Crossing The Line

[EMS]

I was just reading the latest issue of Rider magazine, where Clement Salvadori, in his column, talks about weight - of people and motorcycles.
He says, that the heaviest bike he rode in 2013 weighed 901 lbs with a full tank of gas.

You would think it is one of the Supertourers, like a Goldwing, BMWK1600GTL or Harley Dresser.... No! It was the Triumph Rocket III.

Now imagine, you put luggage and two people on this thing and the unit weighs in at close to, or over 1,300 lbs

[harvey]

No question the weight of motorcycles has increased over the years. But so have a lot of us!

Seriously, while the bikes have gotten heavier, they have gotten better. Compare the 1/4 mile times of that Triumph Rocket with a CBX. And take that Rocket for a ride! Or compare the brake systems on sport tourers today with those on the 81/82 sport tourer CBX's. The brakes systems do add weight but they also provide ABS and in some cases a linked braking system. And even the new Harley's are coming with fantastic infotainment systems for all sorts of connectivity but these also add weight.

Now if you change over to pure sport bikes, you can find some that are more powerful and lighter than our CBX's.

[Larry Zimmer]

Considering that the Rocket 3 has the same size engine as my Ford Fusion, 1300 lbs is good. The Fusion goes closer to 3000. Given, the /14 mile times aren't quite the same! But, I get the same fuel economy; and, a damned site more comfy. But, then.......

[NobleHops]

Considering that the Rocket 3 has the same size engine as my Ford Fusion, 1300 lbs is good. The Fusion goes closer to 3000. Given, the /14 mile times aren't quite the same! But, I get the same fuel economy; and, a damned site more comfy. But, then.......

By all accounts those Triumph Rocket 3's truly move out for a bike of such heft. I think I also know it's Triumph's best-selling bike. I confess I am intrigued by it, but I had no idea it weighed that much!

Dave, how are you liking that Tiger? Love that triple motor.

[Mello]

Harvey, in fairness to the CBX, although the rocket has half the cylinders, it has more than double the capacity

It's interesting that as the weight has increased, engine capacity has sneaked up too (apart from the sport bikes limited by racing classes). On wonders where it will stop. Perhaps there is room for smaller capacity turbo engines to make it into bikes to start reducing weight?

Nils, 3 cylinders just sound so good

[NobleHops]

Nils, 3 cylinders just sound so good

Totally agree. They have the triple nailed.

[daves79x]

Couldn't agree more guys - my 800 Tiger has the best sound. May not do all the GS does - but sure sounds good doing it!

Dave

[steve murdoch icoa #5322]

This past summer a guy showed up at the local bike hang-out with a super-charged Rocket trike.
He had an accident with his previous Rocket and badly damaged his leg, hence the trike.
With a wild paint job he was into it for $62,000.
Supercharger whine and the unique exhaust did make for a lovely sound.

[NobleHops]

This past summer a guy showed up at the local bike hang-out with a super-charged Rocket trike.
He had an accident with his previous Rocket and badly damaged his leg, hence the trike.
With a wild paint job he was into it for $62,000.
Supercharger whine and the unique exhaust did make for a lovely sound.

I wonder if he would be too coy to tell us how much power it makes with the supercharger?

[Z Grand]

There's a guy named Bob Carpenter who hops up Rocket III motors -- naturally aspirated. Here's a video of one running 8.99 in the quarter mile.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvNrMMhPoFc

[NobleHops]

OK, WOW!, and that led me to this, which is equally wow:



207 HP!!!

And gobs of torque, and a super tidy stealthy package. What a friggin' sleeper.

[Z Grand]

Very tidy turbo installation! The Carpenter motors are supposedly around 260HP naturally aspirated. Pretty impressive.