Triumph 2500 Rocket III R Evel Knievel Limited Edition 2025 — Specifications

Jumping a 317 kg motorcycle over a row of buses — that's an idea even the most deranged stuntman wouldn't have dared consider. And yet, it's Evel Knievel's name that Triumph chose to attach to its Rocket III, the behemoth of its lineup. The connection between the flying daredevil of the 60s and 70s and this power cruiser weighing nearly a third of a ton is enough to raise a smile. But the history linking the two is very real: Knievel, American through and through, had turned his back on his country's manufacturers to entrust his airborne feats to a Bonneville T120. His television appearances, his jumps of over 45 meters above the fountains in Las Vegas — all of it was done under the English banner. Triumph is now cashing in on the dividends of that legend by offering two limited editions of 250 units each, the R and the GT, at prices that sting: 27,995 euros for the R version.

When it comes to presentation, Hinckley didn't hold back. The 18-liter tank blends chrome and paintwork featuring the motifs of the famous star-spangled costume in American flag colors. The leather seat sports a gold-embroidered Knievel logo, the fly screens are finished in matte sapphire black, and the entire front of the motorcycle, from the wheels to the fork legs, is dressed in black. The stuntman's signature and serial number are laser-engraved on the upper triple clamp. Even the TFT display offers a dedicated startup animation. The attention to detail extends to a collector's book delivered with each unit, numbered to match the motorcycle. This sits firmly in the realm of collectible object as much as two-wheeler.

The two variants don't settle for a simple color change. The R plays the power cruiser card with a bobber twist, featuring a riding position slightly shifted forward, a roadster seat perched at 773 mm, and mid-mounted controls adjustable by 15 mm. The GT offers handlebars raised by an additional 125 mm, forward-set footpegs with 50 mm of horizontal adjustment, and a more padded seat sitting at 750 mm, flanked by a leather passenger backrest. Two distinct philosophies for the same mechanical heart.

And what a heart. The 2,458 cc triple-cylinder engine remains an anomaly in the motorcycle landscape. Its 182 horsepower at 7,000 rpm is almost beside the point next to the 225 Nm of torque available from just 4,000 rpm. At this level of thrust, the shaft drive and six-speed gearbox absorb stresses that few production powertrains can claim. The aluminum chassis, the 47 mm inverted fork adjustable in rebound and compression, the fully adjustable rear monoshock with separate reservoir — everything is sized to contain the engine's brutality. The braking follows the same logic with radially mounted Brembo Stylema monoblock calipers on 320 mm discs up front, and a four-piston caliper on a 300 mm disc at the rear. Cornering ABS, four riding modes, cruise control, and hill start assist round out the electronic arsenal. Given the 317 kg wet weight, that last feature is no luxury.

Then there's the question of positioning. Against a Ducati Diavel V4 or a BMW R 18, the Rocket III Evel Knievel plays a singular tune. It seeks neither agility nor sportiness. It banks on mechanical excess, raw charisma, and now the aura of a showbiz legend. At nearly 28,000 euros, it's aimed at riders who want to ride a piece of living history, not those counting grams or tenths in the corners. With 250 units for the entire world, scarcity will do the rest.