Triumph Rocket 3 (R)

Triumph Rocket 3 is a cruiser bike available at a starting price of Rs. 18,41,124 in India. It is available in 2 variants and 4 colours with top variant price starting from Rs. 18,81,829. The Triumph Rocket 3 is powered by 2458cc BS6 engine which develops a power of 165 bhp and a torque of 221 Nm. With both front and rear disc brakes, Triumph Rocket 3 comes up with anti-locking braking system. This Rocket 3 bike weighs 304 kg and has a fuel tank capacity of 18 liters. Triumphs Rocket 3 has held the title of being the largest displacement production motorcycle ever built. And the latest version of the bike retains this crown with an even larger powerplant over its predecessor. After discontinuing the previous-generation Rocket 3 in India, the British bike maker recently launched its successor in the country. Similar to the international markets, the 2020 Rocket 3 is available in a GT and R variants in India.

The 2020 Rocket 3 is a major departure over its predecessor in almost every aspect. Starting with the design, the 2020 model looks in-line with its power cruiser theme, boasting of a butch and sporty styling. While it retains the signature twin circular headlamp, the conventional bulbs have been replaced by radical-looking LED lamps. In fact, the turn indicators are also LED now. This is accompanied by a small visor, flat handlebar, bar-end mirrors, long fuel tank and a petite tail section with slash-cut exhausts, all of which lend it a sporty appeal.

While the R variant is the sportier of the two, GT is the more touring-focused trim with certain differences over the former. It gets a taller windscreen, a swept-back handlebar, a cushier seat, adjustable forward-set footpegs and a pillion backrest for added comfort over the R model. The GT iteration also boasts of diamond-cut alloy wheels and comes in different colour options.

The new Rocket 3 is also more modern in terms of electronics over its predecessor. The twin-pod, semi-analogue instrument cluster has been replaced by a full-colour TFT display which can be paired with smartphone via Bluetooth. Furthermore, it features gizmos like traction control, cornering ABS, hill-hold control and four riding modes (Rain, Road, Sport and Rider-Configurable mode).

While the 2300cc powerplant of the previous Rocket was already a mammoth of a mill, Triumph went on to add more displacement to make it further monstrous. Now, the 2020 model is propelled by a 2500cc, inline three-cylinder engine which churns out 165bhp and 221Nm of torque which is highest ever from a production bike. Whats more, the staggering performance is complemented by a substantially lesser weight than its predecessor. Weighing at 291kg (dry), the new Rocket 3 is now 40kg lighter. In terms of cycle parts, it comes equipped with inverted forks and a monoshock sourced from Showa, while Brembo brakes bring the bike to a halt.

On the competition front, the 2020 Triumph Rocket 3 R and GT compete against the new Ducati Diavel 1260 which is also a power cruiser.