Whereas it’s no secret that we’re followers of Harley-Davidson’s Milwaukee-Eight Softail vary, there’s not a single one within the bunch that we may pretty name lithe or elegant. And but, that’s precisely how we’d describe this practice Harley Softail from Germany’s One Approach Machine.
Appropriately nicknamed ‘Black Phantom,’ it’s an beautiful machine—even by One Approach Machine founder Julian von Oheimb’s exacting requirements. The temporary got here from a returning shopper, and the temporary referred to as for one thing as refined and timeless as a classic Rolls Royce. No stress, then.
The best job on the listing was choosing an appropriate donor bike. For the primary decade of Julian’s profession, he favored older Harleys—however he’s shifted his focus to The Motor Co.’s new bikes in recent times. Of all the present Softail fashions, the Avenue Bob 114 has the least stuff to take off.
“It’s not that simple to construct an old-fashioned bike with the fashionable expertise and energy of the Milwaukee-Eight engine,” says Julian. “That’s why 95 % of customizers who need to construct one thing in a basic model fall again on a fundamental bike from an older mannequin yr. I additionally wish to work on outdated stuff, however outdated bikes are sometimes very unreliable—and OWM prospects are usually not mechanics.”
Julian’s constructed sufficient trendy Softails by now to know find out how to work round their trendy frills. On this venture, he sourced a handful of Softail-specific elements that will make a large influence with minimal fuss. However for the remaining, Julian needed to depend on his engineering chops.
One of many shopper’s requests was that the Avenue Bob ought to commerce its conventional forks for a extra distinctive entrance finish. Julian sourced an aftermarket girder unit, after which set to work executing quite a lot of adjustments.
First, he fabricated an all-new backside yoke to match the fork to the Avenue Bob, then he fettled the system’s working bits to optimize efficiency. Subsequent, he dressed the entrance finish with a custom-made plate and a collection of handmade stainless-steel fins. (A pair of LED lights sits slightly below the brand new nacelle.)
Many of the {custom} elements are onerous to identify—just like the headlight mounts, linkage bolts, axles, and axle caps. Decrease down, the fork grips a thin 21” entrance wheel from TTS, whereas a bespoke bracket hosts a elegant Efficiency Machine brake caliper.
The rear wheel is a closely modified 19” Harley V-Rod entrance wheel. Julian additionally transformed the Avenue Bob from a belt to a series drive, mounting the rear sprocket on a custom-made hub that mimics the model of classic drum brakes. On the opposite facet of the rear wheel, a particular bracket holds one other two Efficiency Machine calipers.
If the classic tires have you ever frightened, relaxation assured that they’re only for present; OWM’s shopper plans to swap them for extra appropriate rubber when the using season begins. Julian picked them for show functions as a result of they echo the ribbed theme that’s carried all through the construct.
Scan the bike, and also you’ll discover the identical stainless-steel fins that adorn the entrance plate working throughout the highest of the custom-made gas tank, down the radiator cowl, and on the swingarm gussets. Somewhat than overuse this motif, Julian opted for a extra muted search for the tail finish of the bike. The seat pan and rear fender are all one {custom} piece, topped off with luxurious crocodile leather-based on the seat, courtesy of Spirit Leather-based.
The polished fins pop onerous in opposition to the principally black Avenue Bob, as do the myriad polished covers and equipment that Julian has so cleverly chosen. Chikos Pinstriping dealt with the paint job, proper all the way down to the gold pin-striping and wheel accents, and the hand-lettered graphics. Gold OWM badges and engraving on the fuel cap, courtesy of Carsten Estermann, add to the mystique.
The temporary additionally referred to as for a low and stretched using place, so Julian put in a set of Thunderbike ahead controls, now sporting Tough Crafts pegs. The handlebars are OWM elements, held in place by CNC-machined clamps that place them beneath the highest yoke. They’re kitted with plug-and-play Softail controls from Rebuffini and new grips from San Diego Customs.
The Avenue Bob’s OEM speedo and indicator gentle panel sit additional again, courtesy of an aftermarket housing from Thunderbike. Kellermann LEDs deal with flip sign and taillight duties, with an OWM license plate bracket retaining issues street-legal.
Lastly, the engine wears a smorgasbord of attractive aftermarket elements. The cam and rocker field covers are from Tough Crafts, whereas the clutch cowl comes from Baker. EMD in France equipped the finned main cowl, which Schwartz Optical Tuning polished to an excellent end earlier than Carsten Estermann as soon as once more labored his magic.
For the exhaust, Julian welded a Dr. Jekill & Mr. Hyde muffler to a set of Vance & Hines headers, then added his personal CNC-machined finish cap. The polished air cleaner comes from Efficiency Machine.
Julian’s change to trendy equipment hasn’t cramped his model one bit. This is likely to be a model new Harley Softail, nevertheless it boasts the identical form of avant-garde neo-retro model that we’ve come to count on from the German customizer.
It simply is likely to be his finest {custom} Harley but.
One Approach Machine | Instagram | Pictures by nook
