By NastyNils·
Motorcycle comparison · Cruiser
Triumph Rocket III (MY2004) vs Rocket 3 GT Triple Black (MY2021)
Triumph Rocket III vs Rocket 3 GT Triple Black: buy with your heart, but read this first.
Into a tight, slow turn, the Triumph Rocket III won't tip in without a deliberate push from your hands. The Triumph Rocket 3 GT Triple Black's bars feel heavy at a crawl too. Once it's rolling, it turns in light and holds steady.
So which one do you buy?
The Rocket 3 GT Triple Black has the edge if…
Character, looks and sound
Edges it: Rocket 3 GT Triple Black
The Rocket 3 GT Triple Black has a bit more presence and character. The difference is more retro style. This one still comes down to taste.
Keeping running costs low
Slight edge: Rocket 3 GT Triple Black
The Rocket 3 GT Triple Black comes out a little ahead on upkeep. Only a little.
Sporty riding on twisty roads
Narrow edge: Rocket 3 GT Triple Black
In the twisties, the Rocket 3 GT Triple Black asks a bit less of you to go quickly. The reason: better suspension and a sportier chassis. Call it a modest edge.
What makes each one tick
Rocket III
The Rocket III's engine hauls from barely above idle and doesn't run out of shove, with 147 lb-ft (199 Nm) already peaking at 2,500 rpm. A bump lands on the telescopic fork, and all that bulk still keeps its grip on the road. Its Daytona brakes bite hard. That fat rear tire takes every bit of the shove.
Rocket 3 GT Triple Black
There's no rpm the Rocket 3 GT Triple Black has to hunt for before its inline-three pulls, and a highway pass takes almost no thought. The forward foot controls stretch the rider out on a seat that's plush. Every stop hands the brake lever 648 lb (294 kg) of dry weight to bring down. The frame hides it at speed.
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- The Rocket 3 GT Triple Black makes more peak power: 165 hp (123 kW) vs 140 hp (104 kW).
- The Rocket 3 GT Triple Black makes more peak torque: 163 lb-ft (221 Nm) vs 147 lb-ft (199 Nm).
- The Rocket 3 GT Triple Black has the larger engine: 2458 cc vs 2294 cc.
Which one for the way you ride
Comfortable long-distance riding
Wrong job for both
Both of these get tiring on a long day. A proper tourer will treat you better on big miles.
Daily commuting & city riding
Neither is a natural fit
Neither one is built around the commute. If that's the bike's main job, keep shopping.
Who each one is built for
What's good, and what you'll live with
Rocket III
What owners say
Trade-offs
- Excessive weight hampers low-speed agility
Rocket 3 GT Triple Black
What owners say
Strengths
- Monstrous torque and power
- Surprisingly agile handling for its size
Trade-offs
- Considerable weight makes low-speed maneuvering challenging
Known problems to check before you buy
Rocket III
- Final drive oil seal leak and potential lockup (recall) Recall 05V004000 Early production bikes up to 2005 suffered from an improperly installed oil seal in the final drive unit, causing oil leakage. If undetected, the unit could run dry and seize, locking the rear wheel. Addressed under NHTSA recall 05V-004.
- Engine stalling when returning to idle (recall) Recall 07V455000 Affected 2004-2007 bikes may stall while returning to idle due to incorrect fuel-injection mapping. Covered by NHTSA recall 07V455000; dealers reflash the ECU free of charge.
Rocket 3 GT Triple Black
- TFT display failure causing no-start condition Some owners report the TFT display failing to power up, preventing the fuel pump and ignition from engaging, often stemming from an internal contact or connection fault within the right handlebar switch cluster.
What they share
- Engine
- Inline-three
- Cooling
- Liquid-cooled
- Final drive
- Shaft
- Front brake
- 320 mm
- Front tire
- 150/80-17
- Rear tire
- 240/50-16
Where the spec sheets split
| Rocket III | Rocket 3 GT Triple Black | |
|---|---|---|
| Seat height | 29.1 in (740 mm) | 29.5 in (750 mm) |
| Dry weight | 705 lb (320 kg) | 648 lb (294 kg) |
| Rocket III | Rocket 3 GT Triple Black | |
|---|---|---|
| Displacement | 2294 cc | 2458 cc |
| Power | 140 hp (104 kW) | 165 hp (123 kW) |
| Peak power at | 5,750 rpm | 6,000 rpm |
| Torque | 147 lb-ft (199 Nm) | 163 lb-ft (221 Nm) |
| Peak torque at | 2,500 rpm | 4,000 rpm |
| Rocket III | Rocket 3 GT Triple Black | |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel capacity | 6.6 US gal (25 L) | 4.8 US gal (18 L) |
| Rocket III | Rocket 3 GT Triple Black | |
|---|---|---|
| Gearbox | 5-speed | 6-speed |
| Fork | Telescopic | Upside-down (USD) |
What comes fitted, what costs extra
| Rocket III | Rocket 3 GT Triple Black | |
|---|---|---|
| ABS | Not offered | Standard |
| Cruise Control | Not offered | Standard |
| Heated Grips | Option | Standard |
| Luggage System | Not offered | Option |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
