The perfect bike for when your Peterbilt is in the shop and you have a 53' trailer full of beer to pull to Texas. Next year it will come with air brakes.
I always have moments of panic when I realize Zack isn't slowing down fast enough to stop behind the cars... then I remember he can filter. Every time.
As a european, I can't imagine not filtering at red lights and slow highway traffic, it removes 90% of benefits of having a motorcycle in a city if you can't do that xD
I love that Triumph has such an incredibly wide variety of bikes.. anything you could possibly want, gentlemanly, to adventurous, to downright hooligan ❤
@@Lowlander119 the 765 Daytona came and went ... it was a limited release. If it sold in big numbers, they would be on the showroom floor. But they don't. You can already see Japanese 600-class bikes drying up.
I got the GT and I absolutely love it. It's leisurely yet fast. Comfortable yet handles like a sports bike. Took it on a 800 mile trip and it was as comfortable as any bagger. Averaged 38-40 MPG with a light throttle hand. Average 32-35 blasting around town.
When you crank the throttle and it leans over it reminds me of those old WWI rotary engine planes that could sometimes turn faster by turning in the opposite direction and coming all the way around, rather than pull against the torque! Crazy stuff!
Great review! After 2,000 miles on the TFC variant I might add, the suspension, once adjusted (easy to do), smooths out those bumps. MPG is 45 and yes, it does have a quick shifter (which is a joy). It’s at the top of my leader board, a masterpiece of motorcycle engineering!
I found this video fascinating. Haven’t done Daily Rider before. You, sir, are good at this. Your giggle every time you really pushed it was great . . . .
Got my rocket 3 R about a month ago and have been commuting 5 days a week, it always gives me a grin! Love the content Zac! (Side note quick shifter is an accessory, works great)
How's the heat from the engine? Im from the Philippines. Weather is very hot and traffic is terrible. Will the heat from that massive engine boil my eggs?
Ahhh yeah I've heard people say its not too hot, however I've found it to be the hottest bike I've ever had (previously had a GSX1400 and a K1300R) - but it is bareable. I'm in Western Australia and we see high 30s/early 40s in summer, I wouldnt want to be on it in traffic/standstill above 37 - did that recently and yeah was pretty hot. Your leg is right next to the headers, but mainly its the general heat from the engine. Still don't let that discourage you - if you're able to filter and keep moving its fine.
I’ve been commuting on a Milwaukee 8 powered softail. Decided to swap for a Rocket instead of dumping a ton of money into stage kits. The Triumph seems to be a better power cruiser all around.
Props to Zach for showing your mistakes such as stalling this bike and fighting to keep it upright. Also, huge props for taking it off road, jumping it and wheelieing it! You could have used the “heavy cruiser” excuse, but you did not. Rock on! Great review, sir.
I own one, just bought it, put 3k miles on it bringing it home from the store, west coast to TN. great trip. Would do it again in a heartbeat. Plan to do the four USA corners in a counter clock wise loop - FL, ME, WA, CA with her in the spring. Funniest thing so far... Having owned it for about 10 minutes, I thought, let's see what she can do. So I quickly twist the throttle and she does take off, well, like a rocket, so much so that as she pulls me aft, inadvertently twist the throttle even more, pushing me back even harder, thus even more throttle, more push... All the way to red line governor. Riders are NOT kidding when we say "you better hold on, because she will take off in an instant and assume the rider knows what (s)he is doing". I am positive with some practice, I will get sub 3 second 0-60 times. Accelerate now, ask questions later. Maybe a safety sticker is needed.... "Warning: energetic use of throttle displaces riders." Anyway, love what Jim Anders had to say, and I echo it. Hard to get over that grin. And, like with most bikes (well, most things, actually), performance comes down to the (wo)man not the machine. If you ever get a chance to ride one, do it. Nothing like it imho.
'As long as you do so responsibly ZACK!' Love your reviews, you answer every question my inner hooligan asks. Loads of torque, cold tyres? Check. Sand on road, loads of torque? Check. Can you jump it? Check. Scrape the pegs? Check. Wheelie? Check. 👍
Back in the mid 2000's Triumph used to do Demo events. They had a semi truck with every bike they build. You would sign up ahead of time for a bike and a time.. they would have a person lead the ride.. about 20-30 min or so. always a good mix of roads too. When you got back you could then sign up for another bike.. or hop on whatever bike had not been scheduled for the next slot. Rode just about everything... the Rocket was INSANE... I think I might prefer an old one.. the older ones made peak torque at 2500 rpm.. they had one with an aftermarket pipe on it.. they sound AMAZING.. I was shocked how light it felt once moving.. but parking lot stuff.. you had to be careful. Street Triple was my favorite overall.. triples make great noises.
I was so close on getting one. I spent some time at the dealer just to make it or break it. I just thought in the end that it is not a good commute bike, it is 100% fun bike and not so practical. It is a very sexy bike, very quick and very well built. Triumph did it well. However, I went to a new Goldwing DCT Tour. Do not regret it for a min.
