2023 Triumph Rocket 3 R | Highway Take a look at Overview

The very first thing you must know concerning the Triumph Rocket 3 R is that its inline-Triple displaces 2,458cc (150ci), making it the biggest motorbike manufacturing engine by far. Nothing else even comes shut. 

The Rocket 3 R’s cylinders are like a hippopotamus’ tooth: It doesn’t have many, however the ones it does have are spectacular. They’ve a bore of 4.33 inches – wider than the cylinders in a 707-hp Dodge Hellcat – and a stroke of three.4 inches. Every one displaces 819.3cc, exceeding the engine capability of Triumph’s Avenue Triple 765 sportbike.

Associated: 2024 Triumph Avenue Triple 765 Vary | First Look Overview

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Claimed output on the crank is 165 hp and 163 lb-ft of torque. You should buy a sportbike tuned to make extra horsepower, however no manufacturing motorbike churns out as a lot grunt. Once more, nothing else comes shut.

The second factor you must know is that, regardless of having such an infinite engine, the Rocket 3 R will not be an chubby, bloated machine. With a claimed dry weight of 641 lb and an estimated curb weight approaching 700 lb, it’s as mild or lighter than many cruisers and open-class sport-tourers.

Even taking its engine measurement and output under consideration, the Rocket 3 R stays a uncommon breed: a muscle cruiser that handles properly and has sportbike-caliber elements and electronics. And its design, from its mixture of brushed, matte, and gloss finishes to its single-sided swingarm, reveals unbelievable consideration to element and top-notch match and end.

My, How You’ve Grown 

Within the late ’90s and early 2000s, there was a displacement battle occurring amongst cruisers, with engine sizes rising from 1,449cc on the Harley-Davidson Twin Cam 88 to 1,510cc on the Victory 92C. Then the Japanese OEMs joined the fray, beginning with 1,670cc on the Yamaha Highway Star, then 1,795cc on the Honda VTX1800, and at last, breaking the two-liter barrier, 2,053cc on the Kawasaki Vulcan 2000, which debuted for 2004. 

The next 12 months, Triumph got here alongside and topped all of them with the Rocket III, which acquired its thrust from a large 2,294cc inline-Triple, albeit with an additional cylinder in comparison with the V-Twins listed above. The Rocket III was below growth within the early 2000s, and with every new displacement benchmark, Triumph’s engineers ratcheted up the engine’s capability as a result of the corporate’s main purpose was to be the largest.

Associated: 2014 Triumph Rocket III Touring | Highway Take a look at Overview

The three-cylinder configuration made sense as a result of the fashionable incarnation of Triumph, below the course of John Bloor, had constructed its status and model picture round Triples in bikes just like the Trophy, Dash, and Pace Triple. However the origins of the Triple and the mannequin title got here from even additional again in Triumph’s historical past: The 1968 Triumph Trident / BSA Rocket III (the identical bike with completely different badging throughout a time when each manufacturers have been below the identical umbrella) was the primary three-cylinder motorbike produced by the British producer. Because the trendy Rocket III’s engine can be so giant, Triumph organized its cylinders longitudinally quite than transverse to the course of journey, as on its different Triples.

It’s been practically a decade since we examined the Rocket III Touring, which was a conventionally styled cruiser with a single spherical headlight, driving lights, a buckhorn handlebar, top-loading saddlebags, a passenger backrest, and many chrome. At 105 hp and 150 lb-ft of torque, it additionally had a milder state of tune than the Rocket III Roadster, which made 146 hp and 163 lb-ft of torque on the crank. Each bikes have been monumental, scaling in at 906 lb for the Touring and 806 lb for the Roadster.

For the 2020 mannequin 12 months, Triumph hit the reset button. It modified the platform’s title to Rocket 3, favoring the extra widespread and modern Arabic numeral to its antiquated Roman counterpart. Whereas which will seem to be a quibbling distinction, it represented Triumph’s dedication to constructing a extra trendy machine. The engine not solely grew from 2,294cc to 2,458cc, it was up to date with a brand new crankcase meeting, balancer shafts, and lubrication system. The Rocket 3 was additionally outfitted with throttle-by-wire, an IMU, experience modes, cornering-optimized ABS and traction management, cruise management, hill-hold management, and keyless ignition.

In comparison with the earlier platform, the Rocket 3 had gone on a crash weight loss program, shaving off roughly 90 lb. Regardless that the brand new engine has extra displacement, it’s 40 lb lighter than its predecessor. Extra weight was saved by changing the metal body and swingarm with cast-aluminum models, lightening the exhaust system and wheels, and decreasing gas capability from 6.3 gallons on the RIII Roadster and 5.9 gallons on the RIII Touring to five gallons on the Rocket 3.

