What he said.
I rode one yesterday.
Insane as I suspected it would be, but very well mannered. I'm so used to my heel-toe shifter (I had forced myself to learn to use it - now I like it alot) I had to get used to the toe shift all over again, and the riding position took some getting used to. The Rocket seems to be more "up in my face". Maybe I sat lower as the tank rides higher, and the gauges seemed to be in a higher sight line than on my SM. This one had a fly screen, and the buffetting about my head was something I could have done without.
That tank is LARGE by the way - real fat and wide.
I rode a good 20 miles, with plenty of stop and go, freeway, and freeway interchange ramps to check out her handling with power on in the curves, and no doubt you could roll on even at 70 mph on a 40 mph ramp. Alot. No sweat.
Switchbacks might be a different story, though. She slowed and braked like a dream, and though very well balanced with that low center of gravity, I found more than once that I was having to put my right foot down to steady her at stops, even though stopping was smooth and I could consistently come to a complete stop and plant my left foot simultaneously easy enough. It's just that if you lean it at all right, look out, and be ready. Smooth, easy takeoffs were surprisingly easy considering the beast she is.
I was impressed with how solid the gearbox felt - firm, definitive "clicks" into each gear up or down. Real solid feel and sound. Reminded me of my old Toyota pickup when I cranked her up - obviously a lot more mass moving about than in our twins. Actually sounded too tame with the stock mufflers. I like my stock SM pipes, but would want to change the Rocket's immediately. I find that odd, but then I am odd anyway.
Gauges were too small - I like my big speedo. Found myself watching the tach more on the Rocket, as it was easier to read and then speed would be excessive without even realizing it. (I rarely look at my own tach, but the Rocket's is right in your face, and bigger than ours. Red line may be about in the same area (3 o'clock?), but the speedo is tiny compared to ours, and the numbers are too crowded around the face - very "busy".
(It goes a bit higher than ours too.) So I found myself having to really LOOK at the speedo to see my speed. I'm sure one would get used to it.
Only complaint was my right hand got tingly just blocks from the dealership
, and I don't know if it was because my hand was higher to reach the Rocket's grip, or if there really was that much vibration there.
By the time I got back that was a REAL problem - enough to keep my $$$ in my pocket if I were really intending to buy one. Don't know if it was just that bike, or if they are all that way, but that would make for a tough long ride. I'd have to ride more Rockets too see if they are all that bad in that regard. If it's just riding position, maybe aftermarket bars are an option?
Nimble aptly describes our BAs and SMs, and I too appreciate my SM more for the experience.
I back my bike into the garage after every ride, after having to make a 3 or 4 point turn around in the front 1/3 of my driveway, in front of my pickup, to be able to. Makes me appreciate good boot soles when I'm pushing her back into the garage.
I can do that daily without reservation, but the extra weight of the Rocket might keep it in the garage more, I would suspect. Very "tractorish" - powerful, maneuverable enough, incredibly fast. Just a little too much of everything.
There's nothing else out there like it other than a BossHoss or custom. Except for that vibration thing, if I were looking for a long distance heavy cruiser....no doubt I'd be looking for some real big, fat sadddlebags for this one!