Great video as always, Zack! I especially appreciate the discussion on triples and the effect of camshaft spinning direction on the bike. Physics is dope.
I had the old Rocket 3 and absolutely loved it, I ran it alongside a Honda 125 as a daily. It was a pretty comfortable bike and I once rode it 650 miles from Northamptonshire to John O' Groats (UK) in one day and then upto Orkney, I'd like to ride the new one to see how it compares. I've just realised that I've become one of those old fellas who "used to own a Triumph" and I'm only 35 haha
Interesting fact, assuming that airplane was a Cessna 172 with a Lycoming O-360, this engine was probably making MORE horsepower than that plane, 160 horsepower (albeit 280-300 lb/ft of torque) but still, that’s out of a 5.9 liter carburetor, flat four
Ran into an older gentleman riding one on the parkway recently. He said he wanted something different. (All his friends on HD baggers) and liked the attention of owning one. He also mentioned it didn't do anything particularly well, and was ready for something different. It's a shame a person (grown man with disposable income) can't test ride a motorcycle. Harley Davidson only brand I know allows this. I'm certain this guy won't be a repeat customer for Triumph.
Love the Rocket 3! Tested it from a Triumph dealer once. The guy who rolled it out told me before giving me the key "just be careful with the throttle. It's so new the tires aren't fully broken in yet, so it can spin the rear in every gear." And since you praise the Duc, when are we getting a Diavel Daily ride? Love that bike too! Keep up the stellar content!
Dont push it into corners, just countersteer. For a bike it's size, it's surprisingly nimble! And if you do, I like to think of it as actually quite neutral too!
Well, you've got bigger balls than me! I have never taken my traction control off. I sold my 1700 Vmax to get the Rocket and love it! The handling is MUCH better than my Vmax's. I use my Rocket as my daily and love it - best bike that I have owned.... if you are gentle, this bike is gentle until you roll on the hammer.
@@JMaxRC yeah they are, I’m sure it’s because the didn’t want to make an effort for regulations. Even if they brought it back as a normal power cruiser I would’ve been happy, it’s one of those lines you just got to keep around for heritage
Having worked for a Triumph dealer here in the uk as a mechanic when the original rocket came out I thought it was awful as a bike but made an excellent trike. I have been a big fan of the Yamaha MT01 (1700 v twin in a sports chassis with massive torque and a soundtrack like a spitfire) but this new rocket means I’m now selling my Polaris rzr turbo to buy one now. Undecided on gt or the r
Zach must be one of the best motorbike reviewers on youtube. Even if the particular review bike is not my thing, he still makes me want to watch the full review. More videos, thanks! 👍 2020 KTM 1290r review if you have the time?
Zac, you were right about the Rocket 3 being a BSA. What a lot of people don’t know is that for a time BSA were being built in the Triumph factory ( they were going bust and Triumph offered them their factory to build BSA’s. also at the same time Triumph were building their Tridents to go up against the Rocket 3. I have the R3 on my wish list lol. Thanks again for a great video from down under😎😎🐝
When you own a rocket III your life is spent behind cars or passing cars. Also getting gas and tires. But it's worth it. My 1st gen get 33mpgs when I nice. Dyno'd and uncorked at 153RWHP156TQ. I've beat all the 600 crotch rockets I come up against, with saddlebags full of stuff and with the fly shield it cruses all day long a 95mph.
Sign of a great bike series (and channel) to me is when I watch it despite being a bit meh about the bike beinng tested/used. I admire the Rocket 3 greatly, but watched this for pure entertainment.
Dealer where I bought my GSA sold these also, so of course I took one for a demo ride. Traction control on of course !!! It handled well for such a big bike and made me giggle with every twist of the throttle. Seriously thinking about getting one except for the rough ride quality on rough roads. It has reasonable amounts of travel but yeah she’s stiff. That power though.
Quality video as usual! $22,000 (USA) = £16,800 (UK) - If I wanted to buy one the base price here (Rocket 3 R) (in the UK) is £19,500 = $26,200. As ever we get ripped off totally in the UK!!
don't forget the UK is VAT included, whilst the US is additional, so you still have to pay another $2k or so, plus the usual dealer fees to get it out the door. My R Black edition cost me closer to $30k with shipping, taxes, dealer fees, etc. (although that did incude ext. warranty and tyre coverage)
I’m really thinking of trading in my Milwaukee 8 powered Harley for the Rocket 3 instead of doing any stage kits. Seems to offer more of everything a power cruiser should have for less money and at a lower weight than Harley.
I think Triumph should decrease engine capacity and weight a bit. It'll still have insane numbers and near identical acceleration while being better to handle. Instead of: 2458cc 167PS 221Nm(163lbft) 291kg(642lbs) My suggestion: 2110cc 144PS 190Nm(140lbft) 260kg(573lbs) Diavel 1260: 1262cc 164PS 129Nm(95lbft) 244kg(538lbs) {For comparison}
1969 was the year Craig Vetter built the X-75 prototype triple so I'd say you were right when you guessed late sixties or seventy. They had spindly front ends and too much power for their frames and brakes. These new beasts are incredible. Nice review.
