Devin Battley
Devin Battley was an American businessman known for his involvement with motorcycles as a racer and as a dealer. From an early age, Battley enjoyed racing motorcycles and participated in many national championships. He helped to orchestrate Harley-Davidson's interest in Buell motorcycles, and he sold motorcycles to King Hussein of Jordan and Mike Tyson. In early 2022, Battley announced that he would run for County Executive of Montgomery County, Maryland.
1981–1999: Racing career
From 1981 to 1984, Battley raced in the Battle of the Twins, part of the AMA Professional Road Racing series, as well as:On March 1 and 2 in 1999, at the AHRMA Classic Days at Daytona International Speedway, Battley took first place in two races. First, in the eight-lap Formula One class, and then in the Battle of the Twins Open class. He was riding a 1998 Ducati 916.
1986–2025: Buell Motorcycles
In 1986, Battley, through his friendship with Erik Buell, arranged for Rockville Harley-Davidson to become the world's first Buell dealership. Battley still had Buell #001, an RR1000 Battletwin, in his private collection.In 1987, Battley smuggled Buell onto a cruise ship for the Harley-Davidson annual dealers' meeting. Battley told Harley-Davidson then-CEO, Vaughn Beals, that Buell could give the company a performance image with no risk to Harley. They set up a table for Buell to speak with dealers and by cruise-end he had deposits and orders for 25 motorcycles. Attendees such as Bill Bartels, Don Tilley, Devin Battley and Frank Ulicki went on to become some of Buell's most successful dealers.
1994–1996: Sales to King Hussein
In 1994 and 1996, Battley sold a collection of motorcycles to Hussein bin Talal, King Hussein I of Jordan. He traveled to Jordan to deliver and test the motorcycles. While there he rode across country with the King. A well publicized photo shows the King and Queen Noor riding a black, 1994 XLH1200 Harley-Davidson Sportster that Battley sold him.In 1999, Battley was interviewed on ABC's Nightline with Ted Koppel about his experiences with King Hussein. In the broadcast, the Nightline commentator says, " enjoyed racing cars and motorcycles. There was a Harley dealer in Maryland, near a home the King kept there, that was his chief supplier." Battley is then interviewed, saying, "Anytime, he was liable to jump on one of these motorcycles, go blasting out of the palace grounds, you know, with his bodyguards in the big Mercedes chasing him and, you know, the King riding this motorcycle, he just got on the gas, kept going!"
List of motorcycles sold to King Hussein
In 2004, Queen Noor published a book, A Leap of Faith: Memoirs of an Unexpected Life, which featured, on the paperback version, a picture of the king and queen riding on a 1994 Harley-Davidson FLSTC Heritage Softail that Battley sold the king.2008: Chairman of the Maryland Governor's All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) Safety Task Force
In 2008, the legislature of Maryland created a task force to define all-terrain vehicles and how they should be handled under Maryland law.Battley was appointed to the committee through his role as president of the Maryland Motorcycle Dealers Association and was elected chairman of the task force. The task force produced a report for the Maryland legislature in December 2008.
1999–2009: Big tree
From 1999 until 2009, Battley owned the Maryland State Champion Polar Lombardy tree.The tree was over 72 feet in height and measured 132 points.