There are two variations of the Rocket 3: the R roadster examined right here, which begins at $23,895, and the GT tourer with a small windscreen, extra handlebar pullback, ahead foot controls, and a passenger backrest, which begins at $24,595. Triumph additionally produces some limited-edition variations with particular paint, finishes, and particulars, together with the Rocket 3 R 221 Particular Version (which celebrates its 221 Newton-meters of torque), the Rocket 3 R Chrome Version, and the Rocket 3 GT Chrome Version.

See all of Rider‘s Triumph protection right here.

Triumph Rocket 3 R: A Magnificence and A Beast 

Regardless that the previous Rocket III made boatloads of torque, its styling was bland. Its mondo engine, monumental radiator, and 240mm rear tire gave it big-boy presence, however little concerning the Rocket III stated, “Hey, take a look at me!” A cruiser mustn’t solely make beneficiant low-end torque, it must also make an announcement, and the Rocket 3 R actually does that. 

It’s a muscle bike with a muscular stance, sitting on fats tires – 150/80-17 up entrance, 240/50-16 out again – and lined in a wide selection of metallic surfaces, as if the whole bike have been carved from one huge block of metallic. The impact is much more pronounced with the Matte Silver Ice paint on our check bike (different shade choices are Sapphire Black, Phantom Black, Korosi Crimson, or Silver Ice/Cranberry Crimson). On the fitting facet is a shocking hydroformed triple-exhaust header that ends in brief, matte-black silencers with slash-cut chrome finish caps – two on the fitting facet and one on the left.

There’s nothing clunky or misplaced – no unpleasant hoses or wires, no half-baked compromises. The “Rocket 3 R” and “2500 cc” badges are engraved; the matching gas, radiator, and oil filler caps are brushed aluminum; and even the bar-ends have customized detailing. The good styling factor, and the one I bragged about to everybody that requested concerning the bike (it’s a lookie-loo magnet), are the double-hinged, fold-away passenger pegs. 

If there’s one factor that appears a bit of off to me, it’s the twin spherical headlights. They’ve been a signature Triumph styling factor because the ’90s, most notably on the Pace Triple, and so they have been on the Rocket III Roadster. However with the extra trendy look of the Rocket 3 R, simply as Triumph did with the Pace Triple a couple of decade in the past, evolving the headlights right into a extra aggressive form would make the bike’s general look extra cohesive. 

Hitting the starter button on the Rocket 3 R elicits an authoritative growl, and blipping the throttle at idle causes the whole bike to twist to the fitting on account of its huge, longitudinal crankshaft. Maybe to make the bike extra livable, throttle response is a tad uninteresting beneath 2,000 rpm, however as soon as the massive pistons spin up extra, the properly of grunt feels bottomless. On Jett Tuning’s dyno, the two.5-liter beast spun the drum to a peak of 148 lb-ft of rear-wheel torque at 3,900 rpm, with greater than 140 lb-ft on faucet between 2,500 rpm and 5,300 rpm (redline is 6,500). There’s hardly a ripple in both the torque or horsepower curves, with the latter climbing steadily from 47 hp at 2,000 rpm to a peak of 145 at 6,100 rpm. Energy is distributed to the rear wheel via an infinite driveshaft.

Whereas the 6-speed transmission with torque-assist clutch shifts cleanly with none huge cruiser clunkiness, this isn’t a motorbike that requires a lot rowing via the gearbox. Brief shift your approach as much as prime gear, and the massive mill spins solely about 3,200 rpm at 75 mph. On a twisty backroad, simply put it in third and overlook about it – there’s at all times sufficient grunt to drag you out of nook and catapult you towards the subsequent one. And when a protracted straight stretch opens up, seize a handful and hold on – it’s an expertise you gained’t quickly overlook and might be desperate to repeat. 

The Rocket 3 R is the bodily embodiment of badassery. Till you beep the horn. Then it seems like a Vespa. Even by motorbike requirements, the horn is wimpy. 

The Triumph Rocket 3 Can Bend It Like Beckham 

Bikes with ultra-wide 240mm rear tires aren’t usually recognized for his or her cornering prowess as a result of it takes effort to get the bike over onto the facet of the tire. However Triumph labored with Avon to develop the profile of the Rocket 3 R’s Cobra Chrome tires to make sure their profiles resulted in pretty impartial dealing with. For a giant, lengthy bike, the R3R goes round corners remarkably properly, requiring much less steering effort than one would possibly anticipate. 

