Triumph Rocket III

Triumph Rocket III

Manufacturer	Triumph
Production	since 2004
Engine	2,294 cc (140.0 cu in) DOHC liquid-cooled inline three-cylinder
Power	140 bhp (100 kW) @ 6,000 rpm
Torque	200 N⋅m (150 lbf⋅ft) @ 2,500 rpm
Transmission	Gear (Primary) / Shaft (final drive)
Wheelbase	1,695 mm (66.7 in)
Dimensions	L: 2,500 mm (98 in) W: 970 mm (38 in)
Seat height	740 mm (29 in)
Weight	704 lb (319 kg) (dry) 774 lb (351 kg) (wet)
Fuel capacity	24 L (5.3 imp gal; 6.3 US gal)

The Triumph Rocket III is a British motorcycle made by the Hinckley Triumph factory and has the largest displacement engine of any mass production motorcycle in the world (as of September 2008), at 2,294 cc (140.0 cu in). The shaft driven Rocket III produces 200 N⋅m (150 lbf⋅ft) @ 2,500 rpm and 140 bhp (100 kW) @ 6,000 rpm. Despite its size and weight of 704 lb (319 kg) dry, it is described as having good balance and "light and easy steering" even at low speeds.

Prototype development

Market research

The Rocket III Project started in 1998 led by Triumph Product Range Manager Ross Clifford and although a few images were leaked the prototypes were developed in relative secrecy. It started with a lot of research - especially in the USA where big cruisers were selling well with growth of 18%. The main competitors were the Harley-Davidson Ultraglide and the Honda Goldwing so the initial idea was to develop a 1,600 cc performance cruiser. The brief was to come up with a flagship for the Triumph brand that would be suitable for bikers with a small.

Design

Cardinal red Rocket III

The in-house designer was John Mockett, designer of the Hesketh V1000, the Tiger and the new 'nostalgia' Bonneville. He started work with David Stride, Gareth Davies and Rod Scivyer, building on the unusual configuration of the Speed Triple's twin headlights, working around an in-line three cylinder engine. At the start of the project in-line four and a V6 engine configurations were looked at but the longitudinally mounted triple design quickly took hold and the design concept code named C15XB Series S1 was born. Mockett experimented with ‘futuristic’ styling that included "raygun" mufflers and a large chrome rear mudguard, but consumer focus groups didn’t like it - although the concept was generating a lot of interest.

The S2 model was a simplified version with a more traditional rear mudguard and several features that were to make it through to the final design. Once again, the feedback from market research was that it was still too radical so the lines were simplified and smoothed out to create the Series S3. This was agreed as the final look and with a few refinements, the project started in earnest.

Competition

Part of the reason for the secrecy was competition from other manufacturers. Yamaha launched the 1,670 cc (102 cu in) (badged as a 1,700 cc) engine in 2002 with the introduction of the Road Star Warrior and Honda launched the VTX1800, so a decision was made to go for a displacement of 2,294 cc to see off the competition.

Engine development

The first engine was built in summer 2002 and tested in the autumn. Twin butterfly valves for each throttle body were used to increase control and allow the ECU to vary the mixture flow and ignition map according to the gear selected and speed. The torque curve is modified for each gear ratio, enabling over 90% of the engine’s torque output at 2,000 rpm, giving the high levels of flexibility that the designers needed. The 1,500 W starter motor on the Rocket III puts out as much power as the engine on the very first Triumph motorcycle, Siegfried Bettman's 1902 1.75 horsepower (1.30 kW) single. When the development team were dyno testing the prototype engine it put out so much heat the whole exhaust system was glowing red.

Frame and drive

The final design of the S3 prototype had a large tubular steel twin-spine frame, designed by James Colbrook. Andy Earnshaw was responsible for designing the gearbox and shaft drive to a 240/50ZR16 bike specific rear tyre. High specification front brakes were twin four-piston callipers with 320 mm floating discs and the rear brake, developed specifically for the purpose, was a single twin piston calliper and 316 mm disc. Ride handling is controlled by purpose built rear shocks and 43 mm 'inverted' front forks.

