The power cruiser segment is already a niche space. And when you add long ride comfort into the mix, it gets even more niche. But with the cruiser motorcycle segment growing larger and larger, there is something for everyone today. That also includes cruisers with mighty power figures, along with long-haul comfort to cover hundreds of miles on the freeway. We’re talking about one such cruiser today, and you might be surprised to know no American cruiser can hold a candle to it. Be it in terms of value, performance, or stability.
For the longest time, all bikemakers inevitably followed a similar script while building cruisers. This comprised an understressed V-twin engine, plonked in a double-cradle chassis, surrounded by minimal bodywork, and topped with feet-forward ergonomics. This is the recipe Harley-Davidson and Indian still try to follow. While it works brilliantly for someone who wants a traditional cruiser, this puts the two giants on the back foot in the power cruiser segment.
Just look at the average performance on offer. Indian’s most powerful cruiser has 111 horsepower, while the average figure hovers under 100 ponies. As for Harley, the Sportster S has the most peak power. But the average output lies around 100 hp, that too, after the recent adoption of the more powerful 117 engine across the range.
Europe Leads The Way
The flagbearer in the power cruiser space is Europe. It breaks the norms and does its own thing, whipping up different cruisers with unorthodox engine layouts. BMW has horizontally opposed boxer twins, Ducati has a lineup of V4-powered cruisers, and Triumph has a gigantic inline-triple option. The least powerful among these have around 100 hp, while the most powerful examples can go as high as 182 ponies. That means they truly put the ‘power’ in power cruiser.
The Cruiser With Japanese Reliability And Harley-Level Presence
This Japanese chopper looks right at home parked next to custom American cruisers, all while promising bulletproof reliability.
Triumph’s Flagship Cruiser Brings Stability And Comfort For Long Rides
Out of all these heavy hitters, we believe the Rocket 3 GT is the power cruiser that feels strong, stable, and easy on long rides. It has a proper focus on long-haul riding to justify the ‘GT’ in its name, unlike the comparatively sportier Diavel and XDiavel. This is evident from thoughtful inclusions, such as the windscreen, forward-set footpegs, and a swept-back handlebar for easy reach. All this while, it still justifies the power cruiser tag by promising superbike levels of peak power and a torque output that no other motorcycle can match, let alone beat.
The Rocket 3 GT Impresses In Several Ways
While the Rocket 3 impresses from afar, the details are even more amusing. Right from the class-leading engine to premium touches like a single-sided swingarm, it becomes clear that Triumph has spent a lot of time on the finer things. And the price properly seals the deal by ensuring impeccable value for an uber-premium machine. Let’s dive deeper.
Comfort Is A Priority
The ‘GT’ in the name brings a few nifty changes over the sportier R version. Most notably, the footpegs sit further up ahead of the first header and near the radiator rather than being under the third header. Likewise, the tubular handlebar is more curvy for easier reach, and the saddle height is lower by almost an inch (29.5 inches). Sweetening the pot is a backrest for the pillion and a windscreen to reduce windblast for you.
Built Around An Aluminum Chassis To Save Weight
Since the engine isn’t traditional, Triumph ensured the chassis wasn’t either. Thus, the Rocket 3 has an aluminum chassis with the engine as a stressed member. It ties up with an aluminum single-sided swingarm and Showa suspension. The latter comprises 47 mm USD forks (compression and rebound damping adjustment) and an RSU monoshock (hydraulic preload adjustment). Tying things off are 17/16-inch alloy wheels, where the front houses dual 320 mm discs and the rear has a single 300 mm rotor. Four-piston Brembo calipers bite all three rotors.
The Cruiser Motorcycle That Is Surprisingly Sporty
This sporty Harley-Davidson cruiser bike is relatively lightweight with a curb weight of just 503 pounds.
Weighs Under 700 LBs
Like the chassis, the single-sided swingarm, subframe, and wheels use aluminum. This helps ensure a curb weight of just under 700 pounds wet–right in the ballpark of the Harley and Indian heavyweights. All other dimensions are par for the course, too, comprising:
- Wheelbase: 66 inches
- Width: 36 inches
- Tire size: 150/240-section (F/R)
- Tank capacity: 4.76 gallons
- Rake: 27.9 degrees
Powered By The World’s Largest Production Motorcycle Engine
Starting off is the Rocket 3’s behemoth of an engine. This is a triple-cylinder mill, displacing a whopping 2,458 cubic centimeters. That makes it the world’s largest production motorcycle engine–a title it has held for several years now. Harley-Davidson has only come close once in recent times, with its uber-exotic $100,000 CVO Road Glide RR. The RR was still 300cc down.
Understandably, all that displacement brings mighty performance. We’re talking 179.5 horsepower and 166 pound-feet, where the latter is not only the highest for a motorcycle but it’s also higher than cars like the Honda HR-V. Even with this performance, the compression ratio is still low (10.8:1), and the service intervals are twice as long as those of Harley-Davidson Softails.
|
Engine |
Power |
Torque |
Transmission |
Claimed efficiency |
|
2,458cc, triple-cylinder |
180 horsepower at 7,000 RPM |
166 pound-feet at 4,000 RPM |
Six-speed |
~35 miles per gallon |
Six-Axis IMU Brings The Safety Aids
Last but not least, there’s the impeccable electronics package. A six-axis IMU and ride-by-wire allow cornering ABS, cornering traction control, and dedicated wheelie control, topped with throttle maps and ride modes. When on the freeway, you’ll further appreciate the cruise control, all-LED lights, and hill hold control. A USB port to juice up your gadgets rounds off things. Heated grips and a quickshifter seem like a miss, however.
The Rocket 3 Storm GT Is Not Easy On The Pocket
The Cruiser That Nails Style, Comfort, And Dependability
Low, loud, and unapologetically bold, this cruiser blends old-school swagger with modern muscle for miles of effortless, head-turning rides.
Being a premium power cruiser, the MSRP is understandably high here. The starting price stands at $27,495, and it rises to $28,295 for the Evel Knievel collection. This positions the Rocket 3 in an interesting place. It is considerably pricier than the powerful Harley-Davidson Softails like the Low Rider ST, but you still save sizable money over its direct European rival–the Ducati Diavel V4. Not a bad place to be, considering everything on offer on the GT.