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2006 Triumph Rocket Iii Classic

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 5 of 6 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Power Train. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

Power Train complaints

4 reports
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12,000 miles · Sep 18, 2012
Power Train

TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO SOUND LIKE A TURBOCHARGER WHILE RIDING IN 5TH GEAR. WHEN I CAME TO A STOP LIGHT THE SHIFT PEDAL WAS LIMP, I HAD TO PULL IN THE CLUTCH HANDLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. BY APPLYING AND RELEASING THE CLUTCH I WAS ABLE TO GET HOME. THE TRANSMISSION IS STUCK IN GEAR AND THE SHIFTER MECHANISM DOES NOT FUNCTION AT ALL.…

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TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO SOUND LIKE A TURBOCHARGER WHILE RIDING IN 5TH GEAR. WHEN I CAME TO A STOP LIGHT THE SHIFT PEDAL WAS LIMP, I HAD TO PULL IN THE CLUTCH HANDLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. BY APPLYING AND RELEASING THE CLUTCH I WAS ABLE TO GET HOME. THE TRANSMISSION IS STUCK IN GEAR AND THE SHIFTER MECHANISM DOES NOT FUNCTION AT ALL. IN ORDER TO FIND OUT WHAT IS CAUSING THIS I WILL HAVE TO PULL THE ENTIRE MOTOR OUT AND SPLIT THE BOTTOM HALF OF THE CRANK CASE. I HAVE TAKEN VERY GOOD CARE OF THIS BIKE CHANGING OIL AT HALF OF THE RECOMMENDED INTERVALS, I HAVE OWNED THIS MOTORCYCLE SINCE MARCH 2006 AND ONLY HAVE 12000 MILES ON IT. THAT IS ONLY 2000 MILES A YEAR TO HAVE SUCH A COSTLY LABOR INTENSIVE PROBLEM AT SUCH A LOW USAGE AS WELL AS DEFECTIVE STICKING OF GEARS THAT I READ ABOUT IN BLOGS FOR SIMILAR MODEL YEARS INDICATES AN INTRINSIC DESIGN PROBLEM BY TRIUMPH. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10475881

24,000 miles · Apr 12, 2010
Power Train

TRANSMISSION AT AROUND 3000 RPM WITH A SLIGHTLY HEAVY APPLICATION OF THROTTLE IT WILL JUMP OUT OF SECOND GEAR, IT SEEMS HARD TO GET IT INTO SECOND AND THIS HAPPENS UP AND DOWN SHIFTING. OTHER TIMES THE TRANSMISSION WILL GO INTO NEUTRAL ONLY. THE BIKE IS UNSAFE TO RIDE IN THIS CONDITION. TRIUMPH HAS UPGRADE KITS THAT COVER FRO…

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TRANSMISSION AT AROUND 3000 RPM WITH A SLIGHTLY HEAVY APPLICATION OF THROTTLE IT WILL JUMP OUT OF SECOND GEAR, IT SEEMS HARD TO GET IT INTO SECOND AND THIS HAPPENS UP AND DOWN SHIFTING. OTHER TIMES THE TRANSMISSION WILL GO INTO NEUTRAL ONLY. THE BIKE IS UNSAFE TO RIDE IN THIS CONDITION. TRIUMPH HAS UPGRADE KITS THAT COVER FROM VIN 000000 TO 337294, # T1000008 FOR SILVER ENGINES AND # T1000009 FOR BLACK ENGINES. THIS KIT HAS BEEN INSTALLED ON MY BIKE AND IT FIXED THE ISSUE. TRIUMPH ONLY PAID FOR THE PARTS, I WAS STUCK WITH A $1500.00 BILL FOR LABOR AND FLUIDS REQUIRED TO COMPLETE THE JOB. CURRENTLY TRIUMPHS STAND ON THE UPGRADE KIT IS "THE "UPGRADE" KIT THAT YOU HAVE HEARD OF IS NOT MEANT TO FIX ANYTHING. IT IS SIMPLY A COLLECTION OF PARTS THAT HAVE BEEN CHANGED SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE MODELS PRODUCTION. IT IS ONLY GIVEN TO DEALERS THAT ARE ALREADY TAKING THE MOTOR OUT OF THE FRAME FOR SOME OTHER REASON, SO THAT THEY CAN PUT THE NEWER PARTS IN WHILE IT IS APART. THERE IS NO NEED TO EXCHANGE ANY OF THE PARTS IF THERE IS NO NEED TO GO INTO THE ENGINE. AS LONG AS YOUR BIKE IS OPERATING AS EXPECTED, THERE IS NO NEED TO CHANGE ANYTHING." INCLUDED IN THE KIT ARE THE PARTS TO DO THE FOLLOWING: REPLACE THE CAMSHAFT DRIVE CHAIN TENSION BLADES AND CRANKSHAFT SPROCKET. REPLACE CLUTCH PRESSURE SPRINGS. REPLACE ALTERNATOR BOLT AND WASHER. REPLACE TORSION DAMPER SHAFT BEARINGS AND SHAFT OUTER COVER. REPLACE OUTPUT SHAFT SECOND GEAR AND SPLINED DOG RING. REPLACE OUTPUT SHAFT THIRD AND FOURTH GEAR SPLINED BUSHES AND TWO SPLINED WASHERS WITH THE SHOULDER SPLINED BUSHES. REPLACE THE INPUT SHAFT BELLVILLE WASHERS AND THRUST WASHER AND INSERT A NEW SHIM ADJACENT TO FIFTH GEAR AND NEW OUTPUT SHAFT NUT. REPLACE THE DETENT ARM. REPLACE THE GEAR POSITION SHAFT. REPLACE OIL TANK SEALING WASHERS. REPLACE THE FUEL TANK LEVEL SENDER AND BRACKET. REPLACE SPARK PLUGS AND THE COILS. MODIFY THE INSTRUMENT AND MAIN HARNESS. MODIFY THE IGNITION SWITCH HARNESS AND MAIN HARNESS CONNECTOR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10325175

