Daily Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's Battle of the Kings is a Modder's Extravaganza

Have a Harley your own way

Harley-Davidson has always been big on the independent spirit in their riders. It's almost surprising that the act of bike modification isn't more common among riders. The brand's official accessories are enough to justify a thick catalog, but modding's always been a lifeblood for third-parties and do-it-yourself outfitters. There's naturally a lot for Harley-Davidson to benefit from this sort of modder culture. Overseas, this spirit is given their official nod with the Battle of the Kings, an annual competition held to determine which custom bike could merit wearing the crown. Of course, there's a lot more to Harley customization than competitions; there's something for riders at every level to grab a hold of.

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Reimagining form and function

Compared to cars and the four-wheeled realm, we'll start by saying there aren't as many opportunities to custom-tinker with a bike. This is largely due to the fact that motorcycles by nature stick to the purest essentials: wheels, an engine, a rider, and something to hold onto. Within that canvas though, there's a huge range for dynamic expression. While you've no doubt seen Harley-Davidsons with custom paints (if not owning one yourself), performance upgrades like thick tire fittings can significantly enhance the bike's performance. People can ride a Harley for a slew of different reasons. Modifications help cater each bike to its riders desires.

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Don't trust the buzz, mods can be practical too

The custom mods that reinvent a bike's appearance are usually the ones hogging people's attention. By a general definition, any add-on can count as a mod. This includes anything as unglamorous and practical as an installed satchel. Indeed, many of the modifications in the official catalog have some sort of use. More often than not, a practical utility (like a seat) can serve as an aesthetic boost as well.

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Harley-Davidson mods come in all shapes!

On a little aside, it's not just Harley-Davidsons themselves getting modded. Enthusiasm for Harley manifests itself in other sorts of mods as well. In this case, we're talking about computer gaming. Fans have created motorcycles for Grand Theft Auto V based on real-world equivalents of Harley-Davidson bikes. In regards to games, Harley-Davidson has had its share of appearances and license opportunities (most recently in The Crew 2) but the fanbase is always going to be around regardless to keep them alive and digital.

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What's the Battle of the Kings all about?

Each year, dealerships from 20 countries across Europe compete in a Harley-Davidson-sponsored Battle of the Kings. Contestants are encouraged to put their modding talents to the test in the hopes of taking home the glory. The participants are widdled down by a tournament-style process of elimination; for the rest of us, it's a great opportunity to see some of our favorite Harley designs in their own equivalent to formal wear.

Not only does this result in a slew of killer-looking bikes, it also helps to encourage sales growth in an overseas market that HD has had a harder time breaking into.

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Modding encourages a vibrant rider culture

We think Harley-Davidson is well-aware of the community magic that active modding can bring. If someone turns their bike into a creative project, rest assured they're going to want to show their work around to others. Free publicity for Harley, natch. Modders add an element of freshness that might otherwise lack in official channels. In the realm of sports cars, the Honda S2000s kept up a dynamic community of owners and enthusiasts-- despite the fact production for the car was discontinued ten years ago. There's a legendary social element to the motorcycle lifestyle as it is, and an official competition like Battle of the Kings is a good way to help centralize it.

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It's an ingeniously cost-effective marketing strategy

One of the rules for the competition states that the modding cost cannot go over $7,000 USD. However, rules also state that at least half of that money needs to be used on official accessories. These rules are obviously there in part for some grounding fairness, but it doesn't take a business guru to know Harley wants to market their accessories along the way. Considering how big the catalog is, this can hardly be seen as limiting to the contestants.

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A glimpse of magic at the Battle Royale

There's a great deal to be said for the power of mods. It's a significant force enough merely in the way it brings a community closer together. As much as anything else, it's a creative means for the technically-minded fan to express a love for the ride itself. It's that creativity that comes to mind most profoundly. There's an incredible potential for fresh invention when you open up the creative possibilities to the public, and the examples we've seen from the competition are incredible.

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