Workshop with Mike Kron

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Workshop with Mike Kron
Bilski

Workshop with Mike Kron

Workshop with Mike Kron

Workshop with Mike Kron

Workshop with Mike Kron

44 pictures

Workshop with Mike Kron
Bilski

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“There is work going on here!” – Impressions from Mike Krons restoration workshop.

Workshop with Mike Kron
Bilski

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“There is work going on here!” – Impressions from Mike Krons restoration workshop.

Workshop with Mike Kron
Bilski

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“There is work going on here!” – Impressions from Mike Krons restoration workshop.

Workshop with Mike Kron
Bilski

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“There is work going on here!” – Impressions from Mike Krons restoration workshop.

Workshop with Mike Kron
Bilski

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“There is work going on here!” – Impressions from Mike Krons restoration workshop.

Workshop with Mike Kron
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Mike Kron, Edith Stocklein and MOTORRAD Classic editor Uli Holzwarth indulge in memories.

Workshop with Mike Kron
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“There is work going on here!” – Impressions from Mike Krons restoration workshop.

Workshop with Mike Kron
Bilski

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“There is work going on here!” – Impressions from Mike Krons restoration workshop.

Workshop with Mike Kron
Bilski

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“There is work going on here!” – Impressions from Mike Krons restoration workshop.

Workshop with Mike Kron
Bilski

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“There is work going on here!” – Impressions from Mike Krons restoration workshop.

Workshop with Mike Kron
Bilski

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“There is work going on here!” – Impressions from Mike Krons restoration workshop.

Workshop with Mike Kron
Bilski

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“There is work going on here!” – Impressions from Mike Krons restoration workshop.

Workshop with Mike Kron
Bilski

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“There is work going on here!” – Impressions from Mike Krons restoration workshop.

Workshop with Mike Kron
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“There is work going on here!” – Impressions from Mike Krons restoration workshop.

Workshop with Mike Kron
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“There is work going on here!” – Impressions from Mike Krons restoration workshop.

Workshop with Mike Kron
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“There is work going on here!” – Impressions from Mike Krons restoration workshop.

Workshop with Mike Kron
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“There is work going on here!” – Impressions from Mike Krons restoration workshop.

Workshop with Mike Kron
Bilski

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“There is work going on here!” – Impressions from Mike Krons restoration workshop.

Workshop with Mike Kron
Bilski

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The 52-year-old Mike Kron, actually Michael Kron, has made a name for himself worldwide as an expert in high-quality motorcycle restorations.

Workshop with Mike Kron
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His partner Edith Stocklein …

Workshop with Mike Kron
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… actively supports him.

Workshop with Mike Kron
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Not just because a photographer is present!

Workshop with Mike Kron
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Careful research is one of the foundations of Mike Kron’s careful work. Good for those who maintain a well-kept archive.

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Order and cleanliness everywhere.

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Sloppiness in detail? Not with Mike Kron.

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By the way, order helps immensely to keep track of things.

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Quality work is Mike Kron’s trademark.

Workshop with Mike Kron
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All right, lubricants can look like this.

Workshop with Mike Kron
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“There is work going on here!” – Impressions from Mike Krons restoration workshop.

Workshop with Mike Kron
Bilski

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“There is work going on here!” – Impressions from Mike Krons restoration workshop.

Workshop with Mike Kron
Bilski

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“There is work going on here!” – Impressions from Mike Krons restoration workshop.

Workshop with Mike Kron
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“There is work going on here!” – Impressions from Mike Krons restoration workshop.

Workshop with Mike Kron
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“There is work going on here!” – Impressions from Mike Krons restoration workshop.

Workshop with Mike Kron
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“There is work going on here!” – Impressions from Mike Krons restoration workshop.

Workshop with Mike Kron
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“There is work going on here!” – Impressions from Mike Krons restoration workshop.

Workshop with Mike Kron
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“There is work going on here!” – Impressions from Mike Krons restoration workshop.

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“There is work going on here!” – Impressions from Mike Krons restoration workshop.

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“There is work going on here!” – Impressions from Mike Krons restoration workshop.

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“There is work going on here!” – Impressions from Mike Krons restoration workshop.

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“There is work going on here!” – Impressions from Mike Krons restoration workshop.

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“There is work going on here!” – Impressions from Mike Krons restoration workshop.

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“There is work going on here!” – Impressions from Mike Krons restoration workshop.

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“There is work going on here!” – Impressions from Mike Krons restoration workshop.

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“There is work going on here!” – Impressions from Mike Krons restoration workshop.

Sports & scene

Workshop with Mike Kron

Scene: Portrait of Mike Kron
Class instead of mass

Content of

In the seclusion of Hohenlohe, rusty two-wheeler ruins are experiencing their resurrection. With great care, Mike Kron builds classics that are as good as new, which enjoy worldwide recognition for their attention to detail.

