Rocket III SS

British Chopper ran a feature on the Rocket III earlier this year, raising the question of how best to customize this niche motorcycle. According to our poll, 33% of our members voted for a Hooligan style Rocket III, and another 15% voted for a hot rod Rocket. We passed this information on to the boys at Hooligan Brothers, who happened to be working on a few custom Rockets already. We were able to snap a few quick pics of one of the Rockets near completion, as it was being prepped for an upcoming magazine feature. The Hooligan Brothers have done it again, this time customizing a Rocket III by fusing both the Hooligan and Hot Rod styles into a single theme-a muscle bike. The bike is actually owned by Brandon Elrod, co-owner of Hooligan Brothers, and he recently shared his vision for the bike with us. "The stock Rocket III was an interesting bike to start with, as the shaft drive, the massive motor, and the dimensions of the bike don�t exactly lend themselves to classic customization efforts. Straight from the factory, the Rocket's styling is a combination of cruiser, sport bike, and touring bike. We wanted to commit to a specific style, as well as clean up the lines of the bike." Brandon chose to create a muscle bike, with styling cues straight out of the early 70's. "I wanted to play on the angular lines of the bike, and give it a more brutish stance. I also wanted to give the rear wheel the attention it deserves."

General:
Owner: Brandon Elrod
Year/Make: 2005 Triumph Rocket III
Customization: Hooligan Brothers

Custom Features:
Air Intake
Exhaust
Seat
Handlebars
Mirrors
Headlights
License Plate
Wheels
Emblems
Front/Rear Led Turn Signals

"Response to the bike has been amazing. We tried to be subtle enough in the changes to make the bike look like it may have come from the factory looking like this."

"We spent a lot of time focusing on how to best clean up the lines of the bike. The two main lines we worked on were the line transitioning the fork to the gas tank, and the line of the bike behind the seat. We are quite pleased with the results."

"A muscle bike theme seemed quite fitting for the Rocket III, as it has the basic elements of a great vintage muscle car; A big motor, a wide rear tire, and an incomparable exhaust rumble. The stock Rocket III also has a combination of angular and rounded lines, similar to a 1971 Camaro. It was an easy choice."

The changes made by the Hooligan Brothers are not just aesthetic, as the bike now handles more like a sport bike, and according to Brandon, the ergonomics have improved a bit as well for those long weekend rides. Compare the changes for yourselves between the stock Rocket III and this custom example from the Hooligan Brothers. Be sure to look for upcoming features on more bikes from the Hooligan Brothers in the near future!