It’s become commonplace for manufacturers to regularly commission custom work from top builders. But Harley-Davidson Europe have taken a different approach. For three years they?ve run the annual ‘Battle of the Kings’ contest?calling on their own dealers to put their best foot forward.
The concept is simple: a bike is chosen, and the ‘Custom King’ in each dealership reworks it as they see fit. The public votes, and a new King is crowned.
This year, Harley gave dealers their pick of three Sportsters: the Iron 883, the Forty-Eight, and the new Roadster. Here are our favorite entries from the 2017 crop?ranging from the ultra-classy to the outright outrageous.

Harley-Davidson La Rochelle, Lagord, France Full disclosure: we have a soft spot for dustbin fairings, especially when they’re this well executed. The La Rochelle entry is one of the most single-minded bikes in the contest; the point driven home further by the bold ‘Screamin’ Eagle’ graphics on the fairing. A slammed Roadster forms the basis, with a Forty-Eight tank doing duty up front. The tail section was made from an 883 Sportster tank?and if we’re reading the specs right, holds the fuel pump and an additional 12 liters of fuel. The throwback Harley racing colors are sublime, as are the little touches?like the way the twin exhausts exit on the right of the fairing (hit the link below for a look at the other side). Here’s hoping we see this one on the...