 Anyone with a Rocket III in the (virtual) room?
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Learned Hand
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OP
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So, I'm going along doing my usual brag/gloat "I've got a Triumph" thing, nothing unusual there really, and was talking to someone about how I happen to think that the Rocket IIIs are incredible machines....he was thinking of getting a Victory, he went to my dealership to look at both Victorys and the R3, was going to test ride the R3 today, but no demo rides as the roads were too wet(??).....
Anyway, aside from my drooling over the R3 in his catalog this morning at breakfast, I wanted to see if I could get him some good rider feedback from other Triumph riders.
I figured I'd send him along to TriumphRat.net as well as asking this groups' veritable opinions as to this particular Triumph.
So, have at it, boys (and ladies)!.....
"Let your soul shine,
It's better than sunshine,
It's better than moonshine,
****** sure better than rain."
-ABB
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Re: Anyone with a Rocket III in the (virtual) room?
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Joined: Jan 2005
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Loquacious
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Loquacious
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Goddess,
Member Martyn from the UK has an R3.
BTW it was voted the best rat bike (although brand new) at the Euro Rally in Asendorf last July so you may wish to congratulate him. 
(It's a long story ... with conspiracies involved) 
Bedouin.
Blessed are those eyes that have seen more roads than any man! (Homer).
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Re: Anyone with a Rocket III in the (virtual) room?
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Oil Expert
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Oil Expert
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Quote:
BTW it was voted the best rat bike (although brand new) at the Euro Rally in Asendorf last July so you may wish to congratulate him.
(It's a long story ... with conspiracies involved)
Conspiracies? Tell me more!!
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Re: Anyone with a Rocket III in the (virtual) room?
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Loquacious
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Shaun! Shaun! Shaun! Eeeaasy now! I didn't name names! Did I? 
Bedouin.
Blessed are those eyes that have seen more roads than any man! (Homer).
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Re: Anyone with a Rocket III in the (virtual) room?
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Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
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I took one for a ride this summer...one wild ride! Comfortable and very fast! Torque is an understatement. The motor looks funky but rides like a dream and I like the feel and look when your on it.
Seemed every bit comfortable. If you want to really know if your on top of a motor, there is no question this bike has a power plant. Word of caution, when you pull up to stop light and pull the clutch and rev the motor...it will lurch the whole bike from the torque, you won't get that out of a Victory or a Harley!
Come to think of it I have ridden a Victory Hammer, I liked the Rocket better, handles much nicer and a better fit.
eddy
Last edited by eddy1016; 01/07/2007 10:18 AM.
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Re: Anyone with a Rocket III in the (virtual) room?
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Oil Expert
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Quote:
Shaun! Shaun! Shaun!
Eeeaasy now!
I didn't name names! Did I?
Thanassis
Names?? I wasn't even aware of the conspiracy, let alone the name(s) of the perpetrator(s)!! 
Who would do such a dastardly thing to Martyn, who was clearly suffering enough with everyone making tractor jokes!
Shaun
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Re: Anyone with a Rocket III in the (virtual) room?
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Joined: Jan 2005
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Oil Expert
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Quote:
So, I'm going along doing my usual brag/gloat "I've got a Triumph" thing, nothing unusual there really, and was talking to someone about how I happen to think that the Rocket IIIs are incredible machines....he was thinking of getting a Victory, he went to my dealership to look at both Victorys and the R3, was going to test ride the R3 today, but no demo rides as the roads were too wet(??).....
Anyway, aside from my drooling over the R3 in his catalog this morning at breakfast, I wanted to see if I could get him some good rider feedback from other Triumph riders.
I figured I'd send him along to TriumphRat.net as well as asking this groups' veritable opinions as to this particular Triumph.
So, have at it, boys (and ladies)!.....
Back on track, he might want to try this site.. However, you do have to register as a member before you can even browse! 
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Re: Anyone with a Rocket III in the (virtual) room
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Loquacious
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Loquacious
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my old man has one and i got to put a few hundred miles on it, have pic in gallery. bike is amazing. smoother than anything i have ever ridden, power and tourque to burn, brakes are nothing short of great, and once over the initial fear of size and power it handles surprising well and can keep up with any cruiser in the twisties. i am 5'9 at around 190 and have no toruble handling it
Frank
(Former)05 BA tbike pipes, ai removed, Freak, mikuni hsr 42's, 904, ported/polished head, 1mm oversized valves
NOW-2010 silver and black tbird
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Re: Anyone with a Rocket III in the (virtual) room?
