Throughout his first decade of constructing {custom} bikes as One Approach Machine, Julian von Oheimb labored solely on older Harley-Davidsons. Then, a few yr in the past, a buyer requested him to use his signature contact to a contemporary Milwaukee Eight-powered Softail. Julian obliged—and regardless that the platform demanded a contemporary method, he nonetheless knocked it out the park.
Julian’s clearly wrapped his head round trendy equipment now, as a result of his vintage-only rule has all however disappeared. He’s simply constructed his third modern Harley {custom}, this time based mostly on a zero mile 2021-model Harley-Davidson Softail Normal.
“With the fashionable know-how and the facility of the M8 engine, it’s not as simple as you’ll assume to construct an old style bike,” Julian tells us. However he’s unnecessarily modest. At a look, this newer machine is nearly indistinguishable from his typical retro builds.
The order got here from an everyday consumer, who needed a contemporary OWM creation to park subsequent to the three he already owns. Apart from specifying that the donor bike needs to be new, he had solely a handful of requests. So Julian had free rein to flesh out the idea his approach—which is simply how he likes it.
This Softail is dripping with OWM’s hallmark type. But it surely’s not simply evident within the apparent stuff—true to kind, Julian’s made a ton of small modifications which have a big effect.
It begins with the Harley’s flawless stance. Julian lowered the suspension at each ends, then wrapped the entrance fork uppers in hand-made metal sleeves so as to add some visible heft. TTS Bike GmbH laced up a brand new set of spoked wheels, utilizing 21F/18R rims from HD Wheels and wrapping them in Bates rubber.
An inordinate quantity of thought went into the rear brake setup. First, Julian transformed the Harley from a belt to a series drive, with a chrome steel rear sprocket that was machined to resemble a classic drum brake hub. It’s saved safe by a particular nut lock unit, from the German elements firm In Max We Belief.
Subsequent, he put in a OWM drive-side brake system, which needed to be modified to suit the newer Softail. It’s a low-key setup that tucks the brake disc in ‘behind’ the sprocket. The entrance makes use of a extra conventional single-sided association, and each ends are sporting Beringer calipers, with {custom} discs from Zodiac.
The Softail’s slender new gas tank is one other stand-out piece. Julian hammered it out of metal, masterfully mixing flowing traces with a number of well-placed angles. It’s adorned with a pair of OWM badges, and a gasoline cap constructed from an previous automotive’s hood decoration.
The highest curve of the tank flows gracefully right into a {custom} leather-based solo seat. It makes use of a custom-made seat pan on a Thunderbike mounting package, with upholstery by Spirit Leather-based. The stamped OWM brand provides one other neat contact.
The rear fender began out as an off-the-shelf half, nevertheless it’s been closely modified. It sits on a pair of custom-made stays, and is flanked by a pair of tiny Kellermann combo LEDs. An OWM license plate bracket sits decrease down.
Julian additionally modified the OEM Harley facet covers, however opted to depart a entrance fender off this construct. (The unique fender mounting factors are nonetheless in play, simply in case.)
Up entrance is a CNC-machined headlight grill, with a set of OWM handlebars mounted behind it. The handlebar risers are from our good buddy Winston Yeh at Tough Crafts in Taiwan, an everyday OWM sponsor. They’ve been designed to include the Softail Normal’s authentic digital speedo.
The “sinfully costly” switches are from Rebuffini. Julian was glad to splash out on them although, as a result of they’re at the moment the one items available on the market that work out the field with Harley’s CAN bus system. Tiny Kellermann flip indicators maintain the entrance finish road authorized.
Different modifications embody a ahead foot controls package from Thunderbike, capped off with Tough Crafts pegs, and a hydraulic clutch from Rebuffini. Julian swapped the first cowl out for one from a Fats Bob, and added a Tough Crafts derby cowl, cam cowl and rocker containers. The burly air consumption is from S&S Cycle within the USA.
For the exhaust system, Julian took an off-the-shelf system from Vance & Hines, lopped off the muffler and welded on a Jekill & Hyde half as an alternative. “A ‘authorized’ exhaust was on the client’s want listing this time,” he says. “However he nonetheless needed a singular piece that not each different Harley rider rides round with, and I suppose it labored out that approach.”
Like most OWM builds, this Softail’s coloration scheme is desaturated and menacing. BK-Lack GmbH laid down the bottom coat, whereas Chikos Pinstriping dealt with the small print. Many of the exhausting elements are black, with Schwartz Optical Tuning sprucing a choose few steel bits so as to add a little bit distinction.
Julian’s buyer is reportedly extraordinarily pleased with the outcomes—and why wouldn’t he be? This slick cruiser has all of the traits of a top-shelf OWM {custom}, with the advantage of trendy energy supply and parts.
It’s additionally not the final trendy Harley that Julian plans to construct. He has six tasks within the pipeline proper now—a mixture of previous and new. Clearly the age of the bike he’s engaged on is nothing however a quantity.
One Approach Machine | Instagram | Photographs by Clave Rodriguez