I came here from your r18 review after seeing that and thinking I couldn't watch a 35 min vid. I've now watched the r18 and this in full. You seem a quality guy and have gained a sub from the UK 👍🏻💪🏼
Ive been considering one of these but the GT model. The part of the review that meant the most to me was the fact every time Zach hit the throttle, he was laughing and enjoying the shit out of it. If it dont make you smile when you ride it, its not worth it.
I have had my Rocket 3R since Feb 2020 and it’s fantastic! I added the quick shifter, Bluetooth module, sissy bar, sport panniers, tailpack, GT bars and windscreen. Essentially turned my R into a GT except for the mid mount foot controls. Instant smile every time I crack the throttle🙂
@@matthjas67 It is much more comfortable. I highly recommend it although because of the internal wiring inside the handlebars it cost me $1200 to have it done by the dealer. It is like a 6-7hour job
@@matthjas67 I tried to do it myself to save the money but i didn't have the right tools because you have to bleed the ABS. It has added much more enjoyment to my riding
WHen I got back into riding at 64 I bought a very inexspensive Yamaha Midnight STar 1700 with 1900 miles for $4500.00 .It was 720 pounds and a nice strong torque king ..I loved the bike but I kept going through tires riding it on back roads and dirt .. After 15k miles I traded it back for $3500. for a 500 pound Triumph Street Scrambler . FUnny ..The feeling was like I was set free to actually ride again .. Different bikes for different jobs but I love smaller bikes for bumpy back road riding ..I had an R 80 like your dad's but the 78 road R80 .. I wish it was still being made ....
Rode 1 today and it felt like the bike was shaking under hard acceleration. I was in SPORT mode and I think the traction control was kicking in. I need to ride this bike again in RIDER mode with the TC off. Even with the TC on, I must say this bike was still pulling hard. Still undecisive if I want to purchase, she's a pretty penny.
Fun to see you review this bike. You don’t have to go through the performance figures this is a bike you just sit on ( parked) and you’ll get all the attention you need. It does need passenger seats on each side for your 2 girlfriends to sit in
@18:36 Excuse me please. You were wrong about crankshaft and drive shaft rotation. There are three shaft in the engine. 1st is crank shaft. 2nd is primary gear shaft. 3rd is secondary gear shaft (which connect directly to the drive shaft). So the crankshaft and the driveshaft both rotate clockwise from front to back in the same direction.
Is it me or would this bike look so much better with a single headlight? Not a fan of the "goggles" look. However, I think it would be interesting to swap the headlights for aftermarket ones with integrated turn signals.
My dad bought one right when they came out and he was the 2nd person in the world to have custom exhaust put on it. Custom exhaust with no baffles= very pissed off city its LOUD.
I absolutely love this bike. Not sure if I would ever get one. I love the lean on a bike, but this bike for whatever reason calls to me. It's so nice and awesome.
I personally like the older Rocket 3 better....but this was fun. What was a special experience is......what a super job you did on this video....you did it all with excellence! Thankyou
16:25 I am not a mechanic or motorcycle engineer, but I am fairly ceraint that the popping sounds are a result of excess fuel coming into contact with fresh air from the exhaust pipe and igniting the remaining fuel into a small bang sound. Though, I am sure an engineer at Triumpth made it more noticinble for the "cool factor"
Where's the power cruiser shootout. I demand to know if the Rocket, Diavel, or VMax comes out on top. Riding this thing, I kept having to check that the speedo wasn't in KPH...
I know its not fare comparison but Kawasaki Z900RS has similar growl and weighs 270lb less and makes over 100HP and costs 10k less and looks spectacular. I rather get the Z900RS quicker in turns.I just dont like Rocket 3 weight.Its basically in cruiser category and in that segment might as well get a cruiser.
I've done uncrate, PDI and test rides on a few of these. The ONLY thing I've been in with more torque and acceleration is a TESLA. If I wanted a power cruiser it'd be the Rocket 3. My only gripe is the bars are too wide for my taste but necessary for the fat front tire.
My Rocket 3 Touring which is now a decade+ old is still more my style than the new generation - even though it weighs almost 200 lbs more. I had to swap the shocks out for some Progressive 444s, but with that done the 180 rear helps it corner better than the stupid 240s. And it's a much more comfortable and long-trip-worthy bike due to the hard bags and windshield. Triumph needs to make a 2500 cc tourer already.
Zack, I for one have been a little critical of your reviews on "cruisers", in the past. You compared them to sport bikes which was way off the mark. Well, I have to hand it to you, you have progressed a lot on your reviews of a cruiser and especially a "muscle cruiser." This review was really good and showed the aspects of what makes a "muscle cruiser" better than even a normal cruiser. You did a great job on this video from a point of view that draws me to want a Rocket 3. Triumph did a great job improving the Rocket 3 and you did a great job improving your reviews of a cruiser. I enjoyed your review and it was very informative. Thank you Zack, great job. Now, I just have to wait for that "Stimulus Check" to get a $22,000 motorcycle.... Triumph failed on that one aspect, it is not for the average worker with that price tag.
