By NastyNils·
Motorcycle comparison · Cruiser vs Hyper Naked
Triumph Rocket III (MY2004) vs Yamaha V-MAX (RP21)
Triumph Rocket III vs Yamaha V-MAX: where they split, and which one to buy.
You'll feel the Triumph Rocket III's bulk fight you as you turn into a slow, tight corner. The Yamaha V-MAX tips in and stays settled on line.
So which one do you buy?
The Rocket III has the edge if…
Keeping running costs low
Small edge: Rocket III
Running costs lean slightly toward the Rocket III. A well-kept example of either matters more.
The V-MAX has the edge if…
Daily commuting & city riding
Edges it: V-MAX
For the Monday-to-Friday grind, the V-MAX pulls a nose in front. What tips it: lighter steering and easier everyday riding. Your own commute could easily flip it.
Sporty riding on twisty roads
Nose ahead: V-MAX
Once the road starts to bend, the V-MAX noses ahead. That comes from better suspension and a sportier chassis. Your own skill counts for more than a gap this size.
What makes each one tick
Rocket III
Barely above idle, the Rocket III's triple is already shoving 147 lb-ft (199 Nm) at the rear tire, and every short errand feels like an event. Parking lots are another matter: it's a heavy handful that wants deliberate inputs and both boots down at each stop. Its Daytona-bred brakes haul all that mass down hard.
V-MAX
The V-MAX launches with brutal authority, and there's 199 hp (146 kW) hammered into the pavement through a fat rear tire. At speed, the aluminum frame and adjustable fork don't let the long chassis squirm as the front lever reels it in. The exhaust booms from deep down.
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- The Rocket III has the lower seat: 29.1 in (740 mm) vs 30.5 in (775 mm).
- The V-MAX makes more peak power: 199 hp (146 kW) vs 140 hp (104 kW).
- The Rocket III makes more peak torque: 147 lb-ft (199 Nm) vs 123 lb-ft (167 Nm).
Which one for the way you ride
Comfortable long-distance riding
Neither is a natural fit
For all-day comfort, both fall short. Keep the rides short and you'll get on fine with either.
Traveling with luggage
Both fall short
Saddlebags and long trips don't suit these two. They're better at day rides.
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
V-MAX
What owners say
Strengths
- Highly competent chassis and suspension
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.
V-MAX
- Ground wire harness (idle instability recall) Recall 10V327000 On certain 2009 VMAX motorcycles, excessive electrical resistance in the ground wire for the accelerator and throttle position sensors could cause unstable idle speed or a hanging idle around 3,000 rpm. Yamaha issued a recall (NHTSA 10V327) to install a sub‑lead wire.
What they share
- Cooling
- Liquid-cooled
- Gearbox
- 5-speed
- Final drive
- Shaft
- Fork
- Telescopic
- Front brake
- 320 mm
Where the spec sheets split
| Rocket III | V-MAX | |
|---|---|---|
| Seat height | 29.1 in (740 mm) | 30.5 in (775 mm) |
| Rocket III | V-MAX | |
|---|---|---|
| Displacement | 2294 cc | 1679 cc |
| Engine | Inline-three | V4 |
| Power | 140 hp (104 kW) | 199 hp (146 kW) |
| Torque | 147 lb-ft (199 Nm) | 123 lb-ft (167 Nm) |
| Rocket III | V-MAX | |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel capacity | 6.6 US gal (25 L) | 4.0 US gal (15 L) |
| Rocket III | V-MAX | |
|---|---|---|
| Front tire | 150/80-17 | 120/70-18 |
| Rear tire | 240/50-16 | 200/50-18 |
What comes fitted, what costs extra
| Rocket III | V-MAX | |
|---|---|---|
| ABS | Not offered | Standard |
| Manually Adjustable Front Suspension | Not offered | Standard |
| Slipper Clutch | Not offered | Standard |
| Heated Grips | Option | Not offered |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