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Check Pants
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Check Pants
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Quote:
Eeeaasy now!
I didn't name names! Did I?
Bedouin,
Far as I can tell, "cat's out of the bag now". I don't see where you have much choice but to spill the beans. Well, you don't have to, but with the fertile imaginations on this site............. You might just want to get your "facts" out there first .
The R3? Truly quite a motorcycle, don't know if it's for me as my license is only certified for 800cc  .
JH
"It's not what I say that's important, it's what you hear" Red Auerbach
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Re: Anyone with a Rocket III in the (virtual) room
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Joined: Feb 2005
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Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
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I've ridden it, Paula. It's a "boat". BUT...a VERY NICE "boat" that just as Frank said above, handles surprisingly well for it's size and heft.
And the smoooooooooth power that comes from that monster of a motor is "somethin' else".(though the heat coming off the exhaust headers kind of toasted my right leg a bit)
I still believe Triumph should have concentrated their efforts into bringing to market this year(of maybe even last year) a full dresser or touring model of it, in the vein of the Gold Wing or BMW LT series, as it's had long distance travel written all over it since it's debut a few years ago.(and I know many others also feel this way)
I wonder how many Gold Wings and LT Beamers were sold these past two years to people who would have possibly bought an R-3 that could hold a lot of gear, have good weather protection and all the creature comforts those two have.
Cheers,
Dwight
(Well...I keep hearing "next year")
Yep! Just like a good Single Malt Scotch, you might call me "an acquired taste" TOO.(among the many OTHER things you may care to call me, of course)
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Re: Anyone with a Rocket III in the (virtual) room
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Monkey Butt
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Monkey Butt
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As usual Dwight is right on target. The R3 is a touring bike that Triumph forgot to make into a touring bike. They need to dress one up.
The R3 and the Victory cannot be compared. Totally different technology. The Victory puts out a nice amount of horsepower and has a great center of gravity. IMHO it looks a whole lot better than the R3.
The R3 (I drove one for 4 hours in Florida last year)is all power and performance. It is a fine motorcycle that gives new meaning to the words twist and shout. I have never driven a better performing bike in my life. Smooth, on demand power.
So if he is heavy into power the R3, into looks, IMHO the Victory looks soooo much better.
I am thinking out loud now that the best looking big cruiser today would have to be the Road Star or Strataliner from Yamaha. They are amazing looking and no longer clone Harley. They are distinctive and real eye catchers.
I try to aggravate one person a day. Today may be your day.
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Re: Anyone with a Rocket III in the (virtual) room
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Learned Hand
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OP
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How about passenger ride/comfort (say, that of a Goddess, maybe, if a particular someone plays his cards right)?
"Let your soul shine,
It's better than sunshine,
It's better than moonshine,
****** sure better than rain."
-ABB
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Re: Anyone with a Rocket III in the (virtual) room
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 130
Adjunct
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Adjunct
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I spent an hour on one last year and really enjoyed the ride. It does take a little bit to lean it into a curve but once there it does track strait. Overall, if I was looking for a larger bike the RIII would be on my short list of bikes.
kevin...
Kevin
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Re: Anyone with a Rocket III in the (virtual) room
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Check Pants
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Check Pants
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Quote:
How about passenger ride/comfort (say, that of a Goddess, maybe, if a particular someone plays his cards right)?
Passenger comfort? Now a smart~alec might suggest something along the lines of a 1983 Ford LTD, or Buick Riviera. I remember an old MAD magazine profiling luxury liner cars that showed driver and passenger sitting on giant bench seats about 20' apart amid yards of velour.
But in the absence of resident smart~alecs, you just might have to test drive/ride each and see for yourself which one "talks" to you. I'd be leaning towards the R3, but that is a simple case of brand bias. Good luck!
JH
"It's not what I say that's important, it's what you hear" Red Auerbach
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Re: Anyone with a Rocket III in the (virtual) room?
