With much sadness I sold my Street Glide a couple of weeks ago. I went on a farewell ride of sorts (Downed Officers Support Ride) on Aug 19 and then sold my bike that same afternoon to my brother-in-law after getting back from the ride. It was a bittersweet ride. I absolutely loved being in the middle of 2000+ bikes as we left the town center in Valencia, CA. The sound of all those bikes, 80% of them Harleys, all running together at the same time is something that everyone should get to experience at least once in their life. It gave me goosebumps and was very, very cool indeed. My brother-in-law had been wanting my bike for some time now, but I told him that he couldn't have it until after the Aug 19 ride was over.

The good news is that I replaced my Street Glide with another very cool ride - a new (leftover '06) Triumph Rocket III. No, it doesn't have the sound of my Street Glide. Not even close. Let's face it, Harleys have a unique sound, and it seems like it has been that way forever. However, the Rocket has character in spades. 147 ft lbs of torque at 2500 rpm (where I do all of my riding) is on tap. Everytime I twist the throttle I get an ear-to-ear grin. I can't wait until the beast is broken in so I can give it more than 1/2 throttle. I also love the looks of the 240 rear tire. EVerywhere I ride this thing people stop and stare, kind of like a "what on earth is that?" look. When I went on the Aug 19 ride, I looked long and hard for a Rocket and I didn't see a single one. On the other hand, I saw at least 300 black Harleys, mine being one of them. I guess that I wanted to try something different - way different. Of course there is a reason that Harleys represented at least 80% of the bikes on the ride. They are gorgeous, sound awesome, and are a blast to ride. I will sorely miss my Street Glide. I only wish that I had the money to have kept the Harley.

Anyway, here are a couple of pics of the Rocket.





I suppose I probably won't be posting much here in the future. It's been a great ride with all of you, and I thank you for the comraderie I've experienced on this site over the past couple of years. Signing off for now. Ride safe everyone!

Doug (UGGA)

 

Must be a very embarassing moment for you! You gonna hang around and become a HD basher now?

 

Not even! I've had 3 Harleys, and will likely have more down the road. I just got a wild hair and wanted to try something different. Harleys will always have a special place in my heart. It amazes me how much abuse I take on some other forums I belong to when I try to defend Harleys. People think that because a bike doesn't put out 150 horsepower that it's inferior. To each his own I guess...

 

Not my cup of tea, but good luck with it. Hopefully you'll have a good dealer network and not have the problemsthatthe BMW guys do.

 

I actually have always liked Brit bikes and owned a "real" BSA Rocket III in the early seventies. LOL, not exactly reliable but, as you said, different with its Orange and Chrome gas tank and constantly overheating center cylinde. Replaced it with a Bonneville and, eventually , my second Sportster.

Only thing, and I know it is YOUR bike and taste, THAT THING IS FUGLY in MHO!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I mean it in the kindest way.

EZ

 

UGGA

Good luck bro! I hope to see you back very soon as I always enjoyed your postings. My bro-in-law rides an '04 Triumph America and he absolutely loves it. I personally can't get past the looksof the Rocket, but that is one BEAST of a bike!

I saw a guy in Little Rock, Ark while we were visiting for the weekend do a rolling wheelie on a Rocket. He was doing about 20MPH and twisted the wick and the front wheel left the ground for a good ways![] Torque monster!



Good luck bro and ride safe. Hope to see ya back on American iron soon![&o]

Bro-in-laws Triumph America:
[IMG]local://upfiles/22226/560F53936F1B4D50B747B7C29E3280AE.jpg[/IMG]

 

That is a good looking bike...very tough!

And there will be plenty of HD's for sale when you decide to saddle-up on of those again. Congrats on the new bike!!

 

btw....that is one seriously clean garage.

 

Did he leave it out in the rain? Looks like it shrunk........ [8D]

 

LOL!!! He's 6'3 and standing on a curb.......Never noticed it but it does look small in that pic. His wife must have put it in the dryer. I caught him watering it the other day and I asked him what he was doing..........he said maybe it will grow up to be a Harley one day.[8D]