I have over 40,000 miles on my 2020 GT now and trust me, the smiles just keep on coming. My buddy has a Diavel and they are very close in the twisties, in fact I think the Rocket has a bit of an advantage on steep uphill twisties. And the host here is correct, get the quick shifter.
Thanks. I really liked the look of the sissy bar. Although I've removed the rack for now since the video (and added the GT flyscreen) I still like the look. I'll show more of the bike's changes in the next video.
I bought this bike as well. Mine’s loaded with accessories. I’ve got the cellphone conductivity, tire pressure monitoring system, GT handlebars, single seat, clutch assist, heated grips, tank knee pads extra power outlet, and the sport windscreen. I’ve also had a front and rear dash camera system professionally installed. I’ve got the upgraded mirrors on order. I’m also getting the Beeline navigation system installed.
@@joeapap2216 Yes, I did. I had everything installed by the dealership before I took delivery of the bike. There’s one item that I really hate about this motorcycle. The headlights. They may look great and are effective during the day, but they seriously suck at night. High beam doesn’t throw the light any further than the low beam. It just gets slightly wider. It’s the worst headlight I’ve ever had on a motorcycle. It’s as if daytime running lights are being used as a headlight. Only here in the states the bike doesn’t have the daytime running lights feature. Canada has that. But here, by law, the headlight is always required to be on.
Highly enjoyable video with a lively commentary. You live in a beautiful part of the world - those roads; those fabulously coloured trees. And that bike!!
A great video mate. Enjoyed it very much with a few laughs along the way. Have my eyes on it and still looking out there for a beginner ride but very keen on 🚀 R. Thanks for the review, great work 💪.
This is hardly a beginner’s motorcycle!!! I bought one as soon as I saw it. I went from a crotch rocket to the Rocket 3 R. This bike’s even faster than my sport bike. I’ve also purchased the red because I simply love the color (and the special edition blacked out version wasn’t available). Mine’s loaded up with nearly all the options. It has the shift assist, tire pressure monitoring system, heated grips, knee pads, sport wind screen, extra power outlet by the controls, single seat with pillion, etched valve stem caps, interface to my cellphone and the GT swept back handlebars (I’m only 5’3” tall and didn’t want to stretch so far to operate the controls). What I like best about the motorcycle is the amazing quality that Triumph puts into their bikes. I also love all the safety stuff that’s built in to this motorcycle. That and this bike’s amazing torque make this bike the absolute head of it’s class. What I don’t like…it’s a heavy girl. And she lets you know it at slower speeds. She’s not as tossable as my sport bike was, but she’s faster. That weight makes it harder to turn her around in my driveway so she’s facing out towards the street for the next ride. I also wish the seat was a bit lower. There’s currently no lowering system for this bike, so there’s no flat footed stops on this bike. And she drinks more gas than any other motorcycle I’ve ever had. Expect to get mileage in the mid 30’s. Every other bike I’ve had got over 50.
I did exactly the same waiting the 6 months it took mine to arrive! Make sure you get the quick shifter, it’s a must. Enjoy the ride, let us know what you think once you get it. Thanks for watching.
I have A 2020 GT version coming off a Kawasaki Concours that i owned for about 4 years, was time for me to go cruiser style again was aiming for a Harley Street Glide but the look and torque of the Triumph won me over its a blast to ride i had a quickshifter install and the acceleration is quit phenomenal shifting without touching the clutch its so much fun. Im gonna buy a sadelmen backrest bag for resting im upper back for long trip because the one thing miss is the electric windshield on my Concours, the winds affectme and tire me alot on long trip and on the higway its ruff, but in long run just the Rocket.
Yeah, the Rocket is a pretty unique experience, no matter which way you look at it. Go look at my video loading the Penner tune, cheap way to make it waaaay better! Thanks for watching.
Thanks for watching Lee! Yes, the standard pipes suit the bike very well. Most of the replacements seem to focus on just right side exits (3 into 2 or 3 into 1), making the bike look a bit one-legged on the left side. Just odd. The Zard recognises that and gives you a nice carbon infill piece. The Bugbike does come in a 3 into 3, but the pipe exits the left at an odd angle IMHO.
Great review brother, I am however, already sold, gonna swap my KTM SDR next year I reckon. Triumph have never even been on my radar over 40+ years riding, this new shape muscle cruiser is a game changer, like when Audi developed the Quattro
I was the same, never crossed my mind until this came along. You’re going to love it, it’s just bonkers. I have a video coming shortly where I test rode a bunch of Harley’s finest iron, couldn’t find one I liked anywhere near the Rocket. Thanks for watching. 👍🏻
Nice ride out I have the gt version it was put on UA-cam by the dealers I said to my wife this bike is the same as mine when I saw the reg plate it was mine I have had a Rocket111 roadster for 11years so I have both versions the difference is amazing but Love both of them 😊😊😊😊
Had mine about 12 months, still can’t get the smile off my face. I also looked very hard at the diavel but I come from a sports tourer background and couldn’t do forward controls. Can’t imagine not what using all year round, SEQ is pretty much constantly good riding weather. Cheers Chris
Thanks for watching Chris. I agree, the Rocket pastes a permanent grin on your face! I too have been a sports tourer guy over the years. I can imagine that SEQ gives you all-year-round riding weather, nice. NOt so down here in the ACT, can get pretty frigid this time of year...
