Triumph

[videoarizona]

[videoarizona]

No...not mine. Found sitting in the shade of a WalMart.

[Condor]

I've always been taken by Brit bikes. That looks so cool..... All black in Arizona??... Yep, find some shade.. :-)

[BratmanXj]

The Triumph Rocket Tour is rated for something like 105 hp and 150 ft lb of torque (90% of that is available at 2,000 rpm). I test rode one a few years back and they are SMOOTH, so much so I didn't even notice I was hitting 65-70 mph in 3rd gear on the highway. Dropped down a few gears and it just loafed along. On the flip-side that big ol' 2.3L 3cyl is a gas hog and only expect 30 mpg cruising, less if you're heavy handed which is so much fun on that bike.

 

Now the Rocket Roadster is 145 hp and 165 torque and will dam near stand a 1,000 LB motorcycle on its rear tire during a 2nd gear roll-on!

[CaseyJ955]

I rode one of these first year out. If I were going to drop some coin on a power cruiser this is hands down the first choice. There are head and cam packages out there that boost power quite a bit more, and turbo setups in case your completely insane. I bought a brand new *****en' red Sprint ST in 2000 and its the best bike I have ever owned. I would not hesitate to own another Triumph and if they ever fit this 2.3L to a dresser instead of a cruiser it will have my attention pretty quickly.

[BratmanXj]

2.3L to a dresser instead of a cruiser it will have my attention pretty quickly.

 

I wondered why they never offered a Fully Dressed version of the rocket when they revised the Trophy with full touring accommodations.

[CaseyJ955]

I wondered why they never offered a Fully Dressed version of the rocket when they revised the Trophy with full touring accommodations.

 

I dont know either, the Trophy is well recieved but down on HP when compared to offerings like the big nasty 6 pot K bike or FJR or Connie. If they did add a "Trophy 2.3" to the current model it would be amazing, but it would have to be a totally retooled and redesigned model. Anything that looks even remotely like an HD would not be my preference, but its what sells so I understand why they have it this way. Even a Trophy with a scaled back less torque/more HP/more rev 1850cc triple would be delicious. Maybe 115tq and 190hp@8500rpm... Just sayin'

 

The one I had was a 955 triple and the two most notable traits of that config (besides amazing sound) were usable torque right out of the basement that seamlessly ended up as splendid top end HP, it pulled fantastic from idle to the rev limiter. Also the most perfect EFI mapping I have ever experienced on a bike. Yup, I am completely sold on the triple. I have my $ tied up in other things right now and not looking for a new bike, but I would not be able to ignore my made-up Trophy 1800 or 2300. I would most likely buy it.

[BratmanXj]

Just saying if the offer the Trophy in full touring guise on the sport end of the spectrum why can't they take those electronics like cruise & audio and revamp them into a dressed version of the Rocket. It would still be on the cruiser HD Ultra, Yamaha Venture, Honda Valkyrie spectrum and would probably be very little design changes to the bike to offer it.

 

I do agree that triumphs 270 deg triples have supreme midrange torque compared to the other twins & quads on the market. I've spent some seat time in my buddies 1st gen 1200cc Trophy and it just glides along.

[CaseyJ955]

Just saying if the offer the Trophy in full touring guise on the sport end of the spectrum why can't they take those electronics like cruise & audio and revamp them into a dressed version of the Rocket. It would still be on the cruiser HD Ultra, Yamaha Venture, Honda Valkyrie spectrum and would probably be very little design changes to the bike to offer it.

 

I do agree that triumphs 270 deg triples have supreme midrange torque compared to the other twins & quads on the market. I've spent some seat time in my buddies 1st gen 1200cc Trophy and it just glides along.

 

IIRC the 1st gen Trophy had a 900 triple or 1200 four but I might be fuzzy on that, both fantastic according to owners. Considering how aweful Brit cars were (didnt stop me from owning several) its amazing how reliable, well built, well sorted the bikes are, not to mention how well they perform. I think your right about fitting options on the current RIII. I would probably still opt for a wing instead if they had legroom, I got the gen1 venture because I find it superior in comfort to any generation Wing, spoken with the highest respect for Honda of course. I saw a poll on this but a new venture in the spirit of the gen1 with the gen2 Vmax V4 would be tough to ignore as well.

