Meet the UK's Rocket III - the biggest motorbike EVER

Blackleaf

Hall of Fame Member
Oct 9, 2004
48,340
1,650
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It's a motorbike that weighs almost half a ton -

Top award for Triumph

17/11/2004 17:25
Triumph Motorcycles has been awarded the prestigious "British Brand of the Year" title in The Walpole British Excellence Awards 2004.






The awesome Triumph Rocket III



The Walpoles, first awarded in 1992, honour individuals and companies in various categories which exemplify British excellence in their efforts at sport, culture, innovation and business.

The "Brand of the Year" award is made annually to the company that has made the biggest global impact in terms of sales, service and exposure.

Triumph's rebirth has been nothing short of miraculous.

When the original Meriden factory wilted and then died under the Japanese onslaught over 20 years ago a multi-millionaire plasterer-turned-builder called John Bloor bought the rights to the name, and shortly afterwards erected a new factory in Hinckley, Leicestershire.

Those who had doubts about the reborn marque's ability to take on the Japanese sat up and took notice when Bruce Anstey won the 2003 Isle of Man Junior TT on a Triumph Daytona 600, against the best riders and machines the big-four Japanese manufacturers could muster for the mountain course.

Then this year the British company launched the awesome 2,3- litre Triumph Rocket III - a brute of a cruiser with enough torque to outperform the fastest machines on the planet and handling that's way better than its mass would imply.

British magazines are notoriously hard on British machines, yet Motorcycle News awarded the Rocket III its "Motorcycle of the Year" award for 2004, and Triumph was also voted "Manufacturer of the Year".

Triumph motorcycles are today recognised as being among the finest in the world.

Production currently stands at 30 000 machines per year, and is expected to continue climbing by 25% annually.
 

Blackleaf

Hall of Fame Member
Oct 9, 2004
48,340
1,650
113
The first production motorcycle to break the 2-litres barrier the Rocket III is not a force of nature or just merely of man, but is a force in itself, a mechanical whirlwind of uncompromised metal.


Consider if you will these few basic facts about the Rocket III. Fact number one – its unique fuel-injected, twelve-valve, longitudinally-mounted, in-line three-cylinder engine has a cubic capacity of 2,294cc – 140 cubic inches – and uses the same size pistons as a ten-cylinder American muscle car.

Fact two; the Rocket III makes more peak torque than two together of almost any other production motorcycle. Yes, that’s right, that’s two, together. To be precise, 147ft.lbf torque at 2,500rpm. That stunning triple digit number means, two-up, the Rocket III will accelerate faster than pretty much anything else on two wheels. Pulling 1.2g in the process. It also delivers over 90% of peak torque between 1,800 - 6,000rpm.

Fact three, then, the Rocket III is one of the quickest accelerating bikes ever built. No question.

But the bold facts don’t paint the whole picture – at the heart of every Triumph motorcycle is the core belief in rider usability and the Rocket III is no exception. Built around the Rocket III’s motor is a chassis that’s more than a match for its monstrous output. Just as remarkable as the engine’s sheer motive force is the balance that’s been struck between power and control making the Rocket III a surprisingly easy-to-manage machine.

A tubular steel spine frame houses the motor while maintenance-free shaft drive lays power to the massive, 240/50-section rear tyre. The front brakes are Daytona 955i specification – twin four-piston calipers mate with floating 320mm discs – and provide awesome stopping power. The rear brake is a single twin piston caliper and 316mm disc. The fuel-efficient engine coupled with a huge 25 litres fuel tank (6.6 gal US), gives the Rocket III an impressive range and a whole range of Triumph accessories will be available for those who want to make a very special motorcycle that little bit more special.

But make no mistake, the Rocket III is not just a motorcycle; it’s the ride of a lifetime. There isn’t a benchmark it hasn’t obliterated, a limit it hasn’t disregarded. It is, simply, the biggest and most impressive production motorcycle the world has ever seen. Awesome is an over-used word – except when applied to the Rocket III. Then it is only barely adequate.