Useful on this respect is adjustable Showa suspension with damping that’s extra sporting agency than touring mushy. There’s sufficient suspension journey to soak up the worst of huge hits, however experience high quality typically favors easy roads over bumpy ones. Slowing issues down is a trio of top-shelf Brembo Stylema 4-piston radial monoblock calipers – two in entrance pinching 320mm discs and one out again pinching a 300mm disc – with hydraulic fluid pumped via steel-braided strains. They’re critical anchors that provide excellent stopping energy with exact really feel on the lever. 

Gear Up:

Deux Ex Machina 

When the Rocket 3 R is keyed on, its shade TFT show exhibits the Triumph brand and a message that claims, “Welcome Rider.” At all times places a smile on my face. 

I parked the Triumph within the storage at LAX airport throughout a brief journey, and after I returned, I pulled the keyless fob out of my backpack and pressed the bike’s energy button. A small pink mild got here on, which implies the fob isn’t inside vary or isn’t working. It was 11 p.m. and raining, and I nonetheless had an hour’s experience forward of me. I held the fob near the bike and pressed the ability button repeatedly, however no luck. 

As panic began to set in, I imagined the Rocket 3 R as HAL 9000 from 2001: A Area Odyssey: “I’m sorry, Greg, however I’m afraid I can’t do this.”

Seems I’m a moron. What I didn’t know is that, to avoid wasting its battery, the fob goes to sleep. And to wake it up, you could press a button on the fob. However there’s not an apparent button, simply an embossed Triumph brand.

Throughout my Uber experience residence, I despatched a grumpy electronic mail to Adam VanderVeen, Triumph America’s advertising and marketing director, asking for assist. I’m certain he laughed to himself as he composed a diplomatic reply informing me that, actually, the brand is the button, and if you press it, a inexperienced mild comes on to let you understand the fob is sending alerts to the bike.

After bumming a experience again to LAX the subsequent day, I pressed the logo-button-thingy, and the Rocket 3 R powered proper up. I used to be relieved that the start-up message didn’t say, “Welcome Dum Dum.”

Like different Triumphs we’ve examined in recent times, the Rocket 3 R’s electronics bundle is complete and simple to make use of, aided by a TFT show with intuitive graphics. Choose from one of many three commonplace experience modes (Sport, Highway, Rain) or customise your personal (Rider – there it’s once more, if solely they used the Rider brand!), and relaxation assured that the ABS and TC are lean-angle delicate, simply in case. 

Rocket Man

Because the saying goes, we purchase on emotion and justify with logic. The Triumph Rocket 3 R is all about heart-pumping stimulation. It’s the kind of bike you lie awake at night time and take into consideration, triangulating a plan to get one into your storage. Simply as Sméagol was corrupted by the Ring, the Rocket 3 will take over your ideas and make you do naughty issues. If you wish to be King of the Highway, there’s nothing else prefer it.

2023 Triumph Rocket 3 R Specs

• Base Value: $23,895 
• Value as Examined: $24,425 (Matte Silver Ice) 
• Guarantee: 3 yrs., unltd. miles 
• Web site: TriumphMotorcycles.com 

Engine 

• Kind: Liquid-cooled, transverse inline-Triple, DOHC w/ 4 valves per cyl. 
• Displacement: 2,458cc 
• Bore x Stroke: 110.2 x 85.9mm 
• Compression Ratio: 10.9:1 
• Valve Insp. Interval: 20,000 miles 
• Gas Supply: EFI w/ throttle-by-wire 
• Lubrication System: Dry sump, 5.5 qt. cap. 
• Transmission: 6-speed, hydraulically actuated slip/help moist clutch 
• Ultimate Drive: Shaft  

Chassis 

• Body: Solid aluminum predominant body w/ solid aluminum single-sided swingarm 
• Wheelbase: 66 in. 
• Rake/Path: 28 levels/5.3 in. 
• Seat Peak: 30.4 in. 
• Suspension, Entrance: 47mm inverted fork, adj. compression & rebound, 4.7 in. journey 
• Rear: Single shock, totally adj. w/ distant preload adjuster, 4.2 in. journey 
• Brakes, Entrance: Twin 320mm discs w/ 4-piston radial monoblock calipers, ABS 
• Rear: Single 300mm disc w/ 4-piston radial monoblock caliper, ABS 
• Wheels, Entrance: Solid aluminum, 3.50 x 17 
• Rear: Solid aluminum, 7.50 x 16 
• Tires, Entrance: 150/80-R17 
• Rear: 240/50-R16 
• Dry Weight: 642 lb 
• Load Capability: 458 lb 
• GVWR: 1,100 lb 

Efficiency 

• Horsepower: 145 @ 6,100 rpm (rear-wheel dyno) 
• Torque: 148 lb-ft @ 3,900 rpm (rear-wheel dyno) 
• Gas Capability: 5.0 gal 
• Gas Consumption: 30 mpg 
• Estimated Vary: 150 miles