Its enjoyable that after you have riding so many different bikes you still can laugh and have fun on them. I think that's the reason someone should get into bikes.
I'm not gonna lie here, I like the Rocket, but I wouldn't even consider buying it brand new at $22K+. You know how many other charismatic bikes you could get for less than half that price, albeit used with low mileage. I guess if its gotta be zero miles, then its gotta be zero miles but I would rather try to convince the Mrs. to park two or three great iconic bikes in my garage for those 22K. My picks would be a KTM 1290 DUKE R, a wide tire Triumph cafe racer, and if I could swing it, a blacked out HD Street Glide. If I had to pick just 2, then the Duke and the Street Glide. I'd be more than happy. 😎👍🏼
I've got one and I love it. That said, I put the GT bars on my R and that makes the seating position a LOT more comfortable. Agree about the suspension as it's really stiff, even with a passenger on board. Speaking of passenger, I also added the sissy bar and back rest because as you mentioned, the motor doesn't match the passenger seat on the R.
Great review Zach!! If you had to pick 1 bike between the Rocket 3 and new Diavel 1260, which would you pick and why? I’ve owned Triumohs and Ducati’s and love both brands. Thanks!!
Maybe throw a few more motorcycle brands on the leaderboard like some benelli's. Let's start with the TNT 135 anyone who agrees and wants to see a daily rider of the Benelli TNT 135 please feel free to give this comment a like.
Read the Rocket 3 first ride article on Common Tread: rvz.la/36JiTAS
why do you whisper all the time? are you from Portland?
Great Video!
This is a question. Is there point for getting tall motorcycle boots for the rainy months. Going from 30 to 70mph?
You should do a Can-am Ryker daily ride review.
Zach makes me want every motorcycle somehow
Agreed!
You just haven't found the one you love yet. Try out more bikes!
With no douts! Zach is awesome!
I think naturally I want every motercycle I know about
Motorcycles make me want every motorcycle
For the price, Triumph even bolt a motorcycle to the engine! What a deal!
I know right?
Pretty cool to have wheels to haul your powerplant around!
I'm holding out for the 2.6 version, 2.5 engine bit on small side.
Yea I would want to be seen on the beginner version of it. "Girls bike"
They didn't make it 2.6l because a 2.6l engine in a motorcycle would be ridiculous.
@Bunnyshooter 223 its a British bike though
@@AboutaMileAdventures
I’d venture that more units of that British bike will be sold in America than the UK
@Bunnyshooter 223 my transit van has a 2.0 turbodiesel, and a towing capacity of well over 2000 kg...
IMO Zack is one of the most experienced, enjoyable, intelligent, and talented motorcycle journos out there.
The perfect bike for when your Peterbilt is in the shop and you have a 53' trailer full of beer to pull to Texas. Next year it will come with air brakes.
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
I always have moments of panic when I realize Zack isn't slowing down fast enough to stop behind the cars... then I remember he can filter. Every time.
Lane filtering is also legal in our country, it should be everywhere.
We would get cursed, yelled and honked at if we tried lane filtering up here in Canada.
As a european, I can't imagine not filtering at red lights and slow highway traffic, it removes 90% of benefits of having a motorcycle in a city if you can't do that xD
*laughs in mexican*
@@jeffcard3623 Yup. After moving to Canada from Ireland there's basically no benefits to having a motorcycle in the city here compared to home.
I love that Triumph has such an incredibly wide variety of bikes.. anything you could possibly want, gentlemanly, to adventurous, to downright hooligan ❤
Not enough sport bikes though since they got rid of the Daytona
@@Lemoncarp true that, a travesty, hopefully they make the 765 a real thing
@@Lowlander119 the 765 Daytona came and went ... it was a limited release. If it sold in big numbers, they would be on the showroom floor. But they don't. You can already see Japanese 600-class bikes drying up.
@@Lemoncarp new triumph 1200 rr comes close, actually IS a sports bike.
Well there is something I never thought I would see - a Rocket 3 jumping on dirt.
The most important part of the DR test loop.
I got the GT and I absolutely love it. It's leisurely yet fast. Comfortable yet handles like a sports bike. Took it on a 800 mile trip and it was as comfortable as any bagger. Averaged 38-40 MPG with a light throttle hand. Average 32-35 blasting around town.
Totally agree👍
Handles like a sport bike?
@@fs3994 Yep. Flicks around like a smaller naked, is more accurate.
@@fs3994It does, and I rode an xb12r with a 52" wheelbase for 14 years leaving no chicken strip on any set of tires...
When you crank the throttle and it leans over it reminds me of those old WWI rotary engine planes that could sometimes turn faster by turning in the opposite direction and coming all the way around, rather than pull against the torque! Crazy stuff!
I always liked this bike. Looks like something robocop or Dredd would ride
The burnout into wheelie transition was something special.
A triumph rep once told jay leno; “you’re gonna scrape the pegs way before you run out of tyre grip”. Zack: “hold my wheelspin”
I’ll add i know running out of grip and doing a burnout are different things. Thought the joke was alright though.
