2020 Triumph Rocket 3 R and Rocket 3 GT unveiled: Five things you need to know

Triumph Motorcycles has officially unveiled the all-new Rocket for the international markets. And yes, it will be coming to India. It all started with Triumph giving a sneak peak of the new Rocket to some of its dealerships at an event. This was then backed up with one of Triumph's riders taking the new-gen Rocket for a spin on public roads in a non-camouflaged state, giving a proper idea of the design. Instead of launching the regular version, the company's newly formed in-house enthusiastic TFC (Triumph Factory Custom) division churned out a limited edition (750 units) Rocket 3 TFC. And now, Triumph has brought in the new-age Rocket 3, which is the largest displacement production motorcycle in the world.

1) Two versions - 2020 Triumph Rocket 3 R and Rocket 3 GT

Triumph has developed two new versions of the Rocket 3, called the R and the GT. The R, as the name suggests, is a roadster with mid-position footrests and a more aggressive riding stance compared to the previous offering, thanks to the sportier handlebar. The GT on the other hand is more relaxed and comes with feet-forward footrests, and a touring style handlebar. This one also gets a more comfortable seating, backrest for the pillion, taller flyscreen and heated grips. Also, the footrest positions for the pillion can be adjusted. Both the motorcycles are based on the same platform but get a set of aesthetic changes that make them target two different styles of riders. The colour options on these motorcycles include phantom black, korosi red, dual-tone silver ice and grey option.

2) Largest displacement production motorcycle engine in the world  

There's no replacement for displacement, is something that Triumph totally believes in, as the displacement has gone up by 164cc and now stands at 2,458cc. This engine makes 165PS of power at 6,000rpm, which is a 11 per cent increase from the previous. However, the engine still makes 14PS lower than that of the Rocket 3 TFC. The 2,458cc motor puts out 221Nm of torque at 4,000rpm. Compared to the previous, the new motor features tweaked crankcase, balances shafts and dry-sump lubrication system. The large displacement engine is mated to a new 6-speed transmission along with a hydraulically actuated clutch with torque assist for lesser efforts in clutch operation.

3) Framing the 2020 Triumph Rocket 3

Shedding weight was one of the key factors in the development of the new-age Triumph Rocket 3 as it uses an aluminium frame that is lightweight in construction and has made it lighter by 40kg. Further, the suspension duty is taken care of by Showa with a 47mm inverted fork in the front with damping adjustment only, The monoshock in the rear is fully adjustable too. Bringing the new-gen Rocket 3 to a standstill are Brembo calipers with new Stylema monoblock graspers on the 320mm dial discs in the front. The 2020 Rocket 3 rides on new Avon Cobra Chrome tyres, 150/80 R 17 in the front and 240/50 R 16 in the rear.

4) Electronics and Riding aids

It was a no-brainer that Triumph was planning to throw in every bit of its high-end electronic on its flagship motorcycle. The 2020 Rocket 3 comes with 5-axis Continental IMU with cornering ABS and cornering traction control. It comes with four riding modes, with an individual mode as well that can alter the traction control and throttle response on the go. The motorcycle also comes equipped with a keyless ignition and Triumph's latest TFT which can be personalised. The feature list also consists of all LED lights and DRLs. Lastly, functions like cruise control, hill-hold function and USB charging are offered as standard. Triumph will be offering an integrated GoPro control system, TPMS, clutch-less shift, Google navigation, Bluetooth connectivity and MyTriumph app for iOS and Android devices. Also, options will be luggage rack, sports panniers and a pannier mount kit.

5) Price and availability 

Triumph has not revealed prices of the new-gen Rocket 3, which will definitely be lower than the Rocket 3 TFC's $29,000 (Rs 19.94 lakh, excluding tax and duties). The deliveries of the 2020 Trimph Rocket 3 will commence in the international markets by January 2020. We can hope that Triumph India gets this one to our shores by mid-2020.