2020 TRIUMPH ROCKET 3 R & GT
FIRST REVIEW
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in a controllable yet exciting way
that's both reassuring and thrilling
at the same time. You don't need
to be Scott Redding to ride this
motorcycle hard.
You also don't need to be a
Schwarzenegger to hustle the
Rocket 3 through the twists and
turns of the Tenerife lava fields.
One reason is that at 641 pounds
dry for the R-model, the new bike
is a massive 88.1 pounds lighter
than the old one, thanks not only
to the lighter motor, but also the
bolted-up all-aluminium frame
comprising six different castings
and forgings together weighing 28
pounds, half as much as before.
With that massive engine playing
its part as a fully integrated com-
ponent, the result is an extremely
stiff chassis package despite its
sheer length. The R especially is
a marvelous piece of packaging,
an ultra-long wheelbase motorcy-
cle with rangy steering geometry
that seems a much smaller bike in
the way it steers—though on both
models you're very much aware at
all times just what a massive hunk
of metal you happen to be riding,
without it being at all daunting,
thanks to both bikes feeling so
cleverly balanced.
Triumph don't quote curb
weights, but with a full 4.7-gal-
lon tank of fuel as well as coolant
and oil that must mean the R-
model will weigh upwards of 705
pounds—but on the highway you
honestly never get the feeling that
it's such a massive hunk of metal.
You do need to be careful if you
pull off to the side and start head-
ing over bumpy terrain en route
to your parking place—stick both
feet out ready to catch it if neces-
sary, because that's the only time
you're aware of its size and espe-
cially weight, probably thanks to
the short 4.2 inches travel of the
(Bottom left)
Gotta love a little
chrome on the GT
rear wheel. That's
a 240-section
tire, by the way.
(Bottom right)
Surprisingly, the
tank size has been
reduced rather
dramatically from
6.3 to 4.7 gallons
despite the
capacity increase.
Forward sitting pegs and a
lower seat characterize the
riding position on the GT.