3/10
Great review! After 2,000 miles on the TFC variant I might add, the suspension, once adjusted (easy to do), smooths out those bumps. MPG is 45 and yes, it does have a quick shifter (which is a joy). It’s at the top of my leader board, a masterpiece of motorcycle engineering!
I found this video fascinating. Haven’t done Daily Rider before. You, sir, are good at this.
Your giggle every time you really pushed it was great . . . .
Its amazing how zack handles this bike with such ease and grace considering how heavy it is
It's actually lighter than most Harleys.
Watching Zack split lanes: "This should totally be legal in my state."
Watching Adam Waheed split lanes: "This will never be legal in my state."
Adam is a dangerous rider. Zack drives logically
Got my rocket 3 R about a month ago and have been commuting 5 days a week, it always gives me a grin! Love the content Zac! (Side note quick shifter is an accessory, works great)
How's the heat from the engine? Im from the Philippines. Weather is very hot and traffic is terrible. Will the heat from that massive engine boil my eggs?
Not too hot... Florida USA here.
Ahhh yeah I've heard people say its not too hot, however I've found it to be the hottest bike I've ever had (previously had a GSX1400 and a K1300R) - but it is bareable. I'm in Western Australia and we see high 30s/early 40s in summer, I wouldnt want to be on it in traffic/standstill above 37 - did that recently and yeah was pretty hot. Your leg is right next to the headers, but mainly its the general heat from the engine. Still don't let that discourage you - if you're able to filter and keep moving its fine.
markterence when you have a lot congestion and traffic the engine gives a lot of heat.... I am in Istanbul
I’ve been commuting on a Milwaukee 8 powered softail. Decided to swap for a Rocket instead of dumping a ton of money into stage kits. The Triumph seems to be a better power cruiser all around.
I've missed the daily rides since you left Motorcyclist Magazine.
I agree! Luckily revzilla is smart enough to continue Zacks epic reviews!
He's been doing these for almost a year now on Revzilla.
Props to Zach for showing your mistakes such as stalling this bike and fighting to keep it upright. Also, huge props for taking it off road, jumping it and wheelieing it! You could have used the “heavy cruiser” excuse, but you did not. Rock on! Great review, sir.
I own one, just bought it, put 3k miles on it bringing it home from the store, west coast to TN. great trip. Would do it again in a heartbeat. Plan to do the four USA corners in a counter clock wise loop - FL, ME, WA, CA with her in the spring.
Funniest thing so far...
Having owned it for about 10 minutes, I thought, let's see what she can do. So I quickly twist the throttle and she does take off, well, like a rocket, so much so that as she pulls me aft, inadvertently twist the throttle even more, pushing me back even harder, thus even more throttle, more push... All the way to red line governor.
Riders are NOT kidding when we say "you better hold on, because she will take off in an instant and assume the rider knows what (s)he is doing". I am positive with some practice, I will get sub 3 second 0-60 times. Accelerate now, ask questions later. Maybe a safety sticker is needed.... "Warning: energetic use of throttle displaces riders."
Anyway, love what Jim Anders had to say, and I echo it. Hard to get over that grin. And, like with most bikes (well, most things, actually), performance comes down to the (wo)man not the machine. If you ever get a chance to ride one, do it. Nothing like it imho.
'As long as you do so responsibly ZACK!' Love your reviews, you answer every question my inner hooligan asks. Loads of torque, cold tyres? Check. Sand on road, loads of torque? Check. Can you jump it? Check. Scrape the pegs? Check. Wheelie? Check. 👍
Triumph are by far the most stylish bike manufacturer. Their bikes are amazing
It was funny to realize that at 17:22 you were riding a bike with a bigger engine than the S2000 you were sat next to.
Back in the mid 2000's Triumph used to do Demo events. They had a semi truck with every bike they build. You would sign up ahead of time for a bike and a time.. they would have a person lead the ride.. about 20-30 min or so. always a good mix of roads too. When you got back you could then sign up for another bike.. or hop on whatever bike had not been scheduled for the next slot.
Rode just about everything... the Rocket was INSANE... I think I might prefer an old one.. the older ones made peak torque at 2500 rpm.. they had one with an aftermarket pipe on it.. they sound AMAZING.. I was shocked how light it felt once moving.. but parking lot stuff.. you had to be careful.
Street Triple was my favorite overall.. triples make great noises.
I was so close on getting one. I spent some time at the dealer just to make it or break it. I just thought in the end that it is not a good commute bike, it is 100% fun bike and not so practical. It is a very sexy bike, very quick and very well built. Triumph did it well. However, I went to a new Goldwing DCT Tour. Do not regret it for a min.
Man Zack riding in a Summer Jacket while i‘m already in Winter Break Mode really gives me the blues :/
You just need heated grips and some new jackets. I ride all winter in Michigan and enjoy the less crowded roads.
I’m moving to Florida. Hahahahaha. Im done with nyc.
