This enthusiast has been collecting for almost half a century

Customiser and collector “Mr Chicken” has been a dedicated Harley enthusiast for more than 45 years

Words by Jeremy Pick

Christoph Repp’s journey from apprentice chicken farmer to pasta manufacturer to passionate Harley-Davidson^® collector began in the late 1970s. At this time, Christoph was living in Kitzingen, Germany, a small Bavarian community not far from Würzburg, with a tiny population – and more than 20,000 American GIs stationed there at the time.

“As an adolescent growing up in the 1970s, especially in a region with so many GIs, everyone was obsessed with the American lifestyle – there really wasn’t any chance for me to escape the fever around US cars and motorcycles, especially Harley-Davidson,” says Christoph. “I was an apprentice in the poultry industry at the time, destined to become a chicken farmer and I became known by everyone as ‘Mr Chicken’ – I  don’t think anyone even knew my real name at this time!”

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^®. This bike was quickly exchanged for an Electra Glide^® from the 1960s, mainly because the bigger touring bike fitted Mr Chicken’s 1.9m frame so much better. A lifetime of trading, swapping and dealing in older Harley-Davidson models was born that day.

“Back 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,” recalls Christoph. “In order to secure my livelihood and fund the passion for collecting I expanded my chicken farm into a pasta factory.”

By the end of the 1990s, Christoph – by now known to everyone as “Mr Chicken” – had amassed a sizeable collection as well as a substantial workshop. He’d become well-known in the antique Harley^® scene, and things were only just getting started.

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 Würzburg Village, an authorised dealership, followed in 2012 by Harley-Davidson Bergstraße. Harley-Davidson Würzburg 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.

One famous build was “White Unique”, made especially for and signed by Pope Francis. It was auctioned for charity at Bonhams – who nicknamed it the “Holy-Davidson” – in aid of a project to build an orphanage and a school in Uganda for deprived children. Such was Christoph’s growing reputation that “Chicken’s Bike Farm” even became a successful series on German TV channel DMAX.

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.

“The collection now contains a little of everything, from 1930s up to current models,” he points out. “There 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.

“My favourites, though, are from the 1970s and into the ’80s, which of course includes the AMF period. We have no less than three of the famous ‘boat-tail’ models designed by Willie G. and introduced in 1970 and 1971, as well as the special model ‘Sturgis’ 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.”

Of course, a project like this never stops – 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^® from 1980, which became known as the “Fireball” due to its distinctive flame-style paint job.

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.

“Our Harley-Davidson museum is now happy to welcome visitors, either individually or in groups.,” says Christoph. “To make an appointment you can call, or ask in person at either our pasta factory or our farm shop restaurant. If I can’t 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!”

Planning a trip to see the collection? Click here to get in touch with Mr Chicken

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