The roads look brilliant over there! In Yorkshire, and Lincolnshire we have some good riding roads, but you have to avoid some of the muddy areas (especially after farm machinery activity) because of the mud that you mentioned! Looking forward to the riding in traffic video! 😀
I think that today the new Ducati with the Diavel V4 engine will certainly compete with this bike for the same share of the market. I find the bike very interesting but the lack of wind protection is a downside if touring with it is a project. The bike is beautiful like it is but would be great to have some sort of a bubble to make it into a mile muncher. The quick shifter is key for me in terms of riding pleasure, so for the cost of the bike It’s expectable to get it from stock. ( I’m achieving 58 years old next May, so arthritis are becoming a issue to deal with and the quick shifter is relevant as it ads a lot of riding comfort). The video is amusing and your impressions are very objective which is always nice when we want to have independent views of things. I subscribed the channel and hope that you keep on bringing more videos. Be well and ride safe!✌️✌️
I agree, the Diavel was an alternative for me, but the Rocket kills it in the looks department. Well, in my eyes anyway. 🙂 There are some larger screen options out there, but not many that look great. If someone made a quick release one like the barndoor they make for the HD Fatboy, that might work. Corbin do make a big bikini fairing screen, but most find it looks horrible. Love my quick shifter, wouldn't be without it. Saying that, the clutch is super light, so if you didn't get it, you would still manage unless your arthritis is bad. But it's still the first option box you should check. Thanks for watching, I promise there are more videos to come. Still have to finish the carbon install, upgrade the horn, install the aux power outlet and swap the tank badges from silver to black. Then may do the Meerkat Mod to the exhaust.
Hello from 🏴 a really nice vid and editing. I love how that torque is instant, no winding up needed. Roll in 4th is just awesome 😎 What you’ll find is the R3 motor really loosens up after 1-2k, and in sport with the shift assist really does wake up and then you can really hustle it more on the twisties. Brakes are great and very stable, tips in well and holds line, def need to respect the weight but the big girl leans 😎 Check out Marcio’s vids on What A Day. I’ve got the front and rear suspension nicely and takes the bumps well and really enjoy pushing the mid pegs 😎 safe riding mate. With long arms I like the bars, feel way more connected to the front end than on the GT. I think the dash looks much better in dark mode. I’d have loved the twin clocks but love the functionality, you’ll be scraping soon and that front end sticks mate. I eased myself in too and you learn to trust. I decided on the R3 over Diavel and no regrets 😊 good video mate. Check out Marcio’s vid, he modded his zaust with Peter at Meerkat in Oz and sound is phenomenal 😎 on suspension some guys reporting almost no preload on the suspension so will def firm up. I’ve popped the cable ties on mine and so far decent. Got to say the Red 3R is my favourite, I love the brushed metal and stainless headers etc 😎
That’s for taking the time to respond JB! Yes, it’s a beast for sure. I have watched the What a Day vids, and did like the Meerkat mod. I also love the look of the Zard pipes, but can’t come at 10% of what I paid for the whole bike. I know Peter is happy to send out the instructions for his mod, may have to give him a call… 🤔😏 I’ve already put 1,000 k’s on it since this video, to get it to first service before winter bit hard. To put that in context, I normally only manage 1,000 k’s a year on a bike, and I did it in a month! Since the video I’ve also adjusted the suspension, fairly similar to what col and zig put on UA-cam, just with extra rear preload (I’m at 8 clicks out, not the 18 from factory). I’ve also swapped to the round sport mirrors, removed the rack, added red reflector tape to the wheels, and have Union Jack tank pads from Trik to put on. I have the instruments on auto still, so they switch to dark mode only at night. Have ground off the feeler on the left peg a fair bit already, and am amazed how well these things handle. I yanked a handful of brake on one ride when someone stopped up ahead and I surprised myself by how fast it hauled up. Very reassuring. Just loving it right now. Red is for sure the best, I think all the black ones, especially the new triple blacks, just look like any other blacked out cruiser. Personal taste I guess… 😉
@@watchapexmedia sounds good mate, Peter really helpful and I’m seriously considering the mod, problem in U.K. is a big risk they start emissions testing bikes in our MOT 😬 love surprising mates by taking the corners on Big Red 😎 enjoy mate 💪 rocket and keep the content coming
For sure, I think the Zard looks the biz and sounds great. I can’t come at 10-15% of the cost of an already very expensive bike for what is basically a speccy cat and a couple of slip ons that stop you ever having luggage! 🤷♂️ Especially as their pipes for other bikes are much cheaper. Do like them though. Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment Glen. 👍🏻
Can’t wait to go through my Learner’s and Provisional’s to get this eventually!! Enjoy it mate. ACT is very similar to WA though. Style wise, everything is sort of identical.
Straight from a learner legal bike to a Rocket? Duuuuude... Maybe keep it in Road mode for a bit. Thanks for watching, and yeah, love WA. Haven't been there since '19, but covid... ;-)
@@watchapexmedia I said eventually mate! Whenever I feel confident that I am capable of riding a bike like that. For now, I stick to my LAMS approved 😃
Apex, if you had to do it over again and chose between this bike and the 2022 suzuki hayabusa, which one would you go for ? Also, are you able to bring up the pegs another 1 or 2 inches since they will scrape the ground if you lean too much?
Having had a Blackbird, a ‘busa is probably not different enough that I would’ve put it in the mix. I did consider the Diavel, but the looks of the Rocket just left it behind, and my experience with the quick shifter on my Ducati Supersport S made me think the Diavel would be equally as clunky. Plus the new Hayabusa, while getting plenty of updated tech, is down marginally on grunt from the older ones, and it’s look isn’t really as distinctive as it used to be. My 2 cents anyway. 😏 I haven’t raised the pegs, my riding is way less aggressive these days and I don’t touch down much since adjusting the suspension for my weight. Thanks for watching.
@@watchapexmedia I'm 6'3" and I had someone else tell me that if a person is tall the hayabusa would NOT be a very good bike for long distance or any sort ! I was told that the 2022 bmw s1000rr would even be better long distance than the hayabusa..lol...I like the looks, especially for my height, of the 3R and I would have to ask the salesman if they would be able to raise the footpegs 2 inches. That would do the trick for me :)
Really enjoyed the video. I'm planning on having a go at filming with a helmet mounted Gopro- is a plug in mic inside your helmet required for this kind of video so your voice can be heard? Also, if you don't mind, what kind of video editing software do you use? Thanks.
