THE BIGGER, THE BETTER?
When Triumph launched the first Rocket III back in 2004 it was big, heavy and fast, just like the latest model promises to be. We went on its launch to check it out…
No matter how much my girlfriend tells me it doesn’t matter how big the thing between my legs is, I just can’t help thinking otherwise, it must be a man thing. And there is obviously someone at Triumph Motorcycles HQ at Hinkley that feels exactly the same, because this, the all-new 2020 Rocket 3 R (yes, that’s ‘3’ with a ‘3’ rather than ‘3’ with a ‘III’ - as per previous Rocket models) has the biggest motor of any production motorcycle, in the entire universe. Its 2,458cc engine makes a whopping 221Nm of torque and a reasonably respectable 165bhp of power so it’s not to be sniffed it; it’s a bit heavy mind, tipping the scales at a mammoth weight of 291kg.
It’s not just a slightly upgraded version of the last Rocket III from 2010, or indeed the Rocket X that came out in 2014, its a brand new weapon that looks just as mean and menacing in the flesh as its bonkers torque figure suggests with its 240 section rear tyre and muscle-bike stance. And whilst that was undoubtedly something that the ladies and gents at Triumph seemed ever so proud of at the launch event in Tenerife, they all seemed really excited about the new bike’s ‘instantaneous world-leading torque and incredible control, comfort and capability’
– PR speak, if I’ve ever heard it.
At £19,500 on the road it’s not cheap, but it does come with a reasonable amount of tech, from fully adjustable Showa suspension, Brembo brakes front and rear, a TFT dash with all the usual modes and rider aides – interestingly not a shifter or a blipper (although they are optional extras), and that’s not to mention the behemoth motor.
To find out whether or not it really is worth having something bigger between your legs and, of course, whether or not the British brute is worth spending your hard-earned cash on, we’ve been over to Tenerife to get the lowdown on one of the biggest motorcycles in the world, and to ride it to the top of one of the biggest volcanos in the world…