Rocket III sighting

**vifferman** · 19th October 2004, 09:24

Originally Posted by scumdog

[talking about the new Speed Triple] Why do they insist in making the brake master cylinder so obvious and sticking out like a wart on your nose?

Indeed. There are many other reservoirs that don't stick up so much - this is the 'semi-remote' kind, that mounts higher up and has a rubber tube connecting it to the master cylinder.
Mebbe they're cheaper than the integrated kind??
And what's so special about the 1500 poond "Tribal" paint-job?

**TonyB** · 16th April 2005, 18:29

I know White Trash did a review of the Rocket III somewhere, but I looked and looked but couldn't find it- I know, typical male...so this thread will do.

Anyhoo, those that went to the Ruapuna Have a Go day today got the opportunity to see a Rocket III on the track(!). It was in group C (passing on straights only) when I was there. Let me just say that an advertising myth was dispelled. It was being ridden by a good rider, and while it may corner well for a 2.3 litre behemoth, it was cornering a good deal slower than other bikes ridden by possibly less talented riders, but then you'd have to expect that. It certainly is a powerful cruiser, it was very slightly faster than a SV1000 in a straight line, but the theories of it accelerating harder than a full on sports bike were well and truly proven incorrect. At one stage an R1 was stuck behind the Rocket III on the sweeper. The R1 went wide at the exit to try to get past on the straight (passing on straights only remember), but had to shut off when the Rocket also ran wide, so the R1 chopped back to the inside and put the power on again, resulting in a rapid pass. The R1 then accelerated away. A Hyabusa on the track at the same time also seemed a good deal quicker in a straight line, but I never got to see them side by side. So there you go, it's bloody quick, but it ain't that quick.

**Ghost Lemur** · 16th April 2005, 18:47

The Rocket has never interested me. The MT-01 on the other hand.... Mmmmm

Come on Well-to-do KBers get with the program. I'm hanging for a first hand long term review.

Then there's the MT-03 coming...

**dangerous** · 16th April 2005, 23:13

Originally Posted by TonyB

I know White Trash did a review of the Rocket III somewhere, but I looked and looked but couldn't find it- I know, typical male...so this thread will do.

Anyhoo, those that went to the Ruapuna Have a Go day today got the opportunity to see a Rocket III on the track(!). It was in group C (passing on straights only) when I was there. Let me just say that an advertising myth was dispelled. It was being ridden by a good rider, and while it may corner well for a 2.3 litre behemoth, it was cornering a good deal slower than other bikes ridden by possibly less talented riders, but then you'd have to expect that. It certainly is a powerful cruiser, it was very slightly faster than a SV1000 in a straight line, but the theories of it accelerating harder than a full on sports bike were well and truly proven incorrect. At one stage an R1 was stuck behind the Rocket III on the sweeper. The R1 went wide at the exit to try to get past on the straight (passing on straights only remember), but had to shut off when the Rocket also ran wide, so the R1 chopped back to the inside and put the power on again, resulting in a rapid pass. The R1 then accelerated away. A Hyabusa on the track at the same time also seemed a good deal quicker in a straight line, but I never got to see them side by side. So there you go, it's bloody quick, but it ain't that quick.

Yes and no Tony..... the rocket may not be what it is all cracked up to be but it was bloody quick from were I was sitting, up on the hill.
So I was able to watch it al the way around the track and had a better view of it on the straight..... it hauled serious ass, the R1 was pulling rather hard and was just behind it but from my position it was as quick as any of the other day riders were... the clubmans thours were the only bikes moving faster than the Rocket.

**Kickaha** · 17th April 2005, 08:26

In the past the particular guy riding the Rocket has shown himself to be incapable of riding any bike on the track slower than 100% however the fact that if he dumped that bike he'd be $32,000 poorer might have had a slight restraining effect on him

In the club rooms later one of the R1 club riders did comment on how quick the Rocket accelerated off the corners and was impressed with how hard Glen was punting it along

I can see a new one make class in the making "Rocket 3 Racing"

**k14** · 17th April 2005, 08:27

Man, you need some photography lessons, that is one seriously useless photo

**dangerous** · 17th April 2005, 09:20

Originally Posted by k14

Man, you need some photography lessons, that is one seriously useless photo

That may be so........ but this is 'one seriously useless' rider........ 1min fidy.... HUH

ps: bet ya dont think this pic too bad

**k14** · 17th April 2005, 09:32

Yeah I know 1:50 is useless, but it wouldn't be as useless as say someone riding a thou doing 1:52's

**TonyB** · 17th April 2005, 20:26

Originally Posted by dangerous

Yes and no Tony..... the rocket may not be what it is all cracked up to be but it was bloody quick from were I was sitting, up on the hill.
So I was able to watch it al the way around the track and had a better view of it on the straight..... it hauled serious ass, the R1 was pulling rather hard and was just behind it but from my position it was as quick as any of the other day riders were... the clubmans thours were the only bikes moving faster than the Rocket.

Don't get me wrong- the thing was definitely quick, but I seem to remember Triumph claiming it would accelerate harder than a sports bike while two up.
Really I'm posting this in the wrong place. At work there are a couple of guys who still fervently believe that all Jap bikes are 'Jap crap' and the only real Triumph is one that leaves oil stains everywhere. When they heard about the Rocket III they were gloating that it would "be heaps faster than the bloody rice burner jap crap". Can't wait to see them tomorrow

**Bren_chch** · 17th April 2005, 20:35

It was a fast machine on that home straight, I couldnt believe it when it cranked it self up out of the corner, looked awesome, but me, the k1 and the hyabusa past it a few times on the straight.

I quite like the look of it, but i for sure wouldnt want to ditch that in to the tarmac, god could u imagine the bill!!! ouch

**Big Dave** · 17th April 2005, 23:27

Originally Posted by Bren_chch

It was a fast machine on that home straight, I couldnt believe it when it cranked it self up out of the corner, looked awesome, but me, the k1 and the hyabusa past it a few times on the straight.

I quite like the look of it, but i for sure wouldnt want to ditch that in to the tarmac, god could u imagine the bill!!! ouch

Well, i did the Kiwi Rider test for the Rocket and have a few thousand k's up on them - and i've thrown a leg over most everything fast and desirable in the last 4 years too. (motorcycles that is)
IMNSHO He wasn't riding the rocket right. Sure, braking and cornering the sports bikes will eat it, I'd even back my 140hp trophy in a decent point to point - but the Rockets torque will 'out pull' anything stock to 180 in a straight line.
Then it's about horsepower and moving air and the streamlined big 4's have the edge.
The rocket is more fun getting there - it's an almighty surge when you let it go.

**dangerous** · 18th April 2005, 06:11

Originally Posted by Big Dave

The rocket is more fun getting there

LOL.... at mid straight siting in that postion the rider looked like he was fair shiting..... it must be bloody hard hanging on with ya legs out frount.

**TonyB** · 18th April 2005, 08:00

Originally Posted by Bren_chch

i for sure wouldnt want to ditch that in to the tarmac, god could u imagine the bill!!! ouch

Would that be the bill for the bike, or the damage to the track? If you dropped that thing at speed it'd bloody near knock the earth of it's axis

**scumdog** · 18th April 2005, 09:38

Originally Posted by dangerous

LOL.... at mid straight siting in that postion the rider looked like he was fair shiting..... it must be bloody hard hanging on with ya legs out frount.

Yeah but you can actually SEE when your pegs scrape!!!