Road testing

Road tests proved that the 0–60 mph (0 97 km/h) time of 2.8 seconds was quicker than most sport bikes and the weight distribution, low centre of gravity and geometry made handling easy with acceleration up to 135 mph (217 km/h). In 2004, the Rocket III set the world land speed record for a production motorcycle over 2000 cc reaching its electronically set limiter of 140.3 mph (225.8 km/h).

Launch

2004 NEC Motorcycle show launch

In 2003, the prototype was renamed the 'Rocket', following extensive market research, continuing the successful approach of linking back to the heritage of famous British motorcycles. It was unveiled in the USA on 20 August 2003, in San Antonio, Texas, during the annual US dealer conference. The Rocket's European launch was at the International Motorcycle Show in Milan, Italy on 16 September 2003. Sold in the UK from the spring of 2004, it was awarded 'Machine of the Year' by Motorcycle News at the 2004 NEC Motorcycle Show. The Australian launch was in Sydney in August 2004, with 230 deposits taken before a single bike had been shipped into the country.

Models

Rocket III

The original model was released in 2004 and has remained in production with only minor modifications other than a change of engine colour from silver to black in 2006. This model was awarded Motorcycle Cruiser magazine's 2004 Bike of the Year, Motorcyclist's 2004 Cruiser of the Year, and Cruising Rider magazine 2005 Bike of the Year. In 2006, a black finish to the engine was introduced and new colour choices of Graphite and 'Scorched Yellow' were added to the original colours of Jet Black and Cardinal Red. Special edition 'Tribal' colour schemes of Caeruleus Blue Flame and Mulberry Red Tribal were also released at an extra cost of over £1000. In 2007, the colour schemes were changed to Phantom Black and Mulberry Red and in 2008 to Phantom Black and Claret. This model is the newest exhibit at the UK National Motorcycle Museum.

Rocket III Classic

Introduced in 2006, the Classic version has rider floorboards, different shaped silencers and 'pullback' handlebars. More choices of two-tone paint schemes of Cherry Red/New England White and Jet Black with Sunset Red were made available and the pillion seat was modified to improve comfort. Further two tone colour schemes were added in 2007 of Phantom Black/Tornado Red, Phantom Black/Sunset Red and Pacific Blue with New England White. The 2008 colour schemes were two-tone Pacific Blue/Aluminium Silver and Cherry Red with New England White.

In June 2007 Triumph used 'viral marketing' to promote the Rocket III Classic by posting a well made spoof production video to YouTube and bike enthusiast websites, As of October 2009 the video had more than 820,000 views.

Rocket III Tourer

The short-lived 2007 Tourer Limited Edition Model was just a Classic Model with the addition of a windscreen, panniers (saddlebags), backrest and luggage rack from the factory, and a choice of two-tone paint schemes

Rocket III Touring

Rocket III Touring (2008)

Triumph began developing the Rocket III Touring version in February 2004 following the launch of the original model, specifically to target the large cruiser market which represents 50% of all US motorcycle sales. As well as a new design for the steel frame and swinging arm, the Touring model has more torque at lower revs – 209 N⋅m (154 lbf⋅ft) @ 2,025 rpm, but less horsepower at the top end. New features include tank mounted instruments and a new scrolling switch on the handlebar to set the clock and indicate fuel ranges. The five-spoke design used on the Rocket III was switched out for billet aluminium slotted wheels, and narrower tyres were specified to improve steering with a 180/70 x 16 rear tyre that makes it easier to fit large, detachable panniers that come as standard, together with a removable windscreen and Kayaba rear shock absorbers for a softer cruising set-up.

In 2008, the colour schemes were Jet Black and the two-tone options of Eclipse Blue/Azure Blue, Jet Black/New England White and Jet Black with Sunset Red.

See also

• BSA Rocket 3

External links

• Official Rocket III website
• Review of Rocket III
• The Overkill Motorcycle From Great Britain
• Triumph Rocket III manufacture on YouTube, viral marketing video produced by Triumph