Uli Holzwarth

10/11/2013

Normally, the crown jewels scattered all over the world can be easily identified, whether in the famous Barber Museum in Alabama, in the Stockholm MC Collection, in the Technik Museum Sinsheim or in the many other exhibitions and collections. One look is enough to recognize the oval sticker that decorates the two-wheeler restorations from the Swabian Krautheim like a seal of quality.

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Scene: Portrait of Mike Kron
Class instead of mass

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However, one should take more time to fathom the attention to detail of its builder. Because Michael Kron, whom everyone just calls Mike, makes no compromises in his work. For the master two-wheel mechanic, only perfection counts when it comes to restoration, and he has been trying to live up to this claim for a quarter of a century. With great success, as evidenced by the steadily growing customer base and around 600 restored motorcycles, which usually leave the fine studio as they once rolled off the assembly line.

However, success did not fall into the 52-year-old’s lap, it was the result of hard work and courageous entrepreneurial decisions. When the Swabian dared to set up his own business 25 years ago, it was clear from the start that he would only offer high-quality and, above all, original restorations. And as the first in Germany for two-wheelers only. A risk that was often viewed with skepticism, but which seemed calculable with a clear concept and the support of his partner Edith Stocklein. Especially since the young entrepreneur had already gained a good reputation at this point in time with restorations, which he was completing in parallel to his training and master class. Paul Heyd from the Zweiradmuseum Ohringen got wind of this too, his three orders were the first that enabled the company that had just been founded to get off to a good start.

Relocation and realignment

The result was convincing, and so the museum owner did not hold back with his satisfaction. Thanks to this word of mouth and Mike Kron’s presence in veteran markets, the customer base grew steadily, and orders were now even coming from Switzerland.

An additional boost of motivation, which Edith and Mike encouraged in 1989, given the crampedness of the old Braunsbach workshop, to make a dream come true: the purchase of the old farmhouse with a large barn in Krautheim so that they could combine work and living under one roof. Finally there was enough space for screwing, as well as ancillary rooms for welding, painting and mechanical processing. With the move of the company came the most important course for the future: Instead of getting bogged down with motorcycle clothing, accessories and small repairs, the couple concentrated on restoring for museums and collectors.

Nationwide letters to all well-known museums were successful, and after initially hesitant incoming orders, things continued to improve. A reliable financial foundation for the small business meant above all “the wonderful 15-year collaboration with the Streicher vehicle museum in Lalling”, Kron still looks back with gratitude on his main customer at the time. In the middle of the 90s, a very positive momentum developed for the business, the restored machines proved to be the perfect advertising medium that won further orders. Mike hired staff, but this path led to a dead end. Suddenly a lot turned around
Bureaucracy and trivialities, there was hardly any time left for the essentials, which was incompatible with Kron’s high standards. The consequence was: Back to togetherness, and also reduce vertical integration – again a decision with foresight, as it should show.

Because by awarding special external orders to highly qualified specialists, the restorer not only gained access to special parts, but finally had the necessary freedom for intensive research again – indispensable for the quality fanatic who strives for one hundred percent originality when rebuilding a machine. Even if customers only deliver a few rotten parts, which are less common. In these cases, Kron first sifts through all available sources for a true-to-original restoration, examines exhibits and asks experts – if need be, even overseas.

Replica construction as a milestone

Mike Kron’s meticulousness had long since spread among collectors when a customer stood at the door with a few rusty fragments of a Mars from the 1920s. It was the initial spark for another milestone in Kron’s biography. The thought: If almost everything has to be recreated, then you could also do a complete one
Rebuild the machine. The idea was simply too tempting for the technology freak not to turn it into reality, especially since the specialists were ready.

And so, in 1999, Mars began building the first machine that was precisely reproduced down to the last detail (see MOTORRAD Classic 2/2000). The seventh replica is currently in progress, 13 of the Munch replica presented in 2005 (MOTORRAD Classic 2/2004) have already found a solvent collector Replica of the Hildebrand & Wolfmuller (MOTORRAD Classic 2/2008) 19 pieces have even been sold. A great success, and at the same time confirmation of Kron’s concept of bringing external specialists on board.

The fact that his replicas are also viewed critically in the classic scene does not bother the Krautheimer. The replicas are important to him because they convey the message that even extreme restoration tasks are not a problem if you can manufacture classics right down to the individual drive components as new vehicles.

In the past, Mike was often ridiculed for his urge to perfect. Today, the classics he restored true to the original are considered role models that, on closer inspection, can be identified as crown jewels even without a sticker.

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