Haha that end “good lord, how do you people get anywhere at this speed”
Great video as always, Zack! I especially appreciate the discussion on triples and the effect of camshaft spinning direction on the bike. Physics is dope.
A bike that heavy lifting the front tire brings a tear to my eye
Thankful Revzilla is utilizing Zack for what he does best! Superior motorcycle reviews!
That engine would have been good in the old Triumph sports cars.
I had the old Rocket 3 and absolutely loved it, I ran it alongside a Honda 125 as a daily. It was a pretty comfortable bike and I once rode it 650 miles from Northamptonshire to John O' Groats (UK) in one day and then upto Orkney, I'd like to ride the new one to see how it compares.
I've just realised that I've become one of those old fellas who "used to own a Triumph" and I'm only 35 haha
Interesting fact, assuming that airplane was a Cessna 172 with a Lycoming O-360, this engine was probably making MORE horsepower than that plane, 160 horsepower (albeit 280-300 lb/ft of torque) but still, that’s out of a 5.9 liter carburetor, flat four
Ran into an older gentleman riding one on the parkway recently. He said he wanted something different. (All his friends on HD baggers) and liked the attention of owning one. He also mentioned it didn't do anything particularly well, and was ready for something different. It's a shame a person (grown man with disposable income) can't test ride a motorcycle. Harley Davidson only brand I know allows this. I'm certain this guy won't be a repeat customer for Triumph.
That is very lightweight for an engine that big considering my vtx 1300 weighs around the same
Love the Rocket 3! Tested it from a Triumph dealer once. The guy who rolled it out told me before giving me the key "just be careful with the throttle. It's so new the tires aren't fully broken in yet, so it can spin the rear in every gear."
And since you praise the Duc, when are we getting a Diavel Daily ride? Love that bike too!
Keep up the stellar content!
Dont push it into corners, just countersteer. For a bike it's size, it's surprisingly nimble! And if you do, I like to think of it as actually quite neutral too!
Well, you've got bigger balls than me! I have never taken my traction control off. I sold my 1700 Vmax to get the Rocket and love it! The handling is MUCH better than my Vmax's. I use my Rocket as my daily and love it - best bike that I have owned.... if you are gentle, this bike is gentle until you roll on the hammer.
So sad the VMAX is being discontinued, looking at the Rocket 3 just reminded me.
The Vmax still owns this bike in the 1/4
@@iamtheoffenderofall I wish Yamaha just evolved it.
@@MaddNomad1015 it's tough to beat perfection though
Is Yamaha actually discontinuing Maxine?? No one puts baby in the corner. Boy I'm sure glad I was able to save up this past winter for my 2020 Vmax.
@@JMaxRC yeah they are, I’m sure it’s because the didn’t want to make an effort for regulations. Even if they brought it back as a normal power cruiser I would’ve been happy, it’s one of those lines you just got to keep around for heritage
Suszuki M109R cries in the corner, completely forgotten.
Having worked for a Triumph dealer here in the uk as a mechanic when the original rocket came out I thought it was awful as a bike but made an excellent trike. I have been a big fan of the Yamaha MT01 (1700 v twin in a sports chassis with massive torque and a soundtrack like a spitfire) but this new rocket means I’m now selling my Polaris rzr turbo to buy one now. Undecided on gt or the r
Zach must be one of the best motorbike reviewers on youtube. Even if the particular review bike is not my thing, he still makes me want to watch the full review. More videos, thanks! 👍 2020 KTM 1290r review if you have the time?
Zach sums it up perfectly when he says “what an absurd vehicle.” I agree, in the best way possible. Great review, sir!
Zac, you were right about the Rocket 3 being a BSA. What a lot of people don’t know is that for a time BSA were being built in the Triumph factory ( they were going bust and Triumph offered them their factory to build BSA’s. also at the same time Triumph were building their Tridents to go up against the Rocket 3. I have the R3 on my wish list lol. Thanks again for a great video from down under😎😎🐝
When you own a rocket III your life is spent behind cars or passing cars. Also getting gas and tires. But it's worth it. My 1st gen get 33mpgs when I nice. Dyno'd and uncorked at 153RWHP156TQ. I've beat all the 600 crotch rockets I come up against, with saddlebags full of stuff and with the fly shield it cruses all day long a 95mph.
I bought one last week so I've watched lot of views . Yours was one of the best Thank You
I love it how Zach always remembers to talk about passenger comfort when he's in Lover's Lane!
Is this the bike whose shop manual suggests "hold engine in place and drop the chassis"?
Sign of a great bike series (and channel) to me is when I watch it despite being a bit meh about the bike beinng tested/used. I admire the Rocket 3 greatly, but watched this for pure entertainment.
Sees sand on the road and just twists the grip!
You're the man 😁
Dealer where I bought my GSA sold these also, so of course I took one for a demo ride. Traction control on of course !!! It handled well for such a big bike and made me giggle with every twist of the throttle. Seriously thinking about getting one except for the rough ride quality on rough roads. It has reasonable amounts of travel but yeah she’s stiff. That power though.
