Making a Rocket look like this...

[RKTNMYPKT]

I thought my first wife was ugly and frankly I didn't care much for her personality either.
I married her anyway, it didn't work out.......

Just sayin

 

[mexican]

How do know he's not going to go dark side. He sounds like a candidate to me

Nahh, you need big huevos for that abd not everyboy has them

 

[barbagris]

Nahh, you need big huevos for that abd not everyboy has them

And if they're too big the exhaust will singe them bald. Just can't win!

 

[Rick Morris]

This iHello everyone, My name is Matt. I am a speed and power addict(this feels like an AA meeting... did you say hello? lol). I respect the Rocket 3(do't bash me just yet, hear me out lol), but am apprehensive about it because I don't really care for how it looks stock to be perfectly honest. I think the Rocket 3 is an ugly ass bike stock. I prefer the look, feel, sound, and style of v-twins. The inline 3 cylinder doesn't do it for me in a cruiser style bike. I love the Honda VTX 1800. The look, sound, feel, and style modifications that can be done to make it look like a cruiser style bike should. But as you all know the X will have a very hard time matching what the R3 can deliver as far as performance is concerned. I am more of a function over form type guy, but form does play a big role for me. Being that I do care about looks to some extent, I started looking to see if anyone had built an R3 into something I like to look at, and viola, I found some that I am to die for. Now I am sure that you all have seen these before, but I am pretty much just concerned about cost and ease(to an extent, I will explain) to transform a stock R3 into something like that following;

1:

2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-XxvtRDkNQ

3:


Those are in order from number 1 that I would prefer to do through number 3. I am curious what cost is involved, and how much stuff that I would need to fabricate myself, and specifically what parts would need to be fabricated. I would prefer option 1 to have inverted forks with springs on the outside of the forks if possible, number 2 to possibly have a less extreme angle to the seating area for rider and passenger comfort/compatibility, and number 3 to have a removable solo cowl for the occasional passenger.

I am a pretty competent mechanic(I am one for a living) and good with custom work and custom fabrication(also do that at work), but am pretty new to motorcycles in general. Thank you for any help advice or knowledge that you can provide me, and your time that you take to do so. Have a great day everyone.

I have a 2011 R3R and I think it is beautiful. I have had several V-twins and a few ****** rockets and nothing beats the look, power, and feel of my R3R. But with that said I like the look of the # 1 bike, Rocket Scrambler.

But for me the stock look and the big pipes, gorilla looking tank, big fat rear end make it perfect for me. But to each their own.

 

[Rick Morris]

Ugly? Blasphemy! The R3 is a thing of beauty left as is.
When you're parked amongst a bunch of HD's guess what stands out the most?
BTW what is the collective term for a group of Harley's? Let m rip boys

HOGS?

 

[Rick Morris]

Here you go.....
This is actually a 2014 Roadster made made to look like Something different.
It has the "look sound and feel" of the V twin you are looking for yet maintains the rally stripes the Roadster is famous for........

Is mattmillme for real. Has he never seen a V-Rod?

 

[Rick Morris]

*sentence

I am not looking to start a big debate and fight about the two bikes, I am on this site for a reason after all. Now granted yes, the X's are less than the R3 in many aspects, and the rest is subjective(it's all subjective really, but I am referencing power considerations). The supercharger kit that TTS has for the X(granted it's only a 15 series supercharger, not a 30 like their kits for the R3) makes only about 160 hp 160 ft lbs to the tire on pump gas, you can do that with the R3 with just an exhaust and tune. TBH you can buy an X and add the supercharger kit for less than you can buy even a used R3 around my way. If you go that X route you will have a lighter bike that makes more power than a stock R3. The VTX with the TTS kit, headwork, cams, and exhaust should net around ~200+ hp and ~200+ft lbs. The turbos available for the X with headwork and cams should be around ~250ish on pump when pushing it with lower compression pistons. So dollar for dollar up to around 200ish hp and tq you can build an X cheaper than you can an R3. I was planning on doing an e85 build on the X with higher compression, better rods, headwork, cams, turbo, raised rev limit, with nitrous to top it off, and a big bore kit if I could find one. I also had thought about a twin charged setup tbh. So yes, the X can make gobs of power, but most people who ride them aren't looking for that. I will still get an X someday, I'm just trying to decide whether the X or the R3 should be my big brawler. Being that the X would only be around 300ish on the e85, I would be limited on where I could take the bike, and short on the power I was after. Granted the X has the look and sound I prefer, so it was winning out at first. The more I thought about the money and the lack of availability of e85 everywhere, I started to look into customizing the R3. I am a big guy, and it's a big bike. I want to play with some BIG players in the racing game, so I need SERIOUS power with myself riding(300+lbs) on a big bike(hopefully modding it to look like I want lightens it up some) to compete with superbikes(think BMW S1000RR), modded sportbikes that are pushing MEGA power levels(250-400+, think turbo 'busas) and 1000-2500 hp cars from both a dig and on the top end. I don't know if the X can live up to what I want it to do, and if it could, it still would be limited on where I could ride it on e85. I know the R3 can make the power, now I need to know if it can survive it and look the way I want it to while doing it.

You are talking about two completely different types of bikes. I too have had V-twins of both H-D and Kawasaki, until I rode a Rocket I had know idea about this bike. Once you ride one for a while you will consider nothing else. Take your mind of any other bike and either bite the bullet and buy a Rocket or go buy a used VTX1800. Take a look a Carpenter racing in NJ for Rocket performance inspiration. Keep in mind there are not a lot of R3R bikes around and you will be in a class by yourself. OR, buy a V-twin and disappear into the crowd. No matter how much you spend on any metric or domestic V-twin it will never be a Rocket III!

 

[warp9.9]

Just a old Rocket and the owners alterations. They anyway you want but inside is still a big triple and that is what makes them a special beast!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Justin Wall]

I think the look of the R3 is amazing. Love it.. Love the torque even more though. Even on a sad day the throttle turns my frown upside down..

 

[TriumPhil]

... Don’t run off because you rubbed some of us wrong with your opening statement. Stick around and show us your metal.

Bobby, he's already shown us his meddle, so perhaps now he can show us his mettle?

Matt, I don't think that you intended to come over to our site to stir the pot, but you have done so, seemingly, inadvertently.

There are plenty of ex-VTX owners here, including myself (I had two - a C model and a Retro).

Bottom line, you can turn pretty much any bike you choose into whatever you desire if you have sufficient cash, time or talent. What attributes best describe your circumstances?

If we know what your resources are, we then can assist you with more accurate and honest answers to your queries.