Michael Kemper
Michael Kemper History
Michael Kemper worked in machine and fixture construction and manufactured special tools for the maintenance of aircraft turbines. In 1988, Michael switched from the energy-intensive to the most beautiful form of transportation.
1988
In April the company Kemper Fahrradtechnik (KFT) was founded in Bonn. Reconstruction of the 100-year-old Pedersen wheel. 1st participation at the IFMA bicycle fair in Cologne with great success.
1990
Move to Düsseldorf, opening of a shop with service workshop and large workshops in the backyard.
1991
The Kemper Pedersen frame number becomes a three-digit number! The first 100 Kemper Pedersen’s are manufactured and sold.
1992
Another product line becomes very important at KFT: the modern transport bikes "Filibus" and "Lorri" developed in-house go into series production.
1994
The Pedersen wheels from the "Manufacture for Noble Bicycles" as our shop in the center of Düsseldorf is called, are given cult status and are awarded by the press and at international Pedersen meetings: 1st prize "Most Beautiful Pedersen 1994"; 1st prize "Lightest Pedersen 1995".
1996
Acquisition of a listed square courtyard from 1723 in Erkelenz-Grambusch. Conversion for residential and business use.
1997
Move to Erkelenz. Start of production in Grambusch. Meanwhile the frame number 500 is put into the Pedersen bottom bracket bearings.
1999
Establishment of a KFT agency for Kemper Pedersen bikes in Tokyo by the company Nichinao.
2000
Development and delivery of the Kemper Pedersen for Japan. Asian body sizes require new frames and wheel sizes. There are now 26", 24" and 20" Kemper Pedersen’s.
2004
Construction of the 20" compact Pedersen’s called "Comped": Not a children's bike, but a small pedestrian Pedersen for adults.
2005
Orders for bicycle developments take up a lot of space in the 2000s. Michael Kemper and his team develop and manufacture for domestic and foreign companies from deep beginners to giant transport bikes.
2007
The demands of Pedersen riders change. In the 80s and 90s many bikes were equipped with high-quality racing bike components, but now the bikes are equipped with gear hubs from SRAM, Shimano and Rohloff. Belt drives are used, and electric motorization also finds its way into Pedersen.
2010
The frame number becomes four digits. The 1000th Pedersen is built for a Harley customizer.
2011
The executive floor of a well-known computer manufacturer from Korea orders Kemper to build some bikes and orders Dursley-Pedersen originals.
2012
Ladies Pedersen, the lady’s version of the Dursley-Pedersen wheel, is redesigned to meet today's demands.
2014
The first Kemper Pedersen with the new Pinion transmission is sold to the UK.
The restored Mikael Pedersen Cycles is ceremoniously handed over to the Herritage Center Museum in Dursley.
2015
Kemper has a new model: The historic sports version "Pedersen Racer" gains popularity. The Pedersen bike was not just an upright bike - many long-distance records were set with the "Production-Racer", available over a hundred years ago.
2016
The "Cargo-Ped" is created as a combination of the product lines Transport Bike and Pedersen Bike. The elaborate construction has almost twice as many solder joints as a standard Kemper Pedersen. The production of the prototype costs Kemper an annual holiday.
2018
KFT turns 30. The product lines Transportrad and Kemper Pedersen have been running for 3 decades.
Kemper's timeless developments are continuously adapted to the state of the technology. Kemper products are sold in more than 25 countries.
Michael Kemper, 29 years old, improving
IFMA-bike 1988
Düsseldorf; Philipp-Reis-Straße 11
Racing bicycle - equipment on the Pedersen 1992
Picture of the Flyer 1988
Bonn, Wolfstraße 10
First series Pedersen beginning 1988
Kemper Pedersen frame for Japan
Kemper Shop in the Art Nouveau House Düsseldorf, 1996
Mid 90s in Düsseldorf
Erkelenz, the Kemper farm
1997 Posing for home story of a tabloid newspaper
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