Harleylujah

Harley-Davidson Würzburg Village builds a custom bike for the Pope

• Managing Director Christoph Repp sponsors the project, Miro manages the conversion
• The Jesus Bikers take the bike on the Peace Ride to Rome
• The bike signed by Francis will be auctioned off for a good cause

(Neu-Isenburg, 11.04.2019) The man from Buenos Aires is a chemical engineer, theologian and professor of literature and psychology. In 2013, he was elected the 265th successor to the Apostle Peter - Jorge Mario Bergoglio, known as Francis, is different from the others.

He doesn't need red papal shoes, a palace or valets. He has „prescribed relaxation exercises for the Church“, says author Benjamin Leven, while journalist and Vatican expert Andreas Englisch calls him „a cool sock“.

Francis will soon be proving his coolness once again as he receives a visit from Germany, who brings him a very special Harley-Davidson. The Chicano-style custom bike in matt beige with a number of gold-plated parts, a cross-shaped tail light embedded in the rear fender and airbrushed thorny wreaths on the paintwork is a veritable one-off. It was built on the basis of a Softail by Christoph „Chicken“ Repp, head of Harley-Davidson Würzburg Village, and his team, which now also includes customizing ace Miroslaw „Miro“ Kozlowicz. The latter directed the conversion, for which - as a matter of honor - neither the material nor the approximately 2,000 hours of work are charged.

At the end of June, Christoph Repp's 23-year-old colleague Tom Draxler, a newly qualified master two-wheel mechatronics technician and member of the Jesus Bikers, will bring the rolling work of art to Rome, where Francis will sign it. The bike will then be auctioned off for the benefit of a Missio project in Africa. „I am delighted to be part of this project as a sponsor and to be able to make a difference,“ says Christoph Repp, explaining his motivation. „Every now and then you have to remind yourself that we live in a land flowing with milk and honey. Giving away some of this happiness is important to me.“

The idea for this extraordinary campaign came from Tom's father, Dr. Thomas Draxler, the founder of the Christian community of Jesus Bikers. He had been thinking about a motorcycle peace ride to Rome for a long time. As part of this seven-day „peace ride“ with stops at places of pilgrimage, the Würzburg custom bike will now be transported to the Eternal City. All bikers - regardless of their denomination - are cordially invited to take part. You can register at www.peace-ride.eu. Information on the „Pope's Bike“ and other Harley-Davidson Würzburg Village projects can be found at www.hdwv.de.

Text Copyright: Harley-Davidson Picture credits: Studio 1 for Harley-Davidson Würzburg Village