Your thoughts on Rocket III Touring?

**Molly** · 18th July 2009, 18:42

Not really in the market for a new bike (only just bought the H-D Fat Bob) but was in Street & Sport the other day and saw that the Rocket III Touring is now only $27k + change.

That little voice in the back of my head (the one that costs me so much money) says I should take a closer look.

Anybody here owned one? Somebody say something to put me off.....

**sels1** · 18th July 2009, 18:46

Originally Posted by Molly

Anybody here owned one? Somebody say something to put me off.....

Take it for a test ride and see what you think. I tested a couple of the earlier ones. They are nicely balanced and handle exceptionally well for their size. And of couse they go like a rocket! The Touring model may be tuned differently but certainly worth a go.

**YellowDog** · 18th July 2009, 19:17

Hey Molly, you got a Fat Bob!

Why would you want a Rocket as well?

The Fat Bob will give you a lot more KM from a tank.

I have test ridden a Rocket III and managed to get a wheel spin at 60kph in the dry, just by a simple twist of the throttle. I didn't expect a wheelie, but then again I didn't expect the huge back wheel to spin under the huge power surge either.

A very very powerful bike.

Nicely balance but not for me though!

Good luck.

**Big Dave** · 18th July 2009, 19:43

The Tourer has 40 horsepower less than the cruiser and a few nm more torque. Really nice to ride too.

**AD345** · 18th July 2009, 20:26

Originally Posted by Molly

Somebody say something to put me off.....

Rumour has it they are big with the basketball set...

**Molly** · 18th July 2009, 20:41

Originally Posted by AD345

Rumour has it they are big with the basketball set...

Ha ha. I've no idea what that means but it's funny. I don't play basketball as it happens.

**Capt M Stubbing** · 18th July 2009, 21:20

its not my cup of tea, but the touring rocket looks the best version, check out the utube "making of a rocket".
its on the links from Bike rider mag.

**Jerry74** · 18th July 2009, 22:27

I took the tourer from street and sport for a ride last month... beautiful bike.
Big pussycat until you give it some herbs... came out of the Lyttleton tunnel back towards Chch gave it some gas went from 50 km to 140 km in about 3 seconds... yes it has some nuts.
I am saving at the moment for one.

**Jerry74** · 18th July 2009, 22:32

The making of the Rocket

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKEuzxC4eGc

here it is for your viewing pleasure...

**AllanB** · 18th July 2009, 23:06

I never got the Rocket 3 other than a 'big for big sake' USA bike.

Until I saw the 3 in touring trim at Street & Sport - it makes so much more sense in that trim. Pretty sure they were $33-35 ish not long ago!!!!

**NZsarge** · 19th July 2009, 04:33

Originally Posted by Molly

Anybody here owned one? Somebody say something to put me off.....

Triumph!

If you want something that can tour there are better bikes for the job thats for sure but each to their own I guess.

**laRIKin** · 19th July 2009, 08:53

Originally Posted by Molly

Anybody here owned one? Somebody say something to put me off.....

From what I understand from people that ride them.
The Touring handles better than the other Rockets and is very nice to ride.
Different frame and rear wheel help this.

But someone people prefer the other Rocket's because of the power they have.

I must say that they all have enough power and I'm sure you could un-tap some more Hp if you wanted to from the Touring model.

I have ridden the Classic and I like it a lot and would like one.
When sitting on one the bike feels big as in you have a bloody large tank in front of you.

When ridding it tho, the bike is easy to ride and does not feel its weight at all.
When you check it's weight against other big cruiser, it is not that bad it just looks it.

I was hoping to get a ride on the Touring awhile ago.

And Dave I still want one.

Not around the block one the next RAT ride can I ride the Touring.

And you are right the price is great and are starting to look at it more.

With the luggage on it already, you are just about set for any trip you would like to do.

If this bloody economy would turn around I would be looking at one more seriously.

**shrub** · 19th July 2009, 13:47

Originally Posted by laRIKin

And Dave I still want one.

Not around the block one the next RAT ride can I ride the Touring.

And you are right the price is great and are starting to look at it more.

With the luggage on it already, you are just about set for any trip you would like to do.

If this bloody economy would turn around I would be looking at one more seriously.

Any time mate - if the weather's good next weekend how about a ride? You can take the Rocket.

The Touring is an awesome motorcycle - it doesn't have the ridiculious and addictive grunt of the Classic, but it's still a cruiser with 107 hp and 154 ft lbs of torgue so it's still got a shitload of grunt and has more torque any other big tourer. Where theTouring works really well is that it's a very lazy, laid back bike and incredibly relaxing to ride big distances. The longest single ride I've done was that Kaikoura run we did last year, and as you recall I had a ball.

I find it corners well and is really only limited by the ground clearance. It's incredibly smooth and the power is such that you never need to change gear once you're on the open road - I reckon that it accelerates from 100k in top as fast as it does in any other gear.

They're a beautiful bike and compared to the prices of other premium tourers, is pretty good value for money.

**firefighter** · 19th July 2009, 14:21

Originally Posted by Molly

Rocket III Touring is now only $27k + change.

Jesus, what the hell do you do for a living?!

**Molly** · 19th July 2009, 17:25

Originally Posted by firefighter

Jesus, what the hell do you do for a living?!

OK, nothing is ever going to be 'only' $27k but compared to, well, comparable bikes it's well priced. Besides, I'm trying to singlehandedly stimulate the economy...

Shrub. Can I book the demonstrator for a ride next Saturday morning?