Thanks for watching! I actually mentioned in the second video that I would cover my helmet rig in the third video, but I didn’t include that as it didn’t really align to the “Triumph Tech” theme. If you are interested, I will make a video on the tech I use? Also, I primarily use Adobe Premier Pro for the actual composition, plus Audition if I need to clean up audio. And I have a microphone inside my helmet as you can’t hear your voice using the external mics unless you are stopped, and it’s very faint.
Very nice video, and awesome bike. It looked like you were going a bit wide on some turns; guess it's the weight doing it. I am looking at this bike as an upgrade from 1100CC 225KG bike. Nervous to go for even a test ride, especially as I am 5'9 @70KG and this thing weighs a ton.
Thanks for watching Din. the "wide" look in corners is more the camera's wide angle making it look like the wheels must be on or over the line, when they aren't. As I mention in the video, once underway the Rocket disguises its weight admirably. Low speed maneuvering is for sure a little trickier, but I just make sure I never take that for granted and have been fine so far. On my 225kg Blackbird, as I figured it was a "normal" bike, I managed a stationary tipover because I wasn't paying attention to the grassed slope and once the bike started leaning I couldn't stop it. I would not make the same mistake on the Rocket as I am always on "high alert" when pottering around. That said, it does an awesome thing where you don't have to touch the throttle when walking it around, as you release and feather the clutch the engine increases revs slightly to stop a stall and you can just walk it around. Neat. I say go for it brother, I think you'll be very surprised. At 5'9" it will fit you just right.
And I have my new R3 GT in the garage!! So far I did 35 miles and got very comfortable with it. Prior to the purchase, I went for a 10 mile test ride and did not want to go back to the Indian Super Chief Limited that I test rode before or the Rebel 1100 that I was riding till then. Thanks for the encouragement ! The only issue is with the GoPro bluetooth connectivity; trying to sort it out now.
@@dinbosco9658 well done! Hope you love it. For the GoPro, make sure it’s the last thing you pair to the bike (if you’re doing phone and helmet), and I found I needed to reset the camera to default and pair it to the bike (connect to PC App was the option I think) and then pair it back to the phone after. While the bike was searching for it, I think I had to restart the GoPro end a couple of times. Good luck!
@@watchapexmedia Thank you, I will try that. Appreciate the suggestion. The bike is absolutely awesome. Could complete only 100 miles so far; the winter weather has moved in. So, I have few weeks to fix the GoPro issue
Hi Jim. Yes, you can mimic the quick shifter action manually, and I have done that often on upshifts on previous bikes by backing off the throttle as I upshift. A properly executed downshift however does take more finesse, in that you should be blipping the throttle after the gearbox disengages the taller gear and before it engages the shorter. Otherwise you won’t get a clean rev match and it can wear the clutch prematurely. A quick shifter automates this and has a sensor on the gear lever to detect the up and down shifts and adjust the throttle accordingly, cutting it on up shifts and blipping the throttle on downshifts. Thanks for watching!
Hi Charles, thanks for watching. Triumph can do both, but in my case I put the GT backrest on an R. I also now have a GT screen on it, which you can see in the next videos. You can also swap between R and GT handlebars. I also added heated grips (standard on the GT), Bluetooth module and luggage rack, which is now off and in the garage. Mirrors are now swapped as well for the round sport version.
@@charlesscoggins5029 I can certainly show what I've done so far, and what I might do in the future. Thanks for the suggestion, I hope you enjoy the content.
@@stephenhedge2489 Hi Stephen. First, I wanted that red as it’s so nice. Second, I prefer the R riding position which I’ve kept as I never went GT pegs and bars. Third, I liked the look of the sissy bar and the screen looks good and actually works at speed. And fourth, there is no fourth thing… 😏 Thanks for watching!
Hi Tony. The Triumph Shift Assist (TSA) or quick shifter should be standard on this bike, considering how much it costs! That aside, it is the first option box I ticked, as I had a quick shifter on my 2018 Ducati SuperSport S, and really liked it there. The TSA is the next level though as it works way better, is smoother (especially on downshifts and auto-blipping the throttle), and makes the bike and absolute missile in wide open throttle, up through the gears blasts. You physically can't shift as fast yourself, so I consider it a must-have and really suits the character of the bike. You can fit it yourself, but the dealer still has to enable and calibrate it, so just get them to do it.
Mine doesn't really do that, no. I did get the quick shifter adjusted early this year though as all gear changes seemed a bit clunky unless I was really giving it the beans. Is your clunkiness with the QS or just manually using the clutch?
@@watchapexmedia It clunks from neutral to first. But since I had the quickshifter moved to mid position it went from feeling buttery smooth to more of a feeling of something slapping into gear a little, I can’t explain it very well but not as smooth as it was before.
@@NeoDK Yeah I'd be getting their mechanic to ride it so he can feel the clunkiness. Mine was buttery smooth and then must've drifted off and they had to do it again.
Triumph have really got their act together. Loved the Thruxton, the Bobber and the Scrambler, but as a big lad I think the Rocket fits me best. Thanks for watching!
Hi Mark. I did talk a bit about the quickshifter, and other than that I added the Bluetooth module and heated grips (check the ride tech video for more on those), the passenger backrest, round sport mirrors, GT screen and the luggage rack (since removed and stored). I've also added rim tape and tank protectors (in the second video), a custom tune (recent video) and will be adding some carbon pieces soon. Thanks for watching!
You're spot on. Although I don't look forward to the day you have to hunt out the 10 fuel stations in the city, like you have to hunt for fast chargers today! Thanks for watching. 🙂
Design and performance are good However, the useless large cruise button, the awkward location of the emergency light, the blinker button and the horn button are too small to be used. Moreover, the instrument cluster is also shared with the sub-model.
Fair points, however it didn't take me long to adjust to it. I like the cluster as it fits the look of the bike. It's way better than the big square boxy ones on most bikes with all the tech features these days. Thanks for watching.
