Like all grasp of their craft, Julian von Oheimb has a particular fashion that makes his work straightforward to determine. His sultry Harley-Davidson bobbers have put his workshop, One Means Machine, on the map—they usually’ve secured a number of wins and podiums on the prestigious AMD World Championships. However the German {custom} bike builder has been working exterior of his consolation zone these days.
This practice Road Bob is the most important departure from his signature aesthetic but. Primarily based on a model new Harley-Davidson Softail Road Bob 114, it eschews One Means Machine’s typical traditional bobber vibe for a extra aggressive, streetfighter-inspired look.
It’s additionally notable for being a contemporary Harley-Davidson, relatively than a traditional one. For the primary decade of working One Means Machine, Julian completely labored on older bikes—however he’s added the Motor Co.’s modern Milwaukee-Eight Softails to his remit in recent times. Regardless of these variations, Julian’s hand remains to be evident in each inch of this practice Road Bob.
The idea for this construct first began percolating in Julian’s head within the early 2000s, when an episode of the tv sequence, Biker Construct-Off, featured a Harley-Davidson streetfighter from Exile Cycles. Julian hated it at first—however discovered himself admiring it by the top of the episode. When a picture of that bike popped up on the web just lately, he felt impressed to construct his personal Harley ‘streetfighter.’
As luck would have it, Julian was between buyer initiatives and had time on his fingers. So he purchased a brand new Harley Road Bob from his native seller, selecting it over its stablemates for its punchier motor, barebones format, and lightweight(er) weight.
Since this was a private undertaking, Julian had full creative freedom. He began sketching out his concepts and shortly determined to denude the bike of its inventory bodywork. However remarkably, there was no have to hack into the Road Bob’s body; a testomony to how versatile it’s as a platform for personalization.
A brand new gas tank is perched atop the Harley, handmade by Julian. Set skinny and slim, it’s juxtaposed towards the swooping, flared tail part.
Common readers ought to acknowledge the tailpiece. It comes from Winston Yeh’s Taiwanese store, Tough Crafts, and bolts to the OEM strut mounts on any Harley-Davidson Softail. The seat wears a trendy Nappa leather-based cowl, courtesy of standard OWM collaborator, Spirit Leather-based.
There’s extra {custom} metalwork up entrance, the place Julian fabricated a brand new entrance fender, headlight nacelle, and fork shrouds. A pair of recessed LED projectors mild the best way, coated by a custom-made grill. It’s a riff on the grill-covered headlight design that dominated OWM’s early work, however with a contemporary twist.
The inventory forks and 19” entrance wheel are nonetheless in play, however the forks have been lowered by means of a equipment from Thunderbike. It’s a distinct story out again although, the place Julian needed to run one thing burlier than the inventory 150-wide tire, with out going overboard.
The answer got here within the type of a stable 18” Harley-Davidson rear wheel, which was machined down to suit the Road Bob’s slender swingarm. The setup can accommodate a 200-wide tire; extensive sufficient to get the look Julian needed, however slender sufficient that the bike can nonetheless be thrown round. “In spite of everything,” says Julian, “what could be the purpose of constructing a fighter that you would be able to’t bang by way of corners?”
Metzeler ME 888 Marathon Extremely tires provide sporty grip, whereas Zodiac brake discs and Probake hoses enhance the Road Bob’s stopping energy.
The bike’s completed off with an enviable checklist of aftermarket elements. OWM handlebars are fitted with Wunderkind levers and Tough Crafts grips. Tough Crafts provided the footpegs too, together with the ribbed handlebar clamps that double as a housing for the Road Bob’s tiny digital speedo.
The engine wears a Thunderbike air filter, a cam cowl and rocker packing containers from EMD in France, and a blacked-out exhaust system from MCJ. The exhaust is especially artful, with a change that prompts an electronically-actuated valve to regulate its quantity. An OWM radiator cowl and Kellermann LED flip alerts spherical out the bundle.
Though Julian intentionally opted for a recent search for the Road Bob, he may resist including a couple of classic touches. His affinity for older machines is difficult to shake—particularly since he spends each Saturday engaged on pre-1960 Harleys and Indians along with his father.
The Mooneyes scorching rod gas filler cap and Twenties Harley-Davidson logos are apparent nods to the previous, as is the bike’s timeless livery. Julian opted for a mostly-black format, with double pinstripes added by Chiko’s Pinstriping.
The result’s a purposeful {custom} Road Bob that’s surprisingly lithe for a cruiser, superbly completed, and begging to be ridden in anger. If that is OWM’s new path, we are able to’t wait to see what Julian cooks up subsequent.
One Means Machine | Instagram | Pictures by Pixel Fetisch