I hope they will produce a lot of them so when they stop production there will be plenty to choose from
Was headed to bed but I had to see the dirt road. Now i have to go see the Revzilla video. Who needs sleep anyway.
Zack does his best Suburban Delinquent impersonation 21 minutes in.
Quality video as usual!
$22,000 (USA) = £16,800 (UK) -
If I wanted to buy one the base price here (Rocket 3 R) (in the UK) is £19,500 = $26,200.
As ever we get ripped off totally in the UK!!
don't forget the UK is VAT included, whilst the US is additional, so you still have to pay another $2k or so, plus the usual dealer fees to get it out the door. My R Black edition cost me closer to $30k with shipping, taxes, dealer fees, etc. (although that did incude ext. warranty and tyre coverage)
I love how he opens all of these with his hand pulling away from covering the lens. Really want to make a compilation video now, haha.
I’m really thinking of trading in my Milwaukee 8 powered Harley for the Rocket 3 instead of doing any stage kits. Seems to offer more of everything a power cruiser should have for less money and at a lower weight than Harley.
I think Triumph should decrease engine capacity and weight a bit. It'll still have insane numbers and near identical acceleration while being better to handle.
Instead of: 2458cc 167PS 221Nm(163lbft) 291kg(642lbs)
My suggestion: 2110cc 144PS 190Nm(140lbft) 260kg(573lbs)
Diavel 1260: 1262cc 164PS 129Nm(95lbft) 244kg(538lbs)
{For comparison}
I had an 83 Honda 1000 Custom. This Rocket has that look which i loved.
Wow I'm blown away triumph nailed it with this bike.
This would be the most awesome Suzuki Samurai engine ever.
1969 was the year Craig Vetter built the X-75 prototype triple so I'd say you were right when you guessed late sixties or seventy. They had spindly front ends and too much power for their frames and brakes. These new beasts are incredible. Nice review.
I came here from your r18 review after seeing that and thinking I couldn't watch a 35 min vid. I've now watched the r18 and this in full. You seem a quality guy and have gained a sub from the UK 👍🏻💪🏼
Ive been considering one of these but the GT model. The part of the review that meant the most to me was the fact every time Zach hit the throttle, he was laughing and enjoying the shit out of it. If it dont make you smile when you ride it, its not worth it.
I have had my Rocket 3R since Feb 2020 and it’s fantastic! I added the quick shifter, Bluetooth module, sissy bar, sport panniers, tailpack, GT bars and windscreen. Essentially turned my R into a GT except for the mid mount foot controls. Instant smile every time I crack the throttle🙂
I have done the same except for the bars. Is it more comfortable?
@@matthjas67 It is much more comfortable. I highly recommend it although because of the internal wiring inside the handlebars it cost me $1200 to have it done by the dealer. It is like a 6-7hour job
@@pge7104 Wow! I thought it was a 2 to 3 hour job. That is expensive. Glad it works for you.
@@matthjas67 I tried to do it myself to save the money but i didn't have the right tools because you have to bleed the ABS. It has added much more enjoyment to my riding
@@pge7104 I may swap the bars too at some point. Safe riding.
WHen I got back into riding at 64 I bought a very inexspensive Yamaha Midnight STar 1700 with 1900 miles for $4500.00 .It was 720 pounds and a nice strong torque king ..I loved the bike but I kept going through tires riding it on back roads and dirt .. After 15k miles I traded it back for $3500. for a 500 pound Triumph Street Scrambler . FUnny ..The feeling was like I was set free to actually ride again .. Different bikes for different jobs but I love smaller bikes for bumpy back road riding ..I had an R 80 like your dad's but the 78 road R80 .. I wish it was still being made ....
The displacement per cylinder if bigger than on the most massive thumper being DR Big, that's impressive.
“Good Lord, how do you people get anywhere at this speed?!”
I say that same thing here in New Jersey all the time.
@@billvick7011 LOL, you must live in Bergen County then!
Quick shifter an option and works perfectly on my new R3 GT.
Rode 1 today and it felt like the bike was shaking under hard acceleration. I was in SPORT mode and I think the traction control was kicking in. I need to ride this bike again in RIDER mode with the TC off. Even with the TC on, I must say this bike was still pulling hard. Still undecisive if I want to purchase, she's a pretty penny.
Fun to see you review this bike. You don’t have to go through the performance figures this is a bike you just sit on ( parked) and you’ll get all the attention you need. It does need passenger seats on each side for your 2 girlfriends to sit in
@18:36 Excuse me please. You were wrong about crankshaft and drive shaft rotation. There are three shaft in the engine.
1st is crank shaft.
2nd is primary gear shaft.
3rd is secondary gear shaft (which connect directly to the drive shaft).
So the crankshaft and the driveshaft both rotate clockwise from front to back in the same direction.
Is it me or would this bike look so much better with a single headlight? Not a fan of the "goggles" look. However, I think it would be interesting to swap the headlights for aftermarket ones with integrated turn signals.
Just test rode a gt Today I pick mine up in a weeks time took my old 2004 Rocket in to see how much trade in decided to keep it aswell 😜😜
Yea I put a racing wind screen on my GSX-S1000 I like having it to duck behind on the highway it cuts the air right off me.
