Harley-Davidson Bangkok wins the international “Battle of the Kings” contest 2018

Harley-Davidson Bangkok wins the international “Battle of the Kings” contest 2018 with a fascinating custom bike

• Grand international finale of the competition at the
motorcycle trade fair in Milan •
Harley-Davidson Bangkok was represented in the competition for the first time • In a field of participants of more than 300 machines, “The Prince” based on a Street Bob was awarded the “Custom King” crown
• The impressive finalists from Harley-Davidson Adelaide, Australia, and Harley-Davidson Bologna, Italy, can also be admired at EICMA
• The 2019 edition of the “Battle of the Kings” contest will also include US dealers for the first time

The Thai authorized dealer Harley-Davidson Bangkok was crowned champion of the international custom bike build-off contest 2018 at the EICMA motorcycle trade fair in Milan with its entry “The Prince”. “The Prince” is a cool, clean and contemporary interpretation of the classic chopper based on a 2018 Harley-Davidson Street Bob. This year, Thailand was represented in the competition for the first time, making the Harley-Davidson Bangkok team's performance all the more impressive.

The Battle of the Kings is a custom bike contest for authorized Harley-Davidson dealers . In 2018, more than 300 dealers from over 30 countries fought for the crown of international custom king. The rules were simple: dealers were asked to professionally customize a Harley-Davidson. The overall budget for customizing was strictly limited and the parts used largely had to come from the extensive Harley-Davidson accessories catalog. As part of an online vote at the beginning of the year, around 150,000 fans decided on the national champions. The three international finalists were selected by a jury of experts, including journalists and custom bike builders.

These three were Harley-Davidson Adelaide with the “Back to the Track” based on a roadster, Harley-Davidson Bologna with the “Farm Machine” and “The Prince” from Thailand. The grand finale took place at the EICMA in Milan, where all three machines were presented at the Harley-Davidson stand.

The task of selecting the international winner fell to a seven-person team from the Harley-Davidson Styling and Design Division, led by Brad Richards, Vice President of Styling and Design. “It wasn't an easy job for us to choose a winner from these three impressive machines,” admits Richards. “In the end, the clear lines and perfect technical implementation tipped the balance in favor of 'The Prince' - with a single vote lead. This machine really shows what is possible and what our dealers are capable of. Congratulations to the Harley-Davidson Bangkok team, especially as it was their first time in the competition. We are all happy for you!”

Steve Lambert, Director of International Marketing, honored the winner, presenting the trophy from the 2018 Battle of the Kings contest and handing it over to employees of the Thai dealer.

“The Battle of the Kings impressively shows how much expertise our authorized dealers have in building custom bikes ,” explains Lambert. “And with over 300 participants from 30 countries, this year’s competition was the most amazing yet. Here we see three fantastic finalists - very different motorcycles , all of which were built according to identical competition rules. Anyone who looks at the variety of contributions from all over the world will recognize the long tradition of our company and our dealers in building individual motorcycles. Congratulations to all the finalists, especially the Harley-Davidson Bangkok team – a fantastic achievement!”

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"The Prince"

The Harley-Davidson Bangkok team chose the Street Bob to combine classic lines with modern technology. The 70s look was achieved by chopping the front and rear fenders and integrating parts from other Harley-Davidson series. For example, the tank from a Forty-Eight and the handlebars from a roadster were used. The 21-inch front wheel and the 16-inch rear wheel in a custom-made 5-spoke look underline the character of the machine and the re-routing of lines and cables does the rest.

The gold on black color scheme is intended, on the one hand, to be reminiscent of the black leather jacket, which is closely associated with the chopper, and, on the other hand, to reflect the name “The Prince”. A golden crown on the tank cap and correspondingly crowned valve caps pay tribute to this. Up close, you'll also notice the engine's gold powder-coated pushrod tubes, rocker box inserts and air cleaner grille. These components were chrome-plated before powder coating to achieve the fascinating glossy effect. The newly designed solo seat is covered in leather, the seams of which are also gold-colored. To “de-chrome” the bike, clutch and ignition covers from the Parts and Accessories Brass Collection were used, while floating brake discs, black levers and anodized footrests and grips ensure a modern and powerful look.

The result is a fascinating, unique street bob that deserves the crown.

Battle of the Kings 2019

Now that a Custom King has been crowned, it's time to kick off next year's competition. In 2019, the Battle of the Kings contest will be bigger than ever as the USA enters the fight for the international crown for the first time. With even more dealers, an even larger selection of bikes to use as a base - including touring models - and more genuine accessories available than ever before, the world's largest customizing competition is now going completely global. For more information, visit customkings.harley-davidson.com.