Triumph’s Rocket III goes into orbit
Reborn Brit bruiser gets all-new high tech electronics plus axis-bending power & torque
New 2500cc Rocket R and GT triple models unveiled for 2020
After months of teasing with the limited edition (and already sold-out) £25k Rocket ‘TFC’, Triumph have finally unveiled the production version of its all-new Rocket III and, better still, there’s two of them! Dubbed the R and GT, the new models are big, bold and brash performance cruisers that take everything Triumph have learned over the 15 years since the original Rocket III was launched and raised the bar even higher.
Rocket power
The 2500cc in-line triple at the heart of the new Rocket III is the largest engine fitted to any massproduction motorcycle. The jump in capacity from the old bike’s 2300cc sees peak torque rise to a stump-pulling 163ftlb, the highest of any motorcycle currently on the market by some margin. Triumph have also managed to shed 18kg from the engine with the reduction in circulation mass enabling them to push the redline up to 7000rpm so releasing a new peak power figure of 164.7bhp – up 11%. That figure may be a little less than the TFC – mostly due to it being fitted with special Arrow exhausts – but the stock models are also considerably cheaper, with both expected at under £20k. Helping keep the wheels in a straight line is a new electronics package supported by a Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) by Continental, which allows the new Rocket to come with cornering ABS and lean-sensitive traction control as standard. There’s also a new ride-by-wire throttle and four riding modes including Road, Rain, Sport and a fourth user configurable one.
Devil’s in the detail
Another big change is with the chassis, which uses the engine as a stressed member. The new main frame is made from aluminium with a central spine that bolts around the engine. The spine itself is hollow and doubles up as the airbox. The result is a 22kg weight saving, which, together with the lighter engine, makes it over 40kg lighter than the old Rocket.
A new suspension set-up from Showa comprises 47mm adjustable forks and a fully adjustable monoshock at the rear with a piggyback reservoir. With serious stopping power needed, there are Brembo Stylema monobloc calipers while Avon Cobra tyres are used including a fat, 240-section rear. On top of all the performance elements are plenty of luxuries including hill hold control, cruise control plus Triumph’s second generation full-colour TFT dash as first seen on the Scrambler 1200, which gives multiple screen modes and the option of full Bluetooth connectivity, including GoPro control via the switchgear. There will be two models available when the new Rocket III goes on sale – the R and the GT (see right). The R is the naked roadster model, aimed at competing headon with Ducati’s Diavel, and which has a sportier riding position and comes with a single seat – although all the bits that differentiate the two are fully interchangeable.
The R version is expected to cost £19,500 when it arrives in dealers this December.
Fully-revised Triumph Rocket III unveiled at last
2500cc engine is biggest in any production bike