You said first ride; the caption says that, then you said "first proper ride", but then said that it has 30Km from the "ride home from the bike store". Is it actually the first ride? I'm confused!
@@wayneallen1892 I'm more confused now 😐. Sorry, I have autism; My ability to interpret things gets a little mixed up! I like bikes though, and enjoyed the video very much! Merry Christmas and much love!
@@Mo-xx9gg hey Reece, thanks for clarifying. I honestly thought you were trolling me, so please forgive my sarcasm in reply. By “first ride” the video was about communicating how it felt the first time I got the bike onto my regular riding roads and let it loose, not the actual very first ride on it which was very restrained and with the bike left in the less aggressive “road mode”. I do hope you enjoy the content, I have another video coming shortly of how the bike feels riding it in traffic, so I hope you stick around and enjoy that too. Have a good one buddy. 👍🏻😁
@@watchapexmedia Loved the video and will subscribe! I definitely wouldn't troll (it is unkind and ungrateful), especially when people take the time to film interesting videos and share their knowledge! 😀
@@watchapexmedia Just got my Rocket 3 R black today! Wow! Rode 180 miles back home - it was incredible! The power and handling is like nothing I could have imagined! I had the GT screen fitted and it was brilliant at motorway speed! I got 160 miles on a full tank (which surprised me). I bet I will get 170 once it is broken in! Haven't had jt out of rain mode yet!
@@Mo-xx9gg Just wait until you flip it into Sport mode! It's bonkers. Did you get the quickshifter? It's superb. I'll be making a video showing the process to upload a more aggressive throttle map (the "Penner Tune") shortly as the standard tune limits the throttle opening in the first 3 gears, stay tuned for that. 🙂
Well, I would just hate it if my indicated speed and the posted speed limit in that area were not aligned. That would be bad... So to avoid getting Karen'ed I opted to obfuscate any confusion she might feel... ;-)
Think your wrong there saying it's made in Thailand, as far as I know all the rockets are made in England, have a look on the bikes chassis build plate and I'm sure you'll see it's made in England
95% sure that only TFC bikes and some other specials are now made in the UK. With my broken arm I can't climb all over the bike looking for the build plate. Article from early 2020 states "The move, announced to Triumph employees yesterday (February 20), will see the last remaining UK produced models - the Speed Triple and Tiger 1200 - join the rest of the range at the Chonburi, Thailand, production facilities. The net result for Hinckley is a reduction of around 2000 units per year, leaving only the high-end Triumph Factory Custom models and selected other special builds based on UK soil. The firm currently build around 65,000 bikes per year, with only 10% of that figure rolling out of the Hinckley facility". Looking at the Triumph AUS website, they state Triumph has manufacturing in the UK, Thailand and Brazil. The letter M in my VIN (11th digit) implies Brazil? Weird... Must get on that... :-)
@@mudman6156 not according to Triumph themselves (see quote above where they state only R&D and TFC work happens in the UK), the VIN number country field on my own VIN and an updated article from a couple of months ago stating that since covid they spun up Trident and Tiger manufacturing for the Euro market. timeless2wheels.com/14015/triumph-thailand-made/
I would have to second that. We’re hear to watch your video, not listen to music. At least your music choice isn’t offensive. Videos that have loud, obnoxious music get turned off immediately. Music just isn’t necessary in videos. Unlike movies and TV shows, we expect UA-cam videos to be real life. Real life doesn’t have traumatic music playing in the background every time something unexpected is about to happen!!! Otherwise, great video!!!!
I have over 40,000 miles on my 2020 GT now and trust me, the smiles just keep on coming. My buddy has a Diavel and they are very close in the twisties, in fact I think the Rocket has a bit of an advantage on steep uphill twisties. And the host here is correct, get the quick shifter.
That's some serious seat time in just a couple of years, well done! Thanks for watching, ride on brother. :-)
Nice. I like the "R" ergonomics with the GT passenger accommodations.
Thanks. I really liked the look of the sissy bar. Although I've removed the rack for now since the video (and added the GT flyscreen) I still like the look. I'll show more of the bike's changes in the next video.
I bought this bike as well. Mine’s loaded with accessories. I’ve got the cellphone conductivity, tire pressure monitoring system, GT handlebars, single seat, clutch assist, heated grips, tank knee pads extra power outlet, and the sport windscreen. I’ve also had a front and rear dash camera system professionally installed. I’ve got the upgraded mirrors on order. I’m also getting the Beeline navigation system installed.
Nice! Have you tuned it yet? Go watch my tuning video to learn what NOT to do!
Did you have your shift assist installed by a dealership?
@@joeapap2216 Yes, I did. I had everything installed by the dealership before I took delivery of the bike.
There’s one item that I really hate about this motorcycle. The headlights. They may look great and are effective during the day, but they seriously suck at night. High beam doesn’t throw the light any further than the low beam. It just gets slightly wider. It’s the worst headlight I’ve ever had on a motorcycle. It’s as if daytime running lights are being used as a headlight. Only here in the states the bike doesn’t have the daytime running lights feature. Canada has that. But here, by law, the headlight is always required to be on.
Highly enjoyable video with a lively commentary. You live in a beautiful part of the world - those roads; those fabulously coloured trees. And that bike!!
Thanks for watching Chris, I appreciate the feedback. Yes, I consider myself extremely fortunate to live where I do and to own the beast!
A great video mate. Enjoyed it very much with a few laughs along the way. Have my eyes on it and still looking out there for a beginner ride but very keen on 🚀 R. Thanks for the review, great work 💪.
Thanks for watching, glad you liked it. Stay tuned for Ep 2 once my broken elbow heals!
