Comprehensive 2021 Triumph Rocket 3 Review Post Flash

2021 Triumph Rocket 3 Dyno / Handheld Review

It won't be wrong to say that the 2021 Triumph Rocket 3 redefines the joy of riding with its impeccable build and laid-back cruiser vibe. Considered one of top picks for long-distance touring sessions, it has a 2,500cc inline 3-cylinder, water-cooled, DOHC engine that delivers a whopping 165 HP at 6,000 rpm—a robust 11% increase over its predecessors—and a peak torque of 163 pound-feet at 4000 rpm. 

Triumph really smoothed out the throttle response, something you'll appreciate the moment you twist the grip. Plus, you've got four riding modes to play with—Road, Rain, Sport, and a customizable Rider mode, making it a breeze to switch up your ride on the fly. And despite its beefy looks, this bike is actually 88 pounds lighter than its predecessors, thanks to some smart engineering with aluminum and high-quality cast and forged components. 

But there’s more to this bike than just specs. We took the 2021 Rocket 3 GT for a spin with our BT Moto ECU Flash and boy, do we have some stories to tell! Stick around as we dive into what's changed, check out some dyno results, and run through the Dragy 60-130 data. Plus, we'll also discuss how our ECU Flash has resolved common issues reported by riders. Let's get into it.

Stock Tuning First Impressions of 2021 Triumph Rocket 3

We took the 2021 Triumph Rocket 3 GT out for a spin to really put the factory tuning to the test, and let us tell you, it’s quite the ride. First thing you’ll love is the ultra-comfy riding position—hours on the road feel like nothing on this bike. But the real showstopper? The torque. This thing has torque for days, and it hits you the second you twist the throttle. With 165 horsepower and 163 pound-feet of torque, it’s just insane for a bike like this.

You’ll find yourself grinning like crazy as you power through, but there’s a catch. Just when you’re getting into the groove, feeling that raw power, you hit a snag with the third gear—thanks to a frustratingly premature limiter. It’s a bit of a party pooper, cutting short what could be an epic power surge. Don’t worry, though; we took care of that later on the Dyno because, honestly, it’s a shame to let that huge power band go to waste.

Also, be mindful of a bit of head shake at higher speeds—a small trade-off for such a powerful machine. Despite these quirks, the Rocket 3 impresses with its torque and comfort, making it a fantastic cruiser with a seriously commanding presence on the road.

Next, it was time we pushed the bike with a 60-130 mph test under factory settings to see just how much oomph it really has when you let it loose.

As expected from a heavyweight like the 2021 Triumph Rocket 3, the 60-130 mph test run took just over 10 seconds.

This timing, although not blisteringly fast, is pretty respectable given the bike’s hefty 700-pound frame and output of 165 horsepower. The test was somewhat affected by a notable slope, which could have skewed the results slightly. We later addressed this variable in our Stage 1 testing to get a more accurate measure of its capabilities. All things considered, for such a big bike, clocking in at 10 seconds for this sprint is commendable and actually surpassed our initial expectations.

2021 Triumph Rocket 3 Dyno Tuning and Results With Stage 1 Impressions

We put the 2021 Triumph Rocket 3 on the dyno to really see what it could do, and the results were pretty wild. By extending the RPMs beyond the stock redline, we were able to tap into some serious potential. Our modifications, represented by the blue line on the graph, removed those restrictive throttle settings and optimized the fuel mapping, unleashing a significant power boost—over 30 wheel horsepower from peak to peak, to be exact.

Though the increase shows as just three wheel torque on paper, the real story is told by the graph. You can see the marked separation where the torque continues to build and sustain far beyond the redline, compared to the stock settings. This adjustment allowed the bike to carry its power much further, especially noticeable in second gear.

The changes transformed the Rocket 3 into essentially a different bike—a beast that just keeps pulling stronger and longer. The graph below illustrates just how dramatically we've enhanced its performance.

Next, we had to see how the 2021 Triumph Rocket 3 performed on the road post-flash. 

Right from the get-go, the difference was UNBELIEVABLE—the throttle response was drastically smoother and more responsive than ever before. And just look at those dyno results. The graph showed up to 170 wheel horsepower, and let us tell you, the bike was absolutely eager to show off that immense power boost post-flash. Before we applied the BT Moto ECU Flash, the 2021 Rocket 3 was hitting its limiter at around 6300 RPM, but now? We pushed that boundary up to 7500 RPM. Every tweak we made on the dyno translated beautifully to the road. Despite all these changes, each ride mode retained its functionality, only now they came with a serious power upgrade thanks to the ECU Flash.

With so much power and torque now at our fingertips, it was the perfect moment for the 60 through 130 mph test to see just how fast this beast could roar. Ready for the results? Hold onto your helmets because the BT Moto Flashed 2021 Triumph Rocket 3 blasted from 60 to 130 mph in just 7.67 seconds—shaving almost 2.5 seconds off the factory-tuned time. Yeah, we were blown away, and we bet you are too!

We carefully adjusted the slope to 0.9, a significant reduction from the stock testes 1.58, to ensure more accurate and favorable test conditions for the stock run. The difference this made was astounding, and we absolutely loved seeing the tangible impact of our adjustments. And it goes without saying that we were thrilled with the outcome.

The Key Takeaways

After the BT Moto ECU Flash, the 2021 Triumph Rocket 3 became an absolute monster. It got significantly faster, and the sound? Pure insanity with those extra RPMs thrown into the mix. Before the flash, power would climb only to get choked by the throttle limitations—now, those restrictions disappeared like they never existed. We dialed in the fueling and greatly improved the midrange punch and throttle response. 

The bike started to feel more smoother than ever, completely free of any jerky movements. It turned into a whole new level of awesomeness—totally thrilling and a blast to ride. If we’re totally honest, we absolutely loved pushing this beast to its limits. 

So, there you have it. We hope you got as excited as we were during the 2021 Triumph Rocket 3 review. Let us know if you have any questions and feel free to contact us about BT Moto ECU Flash Tune.