Once the road kinks up, it's understandable to steel yourself for a fight-the thing weighs 807 lbs, after all-but this beast has surprisingly benign slow speed manners. The huge torque helps you counteract its mass, with the chunky 240mm Metzeler Marathon offering plenty of grip. The engine stays silky even at higher revs, while the new riding position gives you a better sense of control. Responsive throttle action means every upshift punts you forward. Stability is as rock solid as you'd expect from the combination of a strong frame (the motor is a stressed member), neutral geometry and long wheelbase. With that wide handlebar helping you turn in, the Roadster's cornering clearance is plenty reasonable.
But 800 lbs. can still make itself felt, especially if you have short arms, and the Roadster is still a handful through the turns (though more willing than its predecessor). At lower speeds I feel it occasionally tipping in once I coax it into a directional change (which takes some effort), so in-town maneuvers aren't as smooth as they could be.
But when you speed up the proceedings, things get better than you'd expect. It's very easy to go very fast, and it's a real hoot, but you'll run out of breath before you make 120mph anyway (it's electronically restricted at that point).
Fortunately, there's no worries about the braking system; Triumph's ABS does the job just as advertised. Up front, the 320mm discs with four piston calipers offer good initial bite, and with the ABS upgrade, they're impossible to lock up, no matter how hard I tried. I'm a fan of ABS on a bike this heavy, and the Roadster's setup works well even on bumpy road surfaces.
The newest Rocket III may well be the Hummer of motorcycling though, thanks to its fuelish ways. Having that big fuel tank was handy, as I found myself getting barely 30mpg a couple of times, and the fuel light seemed like it was always on.
But that's not what the Roadster's about. With the available Phantom Black and Matte Black colors, it's a serious-looking ride, made even more so by a multitude of blacked-out components such as forks, radiator and rear springs. It's more comfortable, more powerful, and more narrowly focused than the first-and second generation Rockets. Triumph has also rolled out an accessory list that includes everything from windshields to performance parts.
The clincher is the price-the Roadster lists for an MSRP that's a good deal lower than the outgoing Rocket III and Rocket III Classic. Now that's a welcome improvement.
Specifications
2010 Triumph Rocket III Roadster
MSRP: $13,999
Colors: Phantom Black, Matt Black
Engine
Type: Liquid-cooled, inline triple
Displacement, Bore x stroke: 2294cc, 101.6mm x 94.3mm
Valve train: DOHC
Compression ratio: 8.7:1
Fuel System: multipoint sequential EFI
Transmission: 5-speed; multiplate wet clutch
Final drive: Shaft
Chassis
Wheelbase: 66.7 in.
Rake/trail: 32 degrees / 5.82 in.
Front suspension: 43mm fork; 4.7 in. travel
Rear suspension: Twin dampers w/adjustable preload; 4.13 in. travel
Front brake: dual 320mm floating discs, 4-piston calipers w/ABS
Rear brake: 316mm fixed disc, 2-piston caliper w/ABS
Front Tire: 150/80 R17 ME880
Rear Tire: 240/50 R16 ME880
Dimensions
Overall length: 98.3 in.
Seat height: 29.5 in.
Fuel capacity: 6.3 gallons
Wet weight: 807 lbs.