This is hardly a beginner’s motorcycle!!! I bought one as soon as I saw it. I went from a crotch rocket to the Rocket 3 R. This bike’s even faster than my sport bike. I’ve also purchased the red because I simply love the color (and the special edition blacked out version wasn’t available). Mine’s loaded up with nearly all the options. It has the shift assist, tire pressure monitoring system, heated grips, knee pads, sport wind screen, extra power outlet by the controls, single seat with pillion, etched valve stem caps, interface to my cellphone and the GT swept back handlebars (I’m only 5’3” tall and didn’t want to stretch so far to operate the controls). What I like best about the motorcycle is the amazing quality that Triumph puts into their bikes. I also love all the safety stuff that’s built in to this motorcycle. That and this bike’s amazing torque make this bike the absolute head of it’s class.
What I don’t like…it’s a heavy girl. And she lets you know it at slower speeds. She’s not as tossable as my sport bike was, but she’s faster. That weight makes it harder to turn her around in my driveway so she’s facing out towards the street for the next ride. I also wish the seat was a bit lower. There’s currently no lowering system for this bike, so there’s no flat footed stops on this bike. And she drinks more gas than any other motorcycle I’ve ever had. Expect to get mileage in the mid 30’s. Every other bike I’ve had got over 50.
I've had to look up "umbrage". Thanks for teaching me a new word!
Haha! Anytime… 😂
thanks for the rundown mate. ive got the gt 221 coming in a few days. cant wait, im fillling my time watching others ride till then lol
I did exactly the same waiting the 6 months it took mine to arrive! Make sure you get the quick shifter, it’s a must. Enjoy the ride, let us know what you think once you get it. Thanks for watching.
I have A 2020 GT version coming off a Kawasaki Concours that i owned for about 4 years, was time for me to go cruiser style again was aiming for a Harley Street Glide but the look and torque of the Triumph won me over its a blast to ride i had a quickshifter install and the acceleration is quit phenomenal shifting without touching the clutch its so much fun. Im gonna buy a sadelmen backrest bag for resting im upper back for long trip because the one thing miss is the electric windshield on my Concours, the winds affectme and tire me alot on long trip and on the higway its ruff, but in long run just the Rocket.
Yeah, the Rocket is a pretty unique experience, no matter which way you look at it. Go look at my video loading the Penner tune, cheap way to make it waaaay better! Thanks for watching.
Many thanks for taking the time to make this video I really enjoyed it. Cheers Neil
Thanks for watching Neil, glad you enjoyed it!
I totally agree with your exhaust comment...they look great and wouldn't change the either!
Thanks for watching Lee! Yes, the standard pipes suit the bike very well. Most of the replacements seem to focus on just right side exits (3 into 2 or 3 into 1), making the bike look a bit one-legged on the left side. Just odd. The Zard recognises that and gives you a nice carbon infill piece. The Bugbike does come in a 3 into 3, but the pipe exits the left at an odd angle IMHO.
Great review brother, I am however, already sold, gonna swap my KTM SDR next year I reckon. Triumph have never even been on my radar over 40+ years riding, this new shape muscle cruiser is a game changer, like when Audi developed the Quattro
I was the same, never crossed my mind until this came along. You’re going to love it, it’s just bonkers. I have a video coming shortly where I test rode a bunch of Harley’s finest iron, couldn’t find one I liked anywhere near the Rocket. Thanks for watching. 👍🏻
Nice ride out I have the gt version it was put on UA-cam by the dealers I said to my wife this bike is the same as mine when I saw the reg plate it was mine I have had a Rocket111 roadster for 11years so
I have both versions the difference is amazing but Love both of them 😊😊😊😊
Thanks Dave, it is an amazing bit of kit. I’ve not ridden an original to compare them, but I plan to!
Had mine about 12 months, still can’t get the smile off my face. I also looked very hard at the diavel but I come from a sports tourer background and couldn’t do forward controls. Can’t imagine not what using all year round, SEQ is pretty much constantly good riding weather. Cheers Chris
Thanks for watching Chris. I agree, the Rocket pastes a permanent grin on your face! I too have been a sports tourer guy over the years. I can imagine that SEQ gives you all-year-round riding weather, nice. NOt so down here in the ACT, can get pretty frigid this time of year...
@@watchapexmedia I should have said, I love your footage...super clear and great sound...also loved your captions...
@@barryballs3837 Thanks again, I appreciate it.
The roads look brilliant over there! In Yorkshire, and Lincolnshire we have some good riding roads, but you have to avoid some of the muddy areas (especially after farm machinery activity) because of the mud that you mentioned! Looking forward to the riding in traffic video! 😀
The traffic carving video is up next Reece, followed by applying a custom throttle map using TuneECU, so stay tuned!
@@watchapexmedia Poised 😀
I think that today the new Ducati with the Diavel V4 engine will certainly compete with this bike for the same share of the market. I find the bike very interesting but the lack of wind protection is a downside if touring with it is a project. The bike is beautiful like it is but would be great to have some sort of a bubble to make it into a mile muncher. The quick shifter is key for me in terms of riding pleasure, so for the cost of the bike It’s expectable to get it from stock. ( I’m achieving 58 years old next May, so arthritis are becoming a issue to deal with and the quick shifter is relevant as it ads a lot of riding comfort).
The video is amusing and your impressions are very objective which is always nice when we want to have independent views of things.
I subscribed the channel and hope that you keep on bringing more videos. Be well and ride safe!✌️✌️
I agree, the Diavel was an alternative for me, but the Rocket kills it in the looks department. Well, in my eyes anyway. 🙂
There are some larger screen options out there, but not many that look great. If someone made a quick release one like the barndoor they make for the HD Fatboy, that might work. Corbin do make a big bikini fairing screen, but most find it looks horrible.
Love my quick shifter, wouldn't be without it. Saying that, the clutch is super light, so if you didn't get it, you would still manage unless your arthritis is bad. But it's still the first option box you should check.
Thanks for watching, I promise there are more videos to come. Still have to finish the carbon install, upgrade the horn, install the aux power outlet and swap the tank badges from silver to black. Then may do the Meerkat Mod to the exhaust.
