Bike Files: Triumph Rocket 3

The world’s biggest capacity motorbike is a proper cult classic…

A motorbike with an engine bigger than most cars?

Yup, that’s the Triumph Rocket 3 for you. The British company’s power cruiser packs a 2.5 litre three-cylinder engine, making it the biggest capacity motorcycle you can buy today.

The Rocket 3 must be a right beast then?

It’s not a bike for everyone, that’s for sure, but it’s actually a lot less scary than the numbers might suggest. It’s big and it’s heavy, but it’s actually quite low to the ground and the engine is tuned for torque rather than outright power. The latest example is packed full of electronic aids to make it even easier to ride, although the first examples – which came in 2004 – were rather blunt instruments.

It's been around for a while then?

The first Rocket III (as it was written then) was unveiled to a shocked world at the Milan motorcycle show in late 2003. With a 2.3 litre three cylinder engine and Triumph’s quirky bug eyed headlights, it was a massive statement from a company previously regarded as a bit staid.

Aimed at the American cruiser market, its success was as massive as its 240-section rear tyre and the 101.6mm pistons which, the company would regularly remind you, were the same diameter as those found on an eight-litre Dodge Viper supercar.

Triumph sold out its first production run and there were long waiting lists. In many ways it was quite a crude design, with a clunky gearbox and a stripped back look, but other versions followed with Classic, Touring and Roadster variants arriving a few years later.

The first generation design survived until 2017, with a pretty much all-new version (now dubbed the Rocket 3, rather than Rocket III) making an appearance in 2019.

While instantly recognisable as a Rocket, and remaining true to the design philosophy of the original, the new version was much more sophisticated and now utilised a bigger bore/shorter stroke engine based around the original block. It may not quite have the same shock factor as those originals but it is still a real statement bike with a ‘wow’ factor few others can touch.

What’s the ‘new’ Rocket like to ride?

The first impression comes when you have to push the Rocket 3 from the garage. It is heavy, over 300kg, and boy can you feel it.

Step astride and although the seat height itself is low, the straddle is quite awkward for shorter riders due to the width of the engine. All’s forgiven as you thumb the starter button. With 2458 cubic centimetres of motor between your legs, you really feel a connections with the bike’s mechanical side in a way that few other motorcycles can deliver.

Touch the throttle and the near instant torque is staggering. It just drives like crazy but without any of the drama you’d get from a high revving motor. Through traffic it can be a bit laborious as you feel all that width and weight, with the chunky front tyre feeling somewhat heavy. The side mounted exhaust headers can also make it uncomfortably hot…

This bike is all about cruising on the open road though. It’s not as agile or precise as the average motorcycle, although a glance at the spec sheet means you shouldn’t really need us to tell you that, but equally it’s better than you might expect.

All that weight makes for a very stable ride and although steering is slow and steady, it isn’t exactly boat like. Ground clearance is surprisingly decent too.

But the Rocket 3 really is all about the engine. With 221Nm of torque delivered low down, the riding experience is as relaxed as you want it to be. Pick a gear and surf all that torque, cruising along safe in the knowledge that you’re riding the biggest production motorcycle of them all.

It’s worth noting that there are two versions of the latest Rocket 3, the R and the GT. The only real difference are the footpegs and handlebars, with the R having a more roadster style set-up with flatter handlebars and mid-mounted footpegs, while the GT has forward mounted ‘pegs and higher ‘bars for a more traditional cruiser arrangement.

These parts are interchangeable, meaning you can modify your GT and turn it into an R (and vice versa) if you fancy a change. Both are pretty comfy, although the wide ‘bars and lack of wind protection can make cruising at faster speeds a bit of a workout.

Riding a Triumph Rocket 3 really is something a bit special.

And are Triumph Rocket 3s customisable?

Do bears defecate in the woods? Many early Rocket IIIs wore lairy paintjobs and were dripping with aftermarket accessories, and while it is less common to see later examples being heavily modified this is not a motorcycle for shrinking violets and many owners like to make their mark.

Triumph recognises this and have a whole brochure full of farkles. They have even produced a load of factory customised versions over the years, including an Evel Knievel tribute. In terms of performance, we’ve even seen tuned up and turbocharged examples, you can’t get enough excess – can you?

Should I buy a Triumph Rocket 3?

That’s the million dollar question! The Rocket 3 is a real bucket list bike, it’s one of those machines you just have to try in your biking career (like a Ducati, Hayabusa and, dare we say it, a Harley).

Whether you should own one is another matter altogether.

It’s an expensive motorcycle and a big old beast. It’s the sort of bike you could put your back out when moving around the garage and it’s a bit too wide and bulky to seriously commute daily on. It’s an amazing thing though and you’ll definitely know if it’s the bike for you.

What are the different specifications of Triumph Rocket 3?

The Rocket 3 has been around for over 20 years and in terms of specification the latest R and GT Storms are the by far and away the most sophisticated and powerful Rockets yet.

 The only real difference between these two models are the seating position, with the R version offering flatter handlebars and mid-mounted footpegs for a roadster style, while the GT has cruiser ergonomics with forward mounted footpegs and higher handlebars.

Second hand Rockets can be picked up for around £5000 nowadays. They’re pretty crude but still give the authentic Rocket experience for a fraction of the cost of a new one. We particularly like the Rocket III Roadster, which arrived in 2009. It’s a little more refined than the very first examples, has more European ergonomics and offers good value on the second hand market.

Do be aware of the Rocket III Touring though. Although it shares the same engine block, it comes in a much softer state of tune and has a completely different frame. It’s a nice enough bike, but it’s more like a Harley styled tourer than the power cruiser all other models are.

What else is there like the Rocket 3?

When we say unique we mean unique! Stuff like the Ducati Diavel or the (now extinct) Yamaha V-Max are probably the closest things we can think of, as well as big bore Indians and Harleys, but really there are no direct competitors to the Triumph Rocket 3. That’s what makes it such an iconic motorcycle.