2019 BATTLE OF THE KINGS
MAIDSTONE HARLEY-DAVIDSON®
HARLEY® CUSTOM BIKE BUILD CONTEST
FAT THE RIPPER - CUSTOM FAT BOB
Slick and unique with a bit of MSHD funk - we proudly introduce our entry into the 2019 Battle of the Kings competition! We've created a custom build that has a ‘futuristic’ approach (similar to the all-new FXDR and LiveWire models) and is designed for you to get out there and rip it up on any terrain! Scroll down to check out our entry and the story / journey behind our custom build.
INSPIRATION BEHIND OUR DESIGN
We didn’t want to produce anything that was already part of the common vernacular in the Harley-Davidson world, so we decided to join the FXDR and LiveWire models with a more ‘futuristic’ approach. It’s a strong transition that the custom motorcycle culture needs as new technically advanced models are released, we need ways of customising these models. Our build has several styling cues from each of the model types in the dirt category (that’s why you’ve got to love custom bikes!), but we opted to bring it to the competition through the ‘Race’ category!
We were hell-bent on building a custom bike that made people want to get on and hit the track or roads, not a bike that’s simply admired inside a dealership or garage. The race category gave us the spark we needed to achieve this because no race bike is built to gather dust!
CUSTOM CHANGES
Not much on this build has been left untouched, but each change compliments the next as we subtilty changed the classic line and shape of this build, fabricated custom elements to make it unique and slick, and added modern parts that we thought would best suit this build.
Our build includes several significant changes, some more visible than others! Most will spot the custom exhaust (which we worked closely to develop with our friends at RB Kustoms - their expert craftsmanship really brought this to life), our custom rear section and tank (fabricated by our master technician) and in-house fabricated tank console to accommodate the new instruments. The new sub-frame on this build isn’t as easy to spot as we took the rear frame from the FXDR and fixed it to our Fat Bob frame.
CHALLENGES WITH OUR BUILD
Building custom motorcycles is a wonderful thing, it gives you a sense of excitement, anticipation and frustration – which are all addictive and part of the fun! With a challenging timeline to get our build finished, it certainly gave our mechanics a few grey hairs!
OUR CUSTOM KING
Michael Elm (35) – Master Technician. My interest in bikes was born and bred from the streets (and parking lots!) in Washington DC. As a kid, I watched riders head off for a ride on cruisers, bobbers, trackers, scooters or even dirt bikes. I knew then that there was an intrinsic charm to motorcycles and they shaped my childhood then adulthood.
As illustrated by BOTK, Harley-Davidson motorcycles are the perfect canvas for customisation because so many different styles can be built around them to produce motorcycle art at its finest! As much as the motorcycles are Harley-Davidson, it’s also the social sphere that comes along for the ride – the brand holds a special place in an untold amount of people’s lives.
THE RULES OF THE COMPETITION
Models available: Street® range, Sportster® range, Softail® range or Touring range. The customization budget was 50% of the bike value, this includes; parts, accessories, paint, fabrication and labour. Build has to include a minimum of 50% genuine Harley-Davidson parts and the bike must be road legal. All entries must be able to be re-created for the same cost and sold for that price (max retail price includes bike, parts, paint, fabrication and labour).
FEELING INSPIRED?
When it comes to customisation, we're on board with you on any project, from the smallest and most subtle adaptions, to the most ambitious complete builds. Talk to our parts advisors about exactly what you'd like to get out of your bike and how you want it to look and feel. We'll discuss all the different options available with you and find the perfect combination for you and your ride. Call 01622 711680 during opening hours, or follow the link below to send us a message.
Stay in the know with Laguna
To receive all the latest news and promotions please join our newsletter
Laguna Motorcycles
Hart Street
Maidstone, Kent
ME16 8RA
Telephone: 01622 681765
Laguna Performance Centre
Brunswick Road
Ashford, Kent
TN23 1EN
Telephone: 01233 665520
Laguna Triumph Ashford
Ashford Road
Ashford, Kent
TN23 3EN
Telephone: 01233 636699
Laguna Triumph Maidstone
Forstal Road, Aylesford
Maidstone, Kent
ME20 7XA
Telephone: 01622 585666
Maidstone Harley-Davidson®
Forstal Road
Aylesford
Maidstone, Kent
ME20 7XA
Telephone: 01622 711680
Maidstone Honda
Forstal Road
Aylesford
Maidstone, Kent
ME20 7XA
Telephone: 01622 713950
Kent Motorcycles
Dover Road (A2)
Barham,
Canterbury, Kent
CT4 6SA
Telephone: 01227 832601
© Copyright 2024 Laguna Motorcycles. All rights reserved
Manufacturer offers can not be redeemed in conjunction with any of the Laguna exclusive offers.
Laguna Motorcycles Limited (which include multiple trading names: Laguna Motorcycles, Laguna Performance Centre, Laguna Triumph, Maidstone Honda, Maidstone Harley-Davidson® and Kent Motorcycles) is an Appointed Representative of Automotive Compliance Ltd who is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA No. 497010). Automotive Compliance Ltd’s permissions as a Principal Firm allows Laguna Motorcycles Limited (which include multiple trading names: Laguna Motorcycles, Laguna Performance Centre, Laguna Triumph, Maidstone Honda, Maidstone Harley-Davidson® and Kent Motorcycles) to act as a credit broker, not a lender, for the introduction to a limited number of lenders, and to act as an agent on behalf of the insurer for insurance distribution activities only.
We are a credit broker and not a lender. We can introduce you to a carefully selected panel of lenders, which includes manufacturer lenders linked directly to the franchises that we represent. We act on behalf of the lender for this introduction and not as your agent. We are not impartial, and we are not an independent financial advisor.
Our approach is to introduce you first to the manufacturer lender linked directly to the particular franchise you are purchasing your vehicle from, who are usually able to offer the best available package for you, taking into account both interest rates and other contributions. If they are unable to make you an offer of finance, we then seek to introduce you to whichever of the other lenders on our panel is able to make the next most suitable offer of finance for you. Our aim is to secure a suitable finance agreement for you that enables you to achieve your financial objectives. If you purchase a vehicle, in the majority of cases, we will receive a commission from your lender for introducing you to them which is either a fixed fee, or a fixed percentage of the amount that you borrow. This may be linked to the vehicle model you purchase.
Different lenders pay different commissions for such introductions, and manufacturer lenders linked directly to the franchises that we represent may also provide preferential rates to us for the funding of our vehicle stock and also provide financial support for our training and marketing. But any such amounts they and other lenders pay us will not affect the amounts you pay under your finance agreement; however, you will be contributing towards the commission paid to us with the interest collected on your repayments. Before we propose you to a potential lender, we will inform you of the likely amount of commission we will receive and seek your consent to receive this commission. The exact amount of commission that we will receive will be confirmed prior to you signing your finance agreement.
All finance applications are subject to status, terms and conditions apply, UK residents only, 18s or over. Guarantees may be required. Please see our complaints page for our complaints policy and regulatory complaints.