@@watchapexmedia Then your Rocket III will be personalized! Thanks for replying 👍🏻
Hello from 🏴 a really nice vid and editing. I love how that torque is instant, no winding up needed. Roll in 4th is just awesome 😎 What you’ll find is the R3 motor really loosens up after 1-2k, and in sport with the shift assist really does wake up and then you can really hustle it more on the twisties. Brakes are great and very stable, tips in well and holds line, def need to respect the weight but the big girl leans 😎 Check out Marcio’s vids on What A Day. I’ve got the front and rear suspension nicely and takes the bumps well and really enjoy pushing the mid pegs 😎 safe riding mate. With long arms I like the bars, feel way more connected to the front end than on the GT. I think the dash looks much better in dark mode. I’d have loved the twin clocks but love the functionality, you’ll be scraping soon and that front end sticks mate. I eased myself in too and you learn to trust. I decided on the R3 over Diavel and no regrets 😊 good video mate. Check out Marcio’s vid, he modded his zaust with Peter at Meerkat in Oz and sound is phenomenal 😎 on suspension some guys reporting almost no preload on the suspension so will def firm up. I’ve popped the cable ties on mine and so far decent. Got to say the Red 3R is my favourite, I love the brushed metal and stainless headers etc 😎
That’s for taking the time to respond JB! Yes, it’s a beast for sure. I have watched the What a Day vids, and did like the Meerkat mod. I also love the look of the Zard pipes, but can’t come at 10% of what I paid for the whole bike. I know Peter is happy to send out the instructions for his mod, may have to give him a call… 🤔😏 I’ve already put 1,000 k’s on it since this video, to get it to first service before winter bit hard. To put that in context, I normally only manage 1,000 k’s a year on a bike, and I did it in a month! Since the video I’ve also adjusted the suspension, fairly similar to what col and zig put on UA-cam, just with extra rear preload (I’m at 8 clicks out, not the 18 from factory). I’ve also swapped to the round sport mirrors, removed the rack, added red reflector tape to the wheels, and have Union Jack tank pads from Trik to put on. I have the instruments on auto still, so they switch to dark mode only at night. Have ground off the feeler on the left peg a fair bit already, and am amazed how well these things handle. I yanked a handful of brake on one ride when someone stopped up ahead and I surprised myself by how fast it hauled up. Very reassuring. Just loving it right now. Red is for sure the best, I think all the black ones, especially the new triple blacks, just look like any other blacked out cruiser. Personal taste I guess… 😉
@@watchapexmedia sounds good mate, Peter really helpful and I’m seriously considering the mod, problem in U.K. is a big risk they start emissions testing bikes in our MOT 😬 love surprising mates by taking the corners on Big Red 😎 enjoy mate 💪 rocket and keep the content coming
@@78Outlaw Yeah Peter sent me the instructions yesterday. Not having a welder though, may just send the exhaust up to him to do it! 😏
The Zard exhaust is excellent. More noise but not too loud and looks even better.
For sure, I think the Zard looks the biz and sounds great. I can’t come at 10-15% of the cost of an already very expensive bike for what is basically a speccy cat and a couple of slip ons that stop you ever having luggage! 🤷♂️ Especially as their pipes for other bikes are much cheaper. Do like them though. Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment Glen. 👍🏻
Can’t wait to go through my Learner’s and Provisional’s to get this eventually!! Enjoy it mate. ACT is very similar to WA though. Style wise, everything is sort of identical.
Straight from a learner legal bike to a Rocket? Duuuuude... Maybe keep it in Road mode for a bit. Thanks for watching, and yeah, love WA. Haven't been there since '19, but covid... ;-)
@@watchapexmedia I said eventually mate! Whenever I feel confident that I am capable of riding a bike like that. For now, I stick to my LAMS approved 😃
@@JulAlxAU haha! Good plan mate, stay upright, stay safe…🏍👍🏻
Apex, if you had to do it over again and chose between this bike and the 2022 suzuki hayabusa, which one would you go for ? Also, are you able to bring up the pegs another 1 or 2 inches since they will scrape the ground if you lean too much?
Having had a Blackbird, a ‘busa is probably not different enough that I would’ve put it in the mix. I did consider the Diavel, but the looks of the Rocket just left it behind, and my experience with the quick shifter on my Ducati Supersport S made me think the Diavel would be equally as clunky. Plus the new Hayabusa, while getting plenty of updated tech, is down marginally on grunt from the older ones, and it’s look isn’t really as distinctive as it used to be. My 2 cents anyway. 😏 I haven’t raised the pegs, my riding is way less aggressive these days and I don’t touch down much since adjusting the suspension for my weight. Thanks for watching.
@@watchapexmedia I'm 6'3" and I had someone else tell me that if a person is tall the hayabusa would NOT be a very good bike for long distance or any sort ! I was told that the 2022 bmw s1000rr would even be better long distance than the hayabusa..lol...I like the looks, especially for my height, of the 3R and I would have to ask the salesman if they would be able to raise the footpegs 2 inches. That would do the trick for me :)
You should ride in Spain the roads are fantastic. I ride a Tbird but have ordered the new Rocket. Just love riding always gives me a great smile .
I look forward to your invite when the world opens up again!👍🏻
Really enjoyed the video. I'm planning on having a go at filming with a helmet mounted Gopro- is a plug in mic inside your helmet required for this kind of video so your voice can be heard? Also, if you don't mind, what kind of video editing software do you use? Thanks.
Thanks for watching! I actually mentioned in the second video that I would cover my helmet rig in the third video, but I didn’t include that as it didn’t really align to the “Triumph Tech” theme. If you are interested, I will make a video on the tech I use? Also, I primarily use Adobe Premier Pro for the actual composition, plus Audition if I need to clean up audio. And I have a microphone inside my helmet as you can’t hear your voice using the external mics unless you are stopped, and it’s very faint.
@@watchapexmedia That would make a great video, thanks for the tips.
