2010–2017 · Cruiser · Buyer's Guide
163 Pounds of Ground-Shaking Torque
Triumph built this one around the engine and made no apology for it. The 2294 cc liquid-cooled inline-three makes 146 hp and 163 lb-ft, and it drives the rear wheel through a five-speed box and a shaft. The styling follows the same logic: blacked-out hardware, heavy metal left on show, a 240/50-16 rear tire anchoring the whole silhouette. In a class where character often gets faked with old technology, this generation earns it honestly. It reads as a power cruiser with a genuinely British engine note rather than an imitation of somebody else's formula.
On the road it feels far more sorted than 809 lb (367 kg) suggests. Steering is light off center, the 29.5 in (750 mm) seat gets most riders flat-footed at a stop, and at highway speed it settles into a line and stays there. ABS is standard. Traction control and ride modes are not, so your right wrist does the managing. This is a bike for riders who want presence and a mechanical event every time they ride. The honest caveat is running cost, because that torque and mass eat rear tires and rear pads faster than normal.
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
| Power | 146 hp (109 kW) |
|---|---|
| Torque | 163 lb-ft (221 Nm) |
| Displacement | 2294 cc |
| Engine | Inline-three |
| Cooling | Liquid-cooled |
| Gearbox | 5-speed |
| Final drive | Shaft |
| Front tire | 150/80-17 |
| Rear tire | 240/50-16 |
| Seat height | 29.5 in (750 mm) |
| Wet weight | 809 lb (367 kg) |
| Fuel capacity | 6.3 gal (24 L) |
Equipment check
Chassis
Safety
Two decades of listening does most of the work here. Paddock conversations, owner meets, club nights, and the messages riders send me directly. On the Rocket III the chatter is unusually consistent: the engine comes up first, the handling second, and the low-speed wrestling third.
Ask an owner what stands out and you get the pull. The report is the same everywhere: massive low-down grunt with genuine character to it, enough that riders stop planning an overtake and simply open the throttle. Cornering comes up almost as often. Owners say the bike hides its bulk once the road starts turning and feels stable, even nimble, in a way the spec sheet never suggests. Longtime Triumph riders also point to the footpegs sitting further back and down than on the earlier Rockets.
The gripes sit in a narrow band. Parking lots, U-turns and walking pace are where the mass makes itself known, and that one surfaces in nearly every conversation. Riders who lean on it harder mention the peg feelers grounding out early, though they tend to shrug it off, since the feelers are replaceable.
Ignition switch failure
The ignition switch can cut out intermittently when the key is jiggled; often requires barrel replacement.
Accelerated rear brake pad and tyre wear
The immense torque and weight cause faster than normal wear on rear brake pads and tyres.
Fork seal weep after storage
If the bike sits unused for long periods, fork seals may relax and weep a small amount of oil; usually self-corrects after a short ride.
Where this Triumph Rocket III pulls ahead of — or falls behind — its rivals on the numbers, and the typical bike in its class on character.
Power
Torque
Displacement
Wet weight
Seat height
Forget spec-sheet bragging. Here's who the Rocket III is actually built for.
If the ride is about sound, stance and rolling into somewhere that matters, this delivers all three and never has to pretend. Expect to answer questions at every gas stop.
Made for A1A — Florida Atlantic Coast · Black Hills / Sturgis Rally Hub · Daytona Main Street / Bike Week
Small towns and slow historic routes suit it well, and the look holds up everywhere you park. It is louder and heavier than the usual retro road-trip bike, so decide if that is your statement.
Made for Acadia National Park · Austin / Handbuilt Motorcycle Show · Blue Ridge Parkway
Long days work here, it is stable at speed and the 6.3 gal (24 L) tank keeps fuel stops sensible. Two-up and fully loaded is where it asks more of you than a purpose-built tourer would.
Made for Beartooth Highway · Blue Ridge Parkway · Going-to-the-Sun Road
If you're cross-shopping the older generation, here's what changed.
Previous generation · 2004–2008
Two Thousand CC's Of Intent
Compare to the previous model →If this one isn't quite the fit, these are the bikes worth riding back-to-back against it.
Any price note compares both bikes at the same age — the youngest age both have on the used market — against this Triumph Rocket III. “cheaper/pricier” is what that bike costs second-hand, not how worn it is.
Competitor · 2010–2011
Disc Wheels, Genuine American Thunder
Roughly $8,900 pricier used than this bike at 15 yr
Competitor · 2009–2017
Four Cylinders Of Pure Torque
Roughly $4,300 pricier used than this bike at 9 yr
Same Platform · 2015
Five Hundred Built, One Engine
Roughly $5,400 pricier used than this bike at 11 yr