Triumph will bring back the recently-discontinued Rocket III with a bigger engine and performance-oriented chassis to challenge Ducati’s Diavel range.
The 2.3-litre Rocket III, which became a victim of EU4 emissions last year, is likely to return late next year. Our spy shots reveal and all-new inline- three-cylinder engine that we reckon may be as big as 2500cc. Such an engine should easily match the Diavel and its increased torque, already 221Nm in 2.3-litre form, will demolish virtually any other production motorcycle in a straight line.
The new chassis incorporates aluminium castings and has a single-sided swingarm that incorporates the shaft final drive.
A superbike-style upside-down fork and Brembo radial brake calipers and matched to a much sportier steering head angle. We’ve briefly seen two versions of the Rocket III, one with a conventional upright riding position and another with a more cruiser, feet-forward style.
The big talking point is the rear tyre, an Avon Cobra that’s at least a 250-section and possibly even the widest 300-section version that it offers.
A brief reveal to Triumph dealers late last year suggests a public debut before next November’s round of motorcycle shows.
By Ben Purvis