@@SeldarionRides I’ll get right on that! 😎
Very nice video, and awesome bike. It looked like you were going a bit wide on some turns; guess it's the weight doing it. I am looking at this bike as an upgrade from 1100CC 225KG bike. Nervous to go for even a test ride, especially as I am 5'9 @70KG and this thing weighs a ton.
Thanks for watching Din. the "wide" look in corners is more the camera's wide angle making it look like the wheels must be on or over the line, when they aren't. As I mention in the video, once underway the Rocket disguises its weight admirably. Low speed maneuvering is for sure a little trickier, but I just make sure I never take that for granted and have been fine so far. On my 225kg Blackbird, as I figured it was a "normal" bike, I managed a stationary tipover because I wasn't paying attention to the grassed slope and once the bike started leaning I couldn't stop it. I would not make the same mistake on the Rocket as I am always on "high alert" when pottering around. That said, it does an awesome thing where you don't have to touch the throttle when walking it around, as you release and feather the clutch the engine increases revs slightly to stop a stall and you can just walk it around. Neat. I say go for it brother, I think you'll be very surprised. At 5'9" it will fit you just right.
@@watchapexmedia Thank you, I will. I absolutely love the looks and nature of this bike.
And I have my new R3 GT in the garage!! So far I did 35 miles and got very comfortable with it. Prior to the purchase, I went for a 10 mile test ride and did not want to go back to the Indian Super Chief Limited that I test rode before or the Rebel 1100 that I was riding till then. Thanks for the encouragement !
The only issue is with the GoPro bluetooth connectivity; trying to sort it out now.
@@dinbosco9658 well done! Hope you love it. For the GoPro, make sure it’s the last thing you pair to the bike (if you’re doing phone and helmet), and I found I needed to reset the camera to default and pair it to the bike (connect to PC App was the option I think) and then pair it back to the phone after. While the bike was searching for it, I think I had to restart the GoPro end a couple of times. Good luck!
@@watchapexmedia Thank you, I will try that. Appreciate the suggestion. The bike is absolutely awesome. Could complete only 100 miles so far; the winter weather has moved in. So, I have few weeks to fix the GoPro issue
I have never used a quick shifter, but I very rarely ever used the clutch on any bike I owned in 30 years. What is special about the quick shifter?
Hi Jim. Yes, you can mimic the quick shifter action manually, and I have done that often on upshifts on previous bikes by backing off the throttle as I upshift. A properly executed downshift however does take more finesse, in that you should be blipping the throttle after the gearbox disengages the taller gear and before it engages the shorter. Otherwise you won’t get a clean rev match and it can wear the clutch prematurely. A quick shifter automates this and has a sensor on the gear lever to detect the up and down shifts and adjust the throttle accordingly, cutting it on up shifts and blipping the throttle on downshifts. Thanks for watching!
@@watchapexmedia Thank you for the excellent explanation.
Does triumph have the conversion kits to put a R model foot pegs on a GT? Or, how you put the pillion backrest and rack on the R model?
Hi Charles, thanks for watching. Triumph can do both, but in my case I put the GT backrest on an R. I also now have a GT screen on it, which you can see in the next videos. You can also swap between R and GT handlebars. I also added heated grips (standard on the GT), Bluetooth module and luggage rack, which is now off and in the garage. Mirrors are now swapped as well for the round sport version.
@@watchapexmedia just started watching your channel. Are you going to do some videos showing how you made those swaps from one model to the other?
@@charlesscoggins5029 I can certainly show what I've done so far, and what I might do in the future. Thanks for the suggestion, I hope you enjoy the content.
@@watchapexmedia Not sure why you didn't buy a GT in the first place. You seem to be converting an R to a GT....?
@@stephenhedge2489 Hi Stephen. First, I wanted that red as it’s so nice. Second, I prefer the R riding position which I’ve kept as I never went GT pegs and bars. Third, I liked the look of the sissy bar and the screen looks good and actually works at speed. And fourth, there is no fourth thing… 😏 Thanks for watching!
No one has mentioned a speed shifter but you. Is it a dealer installation? This bike is high on my list!
Hi Tony. The Triumph Shift Assist (TSA) or quick shifter should be standard on this bike, considering how much it costs! That aside, it is the first option box I ticked, as I had a quick shifter on my 2018 Ducati SuperSport S, and really liked it there. The TSA is the next level though as it works way better, is smoother (especially on downshifts and auto-blipping the throttle), and makes the bike and absolute missile in wide open throttle, up through the gears blasts. You physically can't shift as fast yourself, so I consider it a must-have and really suits the character of the bike. You can fit it yourself, but the dealer still has to enable and calibrate it, so just get them to do it.
I had my feet changed to mids recently. Since my bike clunks and jolts a little from neutral to first gear; does yours do this?
Mine doesn't really do that, no. I did get the quick shifter adjusted early this year though as all gear changes seemed a bit clunky unless I was really giving it the beans. Is your clunkiness with the QS or just manually using the clutch?
@@watchapexmedia It clunks from neutral to first. But since I had the quickshifter moved to mid position it went from feeling buttery smooth to more of a feeling of something slapping into gear a little, I can’t explain it very well but not as smooth as it was before.
@@NeoDK Yeah, you need to get the quick shifter recalibrated when you change the footpeg position as the linkages change the forces on the sensor...
@@watchapexmedia I asked them that and they said it had been, but I’m not sure if it has. Or done properly.
@@NeoDK Yeah I'd be getting their mechanic to ride it so he can feel the clunkiness. Mine was buttery smooth and then must've drifted off and they had to do it again.
You can’t beat Triumph for fit and finish I ride a Bonnieville T120
Triumph have really got their act together. Loved the Thruxton, the Bobber and the Scrambler, but as a big lad I think the Rocket fits me best. Thanks for watching!
This is my choose: Red color. R. With passenger back. Cool )
You have fine taste my friend, thanks for watching! 😏👍🏻
I really wanted to hear about the options
Hi Mark. I did talk a bit about the quickshifter, and other than that I added the Bluetooth module and heated grips (check the ride tech video for more on those), the passenger backrest, round sport mirrors, GT screen and the luggage rack (since removed and stored). I've also added rim tape and tank protectors (in the second video), a custom tune (recent video) and will be adding some carbon pieces soon. Thanks for watching!