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Adjunct
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Paula,
I help out with the demo rides at the local dealership whenever they have an open house, which has allowed me to ride the R3 on numerous occasions. I have to say that it really surprised me at the way she handles. It handles great, very nimble for her size and a very smooth and comfortable ride. A few problems that I’ve seen with the early models which I believe have now been corrected on the new ones were as follows: Problem with the rear end where the shaft drive hooked into the rear. They had to rebuild the rear end on a lot of the early bikes. There was a small gear within the engine, which broke causing major engine overhauls. According to Triumph that gear has now been redesigned and is no longer a problem. The engine does throw off a lot of heat on the right side, which on a very hot day sitting in traffic is a ******. Overall I’m still in love with the bike and tell your friend if he rides one it will spoil him against ALL other bikes. My suggestion is to go with the newest model and stay away from the older ones….
Gene
"It's a hundred and six miles to Chicago, we've got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark, and we're wearing sunglasses."
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Re: Anyone with a Rocket III in the (virtual) room?
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Joined: Jan 2005
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Loquacious
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Loquacious
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Quote:
Bedouin,
Far as I can tell, "cat's out of the bag now". I don't see where you have much choice but to spill the beans. Well, you don't have to, but with the fertile imaginations on this site............. You might just want to get your "facts" out there first .
Freedom,
How dare you imply that I spill the beans on my comrades!
Apalling behaviour!
Tell you what though, I'll pm you my bank account details etc. and then send you transcripts of all conversations that took place.
Actually, I believe you already know as I recall you read my Asendorf travelogue back in July ... oops 
Goddess (You aren't Greek or something, are you? ),
Please forgive the intrusion but these old friends of mine just insist on corrupting me. 
Good luck with ... well, you know!
Bedouin.
Blessed are those eyes that have seen more roads than any man! (Homer).
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Re: Anyone with a Rocket III in the (virtual) room?
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Loquacious
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Loquacious
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Hi Paula,
I have only test driven a R3, but found it a quite pleasant experience. The bike handles much better than ours in slow speed situations, like parking lots. Out on the road, it's as close as I've ever been to being shot out of a cannon. Yet the handling only improved with increased speed. I want this bike. Our America is our baby. Our next bike will be a long distance, comfort experience for my bride of 32 years. I want her to have all the bells & whistles she wants out on the road.
So we are leaning toward a BMW K1200LT, R1150RT. The Gold Wing is about out of the picture, although it handles very well. I wish Triumph would get off their butts and give us a comfortable tourer designed for TWO people. I would love a Sprint ST or Tiger (with my 30 inch inseam). But for 2 up, they are not long distance tourers. And the ST requires me to sit on 'em boy and the twins, which would not be tolerated for extended periods exceeding 7 minutes.
Come on Triumph, get with the program.
The Rocket III is probably the most versatile motorcycle Triumph makes, seriously, even thought the engine is huge.
The R3 is our 2nd choice for long distance touring after the two aforementioned BMWs.
Ride Safe Sis! Hope Ya'll Have a Good Winter.
Ride Safe,
Dennis
Triumph, it's how I live and what I ride.
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Re: Anyone with a Rocket III in the (virtual) room
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Monkey Butt
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Monkey Butt
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Paula, here is a great lookin bike in your area for a good number with less than 2k miles on it. http://www.cycletrader.com/caddetail.html?/ad-cache/5/9/1/82608591.htm
I try to aggravate one person a day. Today may be your day.
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Re: Anyone with a Rocket III in the (virtual) room?
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Check Pants
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Check Pants
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Quote:
Actually, I believe you already know as I recall you read my Asendorf travelogue back in July.
Goddess (You aren't Greek or something, are you? ),
Please forgive the intrusion but these old friends of mine just insist on corrupting me.
Good luck with ... well, you know!
That was one great road trip story Bedouin .
I will go back and re-read it now during the "white" season, as opposed to the "brown(mud)", "green" or "gold" seasons.
Ms Goddess, I also ask you to forgive the rude derailment, but Bedouin and I go back years, you know how brothers can be . But beings this is the white season, you'll have sufficient time to make a reasoned decision .
