From the moment you lay eyes on the Rocket III, you will find yourself in awe of the sheer size of this Triumph motorcycle. The Rocket III is huge — really, it redefines 'mammoth-sized' in the flesh. The broad tyres, twin headlamps, wide handlebars, massive tank and engine, and the really wide-set exhaust pipes, everything adds to the size quotient.
The front tyres are 150/80 rubber, mounted on 17-inch wheels, while a 43mm upside-down telescopic fork performs suspension duty at the front. The motorcycle has Triumph-typical dual headlights that stay lit throughout. Matching with the headlights, chrome-plated instrument meters sit mounted on the handlebars. What really grabs attention though, is the Rocket III’s beautiful mid-section, with its massive proportions. The enormous fuel tank holds 24 litres of fuel. Below this sits the engine, with chrome exhausts running from it, till the back. The seat is set quite low, at 750mm in height, and the rear seat is detachable. Below the rear seat are the exposed rear shock absorbers. The rear wheel is massive at 240/50 section, and looks quite impressive too.
Overall fit and finish on the motorcycle is top notch. This is Triumph’s flagship cruiser, and one would expect nothing but that the motorcycle is solidly built. On the other hand, what is truly impressive is the massive engine. It boasts of figures which are quite hard to match. The 2.3-litre 3-cylinders are longitudinally mounted inside the twin spine frame. All of the 22.5kgm of torque is produced at 2,750rpm, and a maximum power of 146bhp is delivered at 5,750rpm. Cranking the motor is a most rewarding experience on a Rocket III. It takes a slightly long press of the starter button and there’s a noticeable twitch from the frame. And once started up, the entire frame shudders mildly, while the exhaust emits a muffled and throaty growl before settling down into a steady idle.
The riding position on the Rocket III is well-balanced. Handlebars sit well within reach of the rider, and your legs do not feel overly stretched out, allowing you to sit up straight. The broad handlebars are non-intrusive while turning the motorcycle; however, the large turning radius can be quite a problem on such a heavy bike as the Rocket III. Navigating in fast-paced traffic on a highway is not a problem though, and the Rocket III is quite manageable on that front. Ride quality is decent, because the Kayaba USD forks on the front and Kayaba spring twin shock absorbers on the back are spot on, and allow minimum unevenness from the road to filter up to you. The frame and the suspension work quite well together to keep the motorcycle stable while negotiating corners.
Twin 320mm floating discs with Nissin four-piston calipers on the front and a single 316mm disc with Brembo floating calipers at the back perform braking duties. The brakes work well, no reason to grumble here. The Rocket III is not a forgiving motorcycle, and you need to get your head around its weight and large proportions before you throw a leg over and pin the throttle to the stop. The engine acquits itself with massive grunt and adequate refinement, well suited to a cruiser like the Rocket III.
At a little over Rs. 20 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi), the Rocket III is not a cheap bike. It might be a legend in itself, and one of the most powerful production motorcycles you can buy. We are also impressed with ride and refinement and its road presence with its sheer size and power. However, the same factors make it a shade impractical, especially on our roads.