I actually like the look of the competition werks slip on. I'll be dropping the microwave oven sized stock system off for the CW slip on asap
Enjoy the new exhaust flames! Thanks for watching…
Analog watches like Rado stayed even after smartwatches arrived. IC engines and particularly motorcycle engines will Never go out of fashion.
You're spot on. Although I don't look forward to the day you have to hunt out the 10 fuel stations in the city, like you have to hunt for fast chargers today! Thanks for watching. 🙂
She looks great ... and Red Bikes are ALWAYS faster :)
For sure! Thanks for watching.😏
Design and performance are good However, the useless large cruise button, the awkward location of the emergency light, the blinker button and the horn button are too small to be used. Moreover, the instrument cluster is also shared with the sub-model.
Fair points, however it didn't take me long to adjust to it. I like the cluster as it fits the look of the bike. It's way better than the big square boxy ones on most bikes with all the tech features these days. Thanks for watching.
You said first ride; the caption says that, then you said "first proper ride", but then said that it has 30Km from the "ride home from the bike store". Is it actually the first ride? I'm confused!
@@wayneallen1892 I'm more confused now 😐. Sorry, I have autism; My ability to interpret things gets a little mixed up! I like bikes though, and enjoyed the video very much! Merry Christmas and much love!
@@Mo-xx9gg hey Reece, thanks for clarifying. I honestly thought you were trolling me, so please forgive my sarcasm in reply. By “first ride” the video was about communicating how it felt the first time I got the bike onto my regular riding roads and let it loose, not the actual very first ride on it which was very restrained and with the bike left in the less aggressive “road mode”. I do hope you enjoy the content, I have another video coming shortly of how the bike feels riding it in traffic, so I hope you stick around and enjoy that too. Have a good one buddy. 👍🏻😁
@@watchapexmedia Loved the video and will subscribe! I definitely wouldn't troll (it is unkind and ungrateful), especially when people take the time to film interesting videos and share their knowledge! 😀
@@watchapexmedia Just got my Rocket 3 R black today! Wow! Rode 180 miles back home - it was incredible! The power and handling is like nothing I could have imagined! I had the GT screen fitted and it was brilliant at motorway speed! I got 160 miles on a full tank (which surprised me). I bet I will get 170 once it is broken in! Haven't had jt out of rain mode yet!
@@Mo-xx9gg Just wait until you flip it into Sport mode! It's bonkers. Did you get the quickshifter? It's superb. I'll be making a video showing the process to upload a more aggressive throttle map (the "Penner Tune") shortly as the standard tune limits the throttle opening in the first 3 gears, stay tuned for that. 🙂
Why blur the speedo ?
I would hate anyone to be led astray by my speedo indicating a “momentary” speed in excess of the posted speed limit! 😉
This thing is like a car 😅
Wait until someone makes a trike from one with stadium seating for two making it a three seater and it’ll have more seats than a Cayman or Boxster!😂
All Harleys are ugly. Well, most. This was a good vid bud, had a few laughs, well done. 😁
Thanks for watching, appreciate it. And you’re right - most… 😉
All Harley’s are works of art. 🖼
Why did you hide panel information after 12m31s in the video?
Well, I would just hate it if my indicated speed and the posted speed limit in that area were not aligned. That would be bad... So to avoid getting Karen'ed I opted to obfuscate any confusion she might feel... ;-)
Stock Harley seats are horrible on your coccyx. It's the seat design, not foot position.
Think your wrong there saying it's made in Thailand, as far as I know all the rockets are made in England, have a look on the bikes chassis build plate and I'm sure you'll see it's made in England
95% sure that only TFC bikes and some other specials are now made in the UK. With my broken arm I can't climb all over the bike looking for the build plate. Article from early 2020 states "The move, announced to Triumph employees yesterday (February 20), will see the last remaining UK produced models - the Speed Triple and Tiger 1200 - join the rest of the range at the Chonburi, Thailand, production facilities. The net result for Hinckley is a reduction of around 2000 units per year, leaving only the high-end Triumph Factory Custom models and selected other special builds based on UK soil. The firm currently build around 65,000 bikes per year, with only 10% of that figure rolling out of the Hinckley facility". Looking at the Triumph AUS website, they state Triumph has manufacturing in the UK, Thailand and Brazil. The letter M in my VIN (11th digit) implies Brazil? Weird... Must get on that... :-)
I thought Malaysia were involved in the build too...?
@@watchapexmedia The Rocket 3 is the highest end motorcycle that Triumph builds. It’s their flagship model. And it’s still built in England.
@@mudman6156 not according to Triumph themselves (see quote above where they state only R&D and TFC work happens in the UK), the VIN number country field on my own VIN and an updated article from a couple of months ago stating that since covid they spun up Trident and Tiger manufacturing for the Euro market. timeless2wheels.com/14015/triumph-thailand-made/
why british bike on british road showing speed in km/h?????????cos looks faster?????
British bike on Australian roads mate! 😏👍🏻
@@watchapexmedia I was think is Cornwall or something
@@dariuszszewczyk3106 hmmm.. Aussie accent, bunch of 'utes seen in the video... Yep, must be Cornwall :)
Irritating so called music ,why do you need to impose noise on a video that is a noisy one anyway. ?
Thanks for the feedback. It was the first one, hopefully the audio gets better over the series…
I would have to second that. We’re hear to watch your video, not listen to music. At least your music choice isn’t offensive. Videos that have loud, obnoxious music get turned off immediately. Music just isn’t necessary in videos. Unlike movies and TV shows, we expect UA-cam videos to be real life. Real life doesn’t have traumatic music playing in the background every time something unexpected is about to happen!!! Otherwise, great video!!!!
Boring……