 

I could very likely be in a minority in not finding appeal in cruiser-ish touring models and instead leaning more towerd K bike, Trophy, gen1 VR distance bikes. It could be negative bias left over from my HD days. I have not ridden a K1600 yet but Im not sure it would be easy to top a BMW inline six (which are absolutely lovely in cars too) worth 160tq/160hp. I spoke to a guy at the pumps that had one and he described it as absolutely ridiculous. I would really love to see more models in this class of hard hitting tourers with sport bike bones, even though some of them border on sport tour more than touring. That being said I did throw a leg over a Chieftain recently and I can definitely see why folks love cruiser tourers, HD better be worried about Polaris for sure. It just feels like theres room on the market for another large cal. tour bike along side the Wing and big K bike.

[BigLenny]

I LOVE this bike! Right after I purchased my RSTD in 2007, or local Triumph dealer (which has since closed) got a couple of these Rocket 3 Tours in. I test rode one and fell in love. Extremely smooth with boat loads of torque. But, I had just purchased my RSTD a couple months before, so that kinda kept me from buying one. The other thing that kept me from biting was, it doesn't have a cruise control. If that bike would of had a cruise on it, I might've traded right there on the spot. I remember thinking Triumph must be buying their saddlebags from the same supplier Yamaha does. There are vidoes on YouTube of somebody doing wheelies with the Rocket 3 Tour. That motor is stout.

[Kybigmac]

A friend of mine had one. Great bike! I might own one someday.

[BratmanXj]

IIRC the 1st gen Trophy had a 900 triple or 1200 four

 

You are absolutely right, still a good motor. Then I've only spent a small amount of seat time on the tipples then

 

I remember thinking Triumph must be buying their saddlebags from the same supplier Yamaha does.

 

I never noticed that before...the body is the same with a slightly different hinge.

[Condor]

You are absolutely right, still a good motor. Then I've only spent a small amount of seat time on the tipples then

 

Think about this... A V6 based on the V-Max V-4. 2400cc's. FI. Lower torque cams. In a Venture bagger... :-)

[BratmanXj]

Think about this... A V6 based on the V-Max V-4. 2400cc's. FI. Lower torque cams. In a Venture bagger... :-)

 

Uh...I like my arms and shoulder sockets

[CaseyJ955]

Think about this... A V6 based on the V-Max V-4. 2400cc's. FI. Lower torque cams. In a Venture bagger... :-)

 

Then I could buy a 71 LTD to save fuel and commute haha.

 

Actually that sounds pretty sweet, I like it! if we can keep it under 1000lbs I think we might have a winner.

 

Alternatively if wt/size becomes a factor we take the new vmax 1700 engine, retune heads and cam for low end and MPG as that engine is a thirsty pig, and we use a compact biturbo setup, sort of a minature version of what we see on the current generation 3 series. With such tuning to get decent mpg when conservatively riden we could focus on tear-jerking low and midrange torque under say...8lbs boost. Turbo A right off idle for reduced lag and turbo B from about 3500 to a redline of around 7500. So bulky, yes with the intake plumbing, variable length intake runners, hefty radiator and intercooler.

 

Under the skin of a fully modernized but retro styled skin to pay homage to the gen1 but aesthetically integrate the functional scoops harkening back to a gen1 vmax style but bigger. One side would house the intercooler and the other forced induction to the airbox. So 85mph at 2200 rpm pulling down 40mpg, mpg goes to hell with the flick of the wrist but your one sneeze away from 140 with a gear to go, if the sound of turbos bothers you than this is not a bike for you haha..

 

They will be available in pearl white and gunmetal with MPG, normal and white knuckle efi/engine control maps. In power mode MPG would be dismal but 225 hp at redline and 190 tq from 2000-4500rpm would be the reward. MSRP would be about that of a fully decked out CVO roadblock. Ill get my paypal up here later today for investors to help me get it going