For a long time, cruiser motorcycles were seen as a means of spending days at the speed limit on the highway. The emphasis was mainly on high torque figures and less on peak power, which meant they were always inferior to other categories in terms of outright performance. Today, however, this couldn’t be further from the truth.
The power cruiser segment is truly booming, with all the leading bike manufacturers dipping their toes into this space. What you have then is a soiree of mighty cruisers that offer sportbike speed with long-lasting comfort. Among them, one bike is balanced just right. This is what it is.
To give you the most current and accurate information, the data used in compiling this article comes from authoritative sources such as Triumph Motorcycles.
The cruiser that balances touring comfort and sportbike speed is the Triumph Rocket 3 GT
Power: 179.5 hp
After much research, our choice here is the Triumph Rocket 3 Storm GT. Although it’s a no-brainer, we’re happy to explain. First off, the Rocket 3 promises a barely believable 179.5 horsepower and an even more insane 166 pound-feet of torque. While the former tops the liter class sports bikes, the latter is actually twice as much as your usual superbikes. What’s more impressive is the 0 to 100 km/h time of less than 2.8 seconds (officially tested by Triumph). Again, a number up there with superbikes.
It’s not short on touring comfort either. As the suffix suggests, the GT variant is good for long-distance shenanigans. This is evident from the touring saddle with backrest, long handlebars and a transparent windshield at the top. In addition, the footpegs have been placed forward, compared to the R variant. As a bonus, Triumph sells hard saddlebags as official accessories to increase touring potential.
What else is here, you ask? Well, the Ducati XDiavel V4 certainly comes to mind. It’s the Rocket 3 Storm’s closest power cruiser rival, but it does things in a different way. You get a sports bike-based V4 engine, supplemented with sports bike-like electronic aids. Plus, it looks different too, with Italian soft and striking curves everywhere. We did not choose this because there is a huge power deficit here (168 hp versus 179.5 hp) and the XDiavel also costs a lot more. To make matters worse, Ducati’s saddlebag set costs twice as much as Triumph’s saddlebag set.
Our final recommendation is the Harley-Davidson Low Rider ST. It may seem like a touring bike and not a cruiser, but Harley lists this in its cruiser range, so here we are. Of the three, the ST is the most touring-friendly option, thanks to its standard fairing and saddlebags. But there are two things working against this: price and performance. The base price is $24,199, but it rises to over $25,000 once you get a finish combination other than chrome and gray. For that money you get just 114 horsepower and 128 pound-feet, both considerably lower than the Triumph.
The Rocket 3 Storm GT has the world’s largest production motorcycle engine
With the performance to back it up
Diving deeper, there’s a lot to like about the Rocket 3, and the engine is perhaps its USP. Initially, Triumph’s very first Rocket III had a 2,294cc three-cylinder in-line engine. It had the honor of being the largest capacity motorcycle engine until 2017. Although no one came close, the British giant decided it was time to level up. Then in 2019 came the overhauled Rocket ‘3’. This debuted with the 2,458cc three-cylinder engine found in the current model.
In its latest avatar, power outputs are 179.5 horsepower and 166 pound-feet, all of which goes to the wheel via a six-speed helicat-cut gearbox. It comes in combination with a shaft drive instead of the usual belt or chain arrangement to minimize maintenance. Speaking of which, the maintenance interval is also quite long (10,000 miles). In terms of top speed, you can expect a speed of over 220 kilometers per hour, which is fast enough even for the real sports bike enthusiasts.
Triumph Rocket 3 Storm engine specifications
Capacity | 2,458 cc |
Layout | Three-cylinder in the longitudinal direction |
Current | 179.5 hp at 7,000 rpm |
Couple | 166 LB-FT @ 4,000 rpm |
Transfer | Six gears |
0-100 km/h | 2.73 seconds |
Top speed | > 140 km/h |
An aluminum chassis helps the Rocket 3 Storm compete with the Twisties
Combined with adjustable front fork and rear monoshock
To match that huge engine, Triumph has given the Rocket 3 Storm a unique underpinning (by cruiser bike standards). In the middle is an aluminum chassis, combined with an aluminum single-sided swingarm. For the suspension, you get sturdy Showa 47 mm upside-down forks and a Showa monoshock, the former compression and rebound adjustable and the latter preload adjustable via a remote control. To top it all off, there’s a set of 17/16-inch alloy wheels, another unorthodox combination.
What about the dimensions, you ask? Well, this is a life-size motorcycle, so that’s what you get. Curb weight is 705 pounds, wheelbase is 66 inches and width is 36 inches. But you sit quite low (29.5 inch seat height), so you can easily create flat feet. Don’t try to move the Rocket alone in tight spots (it will be a good leg day workout).
When you sit on the saddle, you will also enjoy the cockpit and its features. Triumph has equipped its flagship motorcycle with all the necessary aids for the rider, but has also added some comfort. These include:
ABS when cornering
Traction control in corners
Wheelie control
Cruise control
Hill hold control
Gas cards
Driving modes
Dual-channel ABS
Triumph Rocket 3 Storm Key underpinnings
Chassis | Completely aluminum |
Front suspension | 47mm USD forks |
Rear suspension | Monoshock |
Wheels | 17/16-inch alloys |
Brakes | 2x 320 mm front/300 mm rear discs |
Weight | 705 pounds |
Seat height | 29.5 inches |
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