2010–2017 · Cruiser · Buyer's Guide
Two Thousand CCs of Raw Authority
A 2294 cc inline-three is the whole story here: the largest engine ever fitted to a production motorcycle, sitting in a steel backbone frame and driving a 240-section rear tire through a shaft. It makes 146 hp, but the number that matters is 163 lb-ft at 2,750 rpm, right where you actually ride. Triumph kept the rest simple: five gears, an upside-down fork, ABS as the only rider aid. No ride modes, no traction control. In a class built on stance and metal, the Roadster backs the pose with real performance, and its design has more character than anything parked beside it. Pure excess, honestly built.
On the road it's far less of a handful than 809 lb (367 kg) suggests. The mass sits low, the chassis is well sorted, and once you're rolling the bike is more agile than a 66.7 in (1,695 mm) wheelbase has any right to be. It's smooth, stable at speed and well finished, so it suits you if you want a cruiser that actually goes: stoplight pulls, long interstate days, the same grin every time. The caveats are plain ones. The weight comes back at walking pace, the fork has no adjustment, and the ignition switch barrel can develop an intermittent cut-out that only a replacement barrel cures. Know that going in.
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
| Power | 146 hp (109 kW) @ 5,750 rpm |
|---|---|
| Torque | 163 lb-ft (221 Nm) @ 2,750 rpm |
| Displacement | 2294 cc |
| Engine | Inline-three |
| Cooling | Liquid-cooled |
| Gearbox | 5-speed |
| Final drive | Shaft |
| Fork | Upside-down (USD) |
| Front brake | 320 mm |
| Front tire | 150/80-17 |
| Rear tire | 240/50-16 |
| Wheelbase | 66.7 in (1695 mm) |
| Seat height | 29.5 in (750 mm) |
| Wet weight | 809 lb (367 kg) |
| Fuel capacity | 6.3 gal (24 L) |
Equipment check
Chassis
Comfort
Safety
This is what years of listening to owners adds up to: paddock talk, club nights, owner chats, and the emails and messages riders send me directly. For the Rocket III Roadster the pattern is consistent. Riders praise the engine and the way it corners, and they're just as clear about the effort and the parts it costs them.
The comment I hear most is about passing: owners say the triple pulls cleanly from any revs and overtakes take no effort. Just as often they tell me they hustle it through bends with confidence, which the silhouette doesn't promise. The riding position gets regular praise as upright and relaxed, in town and over a full interstate day. The brakes are rated strong, with an ABS that stays out of the way.
The loudest gripe is slow-speed work. Owners call tight parking lots, U-turns and sloped ground daunting, and say the bike demands deliberate clutch and throttle control at walking pace. Running costs come up regularly: rear tires and rear brake pads wear out sooner than on a typical cruiser. Riders who push on twisty roads report the footpegs touching down early. The pegs set the limit.
Ignition switch intermittent failure
The ignition switch barrel can develop a fault where turning the key or wiggling it causes the ignition to cut out momentarily. Replacement of the ignition barrel is the cure.
Where this Triumph Rocket III Roadster 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 Roadster is actually built for.
You'll get the presence, the sound and the ritual in full, and nobody parks next to you unnoticed. It's a British triple, though, so come for its own character and not for a badge.
Made for A1A — Florida Atlantic Coast · Black Hills / Sturgis Rally Hub · Daytona Main Street / Bike Week
This isn't a retro. It has style and build quality to spare, but 809 lb (367 kg) and 2294 cc of excess don't match a quiet small-town rhythm. It only fits if you want drama with your scenery.
Made for Acadia National Park · Austin / Handbuilt Motorcycle Show · Blue Ridge Parkway
Stable, smooth, shaft-driven and carrying 6.3 gal (24 L), it eats interstate miles. But there's no cruise control, and luggage and heated grips are options. It's a muscle cruiser, not a full tourer.
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 Roadster. “cheaper/pricier” is what that bike costs second-hand, not how worn it is.
Competitor · 2009–2017
Four Cylinders Of Pure Torque
Roughly $5,400 pricier used than this bike at 9 yr
Competitor · 2006
Drag Bike DNA in Cruiser Clothes
Roughly $2,500 pricier used than this bike at 9 yr
Same Platform · 2010–2017
163 Pounds of Ground-Shaking Torque
Roughly $1,100 pricier used than this bike at 9 yr