The Battle of the Kings is a custom bike build-off organised by Harley-Davidson, giving dealers the opportunity to take a stock motorcycle and modify it. The only restriction is a budget no more than half the cost of the original model. The second season has just concluded in India and the Grand Trunk Harley-Davidson dealership in Punjab has won it with their custom Iron 883 called the Goliath.
The selection process
This year’s event saw 12 dealerships across the country participate with their own custom projects, with the winner selected by means of a public online vote. A similar selection process is conducted in various countries across the globe and the winners from each region are subject to another round of selection, also via an online public vote. The top picks from that lot will be sent to EICMA 2019, where the final winner will be picked by a selection panel.
The Goliath
The Goliath started off as an Iron 883, but in its current form, looks little like the original bike. We spoke to a representative from the Grand Trunk Harley-Davidson team and some of the changes made to the bike include a Screamin' Eagle Stage IV conversion kit that bumps up power and torque. The Harley-Davidson website states that the kit includes Sportster High-Flow air cleaner kit, XL1200 cylinder heads, XL1200 cylinders, XL1200 pistons and rings, a heavy duty clutch spring, and a top-end gasket kit, essentially converting it to 1200cc spec. The bike also underwent changes to its chassis in the form of a longer swingarm to accommodate the wider larger tyres and a lowered suspension.
Azaman Chothia
