Description
Please note: Iconic hooked up a battery in order to take the cold start video. The bike will not come with a battery but Iconic is happy to install one should the winning bidder so chose.
Click here for an VINData Motorcycle History Report on this 2005 Triumph Rocket III. Additional photos are available here for your perusal.
The Triumph Rocket III made quite the stir when it first came out in 2004, as it had the largest displacement engine fitted to mass production motorcycle – a whopping 2.3L that put out 140 hp.
Fun fact: the STARTER motor on this bike makes as much power as Triumph’s first-ever motorcycle – just about 1.75 horses. The bike was available in a few styling variants, all of which focused on the ‘power cruiser’ look.
Any time we feature a Rocket III, we feel obligated to share this video:
This example is VIN: SMTC00L545J211838. Per the seller, “Of the 25 or so bikes Ive had in my life, the R3 classic is unexpectedly my absolute favourite. While over the years I’d moved from 125cc race reps, to 600cc pocket rockets, up to litre bikes, I’d never EVER been interested in any way in a cruising style bike. After moving to the U.S. (from the U.K.) in 2011, I decided to buck the trend and get a bike I thought would be more suitable to American highways, while still remaining somewhat interesting to me, and settled on the Rocket. I found this one for sale about a decade ago up in Redding, California, and flew up with cash in my pocket and my helmet in-hand ready to either buy it and drive it back to San Francisco, or just get the next flight back. Needless to say, I drove back South and by the end of that first journey, I was utterly hooked. There is no other, not a single motorcycle, that feels like this thing. Even the Diavel which is closest, doesn’t have the same kind of presence this thing carries. It gets comfortably the most attention of any bike I’ve owned, it pulls absolutely relentlessly and snarls like an angry doberman in a bad mood. The induction sound is unlike anything this side of an F35. You can light up the rear wheel in first, second and third. This thing is a beast. I daily’d this bike until the day it got parked up, I imagine the check engine is just related to storage. They were the best years on two wheels I’ll ever have. I will miss this one dearly.”
The odometer shows 19,242 miles.
Maintenance:
In preparation for this listing, Iconic performed an inspection of the bike. Our service department notes the following on their condition report:
Gas Tank Internal Condition: Ok
Tire Year – Front: 3412; Rear: 3412
Tire % – Front: 5%; Rear: 10%
Tire Pressure – Front: 25 PSI; Rear: 28 PSI
Brake % – Front: 20%; Rear: 30%
Front Hydraulic Fluid: Marginal, 1.5-3% Moisture
Rear Hydraulic Fluid: Marginal, 1.5-3% Moisture
Clutch Hydraulic Fluid: NA
Engine Oil – Level: Low; Quality: FAIL, DARK
Coolant – Level: Fail; Quality: Marginal, 0.15-0.3 V
Low Beam: Ok
High Beam: Ok
Passing Light: NA
Parking Light: Ok
Turn Signals: Ok
Tail Light: Ok
Brake Light: Ok
Plate Light: Ok
Killswitch: Ok
Horn: Ok
Fork: FRONT LEFT LEAKING
Shock/s: Ok
Final Drive: Ok, AGE OF FLUID UNKNOWN
Battery Standing Voltage: NO BATTERY INSTALLED
Charging Voltage @ 4k RPM: 14.26 V (w/Test battery)
Tires Installed:
Front: 150/80-17
Rear: 240/50-16
Notes:
-Engine oil level low
-Light rust in fuel tank
-Battery dead
-Low coolant level, aged
-Tires are out of date, front tire worn to chords
-Air filter missing – evidence of rodentin airbox
-Brake Fluid has marginal moisture
-Oil leak from lower engine
-Unfastened subframe bolt sticking out – hard to turn
**CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED**
REPAIRS RECOMMENDED:
-Battery (YTX20HL-BS)
-Engine oil and filter
-Coolant
-Hydro 2
-Tires
-Air filter
-Spark plugs
-Read check-engine code
Modifications:
“This specific bike has the following improvements made: Triple K&N air intakes, TuneBoy ECU remap, de-baffled downpipes.”
Inside of the tank:
It is riding on Avon Cobra tires with date codes of 1908 and 3912.
The sale includes one key.
Cosmetic Blemishes: please see the album up top for all known cosmetic blemishes. Here is a selection:
Currently located at our facility in Santa Monica, California, (please make an appointment for an inspection), this Triumph is offered on a clean California title. Per the California DMV website, it will cost $866 to bring California registration current through June 2025.
Have any Rocket III stories or questions about this listing? Let us know in the “Comments” tab!