Colour options:
Jet Black
Cardinal Red
Triumph accessories available:
‘Tribal’ Custom Paint Kit
‘Flames’ Custom Paint Kit
Tall Sissy Bar & Luggage Rack
Short Sissy Bar & Luggage Rack
Touring Gel Seat – Rider
Touring Gel Seat - Pillion
Dual Touring Seat
Roadster Seat
Chrome Footboard Kit
Chrome Rocker Gear Lever
Light Bar & Fog Light Kit
Chrome Engine Dresser Bars
Chrome Frame Covers
Chrome ‘Elephant’ Casting
Chrome Side Panels
Chrome Master Cylinder Cover Kit
Chrome Oil Tank
Oil Tank Embellisher
Chrome Levers
Chrome Coolant Pipe Cover
Chrome Axle Nut Covers
Chrome Lifter Arm Covers
Chrome Bolt Head Finishers
Chrome Stud Cover Finishers
Chrome Cam Tensioner Finisher
LCD Oil Temperature Gauge
Fuel Level Gauge
Clock
Tank Knee Pads
Tank Cover
Leather Pannier Kit
Pannier Embellishers
Roadster Screen
Summer Screen
Fly Screen
Silencer Kit (for off road use only)
Silencer End Caps
Alarm / Immobiliser
Specification:
Engine Type - Liquid-cooled, DOHC, in-line 3-cylinder
Capacity - 2294cc
Bore/Stroke - 101.6 x 94.3mm
Compression Ratio - 8.7:1
Fuel System - Multipoint sequential electronic fuel injection
Ignition - Digital – inductive type – via electronic management system
Primary Drive - Gear
Final Drive - Shaft
Clutch - Wet, multi-plate
Gearbox - 5-speed
Frame - Tubular steel, twin spine
Swingarm - Twin-sided, steel
Wheels; Front - Alloy 5-spoke, 17 x 3.5in, Rear - Alloy 5-spoke, 16 x 7.5in
Tyres; Front - 150/80 V 17, Rear - 240/50 V 16
Suspension; Front - 43mm upside down forks, Rear - Chromed spring twin shocks with adjustable preload
Brakes; Front - Twin 320mm floating discs, 4 piston calipers, Rear - Single 316mm disc, 2 piston caliper
Length - 2480mm (97.6in)
Width (Handlebars) - 880mm (34.6in)
Height - 1150mm (45.3in)
Seat Height - 740mm (29.1in)
Wheelbase - 1690mm (66.5in)
Rake/Trail - 32º/152mm
Weight (Dry) - 320kg (704lbs)
Fuel Tank Capacity - 25 litres (6.6 gal US)
Maximum Power - 142PS (140bhp) at 5,750 rpm
Maximum Torque - 200Nm (147ft.lbf) at 2,500 rpm
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Ten Packs

Council Member
Nov 21, 2004
1,505
5
38
Kamloops BC
I'll go ya one better...

http://www.bosshoss.com/products.asp?cid=772694337.908352.346885



Yes, that's a small-block 350 Chevy in there.....

Engine
Type: Liquid Cooled V-8
Horsepower: 355
Torque: 405
Block: Cast Iron - 4 bolt main
Cylinders: Aluminum (58cc)
Valvetrain: 1.94"Int. / 1.5"Exh.
Size: 350 c.i. (5700cc)
Compression: 10:1
Carburetor: Quadrajet 750 cfm
Exhaust: 2.0" with dual mufflers
Transmission: 2-speed semi-auto w/rev.
Final Drive: Belt,Gates - Polychain
Dimensions
Wheel Base: 80.0"
Seat Height: 28.0"
Rake: 33.0 degrees
Grd. Clearance: 4.5"
Frame Width: 28.0"
GVWR: 1675 lbs.
Dry Weight: 1100 lbs.


If I ever had real "screw-you money", I'd pick this trike version: