d
id you know that you can turn two beat-to-hell jet ski’s into one bitchin Ironhead? No? Neither did I, but that’s precisely what Billy Rose did with the machine you’re looking at on these pages. Like many afflicted with the motorcycle bug, Billy comes from a long line of motorcyclists dating back to his grandparents. Maybe it’s genetic? Or maybe, he just wanted to be as cool as his dad, who rode a 650 BSA chopper. At just nine years old, Billy
70
April ‘22 - May ‘22 - CYCLE SOURCE MAGAZINE
had his first bike, a HarleyDavidson X90, and he hasn’t stopped since. Fifty-seven-year-old Billy isn’t a professional motorcycle builder. He’s actually a Facilities Maintenance contract manager for Ormond Beach and former lead guitarist and founder of the now defunct thrash metal band Afterlif, who just happens to enjoy building his own motorcycles. Billy’s first three custom builds included a 68 BSA Chopper, a Honda 550 Chopper, and a 1966