20,000 miles · Dec 28, 2009
Power Train

2006 TRIUMPH ROCKET 3 CLASSIC, THE TRANSMISSION JUMPS OUT OF SECOND GEAR WHEN ACCELERATING. TRIUMPH HAS A TRANSMISSION UPGRADE THAT ADDRESSES THIS PROBLEM BUT WILL NOT FIX IT OUT OF WARRANTY. THIS PROBLEM CAN RESULT IN A CRASH IF THE TRANSMISSION JUMPS OUT OF GEAR WHEN PASSING ANOTHER VEHICLE OR WHEN MOVING FROM A STOP WITH TRA…

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2006 TRIUMPH ROCKET 3 CLASSIC, THE TRANSMISSION JUMPS OUT OF SECOND GEAR WHEN ACCELERATING. TRIUMPH HAS A TRANSMISSION UPGRADE THAT ADDRESSES THIS PROBLEM BUT WILL NOT FIX IT OUT OF WARRANTY. THIS PROBLEM CAN RESULT IN A CRASH IF THE TRANSMISSION JUMPS OUT OF GEAR WHEN PASSING ANOTHER VEHICLE OR WHEN MOVING FROM A STOP WITH TRAFFIC BEHIND THE MOTORCYCLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10297209

Mileage unknown · Apr 11, 2006
Power Train

I PURCHASED A 2006 TRIUMPH ROCKET III CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE. I HAD PROBLEMS SHIFTING INTO 1ST GEAR AND HAVING IT STAY IN 1ST GEAR. I REPORTED THIS ON 500 MILE DEALER SERVICE AND WAS TOLD IT WAS NORMAL, "THEY ALL HAVE PROBLEMS". WHEN STOPPED AT A LIGHT, I SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL WHILE WAITING FOR LIGHT TO CHANGE, WHEN THE BIKE IS SHIF…

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I PURCHASED A 2006 TRIUMPH ROCKET III CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE. I HAD PROBLEMS SHIFTING INTO 1ST GEAR AND HAVING IT STAY IN 1ST GEAR. I REPORTED THIS ON 500 MILE DEALER SERVICE AND WAS TOLD IT WAS NORMAL, "THEY ALL HAVE PROBLEMS". WHEN STOPPED AT A LIGHT, I SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL WHILE WAITING FOR LIGHT TO CHANGE, WHEN THE BIKE IS SHIFTED INTO 1ST IT WILL ENGAGE ABOUT 75% OF THE TIME BUT AFTER ACCELERATING ABOUT 10 YARDS IT POPS BACK INTO NEUTRAL, CARS BEHIND THEN MUST FREQUENTLY STOP ABRUPTLY TO AVOID COLLISION. I HAVE NOT BEEN HIT YET BUT GETTING CLOSE. I DON'T KNOW OF OTHER MAKES OF MOTORCYCLES THAT DO THIS. THERE ISN'T REALLY AN INCIDENT DATE, IT HAS BEEN THIS WAY SINCE I BOUGHT THE BIKE IN FEB 2006. TO AVOID THE PROBLEM ONE MUST ALWAYS HOLD THE CLUTCH IN WHILE STANDING. NUMBER OF FAILURES REFERS TO NUMBER OF TIMES THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MY BIKE. I AM REPORTING IT IN CASE OTHERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AND REPORT SIMILAR EVENTS. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10155107

Official recalls

2

07V455000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:fuel Injection System

Sep 26, 2007

ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, WHEN THE ENGINE IS RETURNING TO IDLE IT MAY STALL.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE MOTORCYCLE STALLS, THE RIDER WILL HAVE TO RESTART THE ENGINE INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND DOWNLOAD NEW ENGINE MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 17, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TRIUMPH AT 678-854-2010.

06V063000 · Steering: Steering Wheel/handle Bar

Mar 6, 2006

ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, THE HANDLE BAR CLAMP BOLTS WERE NOT SUFFICIENTLY TIGHTENED.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE HANDLE BARS COULD LOOSEN WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH OR PERSONAL INJURY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE TORQUE OF THE CLAMP BOLTS AND TIGHTEN IF NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 16, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TRIUMPH AT 1-678-854-2010.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

1

PE07030 · Motorcycle Stalling

Opened Jun 20, 2007 · Closed Oct 19, 2007

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Gasoline:fuel Injection System

FOLLOWING OUR OPENING OF THIS PE AND SUBSEQUENT DISCUSSIONS WITH TRIUMPH MOTORCYCLES LTD, THE COMPANY DECIDED TO LAUNCH A SAFETY-RELATED RECALL OF ALL ROCKET III MODEL MOTORCYCLES TO ADDRESS OCCURRENCES OF SUDDEN AND UN-FORESEEN TIP-OUT STALLING.THIS ACTION WAS TAKEN IN LIEU OF RESPONDING TO NHTSA'S INFORMATION REQUEST AND INVOLVES THE INSTALLATION OF AN UPGRADED ECU INCORPORATING REVISED ENGINE MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE. WITH TRIUMPH'S SAFETY-RELATED RECALL, THIS PE IS CLOSED.