My dad bought one right when they came out and he was the 2nd person in the world to have custom exhaust put on it. Custom exhaust with no baffles= very pissed off city its LOUD.
I absolutely love this bike. Not sure if I would ever get one. I love the lean on a bike, but this bike for whatever reason calls to me. It's so nice and awesome.
I just found out that Ari and Zack are with RevZilla... Can't believe I missed that.
I'm so happy for them! Such great videos
"Conga line of SUVs" lol! Oh man - that is my vote for Zach Wheelie of 2020! Fantastic.
I personally like the older Rocket 3 better....but this was fun. What was a special experience is......what a super job you did on this video....you did it all with excellence! Thankyou
16:25 I am not a mechanic or motorcycle engineer, but I am fairly ceraint that the popping sounds are a result of excess fuel coming into contact with fresh air from the exhaust pipe and igniting the remaining fuel into a small bang sound. Though, I am sure an engineer at Triumpth made it more noticinble for the "cool factor"
Where's the power cruiser shootout. I demand to know if the Rocket, Diavel, or VMax comes out on top.
Riding this thing, I kept having to check that the speedo wasn't in KPH...
I know its not fare comparison but Kawasaki Z900RS has similar growl and weighs 270lb less and makes over 100HP and costs 10k less and looks spectacular. I rather get the Z900RS quicker in turns.I just dont like Rocket 3 weight.Its basically in cruiser category and in that segment might as well get a cruiser.
I've done uncrate, PDI and test rides on a few of these. The ONLY thing I've been in with more torque and acceleration is a TESLA. If I wanted a power cruiser it'd be the Rocket 3. My only gripe is the bars are too wide for my taste but necessary for the fat front tire.
My Rocket 3 Touring which is now a decade+ old is still more my style than the new generation - even though it weighs almost 200 lbs more. I had to swap the shocks out for some Progressive 444s, but with that done the 180 rear helps it corner better than the stupid 240s. And it's a much more comfortable and long-trip-worthy bike due to the hard bags and windshield. Triumph needs to make a 2500 cc tourer already.
I was doing good and just riding my majesty 400 for 8 yrs, then I rode a Rocket 3GT at a demo day...picked up a 919 2 weeks later
Zack, I for one have been a little critical of your reviews on "cruisers", in the past. You compared them to sport bikes which was way off the mark. Well, I have to hand it to you, you have progressed a lot on your reviews of a cruiser and especially a "muscle cruiser." This review was really good and showed the aspects of what makes a "muscle cruiser" better than even a normal cruiser. You did a great job on this video from a point of view that draws me to want a Rocket 3. Triumph did a great job improving the Rocket 3 and you did a great job improving your reviews of a cruiser. I enjoyed your review and it was very informative. Thank you Zack, great job. Now, I just have to wait for that "Stimulus Check" to get a $22,000 motorcycle.... Triumph failed on that one aspect, it is not for the average worker with that price tag.
Every cruiser guy I know brags about outrunning a crotch rocket. So why not compare?
Its enjoyable that after you have riding so many different bikes you still can laugh and have fun on them. I think that's the reason someone should get into bikes.
Probably not the best gas mileage, but still better than a lot of cars. It also costs less than a car.
I'm not gonna lie here, I like the Rocket, but I wouldn't even consider buying it brand new at $22K+. You know how many other charismatic bikes you could get for less than half that price, albeit used with low mileage. I guess if its gotta be zero miles, then its gotta be zero miles but I would rather try to convince the Mrs. to park two or three great iconic bikes in my garage for those 22K. My picks would be a KTM 1290 DUKE R, a wide tire Triumph cafe racer, and if I could swing it, a blacked out HD Street Glide. If I had to pick just 2, then the Duke and the Street Glide. I'd be more than happy. 😎👍🏼
So basically you could do abit of towing with it.
Bro I love that bike it looks like a literal rocket. I can't imagine how cool it feels to ride. Can't wait to get my license lol hope I don't die
Your reviews are awesome, but your rankings never fail to confuse me.
I've got one and I love it. That said, I put the GT bars on my R and that makes the seating position a LOT more comfortable. Agree about the suspension as it's really stiff, even with a passenger on board. Speaking of passenger, I also added the sissy bar and back rest because as you mentioned, the motor doesn't match the passenger seat on the R.
Great review Zach!! If you had to pick 1 bike between the Rocket 3 and new Diavel 1260, which would you pick and why? I’ve owned Triumohs and Ducati’s and love both brands. Thanks!!
Maybe throw a few more motorcycle brands on the leaderboard like some benelli's. Let's start with the TNT 135 anyone who agrees and wants to see a daily rider of the Benelli TNT 135 please feel free to give this comment a like.
Since the pizza delivery video IVE BEEN WHISHING FOR A DAILY RIDER EP OF THE ROCKET 3 WOOHOOOOO
Great review of an awesome machine! I love my 2007 Rocket 3 even with it's faults. I'd love to add this 2020 to the stable