\u201cAs an adolescent growing up in the 1970s, especially in a region with so many GIs, everyone was obsessed with the American lifestyle \u2013 there really wasn\u2019t any chance for me to escape the fever around US cars and motorcycles, especially Harley-Davidson,\u201d says Christoph. \u201cI was an apprentice in the poultry industry at the time, destined to become a chicken farmer and I became known by everyone as \u2018Mr Chicken\u2019 \u2013 I don\u2019t think anyone even knew my real name at this time!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The starting point for what was to become a lifelong passion for collecting began in 1980, with the purchase of his first Harley-Davidson: a 1000cc Ironhead Sportster\u00ae<\/sup>. This bike was quickly exchanged for an Electra Glide\u00ae<\/sup> from the 1960s, mainly because the bigger touring bike fitted Mr Chicken\u2019s 1.9m frame so much better. A lifetime of trading, swapping and dealing in older Harley-Davidson models was born that day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBack at that time, Harley-Davidson parts or even entire motorcycles were available in large quantities for very little money, which of course fuelled my passion as a collector and hunter of rarer models,\u201d recalls Christoph. \u201cIn order to secure my livelihood and fund the passion for collecting I expanded my chicken farm into a pasta factory.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n By the end of the 1990s, Christoph \u2013 by now known to everyone as \u201cMr Chicken\u201d \u2013 had amassed a sizeable collection as well as a substantial workshop. He\u2019d become well-known in the antique Harley\u00ae<\/sup> scene, and things were only just getting started.<\/p>\n\n\n\n By the beginning of 2000, Christoph had opened a rental outlet for Harley-Davidson motorcycles to capitalise on the incredible riding roads in Bavaria. This quickly led to the opening of Harley-Davidson W\u00fcrzburg Village, an authorised dealership, followed in 2012 by Harley-Davidson Bergstra\u00dfe. Harley-Davidson W\u00fcrzburg Village quickly became known as a builder of many highly placed show bikes in custom bike competitions across Europe, including the AMD World Championship of Custom Bike Building.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One famous build was \u201cWhite Unique\u201d, made especially for and signed by Pope Francis. It was auctioned for charity at Bonhams \u2013 who nicknamed it the \u201cHoly-Davidson\u201d \u2013 in aid of a project to build an orphanage and a school in Uganda for deprived children. Such was Christoph\u2019s growing reputation that \u201cChicken\u2019s Bike Farm\u201d even became a successful series on German TV channel DMAX.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After being successfully run by Christoph and his wife, Anette, for many years, the Harley-Davidson dealership businesses were turned over to successors in 2024, giving Mr Chicken time to focus on his passion: collecting rare and unusual Harley-Davidson models.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe collection now contains a little of everything, from 1930s up to current models,\u201d he points out. \u201cThere are around 45 motorcycles in the collection, which has been built up over the years by accumulating old parts and complete motorcycles as they became available, from Knuckleheads to modern bikes with everything in between.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMy favourites, though, are from the 1970s and into the \u201980s, which of course includes the AMF period. We have no less than three of the famous \u2018boat-tail\u2019 models designed by Willie G. and introduced in 1970 and 1971, as well as the special model \u2018Sturgis\u2019 bikes from 1980 and 1981. The whole collection has now been turned into a museum, curated to look like a Harley showroom from the 1980s.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Of course, a project like this never stops \u2013 and Mr Chicken has just successfully completed another meticulous restoration project, a 1954 Panhead Anniversary model, while next on the restoration schedule is another rare Harley: a first-year 1340cc Shovelhead FXWG Wide Glide\u00ae<\/sup> from 1980, which became known as the \u201cFireball\u201d due to its distinctive flame-style paint job.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Christoph is thankful that in the early years, when customisation rather than restoration was the trend, he meticulously kept all the original parts, which are now being used to accurately restore bikes in the workshop. The museum even boasts its own dedicated paint shop, Paint & Metal, to ensure every original Harley paint colour can be accurately matched with complete precision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOur Harley-Davidson museum is now happy to welcome visitors, either individually or in groups.,\u201d says Christoph. \u201cTo make an appointment you can call, or ask in person at either our pasta factory or our farm shop restaurant. If I can\u2019t tear myself away, then my employees are on site and can contact me. This region is also perfect destination for bikers, with fantastic riding routes right on the doorstep!\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/hog.thecreativeplot.com\/en-eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/6BE1FA31-1024x731.jpg\")
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