Sensational price: Kraftwerk racing bike from music video fetches high price

Kraftwerk inspires collectors: a Speedwell racing bike from co-founder Florian Schneider fetched an impressive 57,600 dollars at auction, fourteen times the original estimate. The iconic bike, known from the 1984 music video for the "Tour de France" remix, was auctioned off together with three Polaroid photos.

Kraftwerk: Cult bike from "Tour de France" mix

Kraftwerk is still cult. A shiny chrome Speedwell racing bike from 1984 changed hands for 57,600 dollars, making it the most expensive music video bike in auction history. The bike belonged to Florian Schneider, the late Kraftwerk founder, who used it in the music video for the "Kling Klang Analog Mix" version of "Tour de France" drove. The auction took place at the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum and exceeded all expectations of the experts.

"Julien's Auctions" conducted the auction of the Florian Schneider Collection, in which millions were realised for electronic musical instruments and personal items belonging to the Kraftwerk pioneer. The racing bike was originally estimated at 4000 dollars, but realised 14 times this value. Three original Polaroid photos showing Schneider on the bike were part of the auction lot. The pictures document the making of the iconic music video, which was filmed in Düsseldorf.

Technical features of the Speedwell racing bike

The auctioned racing bike has a lightweight titanium construction that was considered progressive in the 1980s. Panaracer "Gravelking" racing tyres ensure optimum road grip, while the chrome finish gives the bike its characteristic look. The bike has a frame gear system. This configuration was typical for racing bikes of the early 1980s. Kraftwerk used four identical bikes for the band members, with only Schneider's bike being preserved.

"Tour de France" music video by Kraftwerk

Kraftwerk produced two remix versions of their 1983 hit "Tour de France" in 1984, including their own "Kling Klang Analog Mix" version. The music video showed all four band members driving through Düsseldorf in black racing gear and helmets. Schneider usually rode at the back of the foursome and visibly grinned during the filming. The black and white aesthetic of the video emphasised Kraftwerk's minimalist approach.

The song combined drum machine patterns with samples of breathing noises and bicycle mechanics, which represented a new sound direction for the band. "Tour de France" was originally intended for the album "Techno Pop", but was released as a stand-alone single after the album project was cancelled. The entire band was interested in cycling, which was reflected in the authentic depiction in the video.

Cultural influence and film use

The "Kling Klang Analog Mix" version was used in the 1984 dance film "Breakin'", where it accompanied an iconic dance scene. Turbo, played by Michael "Boogaloo Shrimp" Chambers, danced to Kraftwerk's remix in front of a shop, combining electronic music with street dance. This scene contributed to the song's popularity in the emerging hip-hop scene and showed Kraftwerk's influence on various music genres.

The original "Tour de France" video from 1983 used original footage of the famous cycling race in black and white. Kraftwerk deliberately chose mechanical sounds and body noises instead of their usual industrial sounds, focussing on human effort and cycling mechanics. The song utilised breathing noises and bicycle chain sounds as rhythmic elements, which represented a new dimension in Kraftwerk's sound design. This innovation had a lasting influence on subsequent electronic music productions.

Auction success for Kraftwerk / Schneider Collection

The auction of the Florian Schneider Collection achieved record results with a total value of several million dollars. A Kling Klang Sennheiser VSM-201 Vocoder reached $256,000, exceeding the estimate by a factor of eight. An EMS Synthi A suitcase synthesiser changed hands for 115,200 dollars, which was 14 times the estimate. These prices reflect Schneider's importance in the history of electronic music.

Giles Moon, VP Head of Music at Julien's Auctions, commented on the worldwide demand for Schneider's instruments and personal effects. The auction honoured Schneider's wishes in his will that his instruments should continue to be played and shared. A spokesperson explained that Schneider wanted his equipment to go to people who would appreciate it - musicians, collectors and sound artists. The Victoria & Albert Museum in London has already shown interest in organising an exhibition of items from the collection.

Kraftwerk's influence on electronic music

Kraftwerk are regarded as the architects of electronic music and had a lasting influence on pop music with their synthesizers, drum machines and minimalist compositions. Schneider lived a reclusive life and avoided public appearances, which made his working methods and private personality appear mysterious. The auction offered rare insights into the genesis of the band, whose origins gave rise to numerous myths and stories.

The band significantly expanded the expressive possibilities of popular music and influenced generations of electronic musicians. Schneider's instruments and personal effects document four decades of music history from the early 1970s until his death in 2020. The Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum, founded in 2006 by Joe and Linda Chambers, honours musicians of all genres by displaying their original instruments. The institution is also home to the GRAMMY Gallery and is appreciated by artists such as Keith Richards and Ringo Starr.