By NastyNils·
Motorcycle comparison · Cruiser
Triumph Rocket III (MY2004) vs Rocket 3 TFC (Y101)
Triumph Rocket III vs Rocket 3 TFC: style matters. So does everything underneath.
Thread the Triumph Rocket III through slow bends and its weight won't let you hurry the steering. The Triumph Rocket 3 TFC snaps from lean to lean.
So which one do you buy?
The Rocket 3 TFC has the edge if…
Sporty riding on twisty roads
Edges it: Rocket 3 TFC
Once the road starts to bend, the Rocket 3 TFC noses ahead. That comes from better suspension and a sportier chassis. Your own skill counts for more than a gap this size.
Character, looks and sound
By a nose: Rocket 3 TFC
Looks and sound lean slightly toward the Rocket 3 TFC. It's down to more retro style.
What makes each one tick
Rocket III
Torque on the Rocket III pours in from barely above idle and doesn't run out. A small crack of the throttle at 2,500 rpm already has all 147 lb-ft (199 Nm) shoving the bike forward. The chassis keeps that bulk tracking where it's pointed. Its Daytona brakes haul it down.
Rocket 3 TFC
An aluminum frame and Showa suspension keep the Rocket 3 TFC quick to change direction. There's 178 hp (133 kW) waiting at 7,000 rpm once the triple winds up. Corner entry doesn't take a shove. The fork tucks the front in and holds its arc.
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- The Rocket III has the lower seat: 29.1 in (740 mm) vs 30.4 in (773 mm).
- The Rocket 3 TFC makes more peak power: 178 hp (133 kW) vs 140 hp (104 kW).
- The Rocket 3 TFC makes more peak torque: 166 lb-ft (225 Nm) vs 147 lb-ft (199 Nm).
Which one for the way you ride
Daily commuting & city riding
Off its turf: Rocket 3 TFC
Weekday traffic isn't the Rocket 3 TFC's world, so it isn't rated here.
Comfortable long-distance riding
Not their thing
Both of these get tiring on a long day. A proper tourer will treat you better on big miles.
Keeping running costs low
Not suited: Rocket 3 TFC
The Rocket 3 TFC sits this one out, so there's no cost verdict for it here.
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 TFC
What owners say
Strengths
- Surprisingly agile handling given the size
- High-quality TFC exclusive components
Trade-offs
- Expensive purchase price and insurance
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 TFC
- Rear brake ABS air contamination (2020 recall, NHTSA Recall 20V-740) Recall 20V740000 Air may have entered the ABS modulator during rear brake system filling at the factory, causing eventual deterioration of rear braking efficiency. Triumph recalled bikes for a special bleeding procedure.
- Oil leak from engine case cover Several owners report oil weeping from a bolt or gasket on the left side of the engine, often requiring multiple dealer visits and replacement of the case cover seal after a high-temperature treatment.
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 TFC | |
|---|---|---|
| Seat height | 29.1 in (740 mm) | 30.4 in (773 mm) |
| Dry weight | 705 lb (320 kg) | 639 lb (290 kg) |
| Rocket III | Rocket 3 TFC | |
|---|---|---|
| Displacement | 2294 cc | 2458 cc |
| Power | 140 hp (104 kW) | 178 hp (133 kW) |
| Peak power at | 5,750 rpm | 7,000 rpm |
| Torque | 147 lb-ft (199 Nm) | 166 lb-ft (225 Nm) |
| Peak torque at | 2,500 rpm | 4,000 rpm |
| Rocket III | Rocket 3 TFC | |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel capacity | 6.6 US gal (25 L) | 4.8 US gal (18 L) |
| Rocket III | Rocket 3 TFC | |
|---|---|---|
| Gearbox | 5-speed | 6-speed |
| Fork | Telescopic | Upside-down (USD) |
What comes fitted, what costs extra
| Rocket III | Rocket 3 TFC | |
|---|---|---|
| ABS | Not offered | Standard |
| Cruise Control | Not offered | Standard |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
