The Triumph Rocket III first arrived in the scene in 2004 and in the 10 years since, it has become one of the most talked-about cruisers->ke392 in the market. Since the bike just celebrated its 10th year anniversary, Triumph->ke1864 is celebrating the occasion by unveiling the Rocket X Special Edition.

Limited to just 500 units, the Rocket X is essentially a souped-up version of the Rocket III, complete with a number of stylised details that makes it a unique offering compared to its Rocket III brethren. There’s a lot to like about the Rocket X, including its high-gloss custom paint finish, the blackened components throughout the machine, the black wheels with hand-painted silver pinstripe, and of course, the massive 2.3-liter three-cylinder engine that remains the biggest engine used by a production motorcycle in the world.

If you want to talk about a bike that offers all of that with the exclusivity of having only 500 units available, the Triumph Rocket X is the bike for you.

Click past the jump to read more about the Triumph Rocket X.

Design

Any special edition model needs to have some exclusive design details to differentiate itself from the rest of its model lineup. That’s what you get with the Rocket X and for what it’s worth, there aren’t any shortage of new digs on this special edition bike.

For starters, a clean custom race stripe runs the length of the bike, from one fender to the other, creating a nice contrast to the black paint of the bike and its components. Speaking of the paint, Triumph didn’t just create the finish all by itself; it actually enlisted the help of custom paint specialists 8-Ball to create a brushed aluminum effect in the silver striping that was accomplished by stripping back the fenders and the tank, grinding details into the bare metal, and then lining off the tank strips and the Rocket X logo before applying the ‘Jet Black’ paint as the base layer, which was then followed by a layer of clear coat.

It’s an absolutely meticulous process that actually lasted a few days just to give the paint a chance to dry. Once that was accomplished, Triumph applied six layers of lacquer before polishing the paintwork and then leaving it another few days to dry before being polished again.

In addition to the elaborate paint finish that Triumph says is unique relative to each of the 500 units of the bike, the company also installed a black fly screen that shrouds the chrome ringed instruments, adding another distinctive design detail to the Rocket X. Components like the handlebars, mirrors, gear, and brake levers were also finished in black to imbibe a uniform color treatment that brings out the menacing look of the street fighter.

Last but certainly not least is the limited edition badging each of the 500 units will carry. In this instance, each of the limited run of 500 bikes will get its own side panel badging and unique numbering.

Design Specifications

Frame

Special edition models like the Rocket X aren’t bereft from receiving new stylistic details that help edge it closer into the realm of a high-performing street fighter. In this particular instance, Triumph decided to fit the bike with a similar tubular steel twin spine design that all of its Rocket III trim models boast of. The choice of this frame is particularly evident by the way Triumph decided to use the frame to be able to accommodate the bike’s massive 2.3-liter three-cylinder engine.

Just like the frame, the Rocket X’s suspension system is comprised of front end sports-bike-style upside down forks measuring 1.7 inches, making them strong enough to handle the force that comes with a bike with this much power. It’s easy to see the reasoning behind the frame and suspension configurations, but they’re incredibly important in the grand scheme of things.

Triumph didn’t delve into using different specs on the Rocket X relative to other Rocket III trims. That’s evident in the bike’s 16-inch rear wheel, which is similar to that found on other Rocket III trim models. The reasoning is similar, too. 16-inch wheels not only emphasize the fatness of the back tire, but it’s also big and wide enough to provide the needed agility and versatilty so that riders don’t have to worry about messing up on the road. And just to keep things on the safe side, Triumph also put in a pair of vice-like, four-piston callipers with 12.5-inch discs at the front and 12.4 inches discs at the rear, backed up, of course, by the company’s proprietary ABS system.

Frame Specifications

Drivetrain

If it’s power you want, power is what you’ll get with the Rocket X. You know that mammoth 2.3-liter three-cylinder engine that Triumph is using on all of its Rocket III models? The Rocket X has that one, too, ensuring a beastly ride for the 500 customers lucky enough to get a piece of this special edition street fighting cruiser. That big of an engine carries a whopping 148 horsepower and 163 pound-feet of torque. In case those numbers don’t register, the Rocket X most definitely lives up to its name with a quarter-mile time of 12.2 seconds to go with a pulse-pounding top speed of around 137 mph.

Drivetrain Specifications

Pricing

Like I said, the Triumph Rocket X is limited to just 500 units, each carrying a price tag of £14,799, or about $22,700 based on current exchange rates. At that price, the Rocket X would be almost $7,000 more expensive than a Rocket III Roadster. Like all of its models, the Rocket X comes with a two-year unlimited mileage warranty on new Triumph and Genuine Accessories to go with a 12-month unlimited mileage warranty on replacement parts.

Quotes

“The Rocket X transcends genres, with its mid-mounted pegs and relatively upright riding position. The ergonomics ensure that the Rocket X is surprisingly easy to hustle through corner and with a plush solo seat, and a comfortable and controllable rear suspension. Up front, the Rocket X sports Triumph’s trademark twin headlights, while the components carefully balance black and chrome to create an aggressive stripped down look.” ----- Rider Magazine“Triumph calls it the “Rocket” for a reason. Twist the grip and you’d better be holding on tight because it launches like its namesake. With the biggest production engine around, the 2294cc Triumph Rocket III delivers a claimed 163 lb-ft of torque at only 2750 rpm. There’s no other bike like it, which is evident by the motorcycles we’ve pitted it against over the years, from a Rune to a V-Max to the Diavel, and straight line the Rocket III’s never had a problem holding its own despite its size. Now in its 10th year of production, Triumph is celebrating the occasion with a limited edition run of one of the baddest cruiser motorcycles around called the 2015 Rocket X. Only 500 will be made, each one with a numbered side panel and a billet aluminum “Rocket X” name badge mounted on the oil tank. A clean custom race stripe runs the length of the bike, fender to fender, contrasting the black of the paint and components, from its pipes to handlebars and mirrors.” ----- Motorcycle USA