Power-cruiser shootout: Harley-Davidson FXDR vs Triumph Rocket 3

With the power-cruiser motorcycle market getting ever more popular, we help you to make a choice between the Harley-Davidson FXDR and the Triumph Rocket 3

Harley-Davidson FXDR vs Triumph Rocket 3

IF you’re in the market for a big, brawny and attention-grabbing power-cruiser, there is no better time than now to add one to your garage.

Power-cruisers (or performance cruisers as they are sometimes called) litter the 2020 motorcycle market, with pretty much every main manufacturer having either a current one in their range, a recently discontinued model or something in development for the future.

And that’s both good and bad for consumers… while the breadth of choice means you can take your pick of configurations, capacities, and power-outputs, it does make settling on the model that’s right for you that little bit harder.

To help you sort the wheat from the chaff, we’ve been riding and reviewing the best power-cruisers the motorcycle industry has to offer. We’ve already covered the Ducati Diavel vs the Triumph Rocket 3check out that video here – but now the Hinckley contender has to take on the might of the oldest maker of cruisers and power-cruisers alike: Harley-Davidson and their new FXDR.

While Harley has been making raked out power cruisers for nearly 50-years, Triumph is a relative newcomer to the field, introducing their Thunderbird and Rocket 3 models in an effort to crack the lucrative US market some years ago.

Can the plucky Brit’ up-start really take it to the American giants?

Harley-Davidson FXDR and Triumph Rocket 3 specs

Harley-Davidson FXDR

Triumph Rocket 3

Price (from)

£19,855

£19,500

Power (claimed)

91hp

165hp

Torque (claimed)

160Nm (118ft-lbs)

221Nm (163ft-lbs)

Weight (dry)

289kg

291kg

Insurance group

17

17

Tank size

16.7l

18l

Seat height

720mm

773mm