start, I don't remember what broke but it was serious and although the bike had been long out of warranty triumph fixed it for free because it was something they said should not have broken. Have fun with that Rocket.
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