High-Performance Cruiser Wins Battle of the Kings 2019
With impressive performance to back up its stripped-down touring style, the FXGTS Coast Glide is a trendsetter for sure.
Harley-Davidson’s annual Battle of the Kings has finally wrapped up, and, if the winner is any indication, there’s a new trend on the horizon. Customizers, take note — 2020 will be the year of the high-performance cruiser.
The bike, dubbed the FXGTS Coast Glide, was built by Laidlaw’s Harley-Davidson, a dealer in Baldwin Park, California. With a name like “Cost Glide,” you can imagine ripping up the Pacific Coast Highway under a clear blue sky with the ocean waves crashing just a few feet away.
The goal of the bike is clear just from looking at it. It’s a high-performance cruiser, adding power and stripping off unnecessary weight without eliminating any of the creature comforts you’d expect on a touring bike.
That’s a fine line to walk, but thankfully, it appears as though the gang at Laidlaw’s did an incredible job. Despite winning a show as large as the Battle of the Kings, this bike is made to be ridden hard and enjoyed, according to Motorcycle Cruiser.
Starting with a Sport Glide, Laidlaw’s Harley-Davidson added a rowdy Vance & Hines 2-into-1 exhaust, a dual disc front end, mid controls, and other performance-oriented touches. The paint scheme is a modern, high-performance interpretation of the classic black and orange colorway that’s inextricably linked with Harley-Davidson.
The win at Battle of the Kings, announced at the EICMA show in Milan, is well-earned. Battle of the Kings is a yearly competition between Harley-Davidson dealers all around the world to build the best custom motorcycle. Last year, the winning team came from a Harley-Davidson dealer in Bangkok.
For 2019, teams could select any Harley-Davidson as a base, excluding CVO bikes and trikes. Opening up the selection of bikes has resulted in what we see as an indication of trends to come. Harley-Davidson’s product planning division should take note.
Over 300 dealership teams entered the competition. The five finalists, hailing from Canada, the United Kingdom, Mexico, Germany, and the United States, were shipped to Milan, Italy for the final voting at EICMA. Congratulations to the team at Laidlaw’s Harley-Davidson!
Photos: Motorcycle Cruiser
Join the Harley-Davidson Forums now!
