Triumph Rocket III

The Triumph Rocket III is a three-cylinder motorcycle built by Triumph Motorcycles Ltd. At 2,294 cc it had the largest displacement of any production motorcycle until Triumph released the Rocket 3 in 2019. The project began in 1998 under product range manager Ross Clifford, aimed at the American cruiser market where the Harley-Davidson Ultra Glide and the Honda Gold Wing were the main competitors, and designer John Mockett and a small team settled on a longitudinally mounted in-line triple with shaft drive. The first engine was built in summer 2002, the bike was unveiled in San Antonio in August 2003, and it reached UK customers in spring 2004, when Motor Cycle News named it Machine of the Year. Its name recalls the 1968 BSA Rocket 3. Variants included the Classic, Tourer, Touring and the more powerful Roadster, and the Touring version was discontinued in 2017.