From German Village Kid to Global V-Twin Powerhouse | The Holger Mohr Story | One Gang EP136

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of One Gang Worldwide, we sit down with Holger Mohr, a man whose journey from a small village near Frankfurt to the executive level of the global powersports industry is powered entirely by motorcycles, grit, and fearless decision-making.Holger takes us back to his first bike, a Yamaha DT 125, and the freedom it gave him as a young rider in Germany. At just 21 years old, he took a leap of faith and traveled to Southern California, working in his uncle’s German auto shop before finding his way into the motorcycle parts world through a German distributor tied to Custom Chrome.What followed was a defining moment.When Custom Chrome leadership arrived in the mid-1990s to take over the German operation, Holger refused to hand over the keys without proof of ownership, a bold move that caught the attention of industry legend Joe Piazza Sr. That decision helped launch Holger into the presidency of what would become Custom Chrome Europe, where he helped transform it into a dominant Harley-Davidson parts distributor while navigating European regulations, compliance, and regional politics.He later moved to California and rebuilt Custom Chrome during the brutal 2008–2009 recession. After navigating the realities of private equity ownership at MAG Group and choosing principle over pressure, Holger stepped away and launched his own consulting firm.But the story doesn’t slow down there.After reconnecting with Fred and Len Kodlin at Daytona Bike Week, Holger helped launch Kodlin USA from his own garage, starting with just 15 part numbers and scaling it to nearly 200. He breaks down Kodlin’s lean structure, outsourced manufacturing strategy, and powerhouse partnerships with Drag Specialties, SBS Brakes, and Mustang Seats including building the 2026 Drag Specialties catalog cover bike that will tour events nationwide.More than business, this episode is about leadership.Holger shares hard-earned lessons on cultural adaptability, balancing flexibility with control, leading people through change, and why vision without realism is just a dream.This is a story about betting on yourself, protecting your integrity, and building something global one part number at a time.00:00 Meet Holger Moore05:39 Germany Roots and First Ride13:17 Custom Chrome Takeover Scare20:42 Scaling Across Europe26:48 From Custom Chrome to MAC Group30:11 Private Equity Pressure Cooker33:21 Leaving to Build Kodlin USA34:33 First Product Breakthrough36:16 Launching During Covid39:45 Distributor Deal Momentum44:25 Why Consulting Started47:34 Private Equity Reality Check50:29 Unlocking Growth Without Losing Soul01:06:25 Final Thanks And FarewellConnect with Holger: Website: https://kodlinusa.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/holger-mohr-86549a7/Check Out Our Sponsors: SAVE 20% on Milwaukee Leather motorcycle gear!✅ Use promo code: CW20🛒 Shop here: https://milwaukeemotorcycleclothing.comConnect with Cycles Worldwide: Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more episodes:    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9f5Fx7tVs67xgemZUFphaw Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61551644038136 Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/cyclesworldwidellc/ LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/sergey-tokman-2a78a6284/ TikTok:  https://www.tiktok.com/@cycles.worldwide