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The UK\u2019s Battle of the Kings competitors have unveiled\u00a0their 2019 entries, and they are playing under very different\u00a0rules this time.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s bigger than ever this year and played on an\u00a0international stage, and is a far cry from a few years back,\u00a0when dealers were quite constrained in the choice of\u00a0donor bike and the rules were more complicated, but then\u00a0something changed.<\/p>\n
It was no longer a compulsory dealer activity, which\u00a0meant that the odds were better, but the focus switched to\u00a0the international competition.<\/p>\n
Serious kudos.<\/p>\n
Then last year a couple of the new Softails were eligible,\u00a0That\u2019s more like it.<\/p>\n
And now, this year, any bike except CVO and Trike\u00a0models are fair game. And the budget is still 50% of the retail\u00a0price of the bike \u2013 half of which much be spent on Harley-Davidson parts and accessories. Bring it on!<\/p>\n
Start with an FXDR and you\u2019ve got a \u00a315k budget; start\u00a0with Street Rod and you\u2019ve got \u00a33,400 but custom building\u00a0has never been about who can spend the most.<\/p>\n
Want another curve ball?<\/p>\n
There are three categories: Dirt, Chop and Race.<\/p>\n
Oh, and the Americans are coming. And they\u2019ve added\u00a0an extra dimension: they\u2019re teaming up with trade schools,\u00a0to design and create their machines, encouraging the next\u00a0generation.<\/p>\n
There are already more than 350 entries which will be\u00a0voted on nationally by the public, before going into regional\u00a0finals, with an international final scheduled for November.<\/p>\n
Steve Lambert, Director of Marketing for Harley-Davidson International is already looking forward to this\u00a0year\u2019s competition: \u201cThe Battle of the Kings is an incredible\u00a0showcase for the customisation DNA that is at the core of our\u00a0brand. It inspires our dealers to show just what is possible\u00a0and inspires customers globally that they can have a truly\u00a0unique motorcycle \u2013 whatever the scale of their budget. After\u00a0a fantastic competition last year it is really exciting to have\u00a0dealers from the USA joining the competition \u2013 we can\u2019t wait\u00a0to see the amazing entries from all over the globe!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n You have to register to vote but once\u00a0you\u2019ve done that, you can vote for as\u00a0many bikes as you like \u2013 and from\u00a0any country: it has never been easier\u00a0to seek inspiration from the national\u00a0characteristics of builders from other\u00a0countries, with other influences.<\/p>\n Simply visit:<\/p>\n