JH
"It's not what I say that's important, it's what you hear" Red Auerbach
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Re: Anyone with a Rocket III in the (virtual) room
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Joined: Jan 2006
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Monkey Butt
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Monkey Butt
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They are buying not selling. This is the window, right now, to buy at the lowest possible rate. This season being winter here on our planet.
I try to aggravate one person a day. Today may be your day.
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Re: Anyone with a Rocket III in the (virtual) room
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Joined: Sep 2006
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Learned Hand
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Bedouin- not Greek, I'm of Irish and Polish descent. Thanks everyone, so very much for your time and thoughts. I've been passing them along to my friend...he had a Trident for years in the 70s. Winter really is the best time to buy- they're talking some good numbers at my dealership, I'm sure they want to move the 06s to make room for the 07s. Saxtron- the mileage on that Victory is way low!! Interesting. I tend to like the 8-Balls in the Victory line. Thanks again, guys- I really appreciate it. 
"Let your soul shine,
It's better than sunshine,
It's better than moonshine,
****** sure better than rain."
-ABB
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Re: Anyone with a Rocket III in the (virtual) room
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Have done approx 3000 miles on the dealers R3's(demo's) and daily borrows!!! truly an awesome machine I can echo all the sentiments expressed before,
Very important one is the one about the heat kicked of the rad so if in a very hot place not the best machine to sit at junctions or in traffic.
power is....enough, comfort is....enough, grin factor is MORE than enough, suprisingly feul economy if driven carefully(unlikely) is.... reasonable.
I have done some corporate stuff for triumph on the R3 and the interest it always commands is still surprising to say the least.
Most interesting is that when at a Great Yorkshire show travelling in and out all three days on a full dressed R3 All the local traffic police came and booked demo rides the following days and NOT a single one if them had any negative comments and these are all Proffessional riders.
And if anyone says they don't handle come and see the "chicken strips" or "fanny bands" on the side of some of our old demo tyres and the first demo needed two sets of "hero pegs" (bolt under end of foot pegs) changing..... that is some lean angle!!!!
Only two minor issues, torque steer, when first ridden because of the power and the in line block the bike tries to stand back up on Left handers but goes in reeeaaal easy on right handers, and lastly momentum means first time out there is not much engine braking compared to other bikes but the brakes are great.
Convince said friend to buy one.
Cheers, Mike
"four wheels move the body
-two wheels move to soul"
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Re: Anyone with a Rocket III in the (virtual) room
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Adjunct
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I traded my Speedy for a R3 last Summer:  The photo is when I picked it up, it's now had a few minor mods. Really need the touring seat and sissy bar if you're carrying pillions. The sheer power of the bike makes carrying pillions a lot easier, especially at 80mph+ (no need to plan overtakes, just twist and go ) Getting rid of the catalytic converter made it sound nicer, and there's plenty of aftermarket pipes around if you want more noise. As standard the power is restricted in the first 3 gears, but this can be overcome Downsides compared to the Speedy are that there's less ground clearance (hero blobs wear quickly ), heat off the engine in the Summer, weight (although it's not an issue for me as long as I remember not to park in a place where I have to paddle the bike out backwards) and costs (tyres, insurance). I loved my Speedy but I have to say that the Rocket makes me grin more
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Re: Anyone with a Rocket III in the (virtual) room
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"Lighten up, Francis."
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"Lighten up, Francis."
Joined: Jan 2005
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Re: Anyone with a Rocket III in the (virtual) room
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Adjunct
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Quote:
Hero blobs?
The metal bits that screw into the bottom of the footpegs. Official Triumph name is "peg, bank angle" or something like that.
Item 25 on this diagram (for the Speedy):
http://houseofmotorcycles.bikebandit.com...PEED+MASTER.asp
I never got them scraping the road on the Speedy (I never got anything scraping the road - I know some say that the pipes are the first thing to ground), but on the Rocket they hit the ground regularly.
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Re: Anyone with a Rocket III in the (virtual) room
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"Lighten up, Francis."
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"Lighten up, Francis."
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I see. I've scraped those numerous times on the TBA (with footboards) but never the mufflers, and not recently.
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Re: Anyone with a Rocket III in the (virtual) room?
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Loquacious
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Loquacious
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I had 1 last year & my son ran it down a set of stairs. The forks snapped off & the steering stem so we had to chunk it.
we